iOS 27 Introduces New 'iPhone Handoff' Feature

[ipedro]

I have multiple Apple Watches that switch seamlessly and have been hoping for this to come to iPhone. When at work, I use a larger screen device, but when going out, I prefer something smaller.

In fact, it would be even better if Handover worked between iPhones and iPads. An iPad mini as my large screen device at work and an iPhone when I go out. I'd rather not have to have a phone and an iPad.

 

[kevink2]

What’s the use case for this?

Buy two iPhones and make Apple more rich?

I can start to use my 12 Pro again for when I want to carry a smaller phone along with my normal 16 PM. Presumably once Visible supports it.

 

[kevink2]

I have multiple Apple Watches that switch seamlessly and have been hoping for this to come to iPhone. When at work, I use a larger screen device, but when going out, I prefer something smaller.

In fact, it would be even better if Handover worked between iPhones and iPads. An iPad mini as my large screen device at work and an iPhone when I go out. I'd rather not have to have a phone and an iPad.

What carrier allows you to use multiple watches with one number?

 

[jakeowens]

What’s the use case for this?

Buy two iPhones and make Apple more rich?

When I travel and there are parties or locations that are less safe or maybe more or a risk to damaging my phone (like camping) I like to use an older phone. Also when I travel if my phone breaks or I lose it, it's extremely important to have a secondary phone to rely on so it's a really great feature to have.

 

[fede777]

What’s the use case for this?

Buy two iPhones and make Apple more rich?

I'd use it, I have a 17 and a spare 12 mini, I'd love to use the 12 mini when I go to places, especially at night, that might get my phone snatched haha.

 

[kevink2]

I know Apple doesn't want to step on the carriers' toes, but still hoping someday they'll offer a way to "park" your number with Apple and then just use data plans (that are number agnostic) to run talk, text, and data.

Numbers being "locked" to a specific carrier (and requiring porting to move) is a huge lock-in that increases price and decreases competition. Having numbers be more independent of carrier plans would be massive.

Kind of like how some people use Google Voice, though that doesn't work with some sites due to counting as a VoIP service.

 

[klasma]

I would love to have an iPhone 13 mini for the weekends and the upcoming ultra for weekdays. I love the idea of having a small phone that I am less tempted to use when I am with my family and away from work. That said, this probably won't come to the 13 mini in which case I have no use for it. 😆

Since the iPhone 13 mini supports eSIM, and since the feature appears to just use regular eSIMs where the switchable call routing happens carrier-side (so not using any special iPhone hardware feature), there's no reason why it shouldn't work, unless Apple artificially limits it to newer models.

 

[Sosab123]

Plan on dual using iphone 17e and Ultra, If I get it before XX launches. This will come in handy.

 

[ipedro]

What carrier allows you to use multiple watches with one number?

Huh? That's a limitation where you are? I have cellular Watches but their phone numbers are just a technical number that are tied to my iPhone phone number which is used for phone calls. When someone calls my iPhone number, the Watch I have active (on my wrist) rings, even if my phone isn't with me. I switch between Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 5 and 10.

I'm on Bell in Canada

 

[Macalicious2011]

I like this a lot. Considering buying an iPhone ultra for work reasons but don’t want a seperate number, iCloud account, extra admin. This will be perfect. Especially as I might not want to use the ultra everywhere but sometimes my 15 pro instead.

Likewise for going on holiday I could take a much cheaper iPhone that’s a clone of the main one.😀

 

[OldNewMBP]

*Sigh* Here comes the lawsuits, if they happen.

 

[WiscoNicky]

I would love to have an iPhone 13 mini for the weekends and the upcoming ultra for weekdays. I love the idea of having a small phone that I am less tempted to use when I am with my family and away from work. That said, this probably won't come to the 13 mini in which case I have no use for it. 😆

I hope the 13 mini is supported. I think it can do eSim.

 

[Biro]

What’s the use case for this?

Buy two iPhones and make Apple more rich?

My main iPhone would be a Pro that I’d use most days during the day. For others, it might be the Ultra. At night or on weekends I could hand off service to an iPhone Air that I can slip into slacks, shorts, a sport coat or even a tuxedo.

 

[jimscard]

Apple has added a new "iPhone Handoff" feature to iOS 27 that will allow you to switch between two iPhones while using the same phone number on each device.

This functionality was briefly mentioned during the WWDC 2026 keynote in June, on a slide that listed hundreds of new features coming in iOS 27 and corresponding software updates, but Apple never shared any further details at the time.

MacRumors forum member pdfu today shared a video that demonstrates how the feature will work, using two simulated iPhones running in Xcode 27's Device Hub.

"iPhone Handoff" can be set up from the Settings app, under the Cellular menu. During the setup process, you can choose which iPhone you want to be the main device that you use most often and which one you want to be the companion device.

Apple says a user's main eSIM will remain on the main iPhone, while the companion iPhone will receive a companion eSIM, and this will enable you to switch between the devices back and forth while using the same phone number.

All cellular settings are managed on the main iPhone, and location sharing is based on whichever iPhone is actively using the phone number.

In addition to needing two iPhones running iOS 27, "iPhone Handoff" will seemingly require carrier support. The forum post mentions that T-Mobile in the U.S. and Deutsche Telekom in Germany might be among the first carriers to offer the feature.

Following three months of beta testing, iOS 27 is expected to be released later this month, so we will likely hear more about this feature soon.

Article Link: iOS 27 Introduces New 'iPhone Handoff' Feature

Sounds like a useful feature for people who travel to sketchy areas and would rather leave their good phone home. While I’ve used T-Mobile DIGITS for this in the past (and still do with my Apple Watch), it would be great to have a switching system that let me use a 17e or something while traveling internationally.

 

[s1m]

Having read the use cases described in this thread I really don't see the appeal in this for me. I kind of like the idea of having a smaller phone when I don't need my iPhone air or don't want to risk my iPhone air in some areas but for me that is a very limited use case - I would rather have a dumb phone for those times so not an iPhone at all. I actually like having two phone numbers running off one phone (work and personal) and all my work data is quarantined to apps managed by the company.

Good luck to those that see the benefit of this.

 

[usmaak]

Now I can start using my iPhone 14 Pro Max when I want a larger sized phone.

 

[mmacrumor]

This feature will never come to Australia. If Telstra has plans to support it. I am sure they will charge a nominal fee of $50 a month on their $70 small plan

 

[Evning]

I know why you need this.

Have your primary phone with all your info with your main esim

Have a secondary phone with very minimal of your info with the same number through iphone handoff.

Leave your main phone at home, bring your secondary phone when you are traveling to countries that require you hand over your devices for customs inspection when you travel. You can pretend this is your dedicated device.

This feature will save lives in this increasingly incredibly pointless global state of affairs that we now live in.

 

[It’s always something]

I know why you need this.

Have your primary phone with all your info with your main esim

Have a secondary phone with very minimal of your info with the same number through iphone handoff.

Leave your main phone at home, bring your secondary phone when you are traveling to countries that require you hand over your devices for customs inspection when you travel. You can pretend this is your dedicated device.

This feature will save lives in this increasingly incredibly pointless global state of affairs that we now live in.

This is also what I immediately thought of when reading the article

 

[Quixotic3]

Not sure how the handoff will work but my use case would be leave a phone permanently attached to the car to just handle CarPlay. I wouldn't have to deal with cords or Bluetooth or where to mount it or Pennsylvania's new hands-free driving law, known as Paul Miller's Law where you cannot hold a phone or support it with any part of your body while driving or it overheating etc.

 

[rafaelclaycon]

I know Apple doesn't want to step on the carriers' toes, but still hoping someday they'll offer a way to "park" your number with Apple and then just use data plans (that are number agnostic) to run talk, text, and data.

Numbers being "locked" to a specific carrier (and requiring porting to move) is a huge lock-in that increases price and decreases competition. Having numbers be more independent of carrier plans would be massive.

That’s absolutely doable in Brasil btw. You can request to port your number any time for any reason. You request it to the new carrier and a date for the cutoff and switch is given. Laws. What you need is a consumer-friendly law.

 

[rafaelclaycon]

This has Fold written all over it.

 

[ls1dreams]

I wonder how this is going to work with carrier locks. My biggest headache is having a phone carrier locked to AT&T that I can't travel internationally with easily because it will be under 3yr installment payments being subsidized.

AT&T international roaming plans are absurdly expensive vs local sims, like 10x more.

 

[AshleyHredone]

It’s a shame some sort of ‘eSIM sharing’ can’t be done in the UK with regards to Apple Watch. My main number is on eSiM in the UK via a MVNO operator that provides excellent coverage and tariff. However if I want an Apple Watch with cellular I have to go to one of the just four main network providers @3x the cost PLUS further ££s for the Watch SIM.
This would more than triple my monthly bill for the same coverage.
It’s ridiculous in UK.

 

[Baritone_Guy]

If this includes iMessage staying in sync, I could see myself using a primary iPhone Ultra alongside a 13 mini with USB-C case.

Also, T-Mobile has offered this for years as a feature called DIGITS, so it would make sense that they’re expected to support it. I wonder if it’ll be a paid feature.

This is not Digits. I have it. Digits is more like a different virtual phone number that requires an app to use. It is not SIM related.

Sounds like a useful feature for people who travel to sketchy areas and would rather leave their good phone home. While I’ve used T-Mobile DIGITS for this in the past (and still do with my Apple Watch), it would be great to have a switching system that let me use a 17e or something while traveling internationally.

It would still be a different number. We will have to see, but I suspect it will operate as more of a clone. The other device could have a completely different app set from the master.