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Our takeEditorialVerizon's certified S23 Ultra at $660 — the 10x optical telephoto and S Pen are still rare hardware, but this 'Certified' refurb keeps the original three-year-old battery.
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Certified
7.5/10 UpPhone score
Verizon's certified-refurbished S23 Ultra — 10x optical telephoto, S Pen, 5,000 mAh battery, vetted condition, $660 outright.
Screen
6.8"
Chip
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SM8550-AB (4 nm)
Camera
200 MP
The verdict, & two little voices
Should you actually get the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Certified?
The editor weighs in — flanked by the optimist on her shoulder and the cynic on the other.
“10x optical zoom and an S Pen for $660 — that's flagship-quality hardware at refurb pricing.”
“$660 with the original 2023 battery — pay $50 more for the 'Re-Newed' SKU and skip the aging cell.”
Our take
Verizon's certified-refurbished S23 Ultra — 10x optical telephoto, S Pen, 5,000 mAh battery, vetted condition, $660 outright.
This is Verizon's 'Certified' refurb of the 2023 S23 Ultra — the same 6.8-inch flagship with the 200 MP main camera, 10x optical telephoto, and built-in S Pen, just resold after Verizon's certification process. At $660 outright the listing sits below the non-refurb S23 Ultra and well below where a new S26 Ultra starts. The 10x optical zoom is still genuinely rare hardware in 2026 — most flagships top out at 5x and the iPhone 17 Pro Max ships 8x — and the S Pen is the part of the Ultra experience nothing outside the Ultra line replicates. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 'for Galaxy' is two generations behind today's flagship chip; the everyday experience is still snappy.
What we love
- 10x optical telephoto — still rare hardware in 2026, longer than the iPhone 17 Pro Max's 8x
- 200 MP main sensor with pixel-binning — Samsung's punchy daylight processing
- 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X at 120 Hz, 2,200 nits peak — sun-readable HDR
- S Pen built in — the Ultra's signature, no direct equivalent outside the Ultra line
- 5,000 mAh battery — comfortably one-day, often two on light use
- 12 GB RAM gives genuine multitasking headroom
- Verizon-certified condition — vetted, not eBay roulette
- $660 is below the non-refurb S23 Ultra listing
What we don't
- Storage isn't recorded in the pricing data — confirm 256, 512, or 1 TB before buying
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is two generations behind the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 in current flagships
- 233g is genuinely heavy in pocket
- 45W charging is solid but Chinese flagships hit 80-120W
- 10 MP front camera is the same as the base S23 — modest for the top SKU
- Galaxy AI features the S25 Ultra introduced won't all reach the S23 Ultra
- Battery is the original cell, not a swap — Verizon's 'Certified' (without 'Re-Newed') doesn't include a new battery
Full specifications
Display
Size6.8"
Resolution3088 x 1440 px
PPI501
Performance
ChipSnapdragon 8 Gen 2 SM8550-AB (4 nm)
OSAndroid 15
Camera
Rear camera200 MP
Rear camera 210 MP
Front camera12 MP
Battery
Wireless charging15W wireless
Frequently asked questions about the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Certified
What kind of display does the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Certified have?
6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X at 3088 x 1440 — 1440p sharpness — running 120 Hz adaptive. Peak brightness is 2,200 nits in HDR, comfortably outdoor-readable in direct sun. Panel quality has aged best of all the Ultra's specs. Newer flagships hit 2,500-3,000 nits but the gap is small in everyday use.
What kind of camera does the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Certified have?
Quad rear: 200 MP main with pixel-binning, 12 MP ultrawide, 10 MP 3x optical telephoto, and 10 MP 10x optical telephoto. The 10x is still rare hardware in 2026 — the iPhone 17 Pro Max ships 8x and most flagships top out at 5x. Daylight stills are clean with Samsung's punchy color processing. Pixel 10 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max edge ahead on computational photography in tricky light. Front camera is 12 MP.
What is the battery life of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Certified?
5,000 mAh original cell — note this is Verizon's 'Certified' refurb (not 'Certified Re-Newed'), so the battery hasn't been swapped. After three years a 2023 S23 Ultra cell typically still tests above 80 percent of original capacity, but expect endurance closer to one comfortable day than the original two-day-on-light-use figures. Wired charging is 45W, wireless 15W, with 4W reverse wireless.
What processor does the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Certified use?
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 'for Galaxy' — the binned variant Samsung got at launch, beating the regular Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Two generations behind the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 in current flagships, but with 12 GB RAM and Samsung's One UI, everyday use still feels fast. Sustained gaming holds up; heavy AI tasks would benefit from newer silicon.
How much storage does the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Certified have?
Storage isn't recorded in the pricing data for this refurb SKU. The original Ultra came in 256, 512, and 1 TB tiers; confirm which capacity Verizon is shipping before buying. 256 GB is comfortable for most; 512 GB+ for video creators.
What kind of speakers does the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Certified have?
Stereo, AKG-tuned — bottom-firing speaker plus the earpiece tweeter. Loud, with more low-end presence than the regular S23. Solid for podcasts and casual video.
Does the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Certified support fingerprint or face unlock?
Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor plus 2D face unlock. The ultrasonic reader is fast and works through screen protectors better than optical sensors. Face unlock is camera-based — convenient but not bank-grade, so the fingerprint sensor handles secure auth.
Is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Certified water-resistant?
IP68 — rated for 1.5 meters of fresh water for 30 minutes. The refurb keeps the rating provided Verizon's certification process re-seals the body properly. Handles rain and accidental dunks; saltwater still isn't a great idea.
