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Cell phones with the highest radiation levels (pictures)

For a phone to pass FCC certification and be sold in the United States, its maximum Specific Absorption Rate, or SAR level must be less than 1.6 watts per kilogram.

Since we started reviewing cell phones more than 10 years ago, CNET has tracked the SAR of every handset that we review. Though we're still reformatting our full Cell Phone Radiation Charts and will bring them back shortly, we have updated our lists of the 20 phones with the highest SAR levels and the 20 phones with lowest SAR levels.

Don't miss: Why CNET compiles cell phone radiation charts

By publishing these lists we are in no way implying that cell phones are dangerous. Also, we are not implying that a cell phone with a lower SAR is inherently safer. Rather, we are giving you the tools to make a choice based on your own concerns.

Though some researchers argue that the radiofrequency energy that cell phones emit may lead to a higher risk of cancer, others disagree. Research continues, and we will continue to monitor its results.

The SAR level listed in this gallery represents the highest SAR level measured with the phone next to the ear, as tested by the FCC. It's possible for the SAR level to vary among different transmission bands (the same phone can use multiple bands during a call), and different testing bodies can obtain different results.

Editors' note: Models are listed from higest to lowest SAR rating.

Photo by: Pong Research

Motorola Droid Maxx

SAR: 1.54

Motorola Droid Maxx

Editors' Rating

Droid Maxx boasts 48-hour battery, beefed-up power (hands-on)

Motorola Droid Ultra

Editors' Rating

Motorola's Droid Ultra is the thinnest Droid yet (hands-on)

Motorola Moto E

Editors' Rating

A dirt-cheap Android KitKat phone for the basics only

Alcatel One Touch Evolve

Editors' Rating

T-Mobile's One Touch Evolve offers 3G for $99

Huawei Vitria

Editors' Rating

Huawei Vitria marries entry-level Android specs with $130 price

Kyocera Hydro Edge

Editors' Rating

Kyocera unveils waterproof Hydro Edge (hands-on)

Kyocera Kona

Editors' Rating

Cricket to offer Kyocera Kona, April 21 (hands-on)

Kyocera Hydro XTRM

Editors' Rating

Resilient Kyocera Hydro XTRM now available (hands-on)

Nokia Asha 503

Editors' Rating

Zingy exterior, sluggish interior

BlackBerry Z30

Editors' Rating

New BlackBerry Z30 boasts big 5-inch screen, beefed-up battery (hands-on)

ZTE Source

Editors' Rating

Cricket's ZTE Source has 4G LTE, Android 4.1 (hands-on)

ZTE Warp 4G

Editors' Rating

User Rating

Boost Mobile's best, most frugal Android buy

Nokia Lumia 925

Editors' Rating

Nokia Lumia 925 brings metal design to Lumia line

Nokia Lumia 928

Editors' Rating

User Rating

Nokia Lumia 928 becomes official

Kyocera Hydro Elite

Editors' Rating

Verizon to offer waterproof Hydro Elite for $99.99

T-Mobile Prism 2

Editors' Rating

Huawei's Prism 2 'coming soon' to T-Mobile

Sprint Vital

Editors' Rating

Though ZTE's best, not quite good enough

Sprint Force

Editors' Rating

Though cheap, it can't outperform the competition

Huawei Pal

Editors' Rating

Huawei Pal (MetroPCS)

Kyocera Hydro Plus

Editors' Rating

Waterproof Kyocera Hydro Plus available on Cricket Wireless for $139.99

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