Sage-Tips

Is it cheaper to buy a phone in Japan?

The results are fairly surprising: Japan is the cheapest place to purchase any of the new versions (see chart below, click to enlarge), while India is the most expensive. In these two countries, there is a $405 price different for the iPhone 11 Max (the 11 Max Pro is not listed on the India site).

What should we check before buying a phone?

7 Factors to consider while buying a smartphone

1. Battery. Are you the kind of user who is likely to have multiple apps open simultaneously?
2. Memory. Phones have two kinds of memory – Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM).
3. Camera.
4. Processor.
5. Display.
6. Operating System.
7. Cost.

What is the average cost of a cell phone in Japan?

Here are a few things to know before you go shopping for a carrier: The average monthly cell phone bill in Japan is between ¥7,000 and ¥10,000. Despite all the hullabaloo about simplifying mobile plans, they are still extremely confusing and difficult to compare across carriers.

What is the most popular cell phone in Japan?

Apple iPhone SE 2020
Japan Model Share

Rank	Japan	\%
1	Apple iPhone SE 2020	21\%
2	Apple iPhone 12	12\%
3	Apple iPhone 12 Pro	11\%
4	Apple iPhone 11	7\%

Why is Apple cheap in Japan?

52,000. One of the primary reasons for these insanely lower prices is the Sales Tax in Japan. Since the Japanese market is significant to Apple, the prices there are very low. Apple wants to keep attracting customers in Japan, especially the folks who are looking for a phone at a reasonable price.

Are Japanese iPhones unlocked?

Technically, at the time iPhones are shipped from their factory to retail stores in Japan, phones are unlocked (“SIMフリー”/SIM-Free in Japanese).

What are the qualities of a good phone?

Here are 10 of the most crucial specs that we need to check before buying a smartphone:

• Battery Life. This is arguably the most critical aspect—after all, a phone is only as good as its battery capacity.
• Operating System.
• Processor.
• RAM.
• Phone Screen Size.
• SD Card Storage.
• USB File Transfer.
• Sensors.

Which is better Docomo or SoftBank?

Docomo, another of the three network titans, nudges SoftBank out as being having the best coverage, but they are very similar, both covering more than 99\% of the nation. Docomo is often touted as the best network in Japan in terms of coverage. However, the Achilles heel of Docomo is their rather strict data allowance.

Which is better Docomo or AU?

Roughly speaking, there is no big difference among those big 3 carriers. They are competing with each other so the price is almost the same. When it comes to a stable network, Docomo is undoubtedly the best.

What phone brand does Japan use?

The biggest Japanese mobile phone companies are NTT docomo, au by KDDI, Softbank (formerly Vodafone, and before that J-phone) and Rakuten Mobile.

Which smartphones are made in Japan?

Manufacturers

• Fujitsu (including Toshiba)
• Kyocera.
• NEC-Casio (NEC/Casio/Hitachi)
• Panasonic.
• Sharp.
• Sony.
• NTT Docomo.

What do I need to use a mobile phone in Japan?

For Voice – The handset must be compatible with a Japanese mobile phone network. Most modern phones are compatible with one or more of these networks. Compatible handsets may be used via international roaming (check with your home provider for details) or a SIM card (unlocked handsets only).

How to buy a SIM free smartphone in Japan?

Purchasing a SIM Free Smartphone in Japan is not as difficult as you might think, as long as you know exactly where to find them. If you purchase a smartphone from one of the main Japanese mobile carriers ( Docomo, AU, or Softbank), it will always come with a contract and the phone will be SIM locked.

What should I look for when buying a smartphone?

Get the right size screen. Buy a phone with a screen smaller than 5.5 inches if one-hand use is important to you or if you have smaller hands. (See Best Small Phones for more.) Get a bigger-screen phone if you like to watch a lot of videos, play games or want to take advantage of the multiwindow mode in Android.

Where can I buy an iPhone in Japan?

For those wanting iPhones, you can purchase them at an electronics store (e.g. Yodobashi Camera, Bic Camera), however you will be required to make a contract with one of the major carriers and the iPhone will initially be locked. If you’d like to have a SIM Free iPhone, go to the Apple Store or visit Apple’s online store to order.