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The new iPhone Handoff feature in iOS 27 is a clever idea: If you have two iPhones, you can use either one with a single phone number — the system automatically activates your number on whichever phone is unlocked. And like Apple’s Handoff to Mac and iPad, your texts, calls, voicemails and Find My location follow you, too.
At launch, however, the feature is supported only by T-Mobile in the US, and the carrier is charging $5 a month to use it. And while Verizon support is expected by the end of the year, according to Apple, AT&T appears to be sitting this feature out for now.
iPhone Handoff is similar to what the Apple Watch has done with data for a few generations, where taking off one watch and putting on another automatically switches all of your information, such as activity tracking, to it. For example, some people use one watch during the day — perhaps the rugged Apple Watch Ultra — and switch to a slimmer, older Apple Watch at night, allowing the first to charge for the morning.
But replicating that behavior to the iPhone requires coordination with cellular providers. Each phone’s eSIM needs to be configured for iPhone Handoff by a carrier, and service needs to switch cleanly on the network side.
Ironically, the Apple Watch gets left out of the iPhone Handoff transaction: Your watch remains paired with just one watch, communicating with it via Wi-Fi or cellular (if that’s an option). “If neither is available,” Apple writes, “calls, messages, notifications, certain health and fitness features, Siri AI or other app experiences relayed from your paired iPhone may not be available.”
In its press release about offering the iPhone 18 Pro, T-Mobile writes, “iPhone Handoff is available on any iPhone with iOS 27 via iPhone settings and ready to use from day one on the new iPhone 18 Pro lineup and iPhone Duo. T-Mobile is introducing the feature at $5/month.”
When I reached out to T-Mobile asking about the charge, a spokesperson wrote via email, “The $5/month charge reflects the added service that powers the experience on both devices.”
While iPhone Handoff appears to seamlessly switch your eSIM just by picking up the phone you want to use, it’s not yet clear what else is different with this process versus just transferring your eSIM manually using your iPhone’s settings menu.
Notably absent from Apple’s news was the other major US carrier, AT&T. I contacted a spokesperson there to learn more about the company’s plans for the feature, but it sounds like it’s not a priority.
“While we see that there could be potential in capabilities like iPhone Handoff,” the spokesperson replied, “our focus remains on delivering innovations that make life simpler and keep customers connected with confidence.” They then pointed to “existing eSIM activation and transfer options across compatible devices.”
In addition to T-Mobile, iPhone Handoff is currently supported by Telekom in Germany. The UK carrier EE will also support the feature later this year, according to Apple.
A Verizon representative didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Jeff Carlson
Senior Writer
Jeff Carlson writes about mobile technology at CNET, from cellular phone plans to devices and emerging technology. See full bio
