Last updated: October 18, 2026
The quick answer
iPhone Handoff, a new iOS 27 feature, lets you keep one phone number on two iPhones and switch which one is active, but your carrier has to support it and most charge extra. T-Mobile charges $5 a month, Verizon has confirmed $10 a month, EE will charge £5 a month on most plans, and AT&T has no announced plans to offer it.
What happened
Apple built iPhone Handoff into iOS 27 for people who own two iPhones and want to carry one or the other without juggling two numbers. The obvious use case this fall is Apple’s new foldable, the iPhone Duo, which many buyers will pair with a regular iPhone. Apple’s feature is separate from the older Handoff that lets you continue an app task on another Apple device; this one is about your cellular line.
Pricing is set by carriers, and this week two more announced theirs. On October 16, Verizon confirmed a $10 monthly fee as part of its iPhone Duo offers, double what T-Mobile charges. On October 17, UK carrier EE published its pricing alongside iPhone Duo pre-orders. Both Verizon and EE still list the feature as coming soon, and Apple has said it should reach them before the end of the year.
| Carrier | Status | Price |
|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile (US) | Available now | $5 per month |
| Verizon (US) | Coming soon | $10 per month |
| AT&T (US) | No announced plans | Not offered |
| EE (UK) | Coming soon | Free on Full Works Plus; £5 per month on other plans |
| Deutsche Telekom (Germany) | Available now | €6.95 per month, included on some MagentaMobil plans |
What changes for you
With Handoff turned on, your number is live on one iPhone at a time. When you unlock the other iPhone and make it active, your calls, voicemail, texts (iMessage, RCS, SMS and MMS) and Find My location move with it, and the phone confirms the switch on screen. Anything synced through iCloud stays up to date on both devices.
There are trade-offs worth knowing before you pay:
- Apple Watch stays put. Your watch does not follow the number, so pair it with the iPhone you use most.
- Some Wallet items are single-device. Certain transit passes and IDs may only work on one iPhone.
- Some settings stay on the main iPhone. Carrier account management, call forwarding and caller ID remain tied to your primary phone.
- Apps may need a moment. Some third-party apps need a separate sign-in, and banking apps may ask you to approve the second device.
How to set up iPhone Handoff
First, check the requirements: both iPhones need iOS 27 or later, both must be on Wi-Fi, and both must use the same Apple Account with FaceTime, iMessage and Messages in iCloud turned on. Your carrier must support the feature on your line.
- On a new iPhone: at the Set Up Cellular screen, choose the option to use your number on this iPhone and another, then follow the prompts on both phones.
- On an iPhone you already use: go to Settings > Cellular, tap Set Up Cellular or Add eSIM, pick the same option, and choose which iPhone is your main one.
- To switch: unlock the iPhone you want to use and make the number active on it. Look for the on-screen confirmation.
- To stop paying: contact your carrier. Deleting the eSIM from your phone may not end the monthly charge.
Is it worth paying for?
It makes sense if you genuinely alternate between two iPhones, for example a foldable for travel and a Pro model for photography, and you want both to ring on the same number without forwarding tricks. At $10 a month on Verizon, that is $120 a year, so it is harder to justify if you only switch phones occasionally. If you mostly use one iPhone and keep the other at home, a free eSIM transfer when you need it may be enough.
Who is affected, and who isn’t
Affected: people with two iPhones on iOS 27 who use T-Mobile, Verizon, EE or Deutsche Telekom. Buyers of the iPhone Duo are the main audience; our guide to iPhone Duo pre-orders, price and release date covers the phone itself.
Not affected: anyone with a single iPhone, and AT&T customers for now. AT&T has pointed customers to its existing eSIM activation and transfer options instead. If you’re considering a carrier switch just for this feature, compare the full plan cost rather than the add-on alone.
FAQ
Can both iPhones ring at the same time?
No. iPhone Handoff keeps your number active on one iPhone at a time. You switch the active phone by unlocking the one you want to use.
When will Verizon and EE customers get it?
Neither carrier has given an exact date. Both list it as coming soon, and Apple has said support should arrive before the end of 2026.
Does iPhone Handoff work with an Apple Watch?
Your Apple Watch stays paired with one iPhone and does not switch when the number moves, so pair it with the phone you carry most often.
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