Samsung Galaxy S26 Series — Your Complete Buying Guide for Rakuten Mobile
A heads-up for international buyers: The Galaxy S26 series in Japan is sold exclusively through carriers and Samsung's own store. Rakuten Mobile has some pretty competitive pricing — and once you stack the Chotoku (Super Trade-in) program on top of an MNP switch, your effective cost over two years drops well below the full retail price.
Galaxy S26 — Key Specifications
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Dimensions / Weight | Approx. 150 × 72 × 7.2 mm / approx. 167 g |
| Display | Approx. 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, FHD+ 2340×1080 |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| OS | Android 16 |
| RAM / Storage | 12 GB / 256 GB |
| Rear Camera | Approx. 50 MP + 12 MP + 10 MP triple camera system |
| Battery | 4,300 mAh |
| Water & Dust Resistance | IPX5 / IPX8 (waterproof) + IP6X (dustproof) |
IPX8 means the phone can handle being submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes. IP6X means it's fully sealed against dust — a real plus given Japan's notoriously humid summers and dusty urban environments.
Pricing at Rakuten Mobile
Full Upfront Payment
- Galaxy S26: ¥136,800
- Galaxy S26+: ¥169,920
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: ¥219,840
Chotoku (Super Trade-in) Program — 48 Installments via MNP
| Model | Months 1–24 | Months 25–47 (if kept) |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S26 | ¥1,990/month | ¥3,710/month |
| Galaxy S26+ | ¥2,990/month | ¥4,090/month |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | ¥3,990/month | ¥5,170/month |
How the Chotoku Program Works in Practice
Example: Galaxy S26 via MNP with Chotoku
- Pay ¥1,990/month for months 1–24 = ¥47,760 total
- Return the device at month 25 and pay the ¥3,300 processing fee
- Total cost: approximately ¥51,060 for 2 years of a flagship phone
If you'd rather keep the phone, you can pay off the remaining balance in one lump sum and it's yours to keep.
Requirements and Important Notes
- Rakuten Card payment is mandatory — other credit cards and bank transfers won't work for this program
- Maximum 2 units per year can be purchased under this program
- Physical damage at return: Cracks, bent frames, or heavy wear could trigger a damage fee before the remaining balance gets waived. It's worth adding accidental damage protection.
- Early termination (before month 25): Cancel before month 25 and the full unpaid balance comes due immediately.
Is the Galaxy S26 Worth It on Rakuten Mobile?
The Galaxy S26 is a solid pick for Rakuten Mobile subscribers for a few good reasons:
- It supports all the major Japanese frequency bands, including Rakuten's 1700 MHz (Band 3) and the Platinum Band (700 MHz)
- It supports eSIM, so you can get set up quickly without waiting around for a physical SIM to arrive
- Samsung's Android update policy locks in 7 years of OS and security updates, which makes this a genuinely long-term investment