Quadrature magnetoresistance scaling reflects linear field dependence rather than strange metallicity
The quadrature scaling of magnetoresistance has been widely adopted as a hallmark of the strange metal state. However, whether this scaling signals quantum criticality or reflects conventional transport behavior remains controversial. Here, by systematically investigating the magnetotransport properties of NiTe2 nanosheets, we demonstrate that the quadrature scaling is not a unique signature of strange metallicity. We find that the scaling holds only when the crossover field , marking the transition from quadratic to linear magnetoresistance, is sufficiently small relative to the applied field range. Through controlled simulations, we show that the scaling emerges whenever linear magnetoresistance dominates, irrespective of its origin, and fails when the linear regime is inaccessible. This conclusion is supported by observations in SrTiO3 based heterostructures, where quadrature scaling appears despite the absence of strange metal behavior. Our results establish that the quadrature scaling merely reflects the presence of linear magneto resistance, urging caution in using this scaling as a diagnostic tool for exploring the strange metal state.