Verizon says it will charge $10 a month for iPhone Handoff, the iOS 27 feature that lets one phone number work on two iPhones. The price is in Verizon's iPhone Duo pre-order release, published Oct. 16.
What it means for users
Verizon's announced price is double T-Mobile's $5: $120 a year against $60. It may be worthwhile if you use an iPhone Duo day to day and keep a second iPhone for other occasions, and you want one number on both. If you use only one iPhone, it adds nothing.
Verizon's release does not say whether the charge is added to a plan or whether any plan includes Handoff free.
What Verizon said
- Price: "$10/month on compatible iPhones models running iOS 27."
- Phones: compatible iPhone models on iOS 27, "including iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo." See our iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 comparison for that phone.
- Timing: "coming soon." Verizon gave no date.
- Switching: customers can change the active phone between the two devices at any time.
What you need
Apple's support page lists the requirements:
- Two iPhones on iOS 27 or later, on Wi-Fi, signed in to the same Apple Account.
- Messages in iCloud on, and FaceTime and iMessage signed in to that account.
- An eSIM from a carrier that supports Handoff. As of Oct. 16, it listed T-Mobile in the U.S. and Telekom in Germany, not Verizon.
- Unlocking either phone makes the number active there. It is active on only one iPhone at a time.
- One phone is the main iPhone. Some carrier services, such as Call Forwarding and Caller ID, can be managed only there. Apple says carrier fees might apply.
How it compares
MacRumors reports that T-Mobile charges $5 a month for Handoff. The same report says AT&T told CNET it sees "potential" in Handoff but is focused on "existing eSIM activation and transfer options," which suggests no imminent support. Apple's support page, linked above, separately lists T-Mobile as a supported carrier.
