iOS 27 includes a feature that Apple only mentioned on a slide at WWDC: iPhone Handoff. This allows two iPhones to be used with the same phone number and switched between them. The concept has been available in Germany for some time now – albeit under different conditions.
The feature surfaced in a forum post with a video demonstrating its functionality using two simulated iPhones in the Xcode 27 Device Hub. Apple had included the name in June on the slide at WWDC that listed several hundred minor new features, but didn't provide any further details afterward. With the release approaching - iOS 27 reached its eighth and final developer beta at the end of August —the entry is now taking shape.
Key Facts at a Glance
- iPhone Handoff allows you to operate two iPhones under the same phone number and switch between them.
- The function is set up in the settings under "Mobile communications", with a main device and a companion device.
- The main device retains the primary eSIM and manages all mobile network settings.
- Location sharing depends on which of the two devices is currently using the phone number.
- This feature requires support from the mobile network operator.
This is how the setup works
The process starts in the settings under the cellular section. There, you specify which of the two iPhones should be the primary device – that is, the device that is predominantly used in everyday life – and which one will serve as a secondary device.
The primary eSIM remains on the main device, while the companion device receives a second, assigned eSIM. Both operate under the same phone number, and switching works in both directions.
All mobile network settings are managed on the primary device. Location sharing depends on which device is currently actively using the number – so if you're using the companion device, the location from that device is being shared.
What the proof is worth
The image is not from a device, but from the simulator: The video runs on two virtual iPhones in Xcode. The sequence and labels are therefore taken from the released beta and are not a concept, but the interaction with a real mobile network cannot be demonstrated in this way.
The name itself is covered by Apple's own slide. What's missing is a description of the company and which providers are participating. The forum post mentions T-Mobile in the US and Deutsche Telekom in Germany as possible first providers – this is the author's assumption, not an announcement.
This principle has long been established in Germany
Having a phone number on multiple devices has been available in Germany for years, only it's called something different: MultiSIM at Telekom, OneNumber at Vodafone, Multicard at o2. So far, it's mainly used for the Apple Watch with cellular connectivity, but it also works with a second phone.
It's not free. Vodafone charges €5.99 per month for OneNumber Flex, plus a €19.99 activation fee, and allows up to nine additional SIM cards under one number. With other network operators, the price depends on the plan; larger packages often include at least one additional SIM card.
More important than the price is the difference in functionality. With a MultiSIM, all devices ring simultaneously, and you only decide which one to use when you answer. Apple's approach is different: One device is active, the other is waiting, and the switch is triggered intentionally.
| iPhone Handoff | MultiSIM from network operators | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic principle | Switching between two iPhones | one number on multiple devices simultaneously |
| Incoming call | lands on the active device | All devices ring simultaneously |
| Second device | second iPhone | Smartwatch, tablet, notebook, second phone |
| Furnishings | in the iPhone settings | Booking with the provider |
| Ongoing costs | – | at Vodafone €5.99 per month |
The obstacle lies with the network operator, not with Apple
Technically, the setup is straightforward: two eSIM profiles, one phone number, and a switching logic. However, all of this requires the provider to issue a second profile for the same number – and that's currently a paid add-on. Apple can implement the feature, but the mobile network operator has to activate it.
It's clear who benefits: those who use two iPhones for work and personal purposes save themselves the hassle of juggling two phone numbers. Those who only occasionally use a second device are paying for a convenience that simply switching eSIMs provides for free – our guide to eSIM activation on the iPhone explains how.
What will become visible with the release
iOS 27 will be released later this month. Only then will it become clear whether the menu item will even appear in this country, or whether it will remain grayed out without a suitable plan. The other new features related to telephony and eSIM are summarized in our overview of Phone and FaceTime in iOS 27.
Would you be willing to pay almost six euros a month to switch between two iPhones – or is the convenience not worth it to you as long as an eSIM can be transferred manually? Tell us in the comments how you manage two devices today.
