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KDDI au satellite texting: au Starlink Direct (also UQ mobile / other carriers via add-on plan)
Japan · Network: SpaceX Starlink Direct to Cell · Status: live
Price & plans
au customers: no additional charge for now. UQ mobile Komikomi Plan Value / Tokutoku Plan 2: ¥0/mo; other UQ plans: ¥550/mo; other carriers incl. povo: ¥1,650/mo via 'au Starlink Direct専用プラン+' (first 3 months ¥0).
Launch
2025-04 (source)
Coverage
Japan outside au 5G/4G LTE coverage (incl. territorial waters, contiguous zone, ferry routes). Roaming (free, no sign-up for now): USA, Canada (south of 58°N), Philippines, New Zealand, Australia.
What works
| Text | yes (SMS / RCS / iMessage) |
|---|---|
| Picture audio messages | yes on most phones (photos, videos, files, location); not on Apple Watch and some Pixel models |
| Apps | yes (supported apps, e.g. YAMAP, Weathernews, LINE) |
| Data | yes on data-capable models (supported apps only) |
| Voice | no (no voice calls incl. 110/119) |
| Emergency | au Starlink Direct SOS relay centre; emergency alerts (ETWS) |
Satellite apps
YAMAP, Weathernews, LINE (per FAQ)
Supported phones (108)
au says 107 models as of Sept 2026. List below is the au/UQ-purchased smartphone + watch list; SIM-free (other-store) phones have a separate list not yet captured.
| Phone | Text | Photos/media | Apps/data | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch SE 3 | yes | no | no | GPS + Cellular models only; messaging only, no attachments |
| Apple Watch Series 11 | yes | no | no | GPS + Cellular models only; messaging only, no attachments |
| Apple Watch Series 12 | yes | no | no | GPS + Cellular models only; messaging only, no attachments |
| Apple Watch Ultra 3 | yes | no | no | GPS + Cellular models only; messaging only, no attachments |
| Apple Watch Ultra 4 | yes | no | no | GPS + Cellular models only; messaging only, no attachments |
| iPhone 13 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 13 Pro | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 13 mini | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 14 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 14 Plus | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 14 Pro | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 15 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 15 Plus | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 15 Pro | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 16 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 16 Plus | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 16 Pro | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 16e | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 17 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 17 Pro | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 17e | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 18 Pro | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone Air | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| iPhone Duo | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| FCNT arrows We2 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| FCNT arrows We3 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Google Pixel 10 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro XL | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Google Pixel 10a | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Google Pixel 11 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Google Pixel 11 Pro | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Google Pixel 11 Pro XL | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Google Pixel 7 | yes | no | no | Messaging only; no photo/video/file attachments |
| Google Pixel 7 Pro | yes | no | no | Messaging only; no photo/video/file attachments |
| Google Pixel 7a | yes | no | no | Messaging only; no photo/video/file attachments |
| Google Pixel 8 | yes | no | no | Messaging only; no photo/video/file attachments |
| Google Pixel 8 Pro | yes | no | no | Messaging only; no photo/video/file attachments |
| Google Pixel 8a | yes | no | no | Messaging only; no photo/video/file attachments |
| Google Pixel 9 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro XL | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Google Pixel 9a | yes | no | no | Messaging only; no photo/video/file attachments |
| Google Pixel Fold | yes | no | no | Messaging only; no photo/video/file attachments |
| Kyocera BASIO active3 | yes | yes | no | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Kyocera DIGNO SX3 | yes | yes | no | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Kyocera TORQUE G06 | yes | yes | no | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Kyocera TORQUE G07 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Motorola edge 60 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Motorola razr 60 ultra | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| OPPO A5 5G | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| OPPO Find X9 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| OPPO Reno13 A | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| OPPO Reno15 A | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 5G | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy A54 5G | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy A55 5G | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy S22 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy S23 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy S23 FE | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 FE | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy S26+ | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Sharp AQUOS sense10 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Sharp AQUOS sense8 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Sharp AQUOS sense9 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Sharp AQUOS wish4 | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Sony Xperia 1 V | yes | yes | no | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Sony Xperia 1 VII | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Sony Xperia 1 VIII | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | yes | yes | no | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Sony Xperia 10 VII | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Sony Xperia 10 VIII | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Sony Xperia 5 V | yes | yes | no | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Xiaomi 13T | yes | yes | no | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Xiaomi 14T | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | yes | yes | no | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | yes | yes | yes | au/UQ mobile-purchased model |
Sources (checked 2026-10-17):
https://www.au.com/mobile/service/starlink-direct/enabled-device/
https://www.au.com/mobile/service/starlink-direct/
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