Macrumors iconMacrumorsSep 2, 2026 ~1 min source read

iOS 27 Introduces New ‘iPhone Handoff’ Feature

During the setup process, you can choose which iPhone you want to be the main device that you use most often and which one you want to be the companion device. Apple says a user's main eSIM will remain on the main iPhone, while the companion iPhone will receive a companion eSIM, and this will enable you to switch between the devices back and forth while using the same phone number.

iOS 27 Introduces New ‘iPhone Handoff’ Feature

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During the setup process, you can choose which iPhone you want to be the main device that you use most often and which one you want to be the companion device.

Apple says a user's main eSIM will remain on the main iPhone, while the companion iPhone will receive a companion eSIM, and this will enable you to switch between the devices back and forth while using the...

Developers come to mind, as do, ahem, new-phone reviewers.

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The useful part

During the setup process, you can choose which iPhone you want to be the main device that you use most often and which one you want to be the companion device. Apple says a user's main eSIM will remain on the main iPhone, while the companion iPhone will receive a companion eSIM, and this will enable you to switch between the devices back and forth while using the same phone number. All cellular settings are managed on the main iPhone, and location sharing is based on whichever iPhone is actively using the phone number.

How it works

  • Hopefully they'll all adopt it as quickly as they did for, say, cellular Apple Watches.
  • I presume there are a lot of people in Cupertino who use multiple iPhones, too.

Example or evidence

  • Developers come to mind, as do, ahem, new-phone reviewers.

Details worth keeping

This sounds amazing for those of us who use multiple iPhones. It's not a common use case but it's not that unusual. The only downside is that it requires carrier support.

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