Originally Posted by
LCUF
Reading over Sakura Mobile FAQs, I see there's two other benefits that are missing from Mobal/Hanacell:
- Unused data carries over to next month from this FAQ.
- Can top up for more data according to this FAQ.
Regarding the higher monthly cost downside, I think it's worth to only compare Sakura Mobile with Mobal / Hanacell as they all provide long term voice + data SIM or eSIM plans. Having actual voice number of your own has some benefits, so it would be not exactly Apple to Apple comparison if we just compare with other prepaid or postpaid data only plans. With the voice + data plan, one does not have to use both SIM slots if one wants voice and data, otherwise one would have do something like renting short term voice SIM from SoftBank Global Rental etc then another SIM/eSIM from IIJ etc for cheap data.
Good find on the unused data, I think that is relatively new. They advertise it on the front page of the product as well, while I think they didn't do this in the past. I edited my post to add it to the list.
Hanacell does allow top up as well, I find their 15 USD for 1GB really excessive. I haven't checked it for Mobal in detail, at least some products seem to support top-up as well.
I agree with the monthly cost. I mostly put that statement in there, because we're in a "Prepaid discussion" thread. I didn't want to give anybody the impression that this would be a deal for data only. I wish I had a triple sim phone, one Sim from home, Hanacell for 8USD a year for a Japanese phone number and some eSim for data...
I will likely get the Sakura Sim in early September, they currently have a promotion that discounts the activation fee 5,500 by 1,000 Yen (SAKURA24). The better deal is probably their
3000 Point "invite your friends" promo. In their FAQ section it looks like 1 point is worth 1 Yen for an Amazon.jp voucher. If that is true and someone has a qualified referrer link, please pm me.
