The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has a lot to offer, but the great-looking, dynamic 6.9-inch 120Hz display is arguably one of its most impressive features. So if you choose to upgrade to the Note 20 Ultra, it's only natural that you'll want to keep that display as clean as possible.

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is also the first flagship to boast the improved Gorilla Glass Victus, a significant improvement over Gorilla Glass 6, which allows your expensive new smartphone to be protected from hard surfaces to 6.5 feet (5 It can withstand drops to a height of .25 feet and is said to offer twice the scratch resistance. Of course, this means that the Note 20 Ultra is less susceptible to damage from drops or rolling around in a pocket. However, this does not mean that the phone is invincible.

While Gorilla Glass Victus is a marked improvement over the Galaxy Note 20's Gorilla Glass 5 (now two generations old), it is still susceptible to damage. In fact, drop tests and other torture tests have shown that it is just as susceptible to scratches and abrasions as any other smartphone.

CNET conducted several scratch and drop tests on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. It was also slid on rough ceramic tiles.

The Note 20 Ultra did well in a purse, but after sliding it on the tiles, it got some scratches. In a test with the screen facing up, the entire glass black shattered with catastrophic cracks. The glass did not fall off, but was almost completely cracked. Tests in which the screen was dropped from a height of 6 feet with the screen facing down produced better results.

YouTuber JerryRigEverything put the Note 20 Ultra through rigorous testing, taking a set of mineral picks and rubbing the screen vigorously to see what scratches appeared at various levels. Surprisingly, both shallow and deep scratches appeared on the glass screen. Exposed to the direct flame of a lighter for 20 seconds, the screen held up until it turned black and still functioned.

PhoneBuff conducted drop tests on the back, front, and corners of the Note 20 Ultra and dropped it 10 more times from less than 5 feet. The display did not crack and the phone still functioned, but some cracks appeared near the camera on the back of the phone. The final score of 39/40 was nearly 9 points higher than the iPhone 11 Pro Max's score of 30/40.

Ultimately, it is clear that while Gorilla Glass Victus provides better protection for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, it is still not completely damage-free. Unfortunately, the claim that the phone is "almost indestructible" is not exactly true, and a simple drop could result in a rush to the repair shop. If you want to keep your new phone as safe as possible, a case and screen protector are still very much needed here, both for peace of mind and for your wallet.