After Getting Hyped About New Devices With Friends, I Reviewed My Contract First

Good morning. It’s まさきん.

The other day, I got into a lively conversation with a friend about new tablets and phones. Today I want to write about what I thought afterward.

The Device Talk Covered More Ground Than I Expected

The topics kept branching out: foldable phones, compact tablets, small-footprint desktop PCs.

One friend was curious about the latest foldable phone. The flip-open screen apparently still feels fresh and novel to them.

Another had just bought a small tablet. They were happy with both the low price and the surprisingly good speaker quality.

Just listening to all this, my own wish list kept growing. Honestly, in the moment, I couldn’t hold back the urge to buy something.

But once I got home and settled down, a different thought came to mind.

My Own Device Situation Was Actually Up in the Air Too

I’m currently using an iPhone 16. I’d also been thinking about picking up an older iPhone cheaply for my kid.

A tablet has been on my mind too. I’m torn on whether to go with the compact iPad mini, and I’m also considering pairing it with the larger iPhone Duo as a two-device setup.

For the price of one large model, you could buy 4 to 5 small tablets. If I decided based on desire alone, it looked like a choice that would be rough on my wallet.

My Habit of Checking the Contract Before the Device

I’m a marketer, so for better or worse, numbers are always on my mind. I have a habit of checking the contract terms before even looking at the device I actually want.

The moment your desire for a new device peaks is actually a good time to review your contract too. If I’m going to replace my device anyway, I naturally want to check whether I can make the contract side of things cheaper at the same time.

A Campaign I Found While Reviewing My Contract

That’s when I came across Rakuten Mobile’s iPhone discount campaign. I’d previously written an article calculating the real cost of the iPhone 17e campaign. This time, I noticed the list of eligible models had grown.

Here’s what the eligible models and effective prices look like as of now.

The cheapest model works out to as little as ¥1 a month.

The Conditions Are More Limited Than You’d Expect

That said, not everyone qualifies for this price. When I checked the conditions, they turned out to be fairly narrow.

The Kaikae Choutoku Program is designed around the assumption that you’ll return your device. As long as you return it, you can move on to your next device without worrying about the remaining balance.

That said, the return comes with conditions. If the device doesn’t meet the required condition, it looks like you could be charged an extra ¥22,000 as a damage fee. On top of that, there’s a separate ¥3,300 administrative fee whenever you change devices or cancel.

It’s open to Rakuten members aged 18 and up, and there’s also a limit of two devices per person per year.

Still, Picking a Device Is Its Own Kind of Fun

I’ve been talking a lot about contracts, but I still think choosing a device is a different kind of fun altogether. The foldable phone conversation was genuinely interesting on its own.

That said, I want to redirect a bit of that excitement toward reviewing my contract too. There might be an unexpected discovery waiting there.

Who This Is a Good Fit For

• People considering switching from another carrier to Rakuten Mobile
• People whose device replacement timing is coming up anyway
• People who don’t mind the idea of returning their device eventually

Who This Isn’t a Good Fit For

• People who plan to stick with their current contract for a while
• People who want to keep using their device long-term without returning it
• People considering a short-term cancellation or switching to yet another carrier soon

That last point feels like something people quietly overlook. A 48-installment plan built around the assumption you’ll return the device doesn’t seem to pair well with a short-term cancellation. It’s worth thinking through your expected contract length at the same time.

Wrapping Up

Whenever a device conversation gets you excited, it’s also a good opportunity to review your contract, not just indulge the urge to buy. Personally, I think the moment you’re considering a new device is exactly when you should check your mobile costs.

Next time a device conversation gets me fired up, I want to make sure I remember to think about my current contract too.

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