UP
Our takeEditorialThe Verizon Certified S23+ at $439.99 — same flagship-tier hardware as 2023 launch, with a carrier warranty closing the refurb risk gap.
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S23+ Certified
6.5/10 UpPhone score
The Verizon Certified S23+ — same flagship-tier hardware as the 2023 launch, on the refurb side of the counter.
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+ Certified?
The editor weighs in — flanked by the optimist on her shoulder and the cynic on the other.
“Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, IP68, 120 Hz OLED, plus a Verizon warranty — refurb hardware with carrier-grade backing.”
“$439.99 for hardware that goes for $335.99 elsewhere — the warranty is real, but so is the markup.”
Our take
The Verizon Certified S23+ — same flagship-tier hardware as the 2023 launch, on the refurb side of the counter.
Samsung's S23+ at $439.99 is the Certified refurbished path for the 2023 mid-flagship: a 6.6-inch OLED at 120 Hz, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 that led Android in its launch year, IP68, 4700 mAh, and the flat-glass design that sits between the base S23 and the 200 MP S23 Ultra. The Certified program puts a Verizon warranty behind the unit, which is the part that makes refurb buying worth doing instead of taking your chances on a marketplace listing. Three years on, the chip is one generation behind the S26+'s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, but for messaging, photos, navigation, and streaming the gap is paper-thin in everyday use. The question is whether $439.99 is the right price relative to the $335.99 outright the standard S23+ goes for elsewhere — and whether the warranty closes the gap.
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 on an efficient chip — comfortably one-day endurance
- 45W wired charging tops up to roughly half in about 25 minutes
- 15W wireless plus 4W reverse for accessories
- 8 GB RAM is the floor for comfortable Android in 2026
- Verizon Certified warranty backstops the refurb risk
- 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+
- Galaxy AI features that launched on the S24 generation aren't all here; the on-device AI 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 dedicated ultrawide on the spec sheet; the 3x telephoto runs out past 5x
- Verizon-only at this price; not a buy if your address has weak Verizon coverage
- $439.99 is roughly $100 more than the same phone goes for outright elsewhere — the warranty is what justifies that
Full specifications
Display
Size6.6"
Resolution2340 x 1080 px
PPI391
Performance
ChipSnapdragon 8 Gen 2 SM8550-AC (4 nm)
OSAndroid 13
Camera
Rear camera50 MP
Rear camera 210 MP
Front camera12 MP
Battery
Wireless charging15W wireless
Frequently asked questions about the Samsung Galaxy S23+ Certified
What kind of display does the Samsung Galaxy S23+ Certified 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 of the same generation 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 side by side. The 120 Hz adaptive refresh delivers the smooth-scrolling feel of the flagship tier — animations and scrolling stay fluid in a way 60 Hz screens don't.
What kind of camera does the Samsung Galaxy S23+ Certified 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 pixel-binning that drops the file to a clean 12 MP. The 3x telephoto is solid 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 — group framing shots at the wide end aren't this phone's strength. Camera was the dimension Samsung trimmed to keep the S23+ priced below the Ultra in 2023, and it's still where the gap shows in 2026.
What is the battery life of the Samsung Galaxy S23+ Certified?
4700 mAh on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 — the chip is efficient enough that the larger battery turns into real margin, not just paper capacity. Comfortably one-day endurance, often into a second morning on light use. 45W wired charging tops up to roughly half in about 25 minutes; 15W wireless is fine, not fast. The Certified refurb hasn't been advertised as shipping a new cell, so battery health depends on how the original was used — that's the part of the warranty most worth confirming before purchase.
What processor does the Samsung Galaxy S23+ Certified 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 sessions, 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+ Certified have?
The original S23+ shipped in 256 GB and 512 GB tiers, both with UFS 4.0 storage that keeps file copies and app loads snappy. The Certified refurb is one of those two configurations — confirm the exact capacity at checkout, since the gap between 256 GB and 512 GB is meaningful for anyone who shoots a lot of 4K video.
What kind of speakers does the Samsung Galaxy S23+ Certified 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 of the same generation in everyday use; not a reason to buy or skip.
Does the Samsung Galaxy S23+ Certified 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+ Certified 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.
