T-Mobile will charge U.S. customers $5 per month to use iPhone Handoff, one of the new connectivity features coming with iOS 27. The feature lets the same phone number work across two compatible iPhones without requiring users to swap a physical SIM or manage separate numbers.
At launch, iPhone Handoff will be limited to T-Mobile customers in the U.S. and Deutsche Telekom customers in Germany. On supported plans, users can keep two iPhones connected to the same number and choose which device is active.
How iPhone Handoff Works
iPhone Handoff uses eSIM technology to share a phone number between two iPhones. One device acts as the main iPhone while the other becomes the secondary device, and the active device switches automatically when either iPhone is unlocked.
Calls, messages, cellular data, Personal Hotspot, Scam Shield, and T-Satellite can work across both devices when the carrier plan supports the feature.
Both iPhones must be running iOS 27 or later, connected to Wi-Fi, and signed into the same Apple Account. FaceTime, iMessage, and Messages in iCloud also need to be enabled.
Apple allows iPhone Handoff to work with Dual SIM, but both eSIMs must come from carriers that support the feature. Each eSIM has to be configured separately, while compatible eSIMs switch together when the user moves between the two iPhones.
There are some limitations. Only one iPhone can have the shared number active at a time. Wallet cards and car keys can work across both devices, although some items, including certain transit passes, IDs, and corporate badges, may remain limited to one iPhone.
Apple Watch also does not automatically move between the two iPhones when switching between the main and secondary devices.
T-Mobile iPhone Handoff Costs $5 Per Month
T-Mobile will make iPhone Handoff available for $5 per month. The carrier is currently one of only two launch partners, making carrier support a major limitation for the feature when iOS 27 arrives.
iPhone Handoff can be enabled while setting up a new iPhone or later through the Settings app. Once activated, it stays enabled until the customer contacts their carrier to turn it off.
Apple will release iOS 27 on September 14. iPhone Handoff will require compatible carrier support, so having two iOS 27 iPhones alone will not be enough to use the feature.
(via T-Mobile)
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