iPhone Handoff in iOS 27 Moves Your Number Between Devices

Apple iPhone Handoff in iOS 27: Definition and Core Function

iPhone Handoff is a new feature introduced in the iOS 27 beta that allows a single phone number to move between two iPhones, depending on which device the user is actively using. Developed by Apple, this feature is categorized as a cellular and eSIM management tool. It solves the problem of needing to manage multiple devices with separate numbers by enabling a seamless transfer of the user's primary number between two Apple smartphones.

According to the source material, the feature is not a data-transfer tool for migrating from an older iPhone to a newer one. Instead, it allows your phone number to "jump between two iPhones, depending on which one you’re actively using at any given time." The setup process requires the phone number to run via eSIM rather than a conventional physical SIM card, and it necessitates specific telco support.

Key Facts

This section provides a summary of the known specifications and requirements for the iPhone Handoff feature as detailed in the source material.

How Does iPhone Handoff Work?

iPhone Handoff works by allowing users to start the setup process from a secondary phone, which then receives a companion eSIM to support the feature. Once configured, the user's phone number will move between the two iPhones depending on which device is unlocked, and this also determines which device shares its location when the user initiates location sharing.

MacRumors reports that one of its forumers shared a video of the feature in action, although it involves two simulated iPhones running in Xcode 27’s Device Hub. The process requires telco support, with the forumer mentioning T-Mobile in the US and Germany’s Telekom Deutschland specifically. A notification is displayed when the user unlocks one device and the handoff takes place. While the forumer did not mention it, the report notes that cellular settings are managed on the primary phone.

iPhone Handoff requires a companion eSIM on the secondary device and active support from carriers like T-Mobile or Telekom Deutschland to transfer the phone number based on which iPhone is unlocked.

How Does iPhone Handoff Compare to Other Features?

iPhone Handoff is conceptually similar to WhatsApp’s linked devices feature, but it operates at the cellular level for the user's phone number. The source material raises questions about how the two systems will interact, since WhatsApp ties the account primarily to the device with the phone number and designates everything else as linked devices.

The key difference is that iPhone Handoff moves the actual phone number between devices, whereas WhatsApp's feature links an account to a primary device. The interaction between these two systems remains unclear, as the source material does not provide specific data on how they will coexist.

Unlike WhatsApp's linked devices feature, which ties an account to a primary device, iPhone Handoff transfers the actual phone number between two iPhones based on which one is actively unlocked.

Who Is This For?

This feature is designed for users who own two iPhones and want to use a single phone number across both devices without manually swapping SIM cards. It is particularly relevant for individuals who use a secondary iPhone for work or personal purposes and want calls and messages to follow them based on which device they are actively using.

The ideal user is someone who has access to a carrier that supports the feature, such as T-Mobile in the US or Telekom Deutschland in Germany. As of the source material's publication, the availability of the feature with other carriers is unknown.

iPhone Handoff is intended for dual-iPhone owners who require a single phone number to be active on whichever device they are currently using, provided their carrier supports the feature.

Common Questions

What is the difference between iPhone Handoff and standard data transfer?

iPhone Handoff is not a data-transfer tool for migrating from an older iPhone to a newer one. Instead, it allows your phone number to jump between two iPhones, depending on which one you’re actively using at any given time.

Which carriers support the iPhone Handoff feature?

The source material mentions two carriers specifically: T-Mobile in the US and Germany’s Telekom Deutschland. The report does not confirm support from any other carriers, so availability with other providers is currently unknown.

What are the requirements to set up iPhone Handoff?

Setting up iPhone Handoff requires that you run your phone number via eSIM rather than a conventional physical SIM. The process starts from the secondary phone, which will then get a companion eSIM to support the feature, and requires telco support.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on a report from Lowyat.NET, which synthesizes information from two MacRumors sources: a forum thread and a news article. The original source material was published on September 2, 2026, and details a video shared by a MacRumors forumer showing the feature in action in Xcode 27’s Device Hub.

The primary sources referenced are:

• MacRumors forum thread: Here's How iPhone Handoff Will Let You Switch Between Two iPhone Devices With the Same Phone Number
• MacRumors article: iOS 27 iPhone Handoff Feature

No data was translated or converted. This article was last updated on September 3, 2026.