T-Mobile will charge customers $5 per month to use iPhone Handoff, an e-SIM feature that allows the same phone number to be used on two separate iPhones.
iPhone Handoff requires carrier support, and at launch only users of T-Mobile in the United States and Deutsche Telekom in Germany will be able to use it.
T-Mobile says customers can use their number on two compatible iPhone models and choose which phone is active at any time. Features like Call, Text, Data, Mobile Hotspot, Scam Shield, and T-Satellite will work on both devices with an eligible plan.
Apple is adding support for iPhone Handoff in iOS 27. This requires two iPhones running iOS 27 or later, connected to Wi-Fi, and signed in to the same Apple account with FaceTime, iMessage, and Messages in iCloud enabled. It can be enabled when activating a new iPhone or in the Settings app.
When iPhone Handoff is enabled, one iPhone serves as the primary iPhone and the other iPhone is the secondary device that shares the same number. Moving between the primary iPhone and the secondary iPhone happens automatically when you unlock one of the devices.
A phone number can only be active on one iPhone at a time when using iPhone Handoff. Payment cards in the Wallet app and car keys can work on both iPhones, but Apple warns that some Wallet items such as transit passes, IDs or company badges may only work on one iPhone at a time. iPhone Handoff also does not transfer an Apple Watch from one iPhone to another.
iPhone Handoff works with Dual SIM as long as both eSIMs are from carriers that support iPhone Handoff. Both eSIMs will switch simultaneously when you unlock your iPhone. Each eSIM must be configured separately.
Once set up, iPhone Handoff remains enabled until you contact your carrier to disable it. More information can be found in Apple’s support document for this feature.
iOS 27 is expected to launch on Monday, September 14, and the new iPhone 18 Pro models will launch on Friday, September 18.
