Comparison of iPhone prices between Docomo KDDI and Softbank

Below is a table via engadget Japan comparing the subsidized final cost of the iPhone 5S and 5C for each carrier. NTT Docomo is not surprisingly the most aggressive with pricing, and they're the only one to offer the phone at the same price to both new and existing customers. The Docomo price for the 16GB 5C is not a typo.

Remember, these are subsidized prices. This is not the full retail price that you would owe if you cancelled your contract early. Docomo's unsubsidized prices are significantly higher than the other two carriers. The 16GB 5C costs well over ¥90,000 unsubsidized, which is nearly double the price of the though KDDI and Softbank.

For most people, this won't be an issue, but if there is any chance that you cannot complete your contract obligation, do not buy an iPhone from Docomo. Coming back to the 16 GB 5C, if you use it over the full two years, Docomo will pay you ¥ 6,300, but if you have to cancel after only a few months, you'll owe docomo close to ¥90,000.

	docomo	Kddi		Softbank
	New/Existing	New	Existing	New	Existing
iPhone 5S 64GB	¥20,160	¥20,640	¥34,680	¥20,640	¥34,680
iPhone 5S 32GB	¥10,080	¥10,320	¥24,480	¥10,320	¥24,480
iPhone 5S 16GB	¥0	¥0	¥14,160	¥0	¥14,160
iPhone 5C 32GB	¥0	¥4,800	¥14,160	¥4,800	¥14,160
iPhone 5C 16GB	-¥6,300	¥0	¥3,240	¥0	¥3,240