Buying an iPhone Through Rakuten Mobile: How the Upgrade Program Works, and Its Traps
We actually bought an iPhone through Rakuten Mobile and logged the Upgrade Program (48 installments, month-25 return), the return-condition fine print, and how campaigns stack.
提示：以下详细内容目前仅提供英文版，中文版即将上线。
MobileChoosing Rakuten Mobile because you want a cheap iPhone is actually rational: Rakuten prices iPhone hardware among the lowest of the major carriers, and its Kaikae Cho-toku (Upgrade) Program cuts the effective burden to roughly half.
We bought an iPhone through Rakuten Mobile and logged everything from program sign-up to the monthly payments. Here's the mechanism, the traps, and how to stack switching campaigns. For the network itself, see our main Rakuten Mobile review.
Plan & sign-up
Lowest-tier iPhone pricing + half-price program
Upgrade Program: 48 installments, return from month 25 waives the rest
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Rakuten Mobile × iPhone in 30 seconds
- iPhone hardware priced among the lowest of the major carriers
- Upgrade Program: buy on 48 installments, return from month 25 → up to 24 remaining waived
- Payment is Rakuten Card only (no installment fees)
- Usually stacks with MNP switching point campaigns
- eSIM support means fully online sign-up and activation
How the Upgrade Program works
The name is a mouthful; the deal is simple — half price if you plan to return in two years. As we experienced it:
- 1. Buy an eligible iPhone on 48 installments (Rakuten Card only, ¥0 installment fees)
- 2. Pay 1/48 of the hardware price monthly
- 3. Return the device from month 25 onward → up to 24 remaining installments waived
- 4. Keeping it is allowed too (then you pay all 48)
- 5. Returns carry a processing fee and condition standards — cracked screens can cost extra
The effective-price math and the traps
What 'roughly half' actually consists of, and what to know before signing.
- 'Half' assumes returning — to keep the phone, compare on total cost
- Worried about damage? Consider the protection service
- The program itself has no monthly fee — signing costs nothing extra
| Item | What happens | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly payment | Hardware price ÷ 48 | ~Half paid by month 24 |
| Month-25 return | Remaining waived | Returning is optional, not required |
| Condition standards | Damage incurs fees | Case + film as self-defense |
| Not returning | Installments continue | The phone becomes yours |
Stacking campaigns (switching is the big one)
Campaign stacking changes the real burden a lot (amounts and terms rotate fast — always check the official campaign pages before applying).
- MNP switch + eligible iPhone purchase with big point rebates is the recurring pattern
- The program and campaigns usually combine — verify eligibility on the page
- Off-cycle models (like the 16e) sometimes get near-¥0-per-month offers
- Rebates come as Rakuten points (often time-limited) — plan their spending
- First-time sign-ups should check the line-side campaigns too
Versus Apple Store and other carriers
- Rakuten's edge is the combination: lowest-tier hardware × program × MNP rebate × cheap line
- Long-haulers: compare totals against Apple Store outright — the half-price path never makes it yours
| Route | Strength | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Rakuten + program | ~Half effective + MNP rebates | Two-year replacers |
| Apple Store outright | SIM-free, fully yours | Long-haulers, line-agnostic |
| Other carriers' return programs | Similar mechanics | Depends on their pricing/terms |
| Used / refurbished | Can be cheapest in total | Non-latest-model buyers |
优点（让人满意之处）
- iPhone hardware among the cheapest of the major carriers
- Program cuts the effective price to roughly half (two-year return)
- MNP campaign rebates stack on top
- ¥0 installment fees, ¥0 program fee
- eSIM allows same-day online activation
缺点（需要注意之处）
- Payment is Rakuten Card only
- 'Half price' assumes returning — the phone isn't yours
- Return condition standards; damage can cost extra
- Campaign terms rotate fast — comparisons age quickly
实测记录（我们真的测了）
所有照片均拍摄于我们的家庭实测空间。
| Item | Claimed | Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware price | Lowest-tier among carriers | Confirmed on major models |
| Program | ~Half effective (month-25 return) | 48 installments, waiver terms confirmed |
| Payment | Rakuten Card only, ¥0 fees | No installment fees on statement |
| Campaigns | MNP point rebates | Stacking and crediting confirmed |
| Activation | Fully online via eSIM | Same-day activation confirmed |
常见问题
What is the Kaikae Cho-toku (Upgrade) Program?
Buy an eligible iPhone on 48 installments (Rakuten Card only, ¥0 installment fees); return the device from month 25 onward and up to 24 remaining installments are waived — about half the hardware price for two years of use. Returning is optional; keep it and pay the rest instead.
Does returning cost anything?
A processing fee applies, and damage or malfunction can incur extra charges — cracked screens are the classic case. Use a case and screen protector, and consider the protection service if worried. Check the official return terms before signing.
Are Rakuten Mobile's iPhones really cheap?
Hardware pricing has stayed among the lowest of the major carriers, and stacking the program's effective half-price with MNP point rebates keeps the real burden favorable. Prices and campaigns move — confirm the latest terms officially before buying.
Can I use it without a Rakuten Card?
No — program payments are Rakuten Card only. Without one, you'd buy outright or on other installment routes. The card is fee-free and pairs well with Rakuten Mobile's points, so getting one alongside is a reasonable option.
Is buying without the program sensible?
Yes. If you run one phone four-plus years, outright purchase (or Apple Store) can beat the return-based path on total cost. Rakuten's hardware pricing is among the lowest anyway, so it's worth considering even without the program.
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💴 Based on an iPhone our editorial team bought with their own money in 2026, verifying the program and campaign application.