Verizon confirmed on Friday that it will charge $10 a month for iPhone Handoff, the iOS 27 feature that lets two iPhones share one phone number. T-Mobile had already announced $5 a month for the same thing. It matters if you carry two iPhones, say a foldable and a regular model, and want to stay reachable on both.
What is iPhone Handoff?
Apple previewed it at WWDC and detailed it at its September event. Two iPhones share a single number, but only one is active at a time. Calls, voicemail, messages and Find My location follow whichever iPhone you unlock. When you switch, the phone shows a “Switched to this iPhone” message.
One iPhone is the main one, the phone you use most. Some carrier features, such as call forwarding, caller ID and account management, only work there. The other is the secondary iPhone, which gets an eSIM (a digital SIM with no physical card) tied to the same number.
How much does Handoff cost on each carrier?
According to 9to5Mac, this is where things stand:
| Carrier | Price |
|---|---|
| Verizon (US) | $10 per month |
| T-Mobile (US) | $5 per month |
| Deutsche Telekom (Germany) | included in MultiSIM at €6.95 a month, unless it is already in your plan |
| EE (UK) | expected before the end of 2026, no price |
| AT&T (US) | apparently no plans to support it |
AT&T told CNET it is focused on the eSIM activation and transfer options it already has. Verizon says customers keep full access to its 5G network and names the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro as examples of compatible phones.
One detail to watch: Apple’s support page, which we checked for this story, lists only T-Mobile in the US and Telekom in Germany as supported carriers. Verizon’s announcement came on October 16, so Apple’s list may simply not have caught up yet.
What do you need to use it?
According to Apple:
- two iPhones running iOS 27 or later;
- both on Wi-Fi and signed in to the same Apple Account;
- Messages in iCloud turned on;
- FaceTime and iMessage signed in with the same Apple Account;
- an eSIM from a supported carrier.
How do you set it up?
During setup of a new iPhone:
- Place both iPhones side by side.
- On the new iPhone, choose to use the number on this iPhone and another, then continue.
- Review the details and follow the prompts on both devices.
After setup, in Settings:
- On the new iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular and tap Set Up Cellular or Add eSIM.
- Choose to use the number on this iPhone and another.
- Pick which iPhone is the main one. “This iPhone” moves the main eSIM to the new phone, and “Other iPhone” keeps it on the current one.
- Follow the prompts on both devices.
What else changes day to day?
Your Apple Watch does not switch with the number, so pair it with the iPhone you use most. Wallet cards work on both phones, but items like transit passes and IDs may work on only one at a time. A passcode helps you control which device is active.
To turn it off, contact your carrier. Apple warns that deleting the eSIM from the iPhone alone may not stop carrier charges.
Is it worth paying for?
That depends on your setup. Handoff makes the most sense with the foldable. If you bought one in the iPhone Duo pre-order and keep another iPhone, one number across both saves you juggling two lines. If you are only upgrading and retiring the old phone, you do not need it, and our guide to transferring data to a new phone covers that.
The $5 versus $10 gap also tells you something. Carriers see the second device as a paid add-on, not a courtesy, and the price differs by who you pay. Before you sign up, ask whether the secondary eSIM counts as an extra line on your plan or a separate charge.
