UP
Our takeEditorialThe 2023 top-Android lands as a refurb-tier flagship: real 10x periscope, S Pen, big battery, dimmer panel and slower charging than current Ultras.
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
8.0/10 UpPhone score
The 2023 top-Android: 200 MP main, 10x periscope, S Pen built in, now a refurb-tier flagship steal.
Storage
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?
The editor weighs in — flanked by the optimist on her shoulder and the cynic on the other.
“At 596 dollars, the S23 Ultra still ships a 200 MP main, real 10x periscope, S Pen, and seven-year support intact.”
“At three years old, that 200 MP main, 10x periscope, and S Pen come on a refurb battery and a 2200 nit panel.”
Our take
The 2023 top-Android: 200 MP main, 10x periscope, S Pen built in, now a refurb-tier flagship steal.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra was Samsung's 2023 top-of-line flagship, the phone that bundled a 200 MP main, a 10x periscope telephoto, a built-in S Pen, and a 5000 mAh battery into one large body. Three generations on, with the S26 Ultra current, the S23 Ultra is a refurb and clearance pick rather than a new-buy, and at 596 dollars on Verizon it is one of the best-priced ways onto a high-end Galaxy. The 6.8-inch QHD AMOLED at 120 Hz still looks gorgeous, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is plenty fast for everyday use, and Samsung's seven-year software promise runs into 2030 from the 2023 launch. The catches are typical of three-gen-old hardware: peak brightness sits at 2200 nits where current Ultras hit 2600 nits, 45W wired charging is unchanged from older generations, and the battery has had two years of use cycles on a refurb unit.
What we love
- 200 MP main camera and a real 10x periscope telephoto still produce excellent zoom shots most rivals cannot match. 6.8-inch QHD Dynamic AMOLED at 120 Hz is sharp
- smooth
- and bright enough for outdoor use. Built-in S Pen for notes
- sketches
- and Bluetooth shutter control. 5000 mAh battery and 45W wired charging give comfortable endurance and quick top-ups. 12 GB of RAM keeps multitasking smooth and supports the on-device pieces of Galaxy AI. IP68 rating survives splashes and a freshwater dunk. Samsung's seven-year software promise runs into 2030.
What we don't
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 trails the 8 Elite for Galaxy in current S26 phones
- especially under sustained loads. Peak brightness of 2200 nits is dim next to the 2600 nits on current Ultras. 45W wired charging is unchanged from older generations and slow next to Chinese rivals. 233 gram body is heavy and the corners feel sharp in a hand. Refurb units have two-plus years of battery wear; capacity will be below new spec. New stock is increasingly rare; most buyers will be shopping refurb or open-box.
Full specifications
Display
Size6.8"
Resolution3088 x 1440 px
PPI501
Performance
ChipSnapdragon 8 Gen 2 SM8550-AB (4 nm)
Storage256 GB
OSAndroid 15
Camera
Rear camera200 MP
Rear camera 210 MP
Front camera12 MP
VideoYes
Battery
Wireless charging15W wireless
Design
Form factorSlate
Connectivity
USBUSB 3.2 (5 Gbps)
SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra on individual carriers
All 7 plans with Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Carrier: Any ▾Lines: 1 ▾Sort: Lowest ▾
CarrierPlanDataTermMonthly
Unlimited
36-mo term
$33.33/mo
total $63.33 over term
Unlimited
36-mo term
$33.33/mo
total $93.33 over term
Unlimited
36-mo term
$33.33/mo
total $123.33 over term
Frequently asked questions about the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
What kind of display does the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra have?
The 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED panel runs at 120 Hz with QHD 3088 by 1440 resolution and a 2200 nit peak brightness. Colors are punchy in Vivid mode and accurate in Natural, motion is buttery in scrolling and gaming, and the high resolution makes very fine text noticeably sharper than on the Full HD S23 base or S23+. Outdoor visibility is good; bright direct sun at the beach is more of a struggle than on current 2600 nit Ultras, but indoors and overcast it is excellent. The bezels are slim and even.
What kind of camera does the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra have?
The rear setup pairs a 200 MP main, a 12 MP ultrawide, a 10 MP 3x telephoto, and a 10 MP 10x periscope, plus a 12 MP selfie. Daylight shots from the 200 MP main are crisp with strong dynamic range, the 3x and 10x telephotos give zoom flexibility most rivals cannot match, and the ultrawide handles landscapes and group shots well. Night photos hold up; Samsung's processing leans bright and clean rather than moody. The S26 Ultra has a slight edge in low-light and AI-assisted edits, but the lens lineup here is still elite.
What is the battery life of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?
The 5000 mAh battery is generous and pairs well with the 8 Gen 2's improved efficiency over the 8 Gen 1. A typical day of mixed use, browsing, social, video, and some camera time, lands at bedtime with plenty of charge to spare. Heavy gaming and hotspot days will still need a top-up, especially on a refurb unit with worn capacity. Wired charging tops out at 45W and reaches 65 percent in roughly half an hour. Wireless is 15W, with 4W reverse for accessories.
What processor does the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra use?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 was Qualcomm's 2023 flagship and remains plenty fast in 2026. It handles every game on the Play Store smoothly, exports 4K video without stutter, and runs the on-device pieces of Galaxy AI without complaint. Sustained heavy loads warm the body and throttle a touch more than the 8 Elite for Galaxy in current Ultras, but the gap is smaller than the spec sheet suggests. With 12 GB of RAM, multitasking and split-screen work without reloads.
How much storage does the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra have?
This S23 Ultra ships with 256 GB of UFS 4.0 storage. There is no microSD slot, so the in-box capacity is the lifetime ceiling. 256 GB is plenty for most photo libraries, several heavy games, and a respectable offline media stash. Anyone who shoots 200 MP raw or 4K video constantly may eventually feel the ceiling and should consider stepping up to a 512 GB unit where carriers stock one.
What kind of speakers does the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra have?
The S23 Ultra has stereo speakers, with the earpiece doubling as the second channel. They are tuned by AKG, get loud enough to fill a kitchen for a video, and keep vocals clear with a believable hint of low end. They are not a Bluetooth speaker substitute for music with deep bass, but they hold up fine for podcasts, calls, and casual video watching. Dolby Atmos kicks in with compatible content and headphones.
Does the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra support fingerprint or face unlock?
The S23 Ultra uses Samsung's ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, which reads under wet or oily fingers better than the optical sensors on most rivals. It is fast and reliable in daily use. Face unlock is camera-based, so it works well in good light but is not as secure as Face ID and falls back to the fingerprint reader for payments and banking apps. Both methods can be enrolled together, and the system picks whichever is faster in the moment.
Is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra water-resistant?
The S23 Ultra carries an IP68 rating, which covers submersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for 30 minutes. That is enough to survive a kitchen sink dunk, a quick rain shower, or a dropped phone in the pool, but it is not rated for ocean swims, hot tubs, or pressurized water. Samsung still excludes water damage from warranty coverage, so the rating is a survivability buffer rather than a license to swim. After three years on the market, gaskets may also be slightly less reliable than on a brand-new phone.
