Vodafone VF533 review

In this greedy-banker-created-global-recession many of us are starting to feel the pinch, so when we look at areas where we can cut back, our mobile phone spending is likely to be near the top of the list. Adopting this financially prudent mindset then let's take a look at the Vodafone 533, a handset which costs just £35 on pre-pay and has all the pretentiousness of a ploughman's lunch.

Like a number of budget Vodafone mobiles, the 533 is made by Sagem and it makes an excellent first impression being surprisingly well built with a durable silver matt finish, rock solid slider mechanism and clean, minimalist design. Its smooth corners also mean it sits comfortably in the hand and at just 90g the 533 will be a barely noticeable addition to the pockets of all but the most avid Lycra fans.

As you might expect, features are limited. There's no HSDPA, Wi-Fi, GPS, heck even EDGE is off the menu but what is present has been sensibly chosen. The FM radio, for example, requires no internal storage (good considering the measly 8MB onboard) yet is a pleasant addition that can enhance your day-to-day use and while there is multimedia playback (MP3 and AAC), a microSD expansion slot is also included to make use of it properly.

Likewise, at 2-inches, the main screen isn't huge by any means but in this price range it is fractionally larger than we have come to expect. The 176x220 resolution is used to good effect as well with bright colours, large icons and the sensible decision to retain a UI that is old as the hills and just as reliable.

Commands such as viewing contacts by pressing the rocker down on the main screen, or right to go to multimedia options, left to SMS shortcuts, or hitting the call button to see recent calls are virtual industry standards. In fact, if you do find yourself regularly consulting the owner's manual then you simply aren't smart enough to own a mobile phone. Meanwhile, basics like Bluetooth, customisable polyphonic ringtones and a reasonable speakerphone are included while there's a perfunctory headset bundled in the box.

For all its simple virtues however there are a number of areas where the 533 falls down and - even for a handset positioned towards the very lowest end of the market - some of them are rather boneheaded. Take the charger, which essentially plugs into the 533 upside down so the cable runs alongside the handset rather than hanging neatly below. When coupled with its slightly weak connection into the phone itself this means it can be hard to take calls or even pick up the phone without your hand dislodging it.

Another let down is the battery life. On standby the quoted figure of 250 hours is excellent but by sharp contrast talk time is quoted at just 2.5 hours, a figure which sadly doesn't seem underestimated in my time with the 533. Of course the counter argument is that anyone using a £35 mobile phone on prepay is probably not expected to be the biggest of chatterboxes, but with such a light featureset (and therefore power drain) I think we're entitled to grumble.

Where we should be more tolerant however is the predictably poor 1.3-megapixel camera and low resolution video recorder. In the case of the former it lacks autofocus and flash and unless lightening conditions are almost perfect I'd suggest snaps best remain on the handset. Similarly, while video recording in itself is a bonus (and a luxury unknown to iPhone and T-Mobile G1 owners) it is horribly blocky and jerky while the microphone picks up even the smallest audio interference.

Despite ending on a negative note, the Vodafone 533 is a cheap as chips handset which is well made, nicely styled and an absolute doddle to use. Mediocre performance from features like the camera and video recorder can be glossed over in this price bracket, but the charger connection is clumsy and talk time battery life could've been better.