Click any image to enlarge it.

Prima has put two great feet forward into the Centro market with a Stylish Premium Leather Open Face case and Premium Leather Lateral Holster Style case.

As with past Prima Treo cases, their new open face case is beautiful and expertly made (see top left image). Your Centro slides in from the top, and there is a heavy snap closure to keep it in place. The leather is high quality and perfectly supple with almost invisible stitching. It's a case designed to last.

The Prima Centro Premium Leather Open Face case can be used on a belt with a clip or carried in your pocket with a flat back. A screw can be inserted into a metal plate on the back to attach an included swivel belt clip. Because your Centro is meant to stay in this case, there are no moving parts that get in the way of normal use. There is also nothing that gets in the way of the swivel clip. The screw is metal, and the clip is a heavy plastic. It provides strong protection against dings and scratches.

In fact, perhaps Prima's open face case is even a bit too protective. The leather covers the sides and back of the device, leaving only the front exposed. There is a cutout around the camera, and the top is open except for where the snap crosses, for access to the mute switch. I find the sides just a little too high, which can make it difficult to press the keys closest to the edges. This is a small frustration that will mostly pose a challenge to people with large fingers.

Also, the leather is a bit too rigid around the stylus. If it were cut just a tiny bit closer to the lines following the metal plate of the Centro, rather than as close as possible to the stylus, it would be easier to remove the stylus. While I can use my fingernail to pop out the stylus, "nail challenged" folks may find it difficult to release the stylus. There is no thumb access.

Overall, Prima has produced a beautiful and protective case at a low very low price: $22.95. Cases with a similarly high quality leather and detailed design generally cost much more. If you want protection and access to your smartphone, this is a great choice.

Those who would like greater access to the Centro, and the ability to remove the device from the case throughout the day, should consider the Premium Leather Lateral Holster Style case instead, which retails for about the same price: $27.95.

The Prima holster was created with comfort and sleekness in mind. It's not designed for people willing to trade added bulk for extra features such as credit card or memory card pockets.

Made of high quality leather that is soft to the touch but rigid enough to protect the device, the holster has a magnetic snap closure that won't easily come undone accidentally. Your Centro will only come out when you take it out. The spring loaded swivel belt clip will angle to your convenience, and stops at 90 degrees so that you can wear it on your left or right side. The inside is ultra soft and is a good way to keep your device scratch-free and easily accessible.

The cutouts are not perfectly designed. There is one in the center at the bottom of the holster that is large enough to access the side button and volume keys. But it's centered so that you can only access the side button, leaving about a half inch of exposed Centro for no reason.

It would make sense to place your Centro in the holster so that while you have access to the side key through the bottom cutout, you have access to the mute switch via the top cutout. But even with my long fingernails, there is no way to actually manipulate the switch through the cutout. Your other option, of course, is to place the Centro backwards (upside down?) so that you can use that cutout to plug in a wired hands-free earphone.

Again, a beautiful case at a reasonable price. My preference is Prima's Open Faced case.

Related Links

Prima Treo & Centro cases

Prima Centro Premium Leather Open Face

Prima Centro Premium Leather Case - Lateral Holster Style

Centro cases in mytreo.net/store

Sena Treo flip top case - Mar 19, 2008

Seidio Crystal case for Treo 680 - Mar 15, 2008

Two Great Cases from Seidio for Your Centro - Mar 02, 2008

Neurostechnology, DRM, and the OSD - Feb 28, 2008

Boxwave Cradle - Feb 21, 2008