Samsung is now testing Android 13 for a handful of low-cost Galaxy devices, including the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite tablet, the Galaxy A22 5G, and the Galaxy A03s. These three devices are now listed in the Wi-Fi Alliance database running Android 13. They have received the green light from the organization, which could mean they might get the Android 13 update relatively soon — at least in the grander scheme of things.
The Galaxy Tab A7 Lite running Android 13 was certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance a couple of days ago, and so was the Galaxy A22 5G. Meanwhile, the WFA certified the Galaxy A03s with Android 13 on board last week.
Given Samsung's firmware update strategy, the fact that these devices are now being prepared for the Android 13-based One UI 5.0 update shouldn't surprise anyone. Nevertheless, these Wi-Fi Alliance certificates more or less confirm that Samsung has started work on Android 13 for at least the Galaxy A22 5G, A03s, and Tab A7 Lite.
As to when the update might make it onto these devices publicly, it's unclear. Samsung is now focusing a lot of its energy on preparing One UI 5.0 beta updates for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4, the previous-generation foldable devices, and the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy Note 20 lineups. These devices will likely have priority and be placed higher up in the queue for the Android 13 update, so there is a possibility that the Galaxy A22, A03s, and Tab A7 Lite won't see One UI 5.0 until sometime next year.
Then again, as per our exclusive report in September, the Galaxy A53 might be the one mid-range Galaxy A phone get One UI 5.0 before the end of the year, which means that the update might not remain exclusive to flagship devices in 2022. However, firmware release schedules are subject to change, so only time will tell where this road takes us.