PreCentral.net

The Seidio Spring Clip Holster series is designed to keep your device secure and close to your hip, yet still allows for quick and easy access to your Pre.  The holster is coated with soft-touch rubber that is similar to the back of the Touchstone cover.  The case is made of polycarbonate which has a firm build quality and it is designed to have your phone face inward in order to avoid any accidental screen damage. 

The holster has a locking swivel belt clip that offers up to seven different rotating angles (so you don't have to worry if this is a vertical or horizontal case, it can be both if need be).  There are two versions available (this review will cover both since they are almost identical); the first has a headphone quick access prong spring-clip and while the second version shares the same exact polycarbonate body, it has a different spring-clip that does not allow for quick access to the headphone port on the top of the device.

Design and Usability

The Seidio series  holsters are very similar to their prior holster cases for the Treo Pro and 800w series.  The idea behind using a holster versus a pouch is in how quickly you can get to your phone vs the level of protection.  I feel that Seidio has gotten it right with their line of holsters over the past few years with this being no exception. 

The ratcheting belt clip is solid; it won't make that annoying click sound when you turn it but it will sure hold still in the place you leave it.  The Pre needs to be placed in bottom first, then "clicked" into the top; the spring clip needs you to slightly push it into the holster (without leaving so much as a scuff on the Pre either) in order to secure it.  I found that I could do this with ease and without having to look at my device.

The inward facing design lets you have the best of both worlds when it comes to holster cases.  Previously, most holsters had an outward facing design, but Seidio reverses this and has the screen inwards.  I might not be able to see who is texting me without popping the spring-hinge real quickly but it's definitely on par with pouch protection with holster speed.  That hinge is also really solid too; I'm worried about those holsters that have the tab clip, so no worries here because this thing isn't detaching easily by mistake.

With either case, you're going to have nice sound coming from the Pre.  I know pouch designs can have that muffling effect and without persistent notifications on the Pre, you could potentially miss a call due to a pouch.  You won't have that problem here; if anything, I've had to turn down system sounds because it's just too much sound.

As far as the difference in the versions, that is a preferential choice.  If you're like me and want to use your Pre in the gym, then the prong style is the way to go.  Sometimes, I forget my Bluetooth headphones at home on the charger but I'll always keep a pair of 3.5mm headphones in the car for purposes like that.  With the standard clip, I can't use those "emergency" headphones. 

That being said, I found the standard spring-clip easier to use with one finger release.  In order to raise the prong style spring-clip, I had to put my index and middle finger on each prong and lift.  This is no big deal for same side release because I can catch the Pre into my hand.  If I am using my left hand to right side to release, it gets tricky and that second finger needed to catch or pull the device out isn't available because it's lifting the prong and the palm of the hand isn't in the right position to catch the device.  Your individual needs will vary but I've just learned to use same side (it has to change depending on what I am doing in the gym) hand movements to release the Pre. 

As far as movement goes while on the treadmill or running, if you're wearing gym attire, it's going to have some wobble, but let's face it... gym shorts don't exactly hold up any cases well.  I find if I place it directly on my side at the hip bone, I get little to no movement at all.  There is no movement whatsoever when I am doing daily activities and I've found this holster to have a slimmer profile that my Treo Pro case.

The main notable downside with these holsters is that if you use them in conjunction with screen protectors, you may get a tiny amount of dust on the bottom corners of your protector.  The inside of the holster is lined with felt and it rubs very slightly up against the corners of the screen protector, so make sure that you've carefully applied it.

Conclusion

These holsters have it exactly what I am looking for in terms of accessibility and protection.  The learning curve on the hinge is super easy and it works well in securing my Pre.  For the active type who know they will use the 3.5mm port frequently, go with the prong clip.  For those that won't use that feature and will benefit from a wider release clip, might want to get the standard clip.  I've used Seidio in the past and I'll continue using them for this device.

They are both available now in the PreCentral.net Accessory Store for $24.95.  Here's the Seidio Holster for Pre and the Audio-Port-Access Holster for the Pre.

I give the standard holster a 3.5 of 5 and the Audio-Port version a 4 of 5.