Zoya Cochran is the Managing Editor for TechBuzz by AT&T and the AT&T Business Insights blog.

There&rsquo;s nothing quite like a family gathering. It can mark a joyous occasion full of catching up, inside jokes, and plenty of food. Although a large family gathering is a great time to bond, it can also be stressful at times.

A 2024 American Psychological Association poll found that 35% of Americans identified challenging family dynamics as a source of stress during the holidays&mdash;a peak season for family get-togethers.&sup1; There are ways, however, to tame nerves for these family events.&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>
	Prioritize personal time and self-care before and during family visits.
	</li>
	<li>
	Practice gratitude for the opportunity to spend time with family before gatherings.
	</li>
	<li>
	Lean on nature and your household to calm you during stressful periods of visits.
	</li>
	<li>
	Be present and connect with loved ones during the event.
	</li>
	<li>
	Wind down with self-aftercare and reconnect with feelings of gratitude.
	</li>
</ul>

Have a plan to prepare yourself and remember that for both hosts and visitors, self-care and mindset matter. Connecting with yourself can make all the difference in how you connect with your family.&nbsp;

<h2>Why family gatherings can feel stressful</h2>

Any family gathering requires at least a little planning. The larger the family, the more complex things can get&mdash;even if it&rsquo;s just logistics. On top of that, every family has its own unique dynamics. While some family members interact with ease, others have complex histories, clashing beliefs, and other challenges that can make coming together difficult.&nbsp;

Travel&mdash;even if it&rsquo;s just across town&mdash;can add more pressure. And traveling across the country or abroad means you may be trying to figure out <a href="https://www.att.com/blog/how-to-save-money-while-traveling">how to save money while traveling,</a> as well as dealing with the unpredictability of traffic and transit systems during <a href="https://www.att.com/blog/peak-season-travel">peak season travel</a>.

[Read: <a href="https://www.att.com/blog/how-to-travel-on-a-budget">How to travel on a budget</a>]

What if you&rsquo;re hosting? You&rsquo;ll need to get your place ready or book a venue, accommodate dietary and health needs, and navigate diverse needs&mdash;and maybe some strong opinions.&nbsp;

All of this can stir up tough emotions and make family gatherings stressful, which affects not just your mood and mental clarity, but the quality of your experience. However, there&rsquo;s good news: you can reduce stress by prioritizing self-care and planning&mdash;and amplify the joy of connecting.&nbsp;

<h2>Step 1: Connect with gratitude and love</h2>

Let&rsquo;s be real: if you face challenging family dynamics, it can be difficult to feel gratitude or love at times. So, when you&rsquo;re feeling stressed, it&rsquo;s easy to say, &ldquo;just breathe.&rdquo; While that&rsquo;s a great start, how you breathe can make a big difference. It&rsquo;s helpful to aim for heart coherence.&nbsp;

Heart coherence is a state of cooperative alignment between the heart, mind, emotions, and physical systems.&sup2; It can help you synchronize your heart with your thoughts, which may be racing about what&rsquo;s stressing you. Focusing on positive emotions like gratitude and love can help create this heart-mind connection.&nbsp;

As you breathe, focus on the area around your heart&mdash;the center of your chest. Then take slow, deep breaths at a pace that&rsquo;s comfortable for you.&sup3; If you need help staying focused, there are many breathing and meditation apps you can download on your <a href="https://www.att.com/buy/phones/">smartphone</a>.

You&rsquo;re about to mix and mingle with your loved ones. To give them your best, first connect with yourself.&nbsp;

<h2 id="step-2-connect-with-yourself">Step 2: Connect with yourself&nbsp;</h2>

Before the big day (or the first day) of connecting with your family, it&rsquo;s a good idea to first connect with yourself. Take some time to set aside logistics, planning, personalities, and anything else that may be weighing on you. Even if you&rsquo;re super excited about what&rsquo;s to come, set that aside too. Give yourself some true &ldquo;you&rdquo; time.

What does that look like? Maybe get a massage or a manicure (yes, guys, we&rsquo;re talking to you, too). If that&rsquo;s not in your budget, take a long bath or a hot shower. But what if the kids would never let you do that? Got it&mdash;get creative and find ways to keep them entertained&mdash;something you likely have plenty of experience with. It&rsquo;s worth pulling out all the stops so you can relax before diving into activities with your extended family.

Remember, you&rsquo;re worth the effort&mdash;and your family will appreciate the refreshed you. A little fresh air can help, too.&nbsp;

<h2 id="step-3-connect-with-nature">Step 3: Connect with nature</h2>

Connecting with nature is a great way to reduce tension in your mind and body. When you&rsquo;re stressed, your body can go into fight-or-flight mode and release the stress hormone cortisol. That can make you feel anxious or irritable and might make it harder to enjoy your family gathering.&nbsp;

Some studies suggest that all you need is as little as 15 minutes outdoors to help lower cortisol and boost the feel-good hormone serotonin.4 You might also try standing barefoot on the earth (a practice called earthing, a form of grounding). Research indicates that it may help reduce stress and balance your nervous system.5

On a side note, start these practices well before you have a big event like a family gathering. Staying in the practice of connecting with yourself and nature can help keep stress from building up, so there&rsquo;s less to release when you need to.&nbsp;

<h2 id="step-4-connect-with-your-household">Step 4: Connect with your household</h2>

Many of us have felt&mdash;or seen someone feel&mdash;unsupported during family events. We all have to remember at times that no one&rsquo;s a mind reader. It&rsquo;s important to communicate our needs so everyone knows what&rsquo;s expected of them&mdash;this can go a long way toward reducing frustration.&nbsp;

Set yourself up for success by deciding ahead of time who does what and communicating it early. Make it fun with a scoring system or small incentives. First one to finish their task? Give them a special treat.&nbsp;

Do you have family members who like to have their fingers in your dishes while you&rsquo;re cooking? If you want them to stay out of the kitchen (and your dish), let them know&mdash;lovingly. What matters most is that everyone knows what to expect, which can lower stress for everyone and set the stage for a smoother family gathering. And along the way, remind everyone to have a bit of grace for one another.&nbsp;

<h2 id="step-5-connect-at-your-family-gathering">Step 5: Connect at your family gathering</h2>

The time for your family gathering is here. You&rsquo;ve taken important steps to reduce your stress and create a space for joy. Don&rsquo;t forget to include <a href="https://www.att.com/blog/staying-connected-with-your-long-distance-family">long-distance family</a> in the festivities, too. Plan a video call at a scheduled time and set a reminder on your phone.&nbsp;

Another way to manage the stress of the event is to know if anyone wants to watch sports, which is common on big holidays. Check which channels or services carry the games so you have the right streaming plan. Make sure your <a href="https://www.att.com/internet/">home internet</a>&mdash;and, if needed, a backup connection&mdash;is ready to go. And if kids will be there and need <a href="https://www.att.com/wi-fi/">Wi-Fi</a> for their devices or gaming, run a <a href="https://www.att.com/support/speedtest/">speed test</a> ahead of time to confirm your plan will support everyone&rsquo;s needs.

<h2>Step 6: Connect with aftercare</h2>

Woo-hoo! Your family gathering is complete. You may have had a fantastic time&mdash;or maybe a few fireworks. Either way, you&rsquo;ve empowered yourself with tools to reduce stress. Lock in your accomplishment with a bit of aftercare: another hot bath or shower or stream your favorite content. Once the kids are in bed, try not to skip this step. You showed up to the capacity that you had, and that&rsquo;s worth celebrating with some downtime.&nbsp;

If you can, leave any &ldquo;shoulda-coulda-wouldas&rdquo; behind&mdash;at least for now. Let your mind rest so you can drift off to well-deserved sleep.&nbsp;

<h2>Connect with gratitude and love again</h2>

One more thing: once you&rsquo;re tucked into bed, finish the day off with another round of gratitude and love. You might focus on yourself, on a specific moment from the day, or maybe nothing at all&mdash;just the feeling of completion. You&rsquo;ve connected with yourself and your family&mdash;both your household and extended family&mdash;and that&rsquo;s something to feel good about.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.att.com/connecttochange/">Connecting changes everything</a>&mdash;with your family, your devices, and your device connectivity. We hope this guide helps you reduce stress and enjoy your time together with family.&nbsp;

-------

&sup1;American Psychological Association. &ldquo;Stress in America 2024.&rdquo; accessed September 24, 2026. https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/stress-in-america/2024.

2Heartmath.org. &ldquo;Heart Coherence.&rdquo; accessed November 24, 2025. https://www.heartmath.org/heart-coherence. 
3Heartmath.org. &ldquo;Finding Inner Balance in Today&rsquo;s World.&rdquo; July 23, 2025. https://www.heartmath.org/articles-of-the-heart/finding-inner-balance-in-todays-world/. 
4Cleveland Clinic. &ldquo;How the Outdoors Can Improve Your Mood.&rdquo; April 9, 2024. https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2024/04/09/how-the-outdoors-can-improve-your-mood. 
5AANMC. &ldquo;The Healing Power of Nature: Exploring Forest Bathing and Grounding.&rdquo; August 27, 2025. https://aanmc.org/natural-remedies/benefits-of-forest-bathing.

Seven steps to prepare for family gatherings

Start saving for your holiday gifts early

Consider creative and cost-effective options for holiday giving

To make sure your loved ones all have the perfect gift, you might make a list and check it twice. You can do the same with your spending by budgeting for the holidays. With a thoughtful strategy in place for both the people on your list and your bank account, it&rsquo;s easier to manage your spending.&nbsp;

Consumers budgeted an average of $890 to spend on gifts and other seasonal products during the 2025 holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation.&sup1;

<ul>
	<li>Be honest with yourself about how much you normally spend during the holidays and whether that trend is reasonable for this year.</li>
	<li>Plan for what you&rsquo;ll buy and stick to it. If you snag a great deal, adjust your budget so you&rsquo;re not going over your planned spending limit.</li>
	<li>Save for the holidays throughout the year instead of trying to make all your purchases at once.</li>
	<li>Plan ahead for how much you want to spend and take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

No matter what you&rsquo;re able to set aside for holiday shopping, you can lower your stress, avoid taking on unexpected expenses, and focus on enjoying the festivities with a practical holiday budget in place.

When you create a game plan for your holiday shopping, you can check items off your list without unnecessary financial stress.

<h2>Review past holiday spending</h2>

Every budget needs a baseline. Start by determining how much you spent last year. If you feel like you spent too much last year on gifts, events, travel, or other holiday expenses, look for areas to cut back. If you&rsquo;re satisfied with your past spending, then set that as your baseline and stick to it this year.

Either way, review your past holiday spending using your bank accounts, credit cards, or budgeting apps to help guide your planning. Select last year&rsquo;s holiday season as the date range, then isolate how much you spent on holiday-related purchases. Pay attention to categories like gifts, food, decorations, travel, and entertainment.

While most financial apps can automatically categorize purchases, you may find it helpful to download an additional budgeting app to your <a href="https://www.att.com/buy/phones/">smartphone</a> if you&rsquo;re not already using one. No matter how you review your past spending, it&rsquo;s the first step in making an effective and detailed holiday spending plan.

<h2 id="make-a-detailed-holiday-shopping-plan">Make a detailed holiday shopping plan</h2>

Once you understand last year&rsquo;s expenses, it&rsquo;s time to focus on this year. As early as possible, create a plan for the holidays. The sooner you make a forward-looking budget, the sooner you can get excited about your plans without added stress about spending.

You can follow a step-by-step approach to making a holiday spending plan:

1. List and categorize all potential holiday expenses. Start by making a list of everything you might buy during the holidays.&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Gifts. First, decide who you want to buy gifts for and what you may want to give them. Don&rsquo;t forget co-workers, Secret Santa, and any last-minute gifts.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Wrapping supplies. Paper, boxes, bows, labels, tape, and so on. Pro tip: Stock up early because the good paper tends to sell out fast during sales.</li>
	<li>Decorations. Do you need a new tree or ornaments? If you&rsquo;re going to jazz up your home for guests, plan ahead instead of buying decorations on the go, as those costs can really add up.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Shipping. Shipping costs have gone up. Note the cost of your preferred shipping method and plan to ship early to avoid higher shipping rates.</li>
	<li>Travel. Holiday travel often has blackout days for deals. To <a href="https://www.att.com/blog/how-to-save-money-while-traveling">save money while traveling</a>, consider all of your options and costs.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Entertainment. Include food for hosting meals and holiday parties, tickets to special holiday events, and any accessories&mdash;like a new outfit&mdash;in your budget.</li>
</ul>

2. Set yourself up for deals. Brands usually start promoting holiday deals early, especially for those <a href="https://www.att.com/blog/online-shopping-safety-tips/">shopping online</a>. Sign up for newsletters and alerts so you know what the deals will be and when they&rsquo;ll be active. If you&rsquo;re eyeing concert tickets, join the artist&rsquo;s fan club for presales and discounts. And to make sure you don&rsquo;t miss out, set a reminder on your smartphone to alert you before the sale goes live.

If you want new tech, pay special attention. Tech&mdash;smartphones, accessories, and TVs&mdash;is often one of the hottest gifts during the holidays. Pay attention to brands that are loyal to you.

3. Set spending limits. Even if you&rsquo;re scoring deals, you can easily overspend if you don&rsquo;t stick to your plan. Prioritize what&rsquo;s most important to you. With an understanding of your potential costs, you can set a &ldquo;mini-budget&rdquo; for each category.

For example, you might earmark $1,000 for gifts and another $250 for entertainment. Be optimistic yet realistic about your spending limits. Use last year&rsquo;s numbers as a guide, then tack on a little more for flexibility and inflation. Try an inflation calculator to help with the math.

Having a detailed plan helps you think more critically about each purchase and makes coordinating your finances easier.

Creating the holiday budget is the easy part. But staying within it? That&rsquo;s where the challenge begins, but you can set yourself up for holiday success in several ways.

<h2 id="spread-out-your-gift-purchasing">Spread out your gift purchasing</h2>

Waiting for <a href="https://www.att.com/deals/black-friday/">Black Friday </a>and <a href="https://www.att.com/deals/cyber-monday/">Cyber Monday</a> deals can save you a lot, but there&rsquo;s no guarantee your must-have gifts will be on sale&mdash;or even in stock. Instead, buy your gifts at different times. Spread out your non-electronic purchases throughout the year, and save big on Cyber Monday and Black Friday for electronics. Buying one or two gifts each month makes holiday expenses more manageable, especially if you&rsquo;re buying a lot of <a href="https://www.att.com/blog/the-best-gifts-for-every-type-of-tech-fan">gifts for tech fans</a>.

Being flexible with your gift shopping can also save you money. For example, if you&rsquo;re wondering <a href="https://www.att.com/blog/how-to-give-a-phone-as-a-gift-this-holiday-season">how to give a phone as a gift</a> without overspending, search for deals early. Once new smartphones are released, you might find discounts on older models and other offers.&nbsp;

If you buy gifts early, the only downside is that you have less time to save for them. That&rsquo;s why having a holiday savings plan is just as vital as having a holiday spending plan.

<h2 id="start-saving-for-your-holiday-gifts-early">Start saving for your holiday gifts early</h2>

Instead of waiting until summer or fall, why not start saving for the holidays at the beginning of the year? Setting aside a little extra cash each month can make the end of the year much easier on your wallet. And saving early doesn&rsquo;t mean spending less on your loved ones&mdash;it just means being prepared.

Because saving money is often easier said than done, start implementing a few holiday budgeting tips as soon as possible. For example, cut back on non-essentials. Whenever you&rsquo;re tempted to splurge, put that same amount into your holiday savings instead. Also, consider setting up automated transfers into your holiday savings each pay period. Even $50 per paycheck can add up quickly and set you up for financial success this season. You can also talk to a financial consultant about setting up a holiday fund that can earn interest.&nbsp;

Whichever savings advice speaks to you, start small. Save a little each month, and by the holidays, you&rsquo;ll have more wiggle room in your budget. Saving consistently can also help you stay disciplined.&nbsp;

<h2 id="consider-creative-and-cost-effective-options-for-holiday-giving">Consider creative and cost-effective options for holiday giving</h2>

If you find that your budget is tight, you can still give thoughtful gifts&mdash;it just takes a little creativity. And remember, you don&rsquo;t have to spend the same amount on everyone. While you may want to give your children the gift they&rsquo;ve been hoping for all year, consider making ornaments or baked goods for others as gifts. Did you take a trip with someone and snap some great photos with your phone? Print them out and give an inexpensive photo album as a gift.&nbsp;

There are endless ways to turn your passions into gifts you won&rsquo;t find in any <a href="https://www.att.com/deals/holiday-gift-guide/">holiday gift guide</a>. And activities like White Elephant or Secret Santa are just as fun as individual gift-giving. Plus, they let you spend less because there&rsquo;s usually a low spending limit and you only have to buy one gift for the group. And don&rsquo;t forget about regifting! What you don&rsquo;t love, someone else might.&nbsp;

By pairing these cost-effective <a href="https://www.att.com/gift-ideas/">holiday gift ideas</a> with other money-saving tips, you can meet your holiday budgeting goals. Budgeting may not be the most exciting part of the holidays, but think of it as an investment in your holiday cheer.&nbsp;

Also, existing AT&amp;T customers get the same great deals as new customers. The holidays are a great time to take advantage of tech deals and save money through <a href="https://www.att.com/features/att-app/?source=IA1G000000000000L">the AT&amp;T app</a>, our <a href="https://www.att.com/deals/">deals online</a>, or at your local <a href="https://www.att.com/stores/">AT&amp;T store</a>.

When it comes to budgeting for the holidays, plan ahead, spend wisely, and look out for holiday offers. We have great deals on smartphones, tablets, <a href="https://www.att.com/buy/accessories/browse/all">accessories</a>, and much more. A thoughtful budget means you can celebrate your favorite traditions and still enjoy the season.

<a href="https://www.att.com/connecttochange/">Connecting changes everything</a>, and we&rsquo;re here to help keep you connected.

-------

1 National Retail Federation. &ldquo;Winter Holidays Data and Trends.&rdquo; Accessed September 24, 2026. https://nrf.com/research-insights/holiday-data-and-trends/winter-holidays.

Updated by Zoya Cochran on Oct 9, 2026.

Budgeting for the holidays

Online shopping lets you browse for deals anywhere, compare products, and get items delivered straight to your doorstep. While buying your items online is convenient, safe online shopping is important.

Purchasing online can expose you to data theft and scams&mdash;some sites may take your payment but never ship the items. Stay safe while shopping by:

<ul>
	<li>Using secure websites and payment methods</li>
	<li>Regularly monitoring your transactions</li>
	<li>Watching for red flags (scams)</li>
</ul>

Keep your financial and other sensitive information safe from bad actors with a few helpful online shopping safety tips.

<h2 id="shop-only-on-secure-and-trusted-websites">Shop only on secure and trusted websites</h2>

Start with trusted retailers that prioritize security, reliability, and a positive customer experience. New or unestablished sites may have fewer security resources&mdash;or may simply be untrustworthy.

Look for sites that use Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS), which helps protect your personal information. HTTPS encrypts (scrambles) data sent between you and the site, making it harder for others to read without a decryption key. You&rsquo;ll typically see &ldquo;https&rdquo; in the URL or a padlock icon in the address bar.

Online scammers often create sites that look legitimate to defraud shoppers of their money. Type the URL carefully because malicious pages can mimic legitimate shopping platforms. Double-check the spelling, or use bookmarks or a search engine to reach the site.

Even if the connection is secure, check contact details and reviews before you shop. If you encounter an online shopping scam, report it to the platform and the appropriate authorities.

Before shopping anywhere, ensure that you&rsquo;re protecting your devices and accounts.

<h2 id="protect-your-devices-and-accounts">Protect your devices and accounts</h2>

When shopping online, keep your computer and <a href="https://www.att.com/blog/4-tips-for-improving-your-phone-security" target="_blank">phone security</a> settings up to date by regularly updating your antivirus, operating system (OS), and apps. The latest versions include protections and security fixes against new threats and scams.

Use strong, unique passwords (a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters) or passphrases for all your accounts&mdash;and store them in a password manager. Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) to keep your accounts safe.

One-time passwords (OTPs) and authenticator apps add a second step, making it harder for anyone to access your accounts.

Use network-level security, such as firewalls, to block malicious sites and scan your home network for vulnerabilities. Run reputable antivirus and antimalware programs and actively monitor your devices for suspicious activity.

Consider fraud-monitoring apps and to scan the web and alert you if your identity is being misused. Choose <a href="https://www.att.com/internet/" target="_blank">reliable internet</a> with built-in security tools and the right <a href="https://www.att.com/blog/what-is-the-att-activearmorsm-mobile-security-app" target="_blank">security app</a> to alert you to data breaches, help block scam attempts, and add protection across your favorite shopping platforms.

This is crucial for keeping your identity, accounts, and payment methods protected.

<h2 id="use-safe-and-secure-payment-methods">Use safe and secure payment methods</h2>

When you shop online, use a credit card rather than a debit card. If there&rsquo;s an issue with your order&mdash;the wrong item, failure to deliver, or card fraud&mdash;you&rsquo;ll have more ways to recover your money. For scams or unauthorized purchases, credit cards let you initiate a chargeback through your bank.

Save digital receipts and order confirmations. You may need them if there&rsquo;s an issue with your purchase or if you need to contest a charge with your bank. Monitor your transactions regularly to catch problems early. The sooner you spot a fraudulent transaction, the faster you can report it and start recovering your money.

Even if you use secure payment platforms and credit cards, hackers may still access your payment information if you shop on public Wi-Fi.

<h2 id="avoid-public-wi-fi-when-shopping-online">Avoid public Wi-Fi when shopping online</h2>

Always use private wireless connections rather than public networks to reduce the risk of data or identity theft. Private connections help ensure your payment details and personal information stay protected.

On public networks, hackers may intercept unencrypted traffic or set up look-alike Wi-Fi networks to harvest data.

Wait until you&rsquo;re home to make online purchases to avoid the dangers of unsecured Wi-Fi. If you must shop on a public network, take proper Wi-Fi security precautions and use a virtual private network (VPN) to protect your location, identity, and information.

Thanks to the benefits of a VPN, it&rsquo;s generally safer to use a private wireless connection than a public network.

When you focus on security and other best practices, online shopping has plenty of advantages. That&rsquo;s why staying sharp is crucial to staying safe online.

<h2 id="shop-smarter-and-safer-online">Shop smarter and safer online</h2>

Safe online shopping means using secure sites, making payments through trusted processors, and browsing on protected devices. Protecting yourself from fraud, scammers, and identity theft starts with a reliable <a href="https://www.att.com/internet/" target="_blank">home internet connection</a> and dependable <a href="https://www.att.com/wireless/" target="_blank">wireless services</a>.

With us, you can get both. Pair your services with <a href="https://www.att.com/security/" target="_blank">AT&amp;T ActiveArmor</a> to experience the best online shopping protection possible.

Browse, shop, and stay connected with our reliable network.

Online shopping safety tips

Joe is a Lead Digital Customer Growth professional at AT&T and also serves as the Wireless Editor for TechBuzz by AT&T.

Shopping for different types of phones can feel like a maze when you&rsquo;re comparing slabs, flips, <a href="https://www.att.com/buy/phones/browse/foldables/">foldables</a>, rugged models, and basic handsets. The simplest way to shop is to start with form factor, which means the phone&rsquo;s shape and how you use it.

Most buyers still choose a touchscreen slab, but different types of phones fit different habits, budgets, ages, jobs, and screen-time goals. Here&rsquo;s the easy-to-follow guide to the names you&rsquo;ll see while browsing today&rsquo;s mobile phone choices online and in stores.

<ul>
	<li>Slab phones dominate because they&rsquo;re thin, familiar, and easy to compare.</li>
	<li>Basic phones still serve people who want calls, texts, and fewer apps.</li>
	<li>Flip phones now include both old-school keypad models and modern foldables.</li>
	<li>Foldable phones split into compact flip-style models and larger book-style models.</li>
	<li>Rugged phones trade sleek design for durability at work, outdoors, and on the go.</li>
</ul>

The best phone type isn&rsquo;t always the fanciest one. It&rsquo;s the one that fits how you carry it, use it, charge it, and share it with a child, parent, worker, or gamer. The main phone categories start with the design most people already know.

<h2>What is a slab phone?</h2>

A slab phone is the standard smartphone shape: a flat rectangle with a touchscreen across the front, no hinge, and usually no physical keyboard. Most smartphones use this design.

Slab phones lead the market because they&rsquo;re simple to protect with cases, easy to mount in cars, and widely available. They also offer the widest range of prices, cameras, screen sizes, processors, and storage options.

<h2>What is a bar phone?</h2>

A bar phone, sometimes called a candy-bar phone, is a single solid block with no hinge. The term can describe older keypad phones, basic phones, and modern non-folding smartphones.

The key idea is the body shape. A bar phone doesn&rsquo;t open, fold, or slide. Many basic phones still use this design, often with a small screen on top and a physical keypad below. Some buyers like bar phones because they&rsquo;re direct, pocketable, and less tempting than app-heavy <a href="https://www.att.com/buy/phones/">smartphones</a>.

Shoppers comparing types of cell phones often use &ldquo;bar phone&rdquo; to separate simple, sturdy designs from flip models and foldables. Since many bar phones are also basic phones, the category naturally points to the simplest mobile phone option.

<h2 id="what-is-a-basic-phone">What is a basic phone?</h2>

A basic phone, also called a feature phone or dumbphone, focuses on calls and texts. Some models include a camera, radio, calendar, simple browser, or a small app store, but they don&rsquo;t work like smartphones.

Parents may look at basic phones for children who simply need a way to call home without full access to social media, games, or constant notifications. Adults also choose them to cut screen time or keep a backup phone.

Basic phones prove that different types of phones serve different goals. Some people want fewer features, not more, because fewer apps can mean fewer distractions.

<h2 id="what-is-a-flip-phone">What is a flip phone?</h2>

A flip phone has a hinge that lets the device fold open and shut. Traditional flip phones place a screen on the upper half and a physical keypad on the lower half. You open the phone to answer, close it to hang up, and protect the screen while it&rsquo;s in your pocket.

The term can now mean two things. Some flip phones are basic phones with buttons. Others are advanced smartphones with flexible screens, such as modern clamshell foldables. That overlap can confuse shoppers, especially when listings use &ldquo;flip&rdquo; for both low-cost feature phones and premium foldable smartphones.

Flip phones remain popular with people who like tactile buttons, smaller pockets, and fewer distractions. They also appeal to buyers who want a phone that feels different from the usual slab.

<h2>What is a clamshell phone?</h2>

A clamshell phone opens and closes like a shell. It&rsquo;s the broader design term behind many flip phones. Older clamshell phones used two rigid halves, with a hinge between the display and keypad. Modern clamshell foldables use a similar vertical fold, but the inside screen bends.

Clamshell phones often emphasize pocket size and quick access. The broader foldable category adds flexible displays and more screen space. A clamshell opens vertically, and a book-style foldable opens side to side.

<h2 id="what-is-a-foldable-phone">What is a foldable phone?</h2>

A <a href="https://www.att.com/blog/foldable-phones/">foldable phone</a> uses a flexible display and a hinge so the screen can bend. Some fold down into a compact square. Others open into a larger, <a href="https://www.att.com/buy/tablets/">tablet</a>-like display. Foldables typically cost more than many slab phones, and buyers often ask about durability, crease visibility, weight, and repair costs. Still, they give you something a standard slab can&rsquo;t: a display that opens to offer more usable screen space.

Foldables are one of the fastest-changing types of mobile phones. The two main designs serve very different users.

<h3>Flip-style foldables</h3>

Flip-style foldables open vertically, like a traditional clamshell phone. Closed, they become compact and pocket-friendly. Open, they work like a regular smartphone.

This style suits people who want a full smartphone that takes up less space in a pocket or bag. Many models also include a small outer screen for quick checks, messages, music controls, and camera previews.

<h3>Book-style foldables</h3>

Book-style foldables open side to side, like a book. Closed, they look closer to a thick smartphone. Open, they offer a larger screen suited for reading, maps, multitasking, video calls, and split-screen apps.

This design works best for people who value screen space over slimness. It&rsquo;s closer to carrying a phone and small tablet in one device. Some shoppers compare these models with high-end slab phones before deciding.

Most foldables use a flexible main display, while a related category uses two separate screens instead.

<h2>What is a dual screen phone?</h2>

A dual screen phone uses two separate display panels rather than one bending display. The screens may connect with a hinge or attach through an accessory case. Each panel stays rigid, and the phone has a gap or border between the two displays.

Dual screen phones can help with multitasking, such as keeping a video call on one screen and notes on the other. They&rsquo;re less common than slab phones and modern foldables, but the term still appears in listings and tech coverage.

Another specialized category uses the standard slab shape, then adds performance features for gaming.

<h2 id="what-is-a-gaming-phone">What is a gaming phone?</h2>

A gaming phone is a smartphone built for mobile games. It usually has a fast processor, a high-refresh-rate display, extra cooling, strong speakers, and software modes that reduce interruptions during play. Some models add shoulder triggers, bigger batteries, bold designs, and red, green, and blue (RGB) lighting.

Gaming phones raise a practical question: Do you need one, or will a flagship slab phone do the job? Many premium mobile phone models already run major games well. Dedicated gaming phones make the most sense for people who play often and care deeply about frame rate, heat, battery life, and controls.

While gaming phones are built for performance, rugged phones are designed for challenging environments.

<h2>What is a rugged phone?</h2>

A rugged phone is built to handle harsher conditions than a typical smartphone. It may resist drops, dust, water, vibration, and temperature swings. Many <a href="https://www.att.com/buy/phones/browse/sonim/">rugged and durable phones</a> advertise Ingress Protection 68 (IP68) rating for water and dust resistance. Some also cite Military Standard 810, or MIL-STD-810, testing for shock and environmental stress, though test methods can vary.

Construction workers, field technicians, warehouse teams, and first responders often consider rugged phones. Consumers buy them, too, especially for outdoor use, like hiking, camping, and boating.

Many rugged phones come with trade-offs. They can better handle harsh conditions, but they&rsquo;re often thicker, heavier, and less sleek. Some also lag behind premium slab phones in camera quality or processor speed.

Across all types of phones, the best choice comes down to your lifestyle, style preference, <a href="https://www.att.com/blog/must-have-cell-phone-features/">must-have features</a>, and where you&rsquo;ll use the device. A slab phone suits most people. A basic or flip phone can cut distractions. A foldable adds screen flexibility. A gaming phone favors performance. A rugged phone handles tough places.

When deciding which phone works best for you, make a checklist of must-have features, durability needs, size preferences, and budget.

Compare phones by shape, screen size, features, operating system, durability, and price to choose a device that works for the way you live. We offer mobile phones of many shapes, sizes, and styles to suit your needs and lifestyle. If you&rsquo;re an AT&amp;T customer, head over to the <a href="https://www.att.com/features/att-app/?source=IA1G000000000000L">AT&amp;T app</a>. You can also <a href="https://www.att.com/buy/phones/">shop AT&amp;T phones</a> online.

Find the phone type that fits your life. Browse compact flip phones, modern clamshell phones, and flexible <a href="https://www.att.com/buy/phones/browse/foldables/" target="_blank">foldable phones</a>, including flip-style and book-style designs. For more specialized needs, explore dual screen phone options, performance-focused gaming phones, and <a href="https://www.att.com/buy/phones/browse/sonim/" target="_blank">rugged phones</a> built for tougher conditions.

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