"The Good: inexpensive, good-looking, good array of features (2mp camera, mp3, fm radio, etc). The Bad: Dreadful, sluggish software - it just takes ages to do anything, which ruins the experience of using an otherwise good piece of kit. Other minor annoyances - no normal phone-ringer ringtone, only stupid tunes. SMS alert keeps on going until you read the message, with no option to make it play just once. Small memory (though expandable, for a cost). The Ugly: Vodafone stores have a 'no-returns' policy unless the item is faulty - I ended up selling it on for a loss after 1 day of disappointment. The Moral of the Story: Always take a test-drive. This looks like a Porsche but has a clapped-out 2-stroke under the bonnet."

"The 540 is slow and, to be frank, there are bugs in the software. My list of gripes is as follows:

1. Spent alarms and MP3s stored on my microSD card will just play for no reason.

2. The # key doesn’t work when a call is in progress. Not a major problem you might think but telephone menu systems, such as those used by businesses and banks, often require use of this key to exit menus and confirm choices. For example, I dialled 121 and attempted to record my own Vodafone voicemail greeting but was unable to do so because Vodafone’s system requires me to press the # key to confirm that I’m happy with my recording! And this on a Vodafone branded phone!

3. The text messaging process is very convoluted. For some reason the software designers assumed that users prefer to enter a messaging number manually, which means that when sending a text message the system doesn’t default to your pre-stored contacts. Several key-presses are subsequently required to select the required contact(s). This is very frustrating!

4. The key in the top right hand corner of the keypad is used for internet access and also serves as the Back button. This means that it’s very easy to accidentally access the internet when exiting a menu. And guess what? The Cancel button (to stop the page loading) doesn’t appear to work, which means waiting for the page to load before exiting the internet! This, to my mind, is just poor design, especially so given that I’ve been unable to remap this key – this function appears to be hard coded!

5. The camera is very, very slow. Press the button to take a picture and the phone emits a click to indicate that the picture has been taken. However, the actual picture isn’t taken until approximately two seconds later! This makes it very easy to mess up a picture. When taking a portrait shot the only solution is to ask the subjects to remain perfectly still and maintain an artificial smile until the camera decides to capture the image. To add insult to injury, the phone then takes approximately 10 seconds to save the measly 200kb image!

6. Battery life is a joke. With only light use (making one call, receiving two, sending four or five text messages) I’ve found that a full charge lasts no more than 48 hours. Pathetic.

Overall, this phone may look pretty but is blighted by poor software design and substandard bug testing. My advice is to spend an extra £20 and buy a phone from one of the leading brands."