Most cases’ main value is the protection they offer. With the Centro, there’s an even better reason to get a case: traction. The Centro is similar to the Treo 755p in many respects, but forgoing the Treo’s soft touch paint for the Centro’s slick shell is definitely a step backward. Half the reason to get a case is to keep the Centro from slipping from your hand.

The Seidio Super Slim Rubberized Hard Case for Centro (try saying that fast three times) has a light, hard shell that protects the phone’s casing, and a soft touch coating that imparts the feel, texture and traction that prompts reviewers to apply that “grippy” adjective that will someday find its way into the dictionary.

Design and Usability

The case is comprised of two halves that snap together seamlessly, almost to a fault. Once snapped on, I had trouble inserting my fingernails between the halves to pry them apart without scratching them. That’s not really a problem, though; it’s a testament to how precisely the case is cut. There’s no question of the case accidentally coming off. Since many Treo cases are currently being passed off by resellers as being for the Centro, it’s worth pointing out that this case is clearly molded exclusively for the Centro. Accept no substitutes. [edit: it does work with the AT&T Centro].

Seidio always does a good job with their cutouts. I especially like the opening at the bottom for the Athena connector and audio jack. Many otherwise good cases aren’t giving sufficient clearance for these. With the Body Glove Scuba Case I reviewed, for instance, the bottom cutout requires a bit of adjusting and stretching to accommodate the insulation for the audio jack. Almost every button, key, or what-have-you on the Centro is provided for. The only exception is the door for the microSD slot—a near universal omission on case I’ve tested for the Centro.

Another difference between the two cases is that the Body Glove has a plastic window that stretches over the screen; the Seidio has none. I prefer the latter, since the Body Glove’s surface tension makes the screen hard to use with the stylus, especially at the corners. The Seidio offers direct contact with the screen, and allows the option of applying a third-party screen protector to get the best of both worlds.

On their website, Seidio claims that the shell is “only 1mm in thickness,” but I had trouble believing that—somehow, it looked and felt thicker. Imagine my vindication when I came across specs on a reseller page that put the thickness at 1.2mm. Ha! I knew it wasn’t that thin! Okay—call it hair splitting (though I’d say a 20% difference is not splitting hairs), but the point is that the case is noticeably thick, though it’s extremely light. But even with the case, the Centro is still quite pocketable.

Seidio’s Optional Holster

The case is only one part of Seidio’s master plan to hold and protect your Centro. Since thin is in, the “Super Slim” moniker is achieved in part by having no belt clip. If that seems like an incomplete solution, Seidio has the perfect accessory, which I reviewed earlier: the Seidio Spring Clip Holster for Skinned Centro. It’s a great holster that’s designed to fit hand-in-glove with this particular case.

Since the case has no screen protector, you’re out of luck if you drop the Centro and it lands face-down. The holster is designed to clip the encased Centro face-in, and is lined with velvet on the inside to protect the screen from abrasion. Seidio now offers the case and holster as a combo, which is a very nice pair.

Conclusion

I usually avoid hard cases, but this one’s designed the way I like: it offers full, impact resistant protection of the Centro’s casing while leaving the screen and keyboard fully accessible. It’s reassuringly rigid while having a soft exterior that’s pleasant to the touch. The soft touch coating is a terrific addition, especially if you’ve come from a Treo 755p.

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Criteria  Rating Design 5 Usability 5 Protection 4 Cost/Benefit 4 Overall (not an average)	Pros Great soft touch grip Perfect fit with Seidio Spring Clip Holster for Skinned Centro Leaves screen and keyboard accessible Impact resistant
	Cons No screen protection No cutout for memory card slot