Imaging isn't a particularly strong suit for the 533, as you'd expect with a basic 1.3-megapixel camera doing snapping duties. It has got a side camera button to fire it up (long press starts up camera, short press hotkeys the radio), and it does have a few typical cameraphone control options – including exposure, effects and timer – but it really it isn't up to much.

Shots are basically up to snap'n'send quality rather than anything more refined, with limited levels of detail. Good light helps image reproduction but with no flash, in low light levels, performance is typically poor. Some basic editing software allows you to tweak images and add effects.

Although it can shoot video, footage is poor quality; recording in low resolution 176x144 pixels resolution, it is very jerky and low-grade even by pre-pay phone standards.

But the bottom line on this handset is of course the price, and what you get is still reasonable for the cash. Bluetooth connectivity is supported, and the 533 has a fairly standard set of mobile organiser apps and tools included too. Calendar, timer, to do lists, stopwatch, alarm, calculator and unit convertor functions are present.

It has a basic Openwave Wap browser too, with embedded links to the Vodafone live! service. A Vodafone Messenger/Windows Live Messenger instant messaging client is pre-loaded, plus online links for the online Vodafone Mail email service. A selection of half a dozen demo Java games are included, which you can choose to buy via Vodafone live!

Performance

Getting the basics right on a low-budget phone is essential, and the voice calling performance of the 533 is suitably spot-on. We had no problems with call clarity or audio reliability during our trials. Battery performance is reasonable; Vodafone estimates that it can achieve up to 250 hours of standby time, or 150 minutes of talktime, which is modest for a non-3G handset nowadays. In our normal-use, tests took the phone managed around 2 days on average between charges.

Summary

Sure, it'd be easy to point out what the 533 lacks, and the weak points in its specifications. But at this sort of wallet-friendly rock-bottom price level, the Vodafone 533 Catwalk Collection model offers a good deal that's hard to be harsh about, with a bit more than just the basics in a bright and breezy, eye-catchingly styled sliderphone design.