The two-iPhone dilemma
You see, even months before Apple launched the iPhone Duo, some were already speculating that this feature would come at just the right time. That’s because we now have not just one, but two new flagship iPhones — and they’re quite different from each other. Most people will probably choose one or the other, especially since they’re both expensive. But Apple knows there’s a group of enthusiasts who will likely end up with both — and I’m one of them.
The iPhone Duo is by far the most exciting product of this iPhone season. It’s a brand new form factor that opens up new possibilities. Even if you’re not a fan of foldables, chances are you’ll at least want to see this device in person to get a feel for it.
The thing is, while it costs the most, the Duo isn’t exactly the best iPhone in the lineup. Because it’s so thin, Apple had to make some compromises. There’s no Face ID or telephoto camera on the back. For “pro” users, this could be a significant drawback. But the Duo alone has advantages over other iPhones, and that’s where some people might want to get both — maybe a Duo for professional work, and an 18 Pro for fun.
iPhone Handoff makes it easy to switch between two phones without needing a separate number.
Roman Loyola / Foundry
But having two iPhones has historically been a nightmare. I know this because I already have two. Even if you use iCloud, there’s still one thing that doesn’t sync between them: your phone number. That means you need two different phone lines to keep two iPhones with you. Not only is this inconvenient, but it also adds a significant extra cost on your monthly wireless bill.
iPhone Handoff is here to change that. It finally allows two iPhones to share the same phone line. But how does it work?
How Apple solved the problem
As I mentioned earlier, the concept of iPhone Handoff pretty much works the same an iPhone-cellular Apple Watch tandem. Currently, if you have an Apple Watch with LTE or 5G, it already uses your iPhone’s SIM card. Essentially, it detects when your iPhone is out of range and automatically swaps your eSIM to the Apple Watch. This lets you stay connected to your 5G network to receive calls, send messages, and so on. As soon as your iPhone comes back within range, your SIM card switches back to it. Everything happens automatically and is invisible to the user.
