T-Mobile charges $5 monthly fee for Apple iPhone Handoff

Smartphone owners will run a single SIM card across two separate mobile devices upon the launch of iOS 27 on September 14.

Apple created the iPhone Handoff feature for iOS 27 to enable mobile customers of T-Mobile in the United States and Deutsche Telekom in Germany to operate a single shared eSIM telephone number across two separate hardware devices. T-Mobile confirmed an extra charge of $5 per month for subscribers who choose to activate the dual-device capability on their accounts. The added fee applies despite previous marketing promises from the carrier to eliminate recurring monthly line surcharges.

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Subscribers cannot operate both handsets on the shared line at the exact same moment. Customers switch devices at will. T-Mobile directs all incoming calls, voicemail records, text messages and Find My tracking services directly to whichever iPhone the user marks active. Installed third-party applications and synchronized iCloud records update across both units automatically.

Full coverage: Latest News (EN)

Configuration begins in the Settings menu of an existing phone or during initial setup of a replacement iPhone. Owners navigate to the Cellular section on the newer handset to tap Set up Cellular or Add eSIM. The configuration path requires choosing an iPhone, pressing Continue and tapping Transfer. Users follow prompts on both screens and unlock the target iPhone to complete the handoff. A banner reading “Switched to this iPhone” displays at the top of the panel to signal the active line transfer.

Operation of iPhone Handoff requires two devices linked to an identical Apple ID and updated to iOS 27. Apple delivers the iOS 27 software upgrade to eligible handsets on September 14.