Michael JohnsonA pair of iPhones can share one phone number, but Verizon will charge a separate monthly fee for the service. In its October 16, 2026 announcement, the carrier set the price of iPhone Handoff at $10 a month and said the feature is intended for compatible models running iOS 27. Verizon has not yet announced when enrollment will begin.
The feature is designed for someone who uses two phones and wants to choose which one is active depending on the situation—for example, carrying a compact iPhone Duo while traveling and taking an iPhone 18 Pro to work. According to Verizon, the number and access to the carrier’s network stay the same, while users can switch the active device. This is a separate carrier service; Apple’s standard Handoff feature lets users continue a task across devices.
What iPhone Handoff does
Verizon describes iPhone Handoff as a way to use one number on two compatible iPhones running iOS 27 and switch the active phone. The carrier gives the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro as examples. That means phone compatibility and carrier support for the service are important requirements.
The name is easy to confuse with Apple’s existing Handoff feature. It lets users continue a task—such as writing an email—on another Apple device, provided the devices are configured for it. Verizon’s iPhone Handoff is for mobile service: it lets users use one number on two compatible phones and choose which one is active.
Price and launch timing
Verizon’s announced price is $10 a month, or $120 over 12 months at that monthly rate. The carrier says the service will be available on compatible iPhones running iOS 27, but has not yet published a launch date or step-by-step enrollment instructions. Before changing plans or buying a second phone, check the current terms with the carrier: the price alone does not reveal which plans qualify or exactly how switching works.
T-Mobile has also announced support for iPhone Handoff: according to the company’s announcement, customers will be able to use their T-Mobile number on two compatible iPhones and choose the active device. If you’re comparing carriers, check the price and enrollment rules with each one separately; Verizon’s terms do not necessarily apply to T-Mobile.
Who might benefit from the paid service
The fee may be worthwhile if two iPhones are regularly used in different situations and the user wants to keep one number on both. In that case, compare the annual cost of $120 with how often you need to switch your primary phone. If you switch rarely, using a single phone may be simpler.
Before signing up, check three things: whether both models are supported; whether they are running iOS 27; and whether the service is available on your plan and the switching process is clear. Verizon’s announcement confirms the price, system version, and general principle of how the service works; the company has not yet provided a launch date or detailed enrollment rules.
Verizon has priced iPhone Handoff at $10 a month for the “one number, two iPhones” setup. The service is most useful for people who regularly switch between phones and want to keep one number; for someone with a single primary device, the monthly fee may not be worth it.
Illustration: two iPhones, one number, and switching the active device.