AT&T has not committed to supporting iPhone Handoff, the new iOS 27 feature that lets one phone number run across two iPhones. That leaves AT&T customers without a way to use it for now.
CNET asked AT&T about support. A spokesperson said there could be potential in capabilities like iPhone Handoff, but did not say the carrier will add it. The spokesperson pointed to “existing eSIM activation and transfer options” instead.
iPhone Handoff Only Works if the Carrier Signs Off
Apple’s support documentation says iPhone Handoff requires carrier support before it can be turned on. One iPhone acts as the main device and the other as the secondary device. The number switches to whichever iPhone you unlock.
Both iPhones need iOS 27 or later, a Wi-Fi connection, and the same Apple Account with FaceTime, iMessage, and Messages in iCloud turned on. Setup is covered in detail in our iPhone Handoff explainer.
Moving an eSIM between two iPhones is a manual job each time. iPhone Handoff does the switch automatically, which is why AT&T’s answer does not cover the same use.
Apple lists a few limits, only one iPhone can have the shared number active at a time. Wallet cards and car keys can work on both, but some items, including certain transit passes, IDs, and corporate badges, may stay limited to one iPhone. Apple Watch also does not move between the two iPhones automatically.
T-Mobile Is Still the Only US Carrier With iPhone Handoff
As of September 23, T-Mobile is the only carrier in the United States that supports iPhone Handoff. It charges $5 a month, which comes to $60 a year on top of an existing plan. The fee covers calls, texts, cellular data, Personal Hotspot, and Scam Shield on the secondary iPhone, plus T-Satellite on eligible plans. Customers who want to stop using it have to contact the carrier. Deleting the eSIM from the phone does not end the carrier service, so the charge can keep showing up on the bill. Here is where each carrier stands.
- T-Mobile supports iPhone Handoff now for $5 per month.
- Verizon is expected to add support by the end of 2026, according to Apple. Pricing has not been announced.
- AT&T has not committed to support.
- Deutsche Telekom in Germany is a launch partner. It runs the feature through its MultiSIM add-on, which costs €6.95 per month on its own.
- EE in the United Kingdom is expected to add support by the end of 2026.
Some Deutsche Telekom plans include MultiSIM at no extra cost, so some customers there get iPhone Handoff for free.
Our Take
I think AT&T’s reply misses what people want from iPhone Handoff. They want the number to follow them between two iPhones, and pointing them to eSIM transfers does not get them there. AT&T has not ruled it out, so customer pressure once Verizon launches could change the answer.
