Key Takeaways
- T-Mobile will charge $5 per month for Apple’s iPhone Handoff feature.
- The feature allows users to use the same phone number on two iPhones.
- German carrier Telekom offers the feature through its MultiSIM service.
Apple’s iPhone Handoff feature, which enables users to share the same phone number between two iPhones, comes with an additional monthly cost. T-Mobile, an American carrier, will charge its customers $5 per month for this service. The feature is currently available through T-Mobile in the US and Telekom in Germany.
The iPhone Handoff feature is designed to enhance user convenience by allowing seamless switching between two iPhones without the need to manually move an eSIM. Users can switch the active connection between the two devices, ensuring that calls, voicemail, iMessage, RCS, SMS, and MMS can move to the newly active device. The active iPhone also becomes the device used for Find My location.
While the feature is available on compatible iPhones running iOS 27, users must have T-Mobile’s support to activate it. This means that simply updating an iPhone to iOS 27 will not make the Handoff feature available. German carrier Telekom, on the other hand, is offering the feature through its MultiSIM service, which may have different pricing arrangements.
The iPhone Handoff feature is particularly useful for users who regularly switch between two iPhones. It essentially provides a way to change the active phone without repeatedly transferring the cellular connection. However, there are some limitations. Only one of the two iPhones can be active on the mobile network at a time, and some features, including certain Wallet items and Apple Watch connections, may remain tied to a specific iPhone.
Apple’s newly launched iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Duo will support the feature from the start because they ship with iOS 27. The feature is designed to move more of the user’s communication experience between the devices, ensuring that the active iPhone is used for Find My location and other services.
For users who regularly switch between two iPhones, the iPhone Handoff feature essentially provides a way to change their active phone without repeatedly transferring their cellular connection. This can save time and effort, making the transition smoother and more convenient.
The feature is available through the iPhone’s settings on devices running iOS 27. T-Mobile’s support is required, however, so simply updating an iPhone to iOS 27 will not make Handoff available. German carrier Telekom is offering the feature through its MultiSIM service rather than introducing the same standalone $5 monthly charge used by T-Mobile.
