Radiofrequency (RF) Electromagnetic field is the official name for those invisible cellphone waves that more and more consumers are concerned about.
They are the reason cellphone manufactures warn us not to carry our cellphones near our bodies, and recommend using wireless headsets.
These warnings and recommendations appear in tiny print somewhere in our unopened cellphone user manuals. They often go unread and unheeded.
While doctors and scientists remain divided as to the long term effects of RF exposure, many concerned consumers are attempting to limit exposure by using a headset or by purchasing devices with lower SAR numbers.
RF exposure varies depending on the cellphone in question. The brand, model, carrier, and even the signal strength can affect how much RF you are exposed to. Exposure difference between different models is measured by the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR).
The Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) releases data on the SAR of every cellphone model available in U.S. markets. These numbers are in your user manual too and are also available on the FCC website.
The legal limit for RF exposure is SAR 1.6 watts per kilogram in the United States and Canada, and SAR 2 in Europe.
The Top Five Best and Worst Cellphones for RF exposure, as compiled by CNET in October 2012, are listed below.
The popular Apple IPhone did not make either list, but fell in the middle with a SAR of 1.11 for the IPhone 4S across all carriers and a SAR of 1.18 for the IPhone 5. The Upcoming Samsung Galaxy S-4 has a SAR of 0.45.
Five Highest-Radiation Cellphones:
RIM BlackBerry Curve 9310 on Boost Mobile 1.58
Motorola Razr HD on Verizon Wireless 1.56
Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD on Verizon Wireless 1.56
Nokia Astound on T-Mobile 1.53
RIM BlackBerry Curve 9350 on Sprint Nextel 1.50
Five Lowest-Radiation Cellphones:
Samsung Galaxy Note on T-Mobile 0.19
Samsung Galaxy Note Unlocked 0.27
Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket on AT&T 0.30
Kyocera DuraXT on Sprint Nextel 0.33
Huawei Impulse 4G on AT&T 0.34
