Flagship Phones cost a fortune, and the prices keep climbing with every generation. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, released in early 2023, still ranks among the most capable phones ever made, and the renewed market now sells it for a fraction of its original price. I bought a renewed US version in Phantom Black with 256GB of storage to find out what the discount actually buys: a like new flagship, or a worn out device that happens to carry a famous name.
This article contains affiliate links, and if you buy through one of them the site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. That commission does not change what I test or what I recommend, and the phone reviewed here was purchased from a third party seller exactly the way a buyer would buy it.
The S23 Ultra carries a 6.8 inch AMOLED screen, a 200 megapixel camera, a built in S Pen, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy. The rest of this review covers the renewed condition, The Camera, the battery, and the honest risks of buying refurbished instead of new.
Design and Build
The S23 Ultra is a big, confident slab of glass and metal. The flat top and bottom edges give it a modern silhouette, the Phantom Black finish hides fingerprints reasonably well, and the 6.8 inch display dominates the front with barely a bezel to speak of. It is a heavy phone at over 8 ounces, but that weight reads as solid rather than clumsy, and the squared corners give the S Pen a natural home.
The renewed unit I received was in genuinely good shape. The glass was free of scratches, the aluminum frame had only faint signs of handling, and the S Pen docked and ejected as it should. Renewed units vary by seller, so this is a sample of one, but the condition matched the listing's promise, and the phone felt every bit like a flagship in the hand.
Key Features
The camera is the reason the S23 Ultra still turns heads. The 200 megapixel main sensor captures remarkable detail, the 10x optical periscope zoom brings distant subjects close, and the 100x space zoom, while gimmicky at full power, is genuinely usable at 30x. The results hold up against phones that cost twice as much today, which is the core of the renewed value case.
The 6.8 inch Dynamic AMOLED display runs at 120Hz and is still among the best screens on any phone. Bright enough for direct sunlight, with true blacks and vivid color, it makes photos and video look their best. The built in S Pen is the other flagship differentiator, useful for notes, annotations, and precise photo edits, and it charges while docked inside the phone.
Inside, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy handles anything thrown at it, the 256GB storage is ample, and the 5000mAh battery is a day plus companion. The phone supports the full S Pen feature set, Samsung DeX for a desktop experience, and years of updates, since Samsung commits to long support windows for the S23 family.
Real-World Performance
The camera lived up to the hype across two weeks of daily use. Daylight shots were crisp with excellent dynamic range, and the 200 megapixel mode captured details that survive heavy cropping. The 10x telephoto delivered sharp shots of birds and distant signs, and night mode cleaned up low light scenes better than many current mid range phones. It is a genuinely capable camera system that has not aged at all.
Battery life depends heavily on the history of the unit, and mine held up well. I finished most days with 20 to 30 percent remaining, which is strong for a flagship with a 1440p screen, and the 45 watt charging brought it back in about an hour. A renewed phone may have a battery with some wear, so buyers should set expectations and check the health in settings.
Performance is a non issue. Apps launch instantly, the phone never stutters, and games run at high settings without heat or drama. The S Pen continues to feel like a killer feature, whether scribbling a note on the lock screen or circling details in a photo before sending it to a client. Samsung DeX turns the phone into a desktop when docked, which is a bonus most phones cannot offer.
The honest caveats come with the renewed territory. The phone shipped without a charger in the box, a common detail for renewed units, and the exact cosmetic grade depends on the seller. Some units show battery wear or minor scuffs, so reading the listing carefully is part of the deal. The hardware itself is outstanding, but the renewed experience is only as good as the specific unit you receive.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- 200 megapixel camera still rivals current flagships
- 10x optical zoom is genuinely useful
- Outstanding AMOLED display at 120Hz
- Included S Pen with full stylus features
- Big price discount over new flagships
- Years of software support remaining
Cons:
- Renewed condition varies by seller
- Battery wear is possible on used units
- No charger included in many listings
- Heavy design is not for everyone
How It Compares
The renewed S23 Ultra competes against new mid range phones at a similar price and against the newer S24 Ultra. The table below compares them.
| Feature | Renewed S23 Ultra | New Mid Range | S24 Ultra (New) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Discounted | Mid range | Premium |
| Main camera | 200MP, excellent | 50MP, good | 200MP, excellent |
| Zoom | 10x optical | 2x to 3x optical | 5x optical |
| S Pen | Included | Not available | Included |
| Updates | Years remaining | Variable | Longest window |
Against a new mid range phone at the same price, the renewed S23 Ultra wins on camera, screen, and features almost every time. Against a new S24 Ultra, it gives up some battery efficiency and the newest chip, but the camera and S Pen are close enough that the price gap makes the renewed phone the smart buy for most people.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the renewed Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want flagship camera quality and an S Pen without paying flagship prices, and if you are comfortable with the minor trade offs of a refurbished device. Photographers, note takers, and anyone who wants a phone that still feels premium years after launch are the natural audience.
Skip it if you demand a brand new sealed device, if battery life is your top priority and you cannot accept any wear, or if you prefer a smaller, lighter phone. For everyone else, the renewed S23 Ultra is one of the best value flagship deals available. You can check the current price of the renewed Galaxy S23 Ultra on Amazon when you are ready.
How We Test
I bought a renewed US version of the S23 Ultra from a third party seller and used it as my daily phone for two weeks. I tested the camera across daylight, low light, and zoom scenarios, checked battery life and charging, ran games and heavy apps, and examined the renewed unit for cosmetic and functional condition.
Renewed units vary, so my unit is one sample, and I did not test the phone to the edges of the 100x zoom. For a deeper look at the phone when new, The Verge reviewed the Galaxy S23 Ultra in full. The renewed Galaxy S23 Ultra listing on Amazon shows the current price and condition options.
Renewed Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Questions People Ask
What does renewed mean for a Galaxy S23 Ultra?
A renewed phone is a returned device that is inspected, repaired, and cleaned before resale, so it arrives looking like new but costs less than retail.
Is the S23 Ultra camera still worth buying in 2026?
The 200 megapixel main camera and 10x telephoto still produce excellent photos, and they hold up well against current flagships for most people.
Does the renewed S23 Ultra come with a charger?
Packaging varies by seller, and many renewed units ship with a cable only, so check the listing details before you place an order.
Will the S23 Ultra receive software updates?
Samsung supports the S23 series with years of security and OS updates, so a renewed unit still has a long update window ahead of it.
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