T-Mobile plans to charge $5 per month for Apple’s iPhone Handoff when the feature arrives with iOS 27. The software update is scheduled for September 14, and T-Mobile’s planned price emerged as first reported by Engadget.
iPhone Handoff lets a single phone number operate across two compatible iPhones. The service relies on eSIM technology, which means Apple needs participating carriers to enable it.
One number can move between two iPhones
Both devices must run iOS 27 or later, use the same Apple Account, and have FaceTime, iMessage, and Messages in iCloud enabled. Each eSIM also requires its own activation. Only one paired handset can be active at a time, with the active device switching when a user unlocks the other phone.
- Eligible plans can provide calls, messages, cellular data, hotspot service, Scam Shield, and T-Satellite across both handsets.
- Dual SIM use is supported when both eSIMs come from carriers that participate in the feature.
The $5 charge matters because iPhone Handoff places a carrier-controlled subscription layer on an Apple feature that extends a line’s cellular services to a second device. Activation remains enabled until the carrier deactivates it, giving T-Mobile ongoing control over access after setup.
Some Apple services stay tied to one device
Wallet payment cards and car keys may work on both paired iPhones. Some transit passes, identification cards, and corporate badges may remain limited to one handset, however. An Apple Watch also does not automatically transfer between the two phones.
Key rollout details remain unresolved. The available summaries do not identify all supported T-Mobile plans or iPhone models, or whether the $5 fee applies per paired device, line, or account. Reports also conflict on launch availability: one identifies T-Mobile as the only U.S. launch provider, while another includes Deutsche Telekom customers in Germany. Support from additional carriers and markets remains unclear.
This article was produced with AI assistance from multi-source reporting and is published under our editorial standards.
