T-Mobile to Charge $5 a Month for iOS 27 iPhone Handoff
T-Mobile will charge customers $5 per month to use iPhone Handoff, a new eSIM feature in iOS 27 that lets the same phone number work on two separate iPhones. At launch, only T-Mobile users in the U.S. and Deutsche Telekom users in Germany can use the feature, as it requires carrier support.
Background
iPhone Handoff is part of Apple's upcoming iOS 27, scheduled to launch on Monday, September 14. The feature allows a single phone number to be shared across two compatible iPhones, with users choosing which device is active at any given time. T-Mobile's pricing plan makes it the first carrier to charge for this capability, which Apple designed to require carrier participation.
The feature works with two iPhones running iOS 27 or later, both connected to Wi-Fi and signed into the same Apple Account. Users must also have FaceTime, iMessage, and Messages in iCloud enabled. It can be activated during new iPhone setup or later through the Settings app.
How It Works
When iPhone Handoff is enabled, one iPhone serves as the main iPhone and the other becomes a secondary device sharing the same number. Switching between the two happens automatically whenever you unlock one of the devices. The phone number remains active on only one iPhone at a time — not both simultaneously.
Calls, texts, data, mobile hotspot, Scam Shield, and T-Satellite all work on both devices with an eligible plan. The feature also supports Dual SIM setups, as long as both eSIMs come from carriers that support iPhone Handoff. In that case, both eSIMs switch together when you unlock your iPhone, and each eSIM must be configured separately.
Requirements and Compatibility
To use iPhone Handoff, you need two iPhones running iOS 27 or later, connected to Wi-Fi, and logged into the same Apple Account with FaceTime, iMessage, and Messages in iCloud turned on. The feature requires carrier support, and at launch only T-Mobile (U.S.) and Deutsche Telekom (Germany) provide it.
Apple notes that payment cards in the Wallet app and car keys work across both iPhones. However, some Wallet items like transit passes, IDs, or corporate badges may only function on one iPhone at a time. iPhone Handoff does not transfer an Apple Watch from one iPhone to another — that remains tied to a single device.
Pricing and Availability
T-Mobile's $5 per month charge applies to customers who want iPhone Handoff on eligible plans. Once set up, the feature stays activated until you contact your carrier to turn it off. Apple has published a support document with further details on configuration and limitations.
The new iPhone 18 Pro models launch on Friday, September 18, just days after iOS 27's release. This timing suggests iPhone Handoff will be a headline feature for the latest hardware, though it also works with existing iPhones that support iOS 27. As the first carrier to offer this capability, T-Mobile is positioning itself as a pioneer in multi-device connectivity — at a price.