The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (SM-N985 / SM-N986 5G) was the last true Note: 6.9-inch curved display, 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm, 208 g, 4,500 mAh, 108 MP main camera with a 5x periscope telephoto, Gorilla Glass Victus front and back, and an S Pen in a silo with 9 ms latency.
Six years on, a lot of people are still running one deliberately rather than out of inertia — there is no direct replacement for a pen phone at this size. If that is you, the case decision is different from buying for a new phone. You are not protecting resale value. You are keeping a device you cannot easily replace in service.
Check this before you buy anything: the S Pen silo
The pen ejects from a silo in the bottom-left corner of the phone. A case must leave that opening completely clear, including the small recess your fingernail needs to push the pen in far enough to click.
This is the single most common failure with cheap or universal-fit cases on Note phones. A shell covering even a millimetre of the silo mouth stops the pen seating fully — which stops it charging, which means the pen stops working. Wallet and folio designs are the usual culprits because the cover often wraps the bottom edge.
Test it before you commit: with the case on, eject and reinsert the pen five times. If it needs any force, the case is wrong.
Best structural protection: aluminium metal frame
The Note 20 Ultra has glass on both faces and a curved screen, meaning the display glass sits at the outermost edge of the phone. A metal frame gives you the highest lip above that curve for the least added width.
The camera block on this phone is large and stands well proud. A case that rings it also stops the phone rocking on a desk, which is a small daily annoyance most owners have simply learned to live with.
Best for water and dust: sealed full-body
The Note 20 Ultra shipped IP68 rated. That was in 2020. Adhesive seals age and every impact stresses them, so a six-year-old phone should not be treated as still waterproof. If you take yours anywhere near water, a sealed case restores that protection independently of the phone's own condition.
Test any sealed case empty in a sink before trusting it with the phone.
Best case-plus-glass combination: magnetic with built-in protector
On a curved screen, a separate flat glass sheet is a constant fight — it either sits narrow inside the curve or lifts at the edges. A case with an integrated front panel sidesteps the alignment problem entirely.
Best for carrying cards: leather wallet
A folio adds bulk to an already large phone, but it also covers the curved screen when closed — which on this phone is worth more than it would be on a flat one.
Confirm the S Pen silo stays clear with the cover closed, and remember that cards over the back block wireless charging.
Screen protection for a curved panel
Two workable options on a curved display: narrow-cut flat glass that sits inside the curve, or flexible film that follows it. Flat glass across the full width will lift eventually — that is physics, not a defect.
If you use the phone in public, a privacy filter narrows the viewing angle so a neighbouring seat cannot read your screen. It costs perceived brightness, which is a fair trade only if you genuinely need it.
The phone uses an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint reader, so choose a protector rated for it and re-register your print afterwards.
Everything cut for this model is in the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Cases collection.
Frequently asked questions
Will a base Note 20 case fit the Ultra? No. The Note 20 is 161.6 x 75.2 x 8.3 mm with a flat screen and a much smaller camera module.
Will a Note 10 Plus case fit? No. Same width, but 2.5 mm shorter and with a slim vertical camera strip instead of a large horizontal block.
Is the Note 20 Ultra still getting updates? It has passed its guaranteed Android and security update window. Many are still in daily use, but that is worth knowing if it is your only phone.
Can I replace the S Pen if I lose it? Yes, and any S Pen that fits the silo will charge in it, though only the Note 20 Ultra's own pen delivers the 9 ms latency on this phone.
Does it support fast wireless charging? Yes, up to 15 W Qi, plus Wireless PowerShare. A case thicker than roughly 3 mm can interfere with alignment.
How do I check a fit before ordering? Match SM-N985 or SM-N986 to the listing, or ask via the Contact page or 978-797-0223.
The bottom line
Protect the curved glass with a raised lip, ring the oversized camera block, and above all make sure the S Pen silo is completely unobstructed. Get those three right and the format — metal, sealed, or folio — comes down to how you carry it.