Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review: The Refurb Buyer’s Dream?

Why you can trust this Samsung S23 Ultra review 

We know that when it comes to tech, trust is everything. You can rest assured that we don’t mess around at Back Market. 

You can trust our review because our analysis of the Samsung S23 Ultra has been informed by real customers and is backed by expert refurbishers who know these phones and the brand's offerings inside out. Every Samsung S23 Ultra sold with us is verified since it goes through exhaustive testing and quality checks. 

When you purchase a refurbished unit from us, you can trust that the device has been fully vetted. You won’t need to resort to guesswork. We clearly indicate on our marketplace the condition of a Samsung S23 Ultra based on its cosmetics. Regardless of how it looks on the outside, though, the inside is guaranteed to perform as it should. 

We don’t lie, and we assuredly don’t deceive, so what you see is what you get with Verified Refurbished Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultras sold by our team.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra specs

• Display: Feast your eyes on a massive 6.8-inch Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with a silky-smooth 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support. Translation? It's ultra-bright, ultra-vibrant, and ultra-crisp, making it perfect for streaming, scrolling, or showing off vacation pics in the sun.

• Processor: You’re getting the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy in the US, a custom-tuned powerhouse built for speed, efficiency, and serious multitasking. Essentially, this beast can handle gaming, editing, or app-juggling without breaking a – metaphorically speaking – sweat.

• Memory and storage: It comes loaded with up to 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage. No microSD slot here, but let’s be real; with a terabyte in your pocket, you’re basically carrying a portable hard drive.

• Cameras: The headline-grabber is the 200MP wide-angle lens (yes, 200), joined by a 12MP ultrawide lens, a 10MP 3x telephoto lens, and a 10MP 10x periscope telephoto lens. With this phone, you can zoom like a boss and capture stunning detail from just about any distance. Then there’s the front camera, which is a 12MP stunner for clean, sharp selfies and video chats.

• Battery: A hefty 5,000mAh battery keeps the phone functioning all day (and then some). With 45W fast charging and 15W wireless charging, plus Wireless PowerShare, staying juiced up is never an issue.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra pros & cons

Depending on who you speak to, most people will agree that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra feels worthy of its hefty price tag. However, as with any other phone on the market, it has its fair share of positives and negatives. Below, we’ve highlighted a few of each to give you a brief overview before we dive into the nitty-gritty details.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra features and benefits

At its release, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra was practically peerless. Of course, since then, it's been somewhat outclassed by the even better S24 Ultra, but this doesn’t mean it can’t still hang with the big boys in the Android world. In fact, it might not lose its place any time soon, considering its impressive features and benefits for users. 

You’ll see why we say this below, where we get to the…review portion of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review. So buckle up and ready yourself to learn why this maximalist device was enjoying victory laps when it was first released and is still in the race today. 

Software

Samsung's S23 Ultra’s One UI 5 is not a massive upgrade from its predecessor, with the S22 series featuring the One UI 4. This upgrade, though, even if it’s small, led to a few extra features you’ll be happy to have, and it will still be supported by four years of OS updates and five years of security updates.

For example, the S23 Ultra allows you to set up modes and routines with greater flexibility and detail. You’ll also have access to Samsung's app store, web browser, and virtual assistant. There are also two pages — yes, you read that right — of quick settings in the notification shade by default. To put it simply, the phone really lives up to its maximalist design in terms of software. 

However, this might not be to everyone's taste, and you might not enjoy these features if you’re looking for a simpler UI experience. But we will say this: with a little app organization, you could grow to like the phone in all its maximalist glory.

Performance and processor

The Samsung S23 Ultra is powered by the incredible Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. It might not be the pinnacle at the moment with other models by the brand surpassing it, but it's still one of the best and most reliable in terms of performance, and it's a smidge faster than the 8 Gen 2. 

With this chipset, you can expect to experience minimal to no lag when performing demanding tasks like gaming or multitasking. It's notoriously well-equipped to handle even the most intensive tasks, so don’t expect it to be slow. 

We can almost guarantee that nothing you throw at it during day-to-day use will make it flinch, and switching between apps can feel nearly dizzying. In addition, there’s the added advantage of the chipset running cooler than the Snapdragon Gen 1, with downloads and long-time gaming only causing a minimal increase in temperature. 

One Reddit user summed it up perfectly:

“In a world where tech seems to go stale in months, and other companies are unveiling the world's first 3nm processors, the S23 Ultra still manages to be relevant.”

Yes… It’s that good.

Design and display

Some describe the Samsung S23 Ultra as bulky, but this doesn’t mean it feels awkward in your hand. With this model, you can expect a little less curve at the edges as well as side rails that are somewhat flatter in design. This clever design makes it more stable in one's hand. Translation: it doesn’t feel like it will slip out of your fingers when you pick it up. 

This is particularly convenient considering the phone has been designed to include an S Pen stylus that niftily slots into the phone itself when not in use. Since the phone feels more secure, writing on it with the stylus doesn’t feel like a challenge, which is a benefit many have loved. 

The downside, however, is that the slight flattening of the edges makes the phone look a little boxier, although the display is huge and efficient. A Business Insider article even reported that the Samsung S23 Ultra is “a big-screen phone that's overkill in all the right ways.”

It also comes in several colors, but if you choose to get it in the cream color, you only have yourself to blame for the 80s chic look it presents. We will say this, though: 80s aesthetics aside, it is a beautiful device. It’s on the heavier side, but that’s to be expected considering its battery and its impressive and beautifully buttery 6.8-inch 1440p LTPO OLED panel that boasts a 120Hz refresh rate. 

The battery can last days on end and won’t let you down. One Reddit user even said:

“The battery life is staggering - I can get nearly 3 days of lighter use, and with short bursts of charging in the car, I only have to charge overnight once a week. Performance, display, calls, everything else has been flawless.”

Its design also features a fingerprint sensor, but it can be glitchy. The phone makes up for this with its face unlock feature. It's also pretty convenient that the Samsung S23 Ultra comes with a robust IP68 water and dust resistance rating and base storage capabilities of 256GB, which is upgradable to 1TB.

Camera

If there's one standout feature on this device, it's the quad-lens camera system. This camera system has a groundbreaking 200MP main sensor that delivers on its promises of exceptional video and photo quality across diverse lighting conditions — yes, even in low contrast or high brightness. 

For example, the Samsung S23 Ultra's ‘nightography’ mode allows you to take vibrant and detailed images even in low light. Pretty impressive, huh? And that’s not to mention the phone's telephoto lenses, which offer stunning zoom capabilities to the tune of 10x. That’s pretty far. In fact, you might even be able to see into the future… Just kidding. 

The front camera, however, impresses us the most, capturing crystal clear selfies and accurately reproducing color. We were also pretty blown away by the automatic and manual camera controls that cater to both novices and seasoned professional photographers. 

The only downside is the ultrawide camera, which doesn’t perform as well as the other lenses. It’s decent enough, though, but some don’t like the oversaturation and over-sharpening. A disgruntled Reddit user even said:

“I eyed the S23 Ultra heavily before making my recent purchase decision, but I just couldn't get around the photo qualities, especially all that over-sharpening. Also not thrilled with the oversaturation, either.”

Shopping tips for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

If you’ve decided to shop for a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, it's a good call even in 2025. Considering all of the bells and whistles you've learned about above, this phone still packs a serious punch. 

However, before you hastily hit buy on the first one you find — we know you’re eager to get your hands on one — it's essential to remember a few shopping tips. Below, our team at Back Market has shared a few great tips to ensure you get the best deal without buyer's remorse:

• Go refurbished: It might seem like a no-brainer, but buying refurbished is your best bet. If you shop with us at Back Market, you can often enjoy savings on a Samsung S23 Ultra that go up to 50% off the price of new. You’ll skip over the retail markup and get a legit device since ours come cleaned, tested, and covered by a one-year warranty. 

• Double-check included accessories: If you’re going to buy new, it's a good idea to check that your Samsung S23 Ultra comes with all of its promised accessories. Unfortunately, many sellers will sell these devices sans stylus or charger, so be sure you know what's included up front before paying. 

• Skip overly hyped shopping days: We don’t even need to say it, but we will. Shopping events like Back Friday and Cyber Monday aren’t all they seem to be. Sometimes, stores raise prices just before these events to make deals seem more attractive. It's not allowed, but it happens. So, if you can, don't wait around for big sales days. Instead, buy refurbished with Back Market, where there are guaranteed deals year-round. 

These are only a few shopping tips you can keep in mind when getting ready to buy a new, used, or refurbished Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. But even keeping only these in mind can save you money.

Why choose refurbished 

When you choose to buy refurbished, you are, of course, getting a deal, considering prices are usually significantly reduced, but this isn’t the only benefit. By purchasing a Verified Refurbished Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, you’re also doing your part for the environment. 

At Back Market, we care about the planet — after all, we need it to survive. Our refurbished tech helps to reduce e-waste and resource depletion, and by buying from us, you’re helping with this, too. 

You also get a professionally tested, cleaned, and restored device with our stamp of approval for premium functionality that comes with a guarantee and a warranty.

Trade in your old tech and choose a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Our trade-in program isn’t only for the penny pinchers; it's for everyone who wants to benefit from cashback that can be used towards a new refurbished device like a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Back Market’s trade-in program is simple and easy to complete. 

We offer real-time pricing and free shipping, which also helps to offset costs. So, speak to us to learn more about it and how to use your cash or credit towards newer tech that you’ll enjoy. 

Prices of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Final thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is still one of the best phones on the market. It might not be everyone's cup of tea with its newer design, quirky colors, and somewhat disappointing software upgrade, but its camera, display, battery life, and performance are showstoppers. 

So, if you’re considering this device and are ready to hit “buy”, have a look at the Back Market marketplace. We offer quite a few of these for varying prices that might suit your pocket.