Sagem my411x

There was a time when 'cheap and cheerful' mobile phones were something to be ashamed of. Buying a mobile phone handset on a budget used to be a humbling experience – there's nothing quite as degrading as having to pick out a basic model when the more appealing (and expensive) variants sit tantalizingly on the shop shelves, sadly out of financial reach.

Thankfully, the acute embarrassment of having to plump for the 'economy' model is very much a thing of the past. These days even sub-£50 mobiles promise a raft of features that until a few years ago seemed like unattainable luxuries.

French manufacturer Sagem is the undisputed king of low-cost mobile telephones. For years it has been sitting on the sidelines of the industry, gently introducing cutting-edge technology to the cheaper end of the market, usually at the detriment of design and quality. Pleasingly – if the my411x is anything to go by – it would appear that Sagem is now taking a bit more time to consider how to make its phones not only perform well, but look half decent, too.

First impressions of the my411x are extremely encouraging. The much-publicised mirror-effect front (subtly influenced by LG's Shine) is undeniably appealing (although it predictably collects thumbprints like they're going out of fashion) and the unit feels reassuringly solid and dependable. It's also slim and lightweight, fitting snugly in the palm of your hand.

A cursory glance at the phone specification fortifies the positive impression achieved by the external design. The list of features is considerable: Bluetooth, media playback, Micro SD support and video recording are all present and correct. It's remarkable that a handset is able to boast this degree of functionality for less than £50 but, sadly, it comes at a price.

Once the my411x is powered up the limitations become obvious. The screen is quite poor, with a low resolution of 128x160 pixels, and it suffers from disappointing colour balance and mediocre brightness. It certainly brings back ghastly memories of the washed-out colour displays we thought we'd seen the last of several years ago.

The VGA camera isn't fantastic and it wouldn't have been unreasonable to expect at least a one-megapixel effort in a phone of this price. And although the media player is commendably able to handle all manner of music files, a separate attachment must be purchased in order to listen to tunes on the go.

Putting these concerns aside, however, is the my411x a viable gaming platform? Well, matters are certainly helped by the excellent directional pad. Although it can feel a little stiff at times, it's very responsive and satisfyingly tactile. Two titles came bundled with the handset we tested – the ageing (yet still very enjoyable) Siberian Strike and puzzle title Slurp.

Both games are entertaining, but have been surpassed by more recent titles. Good thing, then, the my411x supports downloadable Java games – which is a move in the right direction when you consider Sagem favoured the criminally under-supported In-Fusio gaming system not so long ago.

Unfortunately, regardless of what you play, the screen is an almost crippling limitation. The meagre resolution means that it's not going to be able to handle the latest games, and it often struggles with fast-moving objects which results in some disappointing screen blur. This is especially prevalent on something like Siberian Strike, with its nippy enemies and hails of fast-moving bullets.

Still, while it's easy to focus on the negative aspects of the my411x, ultimately it represents good value for money when you consider the modest price (£49.99 at the time of writing). Then again, it's worth noting that for an extra £25-£50 you can obtain a much more accomplished handset – prices are falling all the time, after all. But if nothing else, having experienced the my411x it's clear that owning a Sagem certainly doesn't carry the stigma that it once did.