UP
Our takeEditorialA 2023 flagship in a 2026 market: small body, real Snapdragon power, no surprises. The story is the price drop, not the spec sheet.
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S23
7.0/10 UpPhone score
The compact Samsung flagship from 2023 — small body, full Snapdragon power, refurb-friendly pricing in 2026.
Screen
6.1"
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.
“Three years on and it's still a real Snapdragon flagship in a 6.1-inch frame — at refurb-tier pricing.”
“Three years on means a 3,900 mAh battery and 8 GB RAM that today's flagships left behind.”
Our take
The compact Samsung flagship from 2023 — small body, full Snapdragon power, refurb-friendly pricing in 2026.
The Galaxy S23 was Samsung's pocketable flagship in 2023 — the rare Android that paired a 6.1-inch frame with a top-end Snapdragon chip and didn't compromise the camera to fit. Three years on, it sits two generations behind the current Galaxy S26 Ultra, but the silicon and the screen still hold up. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy is last-generation flagship — still capable, behind the current line — and the Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel hits 1750 nits and 120 Hz refresh, which lands it in the readable-in-bright-outdoor-sun tier without quite reaching the sun-readable HDR of the current Ultra class. Where the S23 shows its age is the 3,900 mAh battery — small for a 2026 flagship, daily charging expected — and the 8 GB RAM, which is the floor for comfortable Android in 2026 once on-device AI gets involved. At $699.99 outright on Verizon, the price is the story: a real flagship body, real flagship chip, refurb-aware pricing against current hardware that costs $1,000+. Nothing about the S23 is exciting in 2026; everything about it is competent.
What we love
- Compact 6.1-inch frame in an Android market that mostly went big
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy still handles current apps without strain
- 120 Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X — the smooth-scrolling flagship-tier feel
- 1750 nits peak brightness — comfortable outdoors in most conditions
- IP68 — handles rain, sinks, pool splashes
- 50 MP main, 12 MP ultrawide, 10 MP 3× telephoto for triple-lens flexibility
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging at the price
- Dual SIM with eSIM support
- 168g — light enough to forget in a pocket
What we don't
- 3,900 mAh battery is small for 2026 — daily charging expected
- 25W wired charging is slow next to current fast-charging flagships
- 8 GB RAM is the floor, not the headroom, for AI-era Android
- No 5G mmWave — the fastest urban speeds aren't on the menu
- No hardware specs left to brag about against a Galaxy S26
- Three generations of OS updates already burned through
Full specifications
Display
Size6.1"
Resolution2340 x 1080 px
PPI425
Performance
ChipSnapdragon 8 Gen 2 SM8550-AC (4 nm)
Storage128 GB
OSAndroid 15
Camera
Rear camera50 MP
Rear camera 212 MP
Front camera12 MP
VideoYes
Battery
Wireless charging15W wireless
Design
Form factorSlate
Connectivity
USBUSB 3.2 (5 Gbps)
SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Samsung Galaxy S23 on individual carriers
All 7 plans with Samsung Galaxy S23
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Frequently asked questions about the Samsung Galaxy S23
What kind of display does the Samsung Galaxy S23 have?
The 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel runs at 120 Hz with 1750 nits peak brightness and a 2340 x 1080 resolution. The 120 Hz refresh delivers the smooth-scrolling, smooth-animation feel of the flagship tier — the same class of motion as the current Galaxy S26 line, just on smaller real estate. 1750 nits peak puts it comfortably in the readable-in-bright-outdoor-sun band; not the eye-melting 2600 nits of the latest Ultra, but enough that direct sunlight isn't a problem. The compact 6.1-inch frame is the unusual choice here — most Android flagships in 2026 are 6.7 inches and up.
What kind of camera does the Samsung Galaxy S23 have?
Triple-lens flexibility: a 50 MP main, a 12 MP ultrawide, and a 10 MP 3× optical telephoto, plus a 12 MP front camera. The 3× optical zoom is the headline lens — useful framing for portraits and middle-distance shots that the S23+ and S23 Ultra extend further. Image processing is Samsung's standard 2023 pipeline, which leans toward punchy color and aggressive sharpening. Three years on, this camera kit is still well above the single-lens approach of entry-tier phones, and the optical telephoto is something most $400 Androids still don't ship with.
What is the battery life of the Samsung Galaxy S23?
3,900 mAh — small for a 2026 flagship; daily charging expected. Even on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy efficiency, the smaller cell shows on heavy days. 25W wired charging is lunch-break top-up speed — not the 45W or 65W of current fast-charging Androids. 15W wireless and 4W reverse wireless are present; reverse wireless can trickle-charge a Galaxy Watch or earbuds in a pinch.
What processor does the Samsung Galaxy S23 use?
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy is the overclocked variant Samsung used in the S23 line — last-generation flagship silicon, still capable, behind the current Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 in the Galaxy S26. For 2026 apps, games, and on-device AI, it's still in the comfortable tier; sustained heavy gaming will throttle sooner than current chips. Paired with 8 GB RAM, which is the floor for comfortable Android in 2026 — fine for daily multitasking, no headroom for the heaviest AI workloads.
How much storage does the Samsung Galaxy S23 have?
128 GB internal storage is the floor — fine for messaging and casual photos, tight if you record 4K video or hoard apps. No microSD slot, which Samsung dropped from the Galaxy S line years ago. If 128 GB feels short, the S23 also shipped in 256 GB and 512 GB trims; the 128 GB unit is the cheapest entry into the family.
What kind of speakers does the Samsung Galaxy S23 have?
Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos tuning — the standard Samsung flagship setup for 2023. Loud enough for a hotel room or kitchen, not a substitute for a Bluetooth speaker outdoors.
Does the Samsung Galaxy S23 support fingerprint or face unlock?
Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor and 2D face unlock. The ultrasonic sensor is faster and more reliable than the optical fingerprint readers on cheaper Androids, and works through screen protectors. Face unlock here is camera-based — convenient but not as secure as Apple's Face ID 3D system.
Is the Samsung Galaxy S23 water-resistant?
IP68 — handles rain, sinks, pool splashes; saltwater and prolonged dives still aren't ideal. The standard rating for a Samsung flagship and unchanged on the current S26 line.
