UAG Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Plyo case: A svelte case that meets military drop-standards (review)

If you own the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, you know you have one of the best phones of 2017. It has the best display of all mobile phones of 2017, a premium glass and metal build, internal specs that all others are judged against and unique functionality that no other smartphone offers. All of that greatness comes at a cost – a $950 price tag, sans taxes, to be exact. It’s been proven that glass breaks and the last thing you want to do are ruin your awesome Note 8. One of the most common things we do to protect our phones is to invest in a solid case. While you can find hundreds of cases on Amazon for $10 or less, do you really want to protect your $1000 investment with such a cheap option?

I’ve been a fan of Urban Armor Gear and its cases for several years now and consider them to be the best third-party option when it comes to mobile device protection. Its cases are tested to meet military drop-standards, which means you’ll get incredible protection. Its cases aren’t overly bulky, ugly or anything you’d expect to see when you think of military standards of protection. UAG has some of the best designers and engineers designing protective cases in the industry and I got my hands on its Plyo Feather-Light case for the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and think it’s well worth your consideration.

Build

The UAG Plyo case for the Note 8 I picked up for review is the Crimson red version. It’s made of premium polymers that form a hard shell with a soft core and corners for additional cushioning against drops. When I tap the back of the case, I feel the hard armor shell that you would expect from UAG, but when I push on the corners I feel a softer material (not soft, just softer) that gives me confidence it will protect my phone from cracks if I ever drop it. Whatever manufacturing techniques UAG uses to build this case must be unique, because I’ve only seen cases like this (with a hard shell and cushioned corners)from other third-party manufacturers that come in two pieces instead of one like the Plyo. I like that the case is one piece as it does not allow for dust or debris to slide in between or under the case that can lead to scratching.

The case slides onto the Note 8 with ease but takes a little bit of effort to remove it making me comfortable with it not sliding off on its own. It has cutouts for the S-Pen, USB-C port, microphones, speaker and 3.5mm audio jack. There are oversized and tactile buttons that make it easy to find the buttons and volume rocker easily when not looking at the Note 8. UAG even textured the Bixby button differently than the volume rocker which eliminates accidental calls of Bixby.

There are even raised bumps on the side of the case that make the phone easier to hold. The case, while simple in nature since it’s the only job is to protect the Note 8, is expertly crafted that you don’t see from almost all other case manufacturers. It’s easy to interpret UAG’s most important goal with this case – offer supreme protection without adding excess bulk.

Usage

I’m a fan. UAG knows how to strike the perfect balance of maximum protection with good usability and aesthetics better than almost all third-party case makers. Its cases aren’t the cheapest, the Plyo retails at $39.95 at UAG, but it doesn’t make any compromises at protecting the $1000 investment in your smartphone.

I was originally a fan of the OEM Samsung Rugged Case, but grew tired of not being able to wirelessly charge through the overly thick case. UAG’s Plyo case managed to meet the same MIL-STD 810G 516.6 as the OEM Samsung Rugged Case, but it did so while being thin enough to still allow for Fast Wireless charging as well as Samsung Pay, which the OEM case could not. I am also very happy with the raised buttons on the Plyo case, in particular, the textured Bixby button which I no longer accidentally press.

The bumps on the sides of the case make the Note 8 much easier to hold. The crimson red color looks like a fine glass of cabernet with the black Note 8 underneath, and it offers a unique look without being obnoxious. If you’re not a fan of the crimson color, UAG also offers the Plyo case in Ice and Ash colors which are mostly clear and smoke. UAG also offers the Note 8 extra protection around the front of the case with raised edges that prevent the phone from landing on the front glass on flat drops.

The only downside to the UAG case is its glossy back which attracts oil and grease.

Overall this is a case that I am a huge fan of. It’s made incredibly well with every little detail thought out. The Plyo case makes a great option for protecting your Note 8. It offers great looks, best in class protection and durability to outlast your phone. It’s currently on sale at UAG, Amazon and B&H Photo.