The new Vodafone Emporia RL1 is designed to be a triumph of simplicity over complexity, offering a phone for those who just need, well…..a phone to make and receive calls and texts. Due to its simplicity, the Emporia RL1 is simple to use and has amazing battery life (helped no doubt by the lack of battery sapping technologies). The design, for a budget handset, is pleasing to the eye too.

Although the Vodafone Emporia RL1 features only the most essential calling and texting services, the phone has a refreshing honesty about it in this day and age of increasing sophistication and complexity. This will endear the handset to many users, particularly older users and those looking for an emergency handset to leave in a vehicle, or for those purchasing handsets for children. Another plus are the large, clearly marked buttons which make this handset easy to use with gloves on or for those with failing eyesight, although some have criticised these buttons for appearing “toy like” (mainly those who are used to touch screen devices like the iPhone 4), they do increase the usability of the phone.

The simplicity of this handsets screen also offers a clarity many complex smart phones can only dream of, the lack of confusing icons crammed into a small display means this phone is simple to use even for technophobes, with all the features easily accessible from the user friendly navigation menu (although it has to be said the old fashioned OLED technology is hardly going to win any prizes!). Aside from basic calling and texting features, the Vodafone Emporia RL1 also offers a useful LED torch and a calculator – that’s about it! No camera, no email or internet, no video playback – its just a phone!

With the smart phones like the Samsung Galaxy and HTC Sensation hogging all the glory its easy to forget that handsets such as the Emporia RL1 will provide all the features some users want, no HD video recording and Super AMOLED required! The only criticisms are the obvious lack of features (which for some will be welcomed), a slightly cheap feel to the handset when compared to high end phones and a retail price which is probably higher than many would expect.

That being said, there is no doubt that the Vodafone Emporia RL1 will appeal to a certain segment of mobile phone users. Those who are frustrated by the bewildering array of features available which they rarely use will be first in the queue, along with those who just want a basic phone that doesn’t need charged every day for mainly emergency usage. To sum up our Vodafone Emporia RL1 review, a basic handset with long battery life which is easy to use and relatively cheap to purchase outright or pay monthly on contract. Not an award winner by any stretch of the imagination but designed to appeal to a particular segment of the market.