Will Rogers, Telus, Bell Make You Pay for iPhone Handoff Like T-Mobile?

T-Mobile will charge customers $5 US per month to use Apple’s new iPhone Handoff feature, raising a question for Canadians who want to switch between two iPhones: will Rogers, Telus and Bell add a monthly fee too, if and when the feature lands in Canada?

The U.S. carrier confirmed the price alongside its announcement about Apple’s latest devices. “T‑Mobile is introducing the feature at $5/month,” the company said. That works out to an extra $60 US (about $83 CAD) per year.

T-Mobile and Germany’s Telekom are the two carriers that support iPhone Handoff at launch.

Telekom includes iPhone Handoff through its MultiSIM service, which costs €6.95 per month (about $11 CAD) as an add-on. Its current MagentaMobil L plan includes one MultiSIM at no extra charge, while MagentaMobil XL includes two. Canadian carriers could take a similar approach, charging separately on some plans while including the feature in higher-priced packages.

Apple says iPhone Handoff requires two iPhones running iOS 27 or later, connected to Wi-Fi and signed into the same Apple Account, with Messages in iCloud enabled and an eSIM from a supported carrier. Users can activate it during setup or later through Settings. Unlocking either phone moves the shared number, calls, voicemail, messages and Find My location to that device, with only one iPhone active on the number at a time.

There are some limitations according to Apple’s iPhone Handoff documentation. Your Apple Watch stays paired to one iPhone, certain Wallet items may only work on one device, and third-party apps may require another sign-in or additional verification. Apple also says customers must contact their carrier to cancel iPhone Handoff, as deleting the eSIM alone may not stop monthly charges.

For someone buying an iPhone Duo while keeping their existing iPhone, that could make switching between the two more convenient without managing a second number.

T-Mobile says the secondary phone supports calls, texts, data and mobile hotspot, along with Scam Shield and T-Satellite on eligible plans. The feature is accessible through iPhone settings on devices running iOS 27, which is set to land next week for the masses.

So, what about Canada? Rogers, Telus and Bell are absent from Apple’s iPhone Handoff page that lists supported carriers for now. Installing iOS 27 alone won’t enable iPhone Handoff as it requires carrier support.

Given what we’re seeing right now, a monthly fee seems likely if Rogers, Telus and Bell offer the feature. T-Mobile is already charging for it, and Apple notes that carrier fees may apply. And if Freedom Mobile ends up supporting iPhone Handoff? We would hope they would offer it for free, as they continue to make moves opposite of the Big 3.