Last week, I recieved my Galaxy S26 Ultra in hand and immediately began getting nervous about maintaining its condition. This year, Samsung opted to revert to an aluminum chassis, which makes the Galaxy S26 Ultra lighter but, in reality, makes it more prone to scuffs and damage. So, I began testing out some cases, leading me to ESR.
ESR has launched a collection of ‘Classic Hybrid Magnetic Cases’ under the Stash Stand moniker. The company has designed a small assortment of colourways to choose from, each providing military-grade protection from dings and other accidental damage. The case is rated to protect devices from drops of up to 16 feet, with shock-absorbing Air Guard corners and raised edges around the camera array and display.
For reference, I paired my Colbalt Violet Galaxy S26 Ultra with ESR’s ‘Frosted Blue’ Stash Stand case, which, paired with an Armorite Pro screen protector and camera lens protectors are available for $94.49 in Canada.
ESR’s Stash Stand cases are available for the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+ and the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Each features a beautifully designed zinc-alloy camera guard which doubles as a kickstand. The stand has a nice lip to it to protect the device’s camera stack. However, it can be used as a stand to prop the device up between 15 and 80 degrees. Plus, it supports both landscape and portrait viewing.
In the short time I’ve been using ESR’s Stash Stack, I’ve come to really enjoy how it feels in my hand. While I’m pretty impressed by the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s thin design, the armor aluminum body does feel a bit slippery. Following Galaxy Unpacked, I took the device on a boat tour around the San Francisco Bay. The entire time, I kept thinking to myself, “This is where I’m going to drop my phone.” Thankfully, I didn’t, but I certainly knew I needed a case afterwards.
One of the immediate misses for me regarding the Galaxy S26 Ultra series is the lack of native MagSafe support. Thankfully, most cases do offer wireless charging and MagSafe compatibility, and ESR’s cases are no different. The Stash Stand cases provide 1,500g of holding force for MagSafe, so if you have a wallet accessory or a charger, you’ll be able to use it. The case also offers Qi2 25W charging. With the Stash Stand case, I’ve been able to use my MagSafe chargers around my condo for a quick charge and forget about always having a USB-C cable around me.
For those who want even more protection from a case, ESR does offer a more durable ‘Cyber Tough’ version of its Stash Stand case. This case supports 7x the military-grade protection, protecting the device from falls of up to 23 feet. It also offers a PC backing, flexible TPE soft shell and an inner PORON lining for all-around protection. Additionally, you get all the adaptive protection for the display and camera alongside the novel built-in kickstand and MagSafe support.
I did spend some time with the $31.49 Cyber Tough model, testing how it felt on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The ‘Black’ colourway does look nice on the device. However, for me, it’s just a bit too bulky for what I want from a case. If I did work outdoors or find myself in a place where I might need added protection, this case would certainly be my go-to.
If you’re picking up a Galaxy S26 Ultra on March 11th and are looking for options on a case, I can recommend looking at what ESR offers in Canada.
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