T-Mobile will charge customers $5 per month to use iPhone Handoff, an eSIM feature that lets the same phone number be used on two separate iPhones.
How iPhone Handoff works
Apple adds iPhone Handoff support in iOS 27. The feature requires two iPhones running iOS 27 or later that are connected to Wi‑Fi and signed into the same Apple Account, with FaceTime, iMessage and Messages in iCloud turned on. iPhone Handoff can be enabled during activation of a new iPhone or from the Settings app.
When enabled, one iPhone is designated the main device and the other becomes a secondary device sharing the same number. The active device switches automatically when you unlock one of the iPhones, but a phone number can only be active on one iPhone at a time. Payment cards in Wallet and car keys can work across both iPhones, while some Wallet items—such as transit passes, IDs or corporate badges—may only work on one device at a time. iPhone Handoff does not transfer an Apple Watch from one iPhone to another.
The feature works with Dual SIM if both eSIMs are provided by carriers that support iPhone Handoff; both eSIMs will switch simultaneously when you unlock your iPhone. Each eSIM must be set up separately. Once set up, iPhone Handoff remains active until the customer contacts their carrier to disable it. Apple provides additional details in its support documentation.
Carrier support and availability
At launch, only T‑Mobile users in the U.S. and Deutsche Telekom users in Germany will be able to use iPhone Handoff. T‑Mobile says customers can use their number across two compatible iPhone models and choose which phone is active at any given time. Services including calls, texts, data, mobile hotspot, Scam Shield and T‑Satellite will work on both devices if the customer has an eligible plan.
iOS 27 is scheduled to launch on Monday, September 14, and the new iPhone 18 Pro models will launch on Friday, September 18.
