iPhone Handoff is coming with iOS 27, giving users the ability to switch between two iPhones that share the same phone number. Apple briefly referenced the capability during its WWDC keynote in June, but stopped short of explaining how it would work. With the software update arriving later this month, more concrete details have finally surfaced.
A demo clip running inside Xcode 27’s Device Hub shows the setup process in action. The feature allows you to pair two iPhones together, designating one as your primary device and the other as its companion. Once linked, the two phones operate under a single number, letting you move between them without swapping SIMs or juggling separate lines.
How iPhone Handoff Works
The core idea behind iPhone Handoff is continuity. You choose one iPhone as your main phone and set the second as a companion. From there, the same phone number carries across both devices, so calls and connectivity follow you regardless of which handset you are carrying. The Device Hub tool visible in Xcode 27 demonstrates the pairing flow that owners will use to connect the two phones.
Why Apple Is Launching It Now
The timing lines up with the expected debut of the foldable iPhone Ultra. A foldable device is anticipated to be both bulky and expensive, and users may not want to carry such a premium handset everywhere they go. iPhone Handoff addresses that scenario directly by letting owners leave the larger device at home and rely on a lighter companion iPhone while keeping the same number active on both.
This approach effectively turns a second iPhone into a flexible backup or everyday alternative, without the complications that usually come with running one number across multiple devices. For anyone weighing the practicality of a high-end foldable, the ability to pair it with a more portable phone could reshape how they use their hardware day to day.
iOS 27 is set to arrive later this month, and iPhone Handoff will be among the features included in that release.
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Image: theverge.com
