Verizon plans to charge US$10 a month for iPhone Handoff, the feature that lets you move one phone number between two iPhones. That's US$120 a year at the announced rate, before any applicable taxes or fees, for the convenience of choosing which handset to carry.
The important buying detail is timing: the carrier still describes support as coming soon. If you're considering a second phone specifically for this feature, wait for confirmed availability and eligibility on your account before spending money on the hardware.
One number, one active phone
Verizon's iPhone Duo announcement confirms the monthly price and names the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro as examples of compatible devices running iOS 27. It doesn't give an exact Handoff launch date. The announcement's October 23 store date refers to the Duo itself, so don't treat that as a promise that the carrier feature will switch on alongside it.
MacRumors' report on the new fee highlights the cost for people who keep two iPhones. But before comparing monthly charges, decide what you actually need the second handset to do.
Under Apple's Handoff setup guide, the number is active on only one iPhone at a time. Unlocking the phone you want to use moves the number to it. Both devices need iOS 27 or later, the same Apple Account, Wi-Fi during setup and the required messaging settings. A supporting carrier is essential.
That makes this a personal phone-switching option. It isn't a way to give two people separate, simultaneously active phones under one number. If you want a family member to use the spare independently, start with a different plan rather than assuming Handoff covers that arrangement.
Check what stays behind
Apple also says your Apple Watch doesn't automatically move its pairing when you switch phones. Some Wallet items, including certain transit passes and IDs, may work on only one device at a time. Third-party apps follow their own syncing and sign-in rules.
Before paying, make a short list of what you depend on when leaving home: your watch, travel pass and essential apps. Ask whether that routine still works with the handset you intend to carry. The recurring fee is easier to judge against a specific convenience than against the appeal of having two phones ready.
There's one final billing detail worth remembering. Apple says deleting an eSIM may leave carrier charges running; you must contact the carrier to turn off iPhone Handoff. If you eventually try Verizon's service and stop using it, request cancellation and check the next bill. For now, keep the US$120 annual add-on in your budget and wait for an actual activation date.