The Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra were sold side by side as the same phone in two sizes. They are not. Samsung made materially different choices on the back panel, the screen shape and the camera module, and those choices change what kind of case each one actually needs — not just what size.
The specs that matter
- Galaxy Note 20 (SM-N980 / SM-N981 5G): 6.7-inch flat display, 161.6 x 75.2 x 8.3 mm, 192 g, 4,300 mAh, polycarbonate back panel
- Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (SM-N985 / SM-N986 5G): 6.9-inch curved display, 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm, 208 g, 4,500 mAh, Gorilla Glass Victus front and back
3.2 mm of height and 2 mm of width separate them, which is already enough to rule out sharing a case. But the camera housing is the bigger obstacle: the Ultra's module is dramatically larger and taller, housing a 108 MP main sensor and a periscope-style 5x optical telephoto. A Note 20 case has nowhere near enough cutout for it.
Why the Note 20's plastic back changes the calculation
Samsung used what it called "glasstic" — polycarbonate — for the Note 20's back panel. That drew complaints at launch, but it has one real advantage five years on: it does not shatter. A Note 20 that goes face-up onto concrete is far more likely to survive intact than an Ultra.
The practical consequence: on a Note 20, your case budget is better spent on corner structure and a raised screen lip than on back-panel armour. On the Ultra, the back is glass on both sides of a curved frame, and it needs covering.
The Note 20 Ultra's real weak points
Two things. First, the curved 6.9-inch display puts glass at the outermost edge of the phone, where an edge-on drop lands. Second, that enormous camera block sits proud enough that the phone rocks on a table, and it is the first thing to scrape when the phone slides.
A metal-framed case addresses both — it raises a lip above the curve and rings the camera block.
If you want the screen covered as part of the case rather than as a separate sheet, a magnetic case with an integrated protector removes the alignment problem entirely.
For anyone using a Note 20 Ultra as a field or outdoor phone, the sealed full-body option is the honest choice — the phone's own IP68 rating is a factory number that degrades with age and impact.
The full range sits in Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Cases, and the base model has its own Galaxy Note 20 Cases collection.
The S Pen silo: check every case for this
Both phones store the S Pen in a silo in the bottom-left corner of the body. Any case must leave that opening completely clear, including the small recess your fingernail needs to push the pen in far enough to click and eject.
This is where cheap universal-fit cases fail on Note phones. A shell that covers even a millimetre of the silo mouth makes the pen difficult to eject and, worse, can prevent it seating fully — which stops it charging. Wallet and folio cases are the usual offenders because the folded cover often wraps the bottom edge.
Note that the S Pen changed between the two: the Note 20 Ultra's pen has 9 ms latency against the Note 20's 26 ms, but both are the same physical diameter and both charge in the silo.
Screen protectors: flat vs curved
This is the clearest split between the two phones. The Note 20's flat display takes standard flat tempered glass with no drama. The Note 20 Ultra's curved display does not — flat glass either sits narrow inside the curve, leaving the edges bare, or it lifts at the sides within weeks.
For the Ultra, either accept narrow-cut glass or use flexible film that follows the curve. Both phones use an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint reader, so pick a protector rated for fingerprint unlock and re-register your print after fitting it.
If privacy matters more than brightness, an anti-spy filter for the Ultra narrows the viewing angle so a neighbouring seat cannot read your screen. It does cost you perceived brightness, which is a fair trade only if you actually need it.
Frequently asked questions
Will a Note 20 Ultra case fit a Note 20? No. It is 3.2 mm too tall, 2 mm too wide, and its camera cutout is far larger than the Note 20's module.
Will an S20 Ultra case fit a Note 20 Ultra? No. The S20 Ultra is 166.9 x 76.0 x 8.8 mm with a different camera island shape and no S Pen silo to clear.
Do they use the same S Pen? The pens are physically interchangeable and both charge in either silo, but the Note 20 Ultra's low-latency pen only delivers its 9 ms response on the Ultra.
Are these phones still supported? The Note 20 series has passed its guaranteed Android and security update window. Plenty are still in daily use, but that is worth knowing if it is your primary device.
How do I confirm which one I have? Settings > About phone > Model number. SM-N980/N981 is the Note 20, SM-N985/N986 is the Ultra. For help matching a specific case, use the Contact page or call 978-797-0223.
The bottom line
Flat and plastic versus curved and glass. The Note 20 wants corner protection and a screen lip; the Note 20 Ultra wants full back coverage, a raised curve lip and a camera ring. Neither case fits the other phone, and whatever you buy must leave the S Pen silo completely clear.