Apple Tests iOS 27 Handoff Feature That Supports Same Number on 2 iPhones

Apple is testing an iOS 27 iPhone Handoff feature that lets users share an eSIM between two iPhones and switch cellular service without changing phone numbers, as reported by MacRumors. The feature, which appears in Settings > Cellular, requires carrier support, with T-Mobile in the US and Deutsche Telekom in Germany possibly supporting it at launch. iOS 27 is expected to launch with the iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhone next week.

Apple is reportedly testing an iOS 27 iPhone Handoff feature that allows you to switch between two iPhones without changing your eSIM number. The feature was briefly mentioned on a slide during the WWDC 2026 /ai/165474/wwdc-2026-apples-7-biggest-ai-upgrades-ranked keynote, and an iPhone user recently spotted it on their device, MacRumors reports https://www.macrumors.com/2026/09/02/ios-27-iphone-handoff-feature/ . On the site’s forum, the same user also shared a video https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/heres-how-iphone-handoff-will-let-you-switch-between-two-iphone-devices-with-the-same-phone-number.2488350/ demonstrating how iPhone Handoff works. When available, users can enable iPhone Handoff in Settings Cellular . While setting it up, you’ll be asked to keep the iPhones close and choose which one retains the main eSIM and which one gets the companion eSIM. Only the main iPhone will be able to modify Cellular Settings from then on. The feature allows you to share your eSIM with another iPhone and switch between them as needed. Each time you unlock an iPhone, a notification will indicate that cellular service has been transferred to the currently active device. A support article https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coretelephony/iphone-quick-switch for developers also describes an “iPhone quick switch” feature that enables transfer of active services, “such as login credentials and persistent state from a formerly active iPhone to a newly active iPhone.” As with Apple’s original Handoff feature /apple-watch-series-4/119357/how-to-use-apple-handoff , this should allow you to pick up from where you left off on another device. Of course, Apple doesn’t control all aspects of the iPhone Handoff feature. You’ll be able to use the feature only if your carrier supports it. According to MacRumors, T-Mobile in the US and Deutsche Telekom in Germany might support the feature at launch. We should have more details about it soon. While iOS 27 /mobile-phones/166172/downloaded-the-ios-27-public-beta-do-these-6-things-first is still being tested with public and developer betas /operating-systems/166140/apple-launches-ios-27-public-beta-how-to-install-try-new-iphone-features , the stable version is expected to launch with the new iPhone 18 Pro https://au.pcmag.com/mobile-phones/119624/iphone-18-pro-surprise-and-shine-event-kicks-off-sept-9-what-we-expect-to-see and the foldable iPhone /mobile-phones/166893/iphone-ultra-apple-first-foldable-almost-here-everything-we-know sometime next week.