Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G: Which Condition Grade Should You Buy?
Before we get into grades and pricing, there's something about this particular phone worth clearing up first: the Galaxy S23 FE we stock is the imported SM-S711U model, not the version Samsung officially sold through NZ retail. It's a detail that's easy to skip past, but it actually works in your favour.
Imported model, Snapdragon inside
Samsung builds the S23 FE differently depending on region. The version that shipped through NZ retail generally runs Samsung's own Exynos 2200 chip. The SM-S711U we import instead runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. In most independent testing, the Snapdragon version runs a bit cooler, holds battery slightly better, and edges ahead on GPU performance compared to the Exynos one — it's a fairly well-known gap in the Android world, and for once the import is the variant most reviewers would actually pick given the choice. There's no catch on compatibility either: every unit is unlocked and works across all NZ networks, plus Australia and most networks overseas. You're simply getting a different processor to what was sold here originally, and it happens to be the stronger of the two.
The specs, properly this time
Display is a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel at 120Hz with HDR10+, so both everyday scrolling and video look smooth rather than choppy. It's running 8GB of RAM with 128GB of storage. On the camera side you get a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultra-wide, with a 10MP front camera capable of 4K video at 60fps. The battery is 4500mAh, charging at 25W wired or 15W wireless, and it also does reverse wireless charging if you ever want to top up a watch or a set of earbuds directly off the phone. Round that out with Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C, Samsung DeX support, and an under-display fingerprint sensor, and there's very little missing for a phone in this price bracket.
Software and how long it'll last you
Units currently in stock are running Android 14. Samsung has committed the S23 FE to four major Android version upgrades plus extended security patches, so this isn't a phone that's about to drop off the update list — you've got years of software support ahead of it. On top sits Samsung's One UI, which layers in split-screen multitasking, DeX, and the usual Samsung extras without getting in the way of normal use.
The three condition grades we actually have on the shelf
All three listings below are the exact same phone — same chip, same specs, same software — the only thing changing between them is cosmetic condition and price. Prices below are pulled live from our store, so what you see is what's current today:
Fair – $439.00: Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (Fair). Visible scratches or marks on the screen and/or frame from its previous life. Fully tested, fully functional, and the cheapest way in.
Excellent – $459.00: Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (Excellent). Light wear at most, and the screen looks close to new from normal viewing distance. This is where most people end up.
Grade A (Pristine) – $498.00: Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (Grade A). No visible marks on the screen, and it comes with a 6-month warranty instead of the standard 3 months on the other two grades (liquid and physical damage still excluded).
Which one to actually pick
If the phone is going straight into a case and screen protector and staying there, get the Fair one — you'll never see the marks, and it performs exactly the same as the others. If you want something that looks good without a case and don't want to overthink it, Excellent is the sensible default. If resale value later matters to you, or a pristine screen and the longer warranty matter more than the small price gap, go Grade A.
Whichever grade you land on, you're getting the same Snapdragon chip, the same camera setup, and the same years of Android updates — the only decision left is how much cosmetic history you're comfortable with.
Note: prices on this page update automatically from our store, but stock and pricing can shift day to day — always confirm on the product page before you buy.