One of my favorite things to do is to run outside, especially in the summertime. When I run, I love listening to my music on my iPod which is securely strapped to my arm. However, I can’t bring my HTC One when I run because it is too bulky in the pockets of my shorts. That all changed when I was introduced to the Belkin Slim-Fit Armband. The model I have is made specifically for the Samsung Galaxy S4 (Galaxy S4 Accessories), but since the HTC One is nearly identical in size, I decided to see if it would work with HTC’s flagship smartphone.
Price: $25.49 from Mobile Fun
Design
As I mentioned before, the Belkin Slim-Fit Armband was designed to fit the S4; however, the HTC One actually fits perfectly into the case. It makes me wonder if the S4 would be too tight of a fight since it is wider than the HTC One. The armband is made out of lightweight, breathable, and stretchy neoprene material. The material is also hand-washable, which is very convenient. If you run as much as I do, you will know that the armbands will eventually get dirty and/or start to develop odor. Having the ability to hand-wash the armband will prolong its longevity.
The front of the armband has a clear screen protection and is also touchscreen compatible. The response time is slower, but it does work. I don’t fiddle with my phone a lot when I run so it works perfectly for me. The only time I am I use the touchscreen is before my run and after my run. The armband also has an adjustable strap that fits through a larger loop. Belkin designed it this way so that it is easier to adjust the strap and also to prevent your skin from being pinched or irritated. The strap also features a cord storage to keep your cords from being tangled.
Use
Putting my HTC One in the case is very easy to do. All you have to do is open the top flap and slide the phone in. The top flap is the only issue that I encountered when using this case for the HTC One. The headphone jack for the S4 is on the opposite end of the HTC One. Unfortunately, this means that the hole for the headphone jack is also on the same side as the S4. This was a non issue for me since I just put the flap over my headphone. This meant that the top flap wasn’t fully closed but I never felt that my phone would slide out. However, I could see this being the breaking point for some people. Taking the phone out of the armband took a little more force than putting it in. I’ve noticed that after running, my phone would sometimes get a little stuck when I was trying to take it out. This is probably due more to moisture than anything.
When I first put on the armband, I was surprised that the strap was fairly tight around my biceps. I do lift weights but I don’t have a massive arm. This is definitely going to be an issue if you have massive biceps or just have a huge arm. As far as the cord storage goes, I have never used it since my headphone cord isn’t extremely long.
When running, you can feel the weight of your phone but the armband itself is very light. I’ve been using this for over a week now and I have yet to experience an issue with it while running. One thing I did notice is that after I run, the armband will sometimes start to slide down my arm. This is probably due to the fact that when I run, I am flexing my biceps which expands the straps. Once again, it is a non-issue but definitely something to keep in mind.
Final Verdict
Although the Belkin Slim-Fit Armband was originally designed for the Galaxy S4, I found that it works just as well for the HTC One. The HTC One fits perfectly and will keep your HTC One safe during your workouts. The only drawback is that headphone jack is on the left side of the top flap instead of the right. I am looking forward to how it stacks up against an armband that is made specifically for the HTC One.
Darn, stole my idea. I guess I can buy it back, but you really want to do that with a TINY Android Phone and make a wristwatch (not a Borg Implant).