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How to know if your cell phone works in Japan
Does your cell phone works in Japan? Learn the basic concepts of connectivity, such as compatibility, frequencies, networks, and more.
July 10, 2023
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Heading to the Land of the Rising Sun? Unsure about your cellphone’s compatibility? Don’t worry. Today we will address all your concerns and guide you on connecting to the internet in Japan. Opt for the Holafly virtual SIM card for Japan or the Holafly Japan eSIM with unlimited data for this destination.
But before we start, grasp fundamental connectivity terms like compatibility, frequencies, networks, and more.
Compatibility? Frequencies? Networks? A few remarks
Compatibility
A smartphone can operate with a particular cellular provider in almost any country. For example, if you take an iPhone X to Japan, it may work with some cellular providers in the country, but not with others.
Frequencies
Through these, a cellular provider of any specific country sets up an internet connection with a smartphone (with it, you can chat, and upload photos to your social networks). Using the iPhone X as an example, it will connect to Japanese cellular providers via compatible frequencies.
Networks
They consist of a group of frequencies. Today, there are several types of networks: 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G. For each network, there are different frequencies with which a cell phone works in Japan with a domestic cellular provider, for example, through 2G, 3G, 4G, and/or 5G frequencies.
Can I check online if my cell phone is compatible?
On kimovil.com you can find out if your cell phone works in Japan with operators such as Softbank, and NTT, among others.
Here’s a simple guide to using this online tool: Enter your cellphone info in the search bar. Then click on the “Search” button.
After clicking Search, you will see the compatibility network; in this case, we will use as an example an iPhone 14 with the Japanese carrier Softbank. There you’ll see the frequencies compatible with this cell phone.
- 2G: No compatible frequencies.
- 3G: 900 MHz, 2100 MHz
- 4G: 2100 MHz, 1800 MHz, 900 MHz, 700 MHz, TDD 2500 MHz, TDD 3500 MHz.
- 5G: n3 1800 MHz, n28b 700 MHz, n77 3700 MHz.
There are, according to the website, eleven frequencies compatible with the cellphone selected for Softbank, two in the 3G network, six in the 4G network, and three in 5G.
We find that, for the example, there’s no compatible frequency for the 2G network, while there are compatible frequencies for 3G, 4G, and 5G.
What frequencies is my cellphone compatible with?
With numerous smartphones available, here’s a table showcasing frequencies used by major cellular providers in Japan.
| Softbank | NTT | |||
| 2G | 3G | 4G | 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy S20 | X | 900 MHz 2100 MHz. | 2100 MHz, 1800 MHz, 900 MHz, 700 MHz, TDD 2500 MHz. | No |
| Samsung Galaxy S22 | X | 900 MHz, 2100 MHz. | 2100 MHz, 1800 MHz, 900 MHz, 700 MHz, TDD 2500 MHz. | 1800 MHz, 700 MHz, 3700 MHz. |
| Huawei P40 Pro | X | 900 MHz, 2100 MHz. | 2100 MHz, 1800 MHz, 900 MHz, 700 MHz, TDD 2500 MHz. | 1800 MHz, 700 MHz, 3700 MHz. |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 | X | 900 MHz 2100 MHz | Band8-900 MHz Band3-1800 MHzBand1-2100 MHz | 1800 MHz, 700 MHz, 3700 MHz. |
| Xiaomi 12T Pro | X | 900 MHz 2100 MHz | Band8-900 MHz Band3-1800 MHz Band1-2100 MHz Band41-2500 MHz, 900 MHz | 1800 MHz, 700 MHz, 3700 MHz. |
| Huawei Mate 40 Pro | X | 900 MHz 2100 MHz | Band8-900 MHz Band3-1800 MHz Band1-2100 MHz Band41-2500 MHz | 800 MHz 2100 MHz |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 | X | 900 MHz 2100 MHz | Band8-900 MHz Band3-1800 MHz Band1-2100 MHz Band41-2500 MHz (Green check) | 2100 MHz |
For both Softbank and NTT, there is no compatibility on the 2G network. Regarding the 3G network, Softbank works with 900 MHz and 2100 MHz frequencies, while NTT works only with 2100 MHz and 800 MHz.
For 4G, Softbank works with Band1-2100 MHz, Band3-1800 MHz, Band8-900 MHz, and Band41-2500 MHz frequencies. NTT works with the same frequencies.
Supported frequencies of Au and B-mobile in Japan
| Cell phone | Frequencies | |||
| au | B-mobile | |||
| 2G | 3G | 4G | 5G | |
| Sony Xperia 10 IV | X | X | 2100 MHz, 1800 MHz, 700 MHz, TDD 2500 MHz. | n28a 700 MHz, n77 3700 MHz, n78 3500 MHz |
| Oppo Find X5 | X | X | 2100 MHz, 1800 MHz, 800 MHz, 850 MHz, 700 MHz, TDD 2500 MHz. | n18 850 MHz, n28a 700 MHz, n78 3500 MHz, n77 3700 |
| Motorola Razr 5G | CDMA BC0 800 MHz | X | 1800 MHz, 800 MHz, 850 MHz, 700 MHz, TDD 2500 MHz, TDD 3500. | n28a 700 MHz, n78 3500 MHz, n77 3700 |
| Google Pixel 5 | CDMA BC0 800 MHz | X | 2100 MHz, 1800 MHz, 800 MHz, 850 MHz, 700 MHz, TDD 2500 MHz, TDD 3500. | n28a 700 MHz, n78 3500 MHz, n77 3700 |
| iPhone 13 | X | X | 2100 MHz, 1800 MHz, 800 MHz, 850 MHz, 700 MHz, TDD 2500 MHz, TDD 3500. | n28a 700 MHz, n78 3500 MHz, n77 3700 |
| iPhone 12 Pro | CDMA BC0 800 MHz | X | 2100 MHz, 1800 MHz, 800 MHz, 850 MHz, 700 MHz, TDD 2500 MHz, TDD 3500. | n28a 700 MHz, n78 3500 MHz, n77 3700 |
Source: Kimovil.com.
For au and B-mobile, only the Motorola Razr and the Google Pixel have compatible frequencies for 2G. For 3G, no frequencies are available.
For 4G, au works with six frequencies, and for 5G, both carriers work with three frequencies.
If you’re a heavy social media user or just want to keep in touch with your family and friends while you’re in Japan, I recommend you check on the previously mentioned website if your phone works in Japan or not.
What if my cellphone doesn’t work in Japan?
Don’t worry! There’s an answer to that:
Holafly eSIM or virtual data SIM cards
Holafly’s eSIM or virtual SIM cards are small embedded chips that offer unlimited data throughout Japan. If your cell phone doesn’t work in Japan, you can get your eSIM from the Holafly website, where you can make your purchase online.
This is perhaps the best alternative to connecting to the internet that you’ll find on the market. This is because you only need to have a compatible cellphone with this technology to use the service. We recommend you check if your smartphone is compatible with eSIM on the store’s website.
Moreover, you don’t need to install the eSIM physically, since it’s an integrated circuit, you only need to activate the code that will be emailed to you. For more information on the rates and features of this product, visit Holafly’s online store.
If you have heard terms such as roaming, Pocket WiFi (MiFi or Portable WiFi), or other SIM cards, we can tell you that Holafly offers a seamless alternative with all the benefits to make your cell phone works in Japan.
Another top-rated Holafly package is the eSIM to travel southeast Asia, with which you can be connected to several destinations if your adventure takes you beyond Japan!
