UP
Our takeEditorialSamsung's 2023 mid-flagship at $335.99 outright — fast chip, big battery, flagship display, but a same-price refurbed Pixel 8 Pro brings a better camera system.
Phantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Graphite, Lime
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S23+
7.0/10 UpPhone score
Samsung's 2023 mid-flagship at three-year-old prices — the S23+ has slid into refurb-tier value.
Screen
6.6"
Chip
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SM8550-AC (4 nm)
Camera
50 MP
The verdict, & two little voices
Should you actually get the Samsung Galaxy S23+?
The editor weighs in — flanked by the optimist on her shoulder and the cynic on the other.
“Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, IP68, 4700 mAh, 120 Hz OLED — flagship hardware for $335.99 outright.”
“Three-year-old chip, 1080p panel, no real telephoto reach — at this money the camera comparisons get unfriendly fast.”
Our take
Samsung's 2023 mid-flagship at three-year-old prices — the S23+ has slid into refurb-tier value.
The S23+ was the Goldilocks pick of Samsung's 2023 lineup: the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 of the Ultra, the same flat-glass design language, a 6.6-inch OLED at 120 Hz, and a much friendlier price than the 200 MP S23 Ultra it shared a generation with. Three years on, the S26+ has taken its place at the top of the 6.6-inch tier, and the S23+ has slid down to the resale-and-refurb shelf where most of its remaining buyers will find it. At $335.99 outright on Verizon — or $27.77 a month on installments — it's competing against the new S26 base and refurbed Pixel 8 Pros. The competition is real.
What we love
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is one generation behind today's leader but still comfortably fast
- 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X at 120 Hz, 1750 nits peak — comfortable outdoors
- IP68 rating handles rain, sinks, and pool splashes
- 4700 mAh battery delivers comfortable one-day endurance
- 45W wired charging is quick — roughly half in about 25 minutes
- 15W wireless charging plus 4W reverse for accessories
- 8 GB RAM is the floor for comfortable Android in 2026
- Priced under $340 outright on Verizon — multi-hundred dollars below a current S26+
- Three years of Samsung software updates remaining (S23 line supported through 2027)
- 196 grams is on the lighter side for a 6.6-inch flagship
What we don't
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is two generations behind the chip in the S26+
- Originally launched without Galaxy AI; some features added by update, but the on-device experience is thinner
- 8 GB RAM was the floor in 2023; today's flagships ship 12 GB or more for AI workloads
- 2340 x 1080 resolution is a step below the QHD panel on the S26+
- No telephoto reach beyond 3x — the Pixel 8 Pro and S23 Ultra both have more zoom
- A refurb of a Pixel 8 Pro at similar money brings a better camera
- Only Verizon and Straight Talk carry it at this price
- No S Pen — that's the Ultra's territory
Full specifications
Display
Size6.6"
TypeDynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution2340 x 1080 px
PPI391
Performance
ChipSnapdragon 8 Gen 2 SM8550-AC (4 nm)
Storage256 GB
OSAndroid 13
Camera
Rear camera50 MP
Rear camera 210 MP
Front camera12 MP
Videotrue
Battery
Wireless charging15W wireless
Design
Dimensions157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm
ColorsPhantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Graphite, Lime
Form factorSlate
Connectivity
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6E
BluetoothBluetooth 5.3
NFCtrue
USBUSB 3.2 (5 Gbps)
Networks5G: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International | 4G: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International | 3G: HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | 2G: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Samsung Galaxy S23+ on individual carriers
All 7 plans with Samsung Galaxy S23+
Carrier: Any ▾Lines: 1 ▾Sort: Lowest ▾
CarrierPlanDataTermMonthly
Frequently asked questions about the Samsung Galaxy S23+
What kind of display does the Samsung Galaxy S23+ have?
A 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel at 2340 x 1080, 120 Hz adaptive. Peak brightness lands at 1750 nits — comfortable in direct outdoor sun, a step below the 2200-nit S23 Ultra and the 2500+ nit panels on today's flagships. Resolution is full HD rather than QHD, which is fine in everyday use but visibly softer than the S26+'s sharper panel if you put them side by side at arm's length. The 120 Hz adaptive refresh delivers the smooth-scrolling feel of the flagship tier.
What kind of camera does the Samsung Galaxy S23+ have?
A 50 MP main sensor and a 10 MP 3x telephoto, with a 12 MP selfie up front. The main camera is good in daylight and respectable in low light thanks to the larger sensor pixel-binning down to a clean 12 MP file. The 3x telephoto is fine at its native focal length but quickly runs out of detail past 5x. There's no dedicated ultrawide on the spec sheet our database has for this unit; the absence shows in shots that need a wide group framing. Camera was the dimension Samsung cut to keep the S23+ priced below the Ultra in 2023, and that's still where the gap shows in 2026.
What is the battery life of the Samsung Galaxy S23+?
4700 mAh on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 — comfortably one-day, often two on light use. The chip is efficient enough that the larger battery turns into real margin, not just paper capacity. 45W wired charging tops up to roughly half in about 25 minutes; 15W wireless is fine, not fast. After three years on the original cell, real-world endurance will trail the spec — most of the resale-market questions about this phone are about how the battery is doing, not whether the chip still feels quick.
What processor does the Samsung Galaxy S23+ use?
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 was the leading Android chip in 2023 and remains comfortably fast in 2026. Apps open quickly, scrolling stays smooth at 120 Hz, casual gaming holds frame. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 in the current S26+ is two generations ahead with better sustained performance under long gaming or 4K video, and noticeably better thermals — but for messaging, photography, navigation, and streaming the gap isn't something most people would feel. 8 GB RAM is the floor for comfortable Android in 2026, especially with on-device AI features.
How much storage does the Samsung Galaxy S23+ have?
256 GB on board, with no microSD slot. That's the comfortable-for-most tier — plenty of room for apps, photos, and a healthy offline music library, with breathing room before space management becomes a chore. UFS 4.0 storage means file copies and app loads stay snappy. Heavy 4K video shooters or anyone who never deletes will want to confirm a 512 GB unit before checkout.
What kind of speakers does the Samsung Galaxy S23+ have?
Stereo speakers with one bottom-firing driver and one earpiece tweeter — the standard flagship setup. Loud enough for a podcast in a kitchen, clear on calls, slightly thin in the low end. Indistinguishable from the Ultra in everyday use; not a reason to buy or skip.
Does the Samsung Galaxy S23+ support fingerprint or face unlock?
Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint reader plus 2D face unlock. The fingerprint sensor is fast, accurate, and works through screen protectors — among the better implementations on Android. Face unlock is the camera-only kind; secure enough for opening the phone, not for banking apps. Most people end up using the fingerprint reader as the daily method.
Is the Samsung Galaxy S23+ water-resistant?
IP68. Rated for 1.5 meters of fresh water for 30 minutes — handles rain, kitchen sinks, and pool splashes. Saltwater and prolonged dives still aren't part of the rating. Standard for a flagship in this tier.
