diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 20c349ac003..57053c36457 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
       - name: Generate cache-key
         id: cache-key
-        run: echo key="${{ hashFiles('requirements.txt', 'requirements_test.txt', '.pre-commit-config.yaml') }}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+        run: echo key="${{ hashFiles('requirements.txt', 'requirements_dev.txt', 'requirements_test.txt', '.pre-commit-config.yaml') }}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
       - name: Set up Python ${{ env.DEFAULT_PYTHON }}
         id: python
         uses: actions/setup-python@a309ff8b426b58ec0e2a45f0f869d46889d02405 # v6.2.0
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ jobs:
           python -m venv venv
           . venv/bin/activate
           python --version
-          pip install -r requirements.txt -r requirements_test.txt pre-commit
+          pip install -r requirements.txt -r requirements_dev.txt -r requirements_test.txt pre-commit
           pip install -e .
 
   pylint:
@@ -108,6 +108,34 @@ jobs:
           script/generate-esp32-boards.py --check
           script/generate-rp2040-boards.py --check
 
+  import-time:
+    name: Check import esphome.__main__ time
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    needs:
+      - common
+      - determine-jobs
+    if: needs.determine-jobs.outputs.import-time == 'true'
+    steps:
+      - name: Check out code from GitHub
+        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+      - name: Restore Python
+        uses: ./.github/actions/restore-python
+        with:
+          python-version: ${{ env.DEFAULT_PYTHON }}
+          cache-key: ${{ needs.common.outputs.cache-key }}
+      - name: Check import time against budget and write waterfall HAR
+        run: |
+          . venv/bin/activate
+          script/check_import_time.py --check --har importtime.har
+      - name: Upload waterfall HAR
+        if: always()
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7.0.1
+        with:
+          name: import-time-waterfall
+          path: importtime.har
+          if-no-files-found: ignore
+          retention-days: 14
+
   pytest:
     name: Run pytest
     strategy:
@@ -176,6 +204,7 @@ jobs:
       clang-tidy: ${{ steps.determine.outputs.clang-tidy }}
       clang-tidy-mode: ${{ steps.determine.outputs.clang-tidy-mode }}
       python-linters: ${{ steps.determine.outputs.python-linters }}
+      import-time: ${{ steps.determine.outputs.import-time }}
       changed-components: ${{ steps.determine.outputs.changed-components }}
       changed-components-with-tests: ${{ steps.determine.outputs.changed-components-with-tests }}
       directly-changed-components-with-tests: ${{ steps.determine.outputs.directly-changed-components-with-tests }}
@@ -219,6 +248,7 @@ jobs:
           echo "clang-tidy=$(echo "$output" | jq -r '.clang_tidy')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           echo "clang-tidy-mode=$(echo "$output" | jq -r '.clang_tidy_mode')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           echo "python-linters=$(echo "$output" | jq -r '.python_linters')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          echo "import-time=$(echo "$output" | jq -r '.import_time')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           echo "changed-components=$(echo "$output" | jq -c '.changed_components')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           echo "changed-components-with-tests=$(echo "$output" | jq -c '.changed_components_with_tests')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           echo "directly-changed-components-with-tests=$(echo "$output" | jq -c '.directly_changed_components_with_tests')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
@@ -339,7 +369,7 @@ jobs:
           echo "binary=$BINARY" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
       - name: Run CodSpeed benchmarks
-        uses: CodSpeedHQ/action@658a901452bb54c799643e060733b7afe9121b8d # v4.14.0
+        uses: CodSpeedHQ/action@c381be0bfd20e844fb45594f6aa182ffcd94545c # v4.15.0
         with:
           run: ${{ steps.build.outputs.binary }}
           mode: simulation
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index da568d9b832..4a4a88fd48f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -146,5 +146,6 @@ sdkconfig.*
 
 /components
 /managed_components
+/dependencies.lock
 
 api-docs/
diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index d9b7df6ec53..ad82bd8e5d8 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ ci:
 repos:
   - repo: https://github.com/astral-sh/ruff-pre-commit
     # Ruff version.
-    rev: v0.15.11
+    rev: v0.15.12
     hooks:
       # Run the linter.
       - id: ruff
diff --git a/CODEOWNERS b/CODEOWNERS
index 20c19a7dfa0..471def542bb 100644
--- a/CODEOWNERS
+++ b/CODEOWNERS
@@ -347,6 +347,7 @@ esphome/components/modbus_controller/select/* @martgras @stegm
 esphome/components/modbus_controller/sensor/* @martgras
 esphome/components/modbus_controller/switch/* @martgras
 esphome/components/modbus_controller/text_sensor/* @martgras
+esphome/components/modbus_server/* @exciton
 esphome/components/mopeka_ble/* @Fabian-Schmidt @spbrogan
 esphome/components/mopeka_pro_check/* @spbrogan
 esphome/components/mopeka_std_check/* @Fabian-Schmidt
diff --git a/esphome/automation.py b/esphome/automation.py
index 97d9a0a47a8..20eb9358cad 100644
--- a/esphome/automation.py
+++ b/esphome/automation.py
@@ -597,7 +597,7 @@ async def component_resume_action_to_code(
     comp = await cg.get_variable(config[CONF_ID])
     var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg, comp)
     if CONF_UPDATE_INTERVAL in config:
-        template_ = await cg.templatable(config[CONF_UPDATE_INTERVAL], args, int)
+        template_ = await cg.templatable(config[CONF_UPDATE_INTERVAL], args, cg.uint32)
         cg.add(var.set_update_interval(template_))
     return var
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/alarm_control_panel/__init__.py b/esphome/components/alarm_control_panel/__init__.py
index 9fcdf42ecb4..2f5d4c7c2bf 100644
--- a/esphome/components/alarm_control_panel/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/alarm_control_panel/__init__.py
@@ -13,7 +13,11 @@ from esphome.const import (
     CONF_WEB_SERVER,
 )
 from esphome.core import CORE, CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
-from esphome.core.entity_helpers import entity_duplicate_validator, setup_entity
+from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
+    entity_duplicate_validator,
+    queue_entity_register,
+    setup_entity,
+)
 from esphome.cpp_generator import MockObjClass
 
 CODEOWNERS = ["@grahambrown11", "@hwstar"]
@@ -181,7 +185,7 @@ async def setup_alarm_control_panel_core_(var, config):
 async def register_alarm_control_panel(var, config):
     if not CORE.has_id(config[CONF_ID]):
         var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], var)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_alarm_control_panel(var))
+    queue_entity_register("alarm_control_panel", config)
     CORE.register_platform_component("alarm_control_panel", var)
     await setup_alarm_control_panel_core_(var, config)
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/animation/animation.cpp b/esphome/components/animation/animation.cpp
index c2ae3b2f768..2f59a7fa5a7 100644
--- a/esphome/components/animation/animation.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/animation/animation.cpp
@@ -62,7 +62,12 @@ void Animation::set_frame(int frame) {
 }
 
 void Animation::update_data_start_() {
-  const uint32_t image_size = this->get_width_stride() * this->height_;
+  uint32_t image_size = this->get_width_stride() * this->height_;
+  // RGB565 with an alpha channel stores the alpha plane immediately after the RGB
+  // plane within each frame, so the per-frame stride includes the alpha bytes.
+  if (this->type_ == image::IMAGE_TYPE_RGB565 && this->transparency_ == image::TRANSPARENCY_ALPHA_CHANNEL) {
+    image_size += static_cast<uint32_t>(this->width_) * this->height_;
+  }
   this->data_start_ = this->animation_data_start_ + image_size * this->current_frame_;
 }
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api.proto b/esphome/components/api/api.proto
index c3e4c386334..391efbd6eb6 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api.proto
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api.proto
@@ -1025,6 +1025,13 @@ message CameraImageRequest {
   bool stream = 2;
 }
 
+// ==================== TEMPERATURE UNIT ====================
+enum TemperatureUnit {
+  TEMPERATURE_UNIT_CELSIUS = 0;
+  TEMPERATURE_UNIT_FAHRENHEIT = 1;
+  TEMPERATURE_UNIT_KELVIN = 2;
+}
+
 // ==================== CLIMATE ====================
 enum ClimateMode {
   CLIMATE_MODE_OFF = 0;
@@ -1110,6 +1117,7 @@ message ListEntitiesClimateResponse {
   float visual_max_humidity = 25;
   uint32 device_id = 26 [(field_ifdef) = "USE_DEVICES"];
   uint32 feature_flags = 27;
+  TemperatureUnit temperature_unit = 28;
 }
 message ClimateStateResponse {
   option (id) = 47;
@@ -1203,6 +1211,7 @@ message ListEntitiesWaterHeaterResponse {
   repeated WaterHeaterMode supported_modes = 11 [(container_pointer_no_template) = "water_heater::WaterHeaterModeMask"];
   // Bitmask of WaterHeaterFeature flags
   uint32 supported_features = 12;
+  TemperatureUnit temperature_unit = 13;
 }
 
 message WaterHeaterStateResponse {
@@ -1410,6 +1419,8 @@ enum LockState {
   LOCK_STATE_JAMMED = 3;
   LOCK_STATE_LOCKING = 4;
   LOCK_STATE_UNLOCKING = 5;
+  LOCK_STATE_OPENING = 6;
+  LOCK_STATE_OPEN = 7;
 }
 enum LockCommand  {
   LOCK_UNLOCK = 0;
@@ -1628,7 +1639,7 @@ message BluetoothLEAdvertisementResponse {
 
 message BluetoothLERawAdvertisement {
   option (inline_encode) = true;
-  uint64 address = 1 [(force) = true];
+  uint64 address = 1 [(force) = true, (mac_address) = true];
   sint32 rssi = 2 [(force) = true];
   uint32 address_type = 3 [(max_value) = 4];
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_options.proto b/esphome/components/api/api_options.proto
index d5d0b37e8df..ac9c4e59cca 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_options.proto
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_options.proto
@@ -110,4 +110,10 @@ extend google.protobuf.FieldOptions {
     // length varint calculations and direct byte writes, since the length
     // varint is guaranteed to be 1 byte.
     optional uint32 max_data_length = 50018;
+
+    // mac_address: Field is a 48-bit MAC address stored in a uint64.
+    // Emits encode_varint_raw_48bit which has a 7-byte fast path that avoids
+    // the per-byte loop when the upper bits are non-zero (the common case
+    // for real MAC addresses, since OUIs occupy the top 24 bits).
+    optional bool mac_address = 50019 [default=false];
 }
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
index 3d124539395..eb25bf7461a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
@@ -1439,6 +1439,7 @@ uint8_t *ListEntitiesClimateResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer PROTO_ENCO
   ProtoEncode::encode_uint32(pos PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_ARG, 26, this->device_id);
 #endif
   ProtoEncode::encode_uint32(pos PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_ARG, 27, this->feature_flags);
+  ProtoEncode::encode_uint32(pos PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_ARG, 28, static_cast<uint32_t>(this->temperature_unit));
   return pos;
 }
 uint32_t ListEntitiesClimateResponse::calculate_size() const {
@@ -1488,6 +1489,7 @@ uint32_t ListEntitiesClimateResponse::calculate_size() const {
   size += ProtoSize::calc_uint32(2, this->device_id);
 #endif
   size += ProtoSize::calc_uint32(2, this->feature_flags);
+  size += this->temperature_unit ? 3 : 0;
   return size;
 }
 uint8_t *ClimateStateResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_PARAM) const {
@@ -1645,6 +1647,7 @@ uint8_t *ListEntitiesWaterHeaterResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer PROTO_
     ProtoEncode::encode_uint32(pos PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_ARG, 11, static_cast<uint32_t>(it), true);
   }
   ProtoEncode::encode_uint32(pos PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_ARG, 12, this->supported_features);
+  ProtoEncode::encode_uint32(pos PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_ARG, 13, static_cast<uint32_t>(this->temperature_unit));
   return pos;
 }
 uint32_t ListEntitiesWaterHeaterResponse::calculate_size() const {
@@ -1667,6 +1670,7 @@ uint32_t ListEntitiesWaterHeaterResponse::calculate_size() const {
     size += this->supported_modes->size() * 2;
   }
   size += ProtoSize::calc_uint32(1, this->supported_features);
+  size += this->temperature_unit ? 2 : 0;
   return size;
 }
 uint8_t *WaterHeaterStateResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_PARAM) const {
@@ -2348,7 +2352,7 @@ BluetoothLERawAdvertisementsResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer PROTO_ENCO
     uint8_t *len_pos = pos;
     ProtoEncode::reserve_byte(pos PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_ARG);
     ProtoEncode::write_raw_byte(pos PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_ARG, 8);
-    ProtoEncode::encode_varint_raw_64(pos PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_ARG, sub_msg.address);
+    ProtoEncode::encode_varint_raw_48bit(pos PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_ARG, sub_msg.address);
     ProtoEncode::write_raw_byte(pos PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_ARG, 16);
     ProtoEncode::encode_varint_raw_short(pos PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_ARG, encode_zigzag32(sub_msg.rssi));
     if (sub_msg.address_type) {
@@ -2369,7 +2373,7 @@ BluetoothLERawAdvertisementsResponse::calculate_size() const {
   for (uint16_t i = 0; i < this->advertisements_len; i++) {
     auto &sub_msg = this->advertisements[i];
     size += 2;
-    size += ProtoSize::calc_uint64_force(1, sub_msg.address);
+    size += ProtoSize::calc_uint64_48bit_force(1, sub_msg.address);
     size += ProtoSize::calc_sint32_force(1, sub_msg.rssi);
     size += sub_msg.address_type ? 2 : 0;
     size += 2 + sub_msg.data_len;
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
index 5aa592e4fa8..7b82f1884d1 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
@@ -92,6 +92,11 @@ enum SupportsResponseType : uint32_t {
   SUPPORTS_RESPONSE_STATUS = 100,
 };
 #endif
+enum TemperatureUnit : uint32_t {
+  TEMPERATURE_UNIT_CELSIUS = 0,
+  TEMPERATURE_UNIT_FAHRENHEIT = 1,
+  TEMPERATURE_UNIT_KELVIN = 2,
+};
 #ifdef USE_CLIMATE
 enum ClimateMode : uint32_t {
   CLIMATE_MODE_OFF = 0,
@@ -176,6 +181,8 @@ enum LockState : uint32_t {
   LOCK_STATE_JAMMED = 3,
   LOCK_STATE_LOCKING = 4,
   LOCK_STATE_UNLOCKING = 5,
+  LOCK_STATE_OPENING = 6,
+  LOCK_STATE_OPEN = 7,
 };
 enum LockCommand : uint32_t {
   LOCK_UNLOCK = 0,
@@ -1372,7 +1379,7 @@ class CameraImageRequest final : public ProtoDecodableMessage {
 class ListEntitiesClimateResponse final : public InfoResponseProtoMessage {
  public:
   static constexpr uint8_t MESSAGE_TYPE = 46;
-  static constexpr uint8_t ESTIMATED_SIZE = 150;
+  static constexpr uint8_t ESTIMATED_SIZE = 153;
 #ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
   const LogString *message_name() const override { return LOG_STR("list_entities_climate_response"); }
 #endif
@@ -1394,6 +1401,7 @@ class ListEntitiesClimateResponse final : public InfoResponseProtoMessage {
   float visual_min_humidity{0.0f};
   float visual_max_humidity{0.0f};
   uint32_t feature_flags{0};
+  enums::TemperatureUnit temperature_unit{};
   uint8_t *encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_PARAM) const;
   uint32_t calculate_size() const;
 #ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
@@ -1471,7 +1479,7 @@ class ClimateCommandRequest final : public CommandProtoMessage {
 class ListEntitiesWaterHeaterResponse final : public InfoResponseProtoMessage {
  public:
   static constexpr uint8_t MESSAGE_TYPE = 132;
-  static constexpr uint8_t ESTIMATED_SIZE = 63;
+  static constexpr uint8_t ESTIMATED_SIZE = 65;
 #ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
   const LogString *message_name() const override { return LOG_STR("list_entities_water_heater_response"); }
 #endif
@@ -1480,6 +1488,7 @@ class ListEntitiesWaterHeaterResponse final : public InfoResponseProtoMessage {
   float target_temperature_step{0.0f};
   const water_heater::WaterHeaterModeMask *supported_modes{};
   uint32_t supported_features{0};
+  enums::TemperatureUnit temperature_unit{};
   uint8_t *encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_PARAM) const;
   uint32_t calculate_size() const;
 #ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp
index bdcb6d4146d..5258b355ceb 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp
@@ -297,6 +297,18 @@ template<> const char *proto_enum_to_string<enums::SupportsResponseType>(enums::
   }
 }
 #endif
+template<> const char *proto_enum_to_string<enums::TemperatureUnit>(enums::TemperatureUnit value) {
+  switch (value) {
+    case enums::TEMPERATURE_UNIT_CELSIUS:
+      return ESPHOME_PSTR("TEMPERATURE_UNIT_CELSIUS");
+    case enums::TEMPERATURE_UNIT_FAHRENHEIT:
+      return ESPHOME_PSTR("TEMPERATURE_UNIT_FAHRENHEIT");
+    case enums::TEMPERATURE_UNIT_KELVIN:
+      return ESPHOME_PSTR("TEMPERATURE_UNIT_KELVIN");
+    default:
+      return ESPHOME_PSTR("UNKNOWN");
+  }
+}
 #ifdef USE_CLIMATE
 template<> const char *proto_enum_to_string<enums::ClimateMode>(enums::ClimateMode value) {
   switch (value) {
@@ -475,6 +487,10 @@ template<> const char *proto_enum_to_string<enums::LockState>(enums::LockState v
       return ESPHOME_PSTR("LOCK_STATE_LOCKING");
     case enums::LOCK_STATE_UNLOCKING:
       return ESPHOME_PSTR("LOCK_STATE_UNLOCKING");
+    case enums::LOCK_STATE_OPENING:
+      return ESPHOME_PSTR("LOCK_STATE_OPENING");
+    case enums::LOCK_STATE_OPEN:
+      return ESPHOME_PSTR("LOCK_STATE_OPEN");
     default:
       return ESPHOME_PSTR("UNKNOWN");
   }
@@ -1539,6 +1555,7 @@ const char *ListEntitiesClimateResponse::dump_to(DumpBuffer &out) const {
   dump_field(out, ESPHOME_PSTR("device_id"), this->device_id);
 #endif
   dump_field(out, ESPHOME_PSTR("feature_flags"), this->feature_flags);
+  dump_field(out, ESPHOME_PSTR("temperature_unit"), static_cast<enums::TemperatureUnit>(this->temperature_unit));
   return out.c_str();
 }
 const char *ClimateStateResponse::dump_to(DumpBuffer &out) const {
@@ -1612,6 +1629,7 @@ const char *ListEntitiesWaterHeaterResponse::dump_to(DumpBuffer &out) const {
     dump_field(out, ESPHOME_PSTR("supported_modes"), static_cast<enums::WaterHeaterMode>(it), 4);
   }
   dump_field(out, ESPHOME_PSTR("supported_features"), this->supported_features);
+  dump_field(out, ESPHOME_PSTR("temperature_unit"), static_cast<enums::TemperatureUnit>(this->temperature_unit));
   return out.c_str();
 }
 const char *WaterHeaterStateResponse::dump_to(DumpBuffer &out) const {
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp
index 6ae2a3e3694..0ba2961a138 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ void APIServerConnectionBase::log_receive_message_(const LogString *name) {
 }
 #endif
 
+#ifdef USE_API
 void APIConnection::read_message_(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, const uint8_t *msg_data) {
   // Check authentication/connection requirements
   switch (msg_type) {
@@ -706,5 +707,6 @@ void APIConnection::read_message_(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, const ui
       break;
   }
 }
+#endif  // USE_API
 
 }  // namespace esphome::api
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
index c30bd2e6124..6c26c4e1876 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ APIServer *global_api_server = nullptr;  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-c
 
 APIServer::APIServer() { global_api_server = this; }
 
+// Custom deleter defined here so `delete` sees the complete APIConnection type.
+// This prevents libc++ from emitting an "incomplete type" error when other
+// translation units only have the forward declaration of APIConnection.
+void APIServer::APIConnectionDeleter::operator()(APIConnection *p) const { delete p; }
+
 void APIServer::socket_failed_(const LogString *msg) {
   ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Socket %s: errno %d", LOG_STR_ARG(msg), errno);
   this->destroy_socket_();
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_server.h b/esphome/components/api/api_server.h
index e662d78eba9..6b575e536d3 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_server.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_server.h
@@ -193,7 +193,13 @@ class APIServer final : public Component,
   // Range-for view over the populated slice [0, api_connection_count_). Read-only with respect
   // to ownership — callers get `const unique_ptr&` so they can invoke non-const methods on the
   // APIConnection but cannot reset/move the slot and break the count invariant.
-  using APIConnectionPtr = std::unique_ptr<APIConnection>;
+  // Custom deleter is defined out-of-line in api_server.cpp so libc++ does not
+  // eagerly instantiate `delete static_cast<APIConnection *>(p)` here, where
+  // only the forward declaration of APIConnection is visible (incomplete type).
+  struct APIConnectionDeleter {
+    void operator()(APIConnection *p) const;
+  };
+  using APIConnectionPtr = std::unique_ptr<APIConnection, APIConnectionDeleter>;
   class ActiveClientsView {
     const APIConnectionPtr *begin_;
     const APIConnectionPtr *end_;
@@ -292,7 +298,7 @@ class APIServer final : public Component,
   uint32_t last_connected_{0};
 
   // Slots [0, api_connection_count_) are populated; trailing slots are always nullptr.
-  std::array<std::unique_ptr<APIConnection>, MAX_API_CONNECTIONS> clients_{};
+  std::array<APIConnectionPtr, MAX_API_CONNECTIONS> clients_{};
   // Vectors and strings (12 bytes each on 32-bit)
   // Shared proto write buffer for all connections.
   // Not pre-allocated: all send paths call prepare_first_message_buffer() which
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/proto.h b/esphome/components/api/proto.h
index 8cac7fff3bf..3ff65029e1b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/proto.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/proto.h
@@ -342,6 +342,32 @@ class ProtoEncode {
     }
     encode_varint_raw_loop(pos PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_ARG, value);
   }
+  /// Encode a 48-bit MAC address (stored in a uint64) as varint.
+  /// Real MAC addresses occupy the full 48 bits (OUI in upper 24), so the
+  /// fast path -- any non-zero bit in the top 6 of 48 -- emits exactly 7 bytes
+  /// with no per-byte branch. Falls back to the general loop otherwise.
+  /// Caller must guarantee value fits in 48 bits (checked in debug builds).
+  static inline void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE encode_varint_raw_48bit(uint8_t *__restrict__ &pos PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_PARAM,
+                                                                   uint64_t value) {
+#ifdef ESPHOME_DEBUG_API
+    assert(value < (1ULL << (MAC_ADDRESS_SIZE * 8)) && "encode_varint_raw_48bit: value exceeds 48 bits");
+#endif
+    // 7-byte varint holds 49 bits (7 * 7), so a 48-bit value needs all 7 bytes
+    // whenever bit 42 or higher is set (i.e. value >= 1 << (48 - 6)).
+    if (value >= (1ULL << (MAC_ADDRESS_SIZE * 8 - 6))) [[likely]] {
+      PROTO_ENCODE_CHECK_BOUNDS(pos, 7);
+      pos[0] = static_cast<uint8_t>(value | 0x80);
+      pos[1] = static_cast<uint8_t>((value >> 7) | 0x80);
+      pos[2] = static_cast<uint8_t>((value >> 14) | 0x80);
+      pos[3] = static_cast<uint8_t>((value >> 21) | 0x80);
+      pos[4] = static_cast<uint8_t>((value >> 28) | 0x80);
+      pos[5] = static_cast<uint8_t>((value >> 35) | 0x80);
+      pos[6] = static_cast<uint8_t>(value >> 42);
+      pos += 7;
+      return;
+    }
+    encode_varint_raw_64(pos PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_ARG, value);
+  }
   static inline void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE encode_field_raw(uint8_t *__restrict__ &pos PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_PARAM,
                                                             uint32_t field_id, uint32_t type) {
     encode_varint_raw(pos PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_ARG, (field_id << 3) | type);
@@ -817,6 +843,14 @@ class ProtoSize {
   static constexpr inline uint32_t ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE calc_uint64_force(uint32_t field_id_size, uint64_t value) {
     return field_id_size + varint(value);
   }
+  /// 48-bit MAC address variant: matches encode_varint_raw_48bit's fast path.
+  /// When any of the top 6 of 48 bits is set the encoded varint is 7 bytes;
+  /// otherwise fall back to the general size calculation.
+  /// Caller must guarantee value fits in 48 bits (encoder asserts in debug).
+  static constexpr inline uint32_t ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE calc_uint64_48bit_force(uint32_t field_id_size,
+                                                                                 uint64_t value) {
+    return field_id_size + (value >= (1ULL << (MAC_ADDRESS_SIZE * 8 - 6)) ? 7 : varint(value));
+  }
   static constexpr uint32_t calc_length(uint32_t field_id_size, size_t len) {
     return len ? field_id_size + varint(static_cast<uint32_t>(len)) + static_cast<uint32_t>(len) : 0;
   }
diff --git a/esphome/components/at581x/__init__.py b/esphome/components/at581x/__init__.py
index 94b68db4b33..5031b72cceb 100644
--- a/esphome/components/at581x/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/at581x/__init__.py
@@ -183,19 +183,19 @@ async def at581x_settings_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
         cg.add(var.set_sensing_distance(template_))
 
     if selfcheck := config.get(CONF_POWERON_SELFCHECK_TIME):
-        template_ = await cg.templatable(selfcheck, args, cg.int32)
+        template_ = await cg.templatable(selfcheck, args, cg.int_)
         cg.add(var.set_poweron_selfcheck_time(template_))
 
     if protect := config.get(CONF_PROTECT_TIME):
-        template_ = await cg.templatable(protect, args, cg.int32)
+        template_ = await cg.templatable(protect, args, cg.int_)
         cg.add(var.set_protect_time(template_))
 
     if trig_base := config.get(CONF_TRIGGER_BASE):
-        template_ = await cg.templatable(trig_base, args, cg.int32)
+        template_ = await cg.templatable(trig_base, args, cg.int_)
         cg.add(var.set_trigger_base(template_))
 
     if trig_keep := config.get(CONF_TRIGGER_KEEP):
-        template_ = await cg.templatable(trig_keep, args, cg.int32)
+        template_ = await cg.templatable(trig_keep, args, cg.int_)
         cg.add(var.set_trigger_keep(template_))
 
     if (stage_gain := config.get(CONF_STAGE_GAIN)) is not None:
diff --git a/esphome/components/audio/__init__.py b/esphome/components/audio/__init__.py
index fee582ca25c..fe111be31e7 100644
--- a/esphome/components/audio/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/audio/__init__.py
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ async def to_code(config):
     data = _get_data()
 
     if data.micro_decoder_support:
-        add_idf_component(name="esphome/micro-decoder", ref="0.1.1")
+        add_idf_component(name="esphome/micro-decoder", ref="0.2.0")
 
         # All codecs are enabled by default in micro-decoder, so disable the ones that aren't requested to save flash
         if not data.flac_support:
diff --git a/esphome/components/bh1750/bh1750.cpp b/esphome/components/bh1750/bh1750.cpp
index 045fb7cf454..ab952895a88 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bh1750/bh1750.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/bh1750/bh1750.cpp
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ void BH1750Sensor::loop() {
         break;
       }
 
-      ESP_LOGD(TAG, "'%s': Illuminance=%.1flx", this->get_name().c_str(), lx);
+      ESP_LOGV(TAG, "'%s': Illuminance=%.1flx", this->get_name().c_str(), lx);
       this->status_clear_warning();
       this->publish_state(lx);
       this->state_ = IDLE;
diff --git a/esphome/components/binary_sensor/__init__.py b/esphome/components/binary_sensor/__init__.py
index 29ddbab02cd..1456e5bc663 100644
--- a/esphome/components/binary_sensor/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/binary_sensor/__init__.py
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ from esphome.const import (
 from esphome.core import CORE, CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
 from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
     entity_duplicate_validator,
+    queue_entity_register,
     setup_device_class,
     setup_entity,
 )
@@ -624,7 +625,7 @@ async def setup_binary_sensor_core_(var, config):
 async def register_binary_sensor(var, config):
     if not CORE.has_id(config[CONF_ID]):
         var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], var)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_binary_sensor(var))
+    queue_entity_register("binary_sensor", config)
     CORE.register_platform_component("binary_sensor", var)
     await setup_binary_sensor_core_(var, config)
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/binary_sensor/automation.cpp b/esphome/components/binary_sensor/automation.cpp
index eb68abce3b7..b13e4a88dd1 100644
--- a/esphome/components/binary_sensor/automation.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/binary_sensor/automation.cpp
@@ -50,29 +50,31 @@ void MultiClickTriggerBase::on_state_(bool state) {
     return;
   }
 
-  if (*this->at_index_ == this->timing_count_) {
+  // at_index_ has a value here (the !has_value() branch above returns).
+  size_t at_index = *this->at_index_;
+  if (at_index == this->timing_count_) {
     this->trigger_();
     return;
   }
 
-  MultiClickTriggerEvent evt = this->timing_[*this->at_index_];
+  MultiClickTriggerEvent evt = this->timing_[at_index];
 
   if (evt.max_length != 4294967294UL) {
-    ESP_LOGV(TAG, "A i=%zu min=%" PRIu32 " max=%" PRIu32, *this->at_index_, evt.min_length, evt.max_length);  // NOLINT
+    ESP_LOGV(TAG, "A i=%zu min=%" PRIu32 " max=%" PRIu32, at_index, evt.min_length, evt.max_length);  // NOLINT
     this->schedule_is_valid_(evt.min_length);
     this->schedule_is_not_valid_(evt.max_length);
-  } else if (*this->at_index_ + 1 != this->timing_count_) {
-    ESP_LOGV(TAG, "B i=%zu min=%" PRIu32, *this->at_index_, evt.min_length);  // NOLINT
+  } else if (at_index + 1 != this->timing_count_) {
+    ESP_LOGV(TAG, "B i=%zu min=%" PRIu32, at_index, evt.min_length);  // NOLINT
     this->cancel_timeout(MULTICLICK_IS_NOT_VALID_ID);
     this->schedule_is_valid_(evt.min_length);
   } else {
-    ESP_LOGV(TAG, "C i=%zu min=%" PRIu32, *this->at_index_, evt.min_length);  // NOLINT
+    ESP_LOGV(TAG, "C i=%zu min=%" PRIu32, at_index, evt.min_length);  // NOLINT
     this->is_valid_ = false;
     this->cancel_timeout(MULTICLICK_IS_NOT_VALID_ID);
     this->set_timeout(MULTICLICK_TRIGGER_ID, evt.min_length, [this]() { this->trigger_(); });
   }
 
-  *this->at_index_ = *this->at_index_ + 1;
+  this->at_index_ = at_index + 1;
 }
 void MultiClickTriggerBase::schedule_cooldown_() {
   ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Multi Click: Invalid length of press, starting cooldown of %" PRIu32 " ms", this->invalid_cooldown_);
diff --git a/esphome/components/bk72xx/boards.py b/esphome/components/bk72xx/boards.py
index 4bee69fe6da..f8bedce329b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bk72xx/boards.py
+++ b/esphome/components/bk72xx/boards.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ from esphome.components.libretiny.const import (
     FAMILY_BK7231N,
     FAMILY_BK7231Q,
     FAMILY_BK7231T,
+    FAMILY_BK7238,
     FAMILY_BK7251,
 )
 
@@ -24,16 +25,32 @@ BK72XX_BOARDS = {
         "name": "WB2L_M1 Wi-Fi Module",
         "family": FAMILY_BK7231N,
     },
+    "xh-wb3s": {
+        "name": "NiceMCU XH-WB3S",
+        "family": FAMILY_BK7238,
+    },
     "cbu": {
         "name": "CBU Wi-Fi Module",
         "family": FAMILY_BK7231N,
     },
+    "t1-u": {
+        "name": "T1-U Wi-Fi Module",
+        "family": FAMILY_BK7238,
+    },
+    "generic-bk7238-tuya": {
+        "name": "Generic - BK7238 (Tuya T1)",
+        "family": FAMILY_BK7238,
+    },
+    "t1-m": {
+        "name": "T1-M Wi-Fi Module",
+        "family": FAMILY_BK7238,
+    },
     "generic-bk7231t-qfn32-tuya": {
-        "name": "Generic - BK7231T (Tuya QFN32)",
+        "name": "Generic - BK7231T (Tuya)",
         "family": FAMILY_BK7231T,
     },
     "generic-bk7231n-qfn32-tuya": {
-        "name": "Generic - BK7231N (Tuya QFN32)",
+        "name": "Generic - BK7231N (Tuya)",
         "family": FAMILY_BK7231N,
     },
     "cb1s": {
@@ -64,6 +81,10 @@ BK72XX_BOARDS = {
         "name": "Generic - BK7252",
         "family": FAMILY_BK7251,
     },
+    "t1-3s": {
+        "name": "T1-3S Wi-Fi Module",
+        "family": FAMILY_BK7238,
+    },
     "wb2l": {
         "name": "WB2L Wi-Fi Module",
         "family": FAMILY_BK7231T,
@@ -80,6 +101,10 @@ BK72XX_BOARDS = {
         "name": "CB2S Wi-Fi Module",
         "family": FAMILY_BK7231N,
     },
+    "generic-bk7238": {
+        "name": "Generic - BK7238",
+        "family": FAMILY_BK7238,
+    },
     "wa2": {
         "name": "WA2 Wi-Fi Module",
         "family": FAMILY_BK7231Q,
@@ -100,6 +125,10 @@ BK72XX_BOARDS = {
         "name": "WB3L Wi-Fi Module",
         "family": FAMILY_BK7231T,
     },
+    "t1-2s": {
+        "name": "T1-2S Wi-Fi Module",
+        "family": FAMILY_BK7238,
+    },
     "wb2s": {
         "name": "WB2S Wi-Fi Module",
         "family": FAMILY_BK7231T,
@@ -158,6 +187,83 @@ BK72XX_BOARD_PINS = {
         "D12": 22,
         "A0": 23,
     },
+    "xh-wb3s": {
+        "SPI0_CS": 15,
+        "SPI0_MISO": 17,
+        "SPI0_MOSI": 16,
+        "SPI0_SCK": 14,
+        "WIRE2_SCL_0": 15,
+        "WIRE2_SCL_1": 24,
+        "WIRE2_SDA_0": 17,
+        "WIRE2_SDA_1": 26,
+        "SERIAL1_RX": 10,
+        "SERIAL1_TX": 11,
+        "SERIAL2_RX": 1,
+        "SERIAL2_TX": 0,
+        "ADC1": 26,
+        "ADC2": 24,
+        "ADC3": 20,
+        "ADC4": 28,
+        "ADC5": 1,
+        "ADC6": 10,
+        "CS": 15,
+        "MISO": 17,
+        "MOSI": 16,
+        "P0": 0,
+        "P1": 1,
+        "P6": 6,
+        "P7": 7,
+        "P8": 8,
+        "P9": 9,
+        "P10": 10,
+        "P11": 11,
+        "P14": 14,
+        "P15": 15,
+        "P16": 16,
+        "P17": 17,
+        "P20": 20,
+        "P21": 21,
+        "P22": 22,
+        "P23": 23,
+        "P24": 24,
+        "P26": 26,
+        "P28": 28,
+        "PWM0": 6,
+        "PWM1": 7,
+        "PWM2": 8,
+        "PWM3": 9,
+        "PWM4": 24,
+        "PWM5": 26,
+        "RX1": 10,
+        "RX2": 1,
+        "SCK": 14,
+        "TX1": 11,
+        "TX2": 0,
+        "D0": 7,
+        "D1": 23,
+        "D2": 14,
+        "D3": 26,
+        "D4": 24,
+        "D5": 6,
+        "D6": 9,
+        "D7": 0,
+        "D8": 1,
+        "D9": 8,
+        "D10": 10,
+        "D11": 11,
+        "D12": 16,
+        "D13": 20,
+        "D14": 21,
+        "D15": 22,
+        "D16": 15,
+        "D17": 17,
+        "A0": 28,
+        "A1": 26,
+        "A2": 24,
+        "A3": 1,
+        "A4": 10,
+        "A5": 20,
+    },
     "cbu": {
         "SPI0_CS": 15,
         "SPI0_MISO": 17,
@@ -230,6 +336,204 @@ BK72XX_BOARD_PINS = {
         "D18": 21,
         "A0": 23,
     },
+    "t1-u": {
+        "SPI0_CS": 15,
+        "SPI0_MISO": 17,
+        "SPI0_MOSI": 16,
+        "SPI0_SCK": 14,
+        "WIRE2_SCL_0": 15,
+        "WIRE2_SCL_1": 24,
+        "WIRE2_SDA_0": 17,
+        "WIRE2_SDA_1": 26,
+        "SERIAL1_RX": 10,
+        "SERIAL1_TX": 11,
+        "SERIAL2_RX": 1,
+        "SERIAL2_TX": 0,
+        "ADC1": 26,
+        "ADC2": 24,
+        "ADC3": 20,
+        "ADC4": 28,
+        "ADC5": 1,
+        "ADC6": 10,
+        "CS": 15,
+        "MISO": 17,
+        "MOSI": 16,
+        "P0": 0,
+        "P1": 1,
+        "P6": 6,
+        "P8": 8,
+        "P9": 9,
+        "P10": 10,
+        "P11": 11,
+        "P14": 14,
+        "P15": 15,
+        "P16": 16,
+        "P17": 17,
+        "P20": 20,
+        "P21": 21,
+        "P22": 22,
+        "P23": 23,
+        "P24": 24,
+        "P26": 26,
+        "P28": 28,
+        "PWM0": 6,
+        "PWM2": 8,
+        "PWM3": 9,
+        "PWM4": 24,
+        "PWM5": 26,
+        "RX1": 10,
+        "RX2": 1,
+        "SCK": 14,
+        "TX1": 11,
+        "TX2": 0,
+        "D0": 14,
+        "D1": 16,
+        "D2": 23,
+        "D3": 22,
+        "D4": 20,
+        "D5": 1,
+        "D6": 0,
+        "D7": 24,
+        "D8": 9,
+        "D9": 26,
+        "D10": 6,
+        "D11": 8,
+        "D12": 11,
+        "D13": 10,
+        "D14": 28,
+        "D15": 21,
+        "D16": 17,
+        "D17": 15,
+        "A0": 20,
+        "A1": 1,
+        "A2": 24,
+        "A3": 26,
+        "A4": 10,
+        "A5": 28,
+    },
+    "generic-bk7238-tuya": {
+        "SPI0_CS": 15,
+        "SPI0_MISO": 17,
+        "SPI0_MOSI": 16,
+        "SPI0_SCK": 14,
+        "WIRE2_SCL_0": 15,
+        "WIRE2_SCL_1": 24,
+        "WIRE2_SDA_0": 17,
+        "WIRE2_SDA_1": 26,
+        "SERIAL1_RX": 10,
+        "SERIAL1_TX": 11,
+        "SERIAL2_RX": 1,
+        "SERIAL2_TX": 0,
+        "ADC1": 26,
+        "ADC2": 24,
+        "ADC3": 20,
+        "ADC4": 28,
+        "ADC5": 1,
+        "ADC6": 10,
+        "CS": 15,
+        "MISO": 17,
+        "MOSI": 16,
+        "P0": 0,
+        "P1": 1,
+        "P6": 6,
+        "P7": 7,
+        "P8": 8,
+        "P9": 9,
+        "P10": 10,
+        "P11": 11,
+        "P14": 14,
+        "P15": 15,
+        "P16": 16,
+        "P17": 17,
+        "P20": 20,
+        "P21": 21,
+        "P22": 22,
+        "P23": 23,
+        "P24": 24,
+        "P26": 26,
+        "P28": 28,
+        "PWM0": 6,
+        "PWM1": 7,
+        "PWM2": 8,
+        "PWM3": 9,
+        "PWM4": 24,
+        "PWM5": 26,
+        "RX1": 10,
+        "RX2": 1,
+        "SCK": 14,
+        "TX1": 11,
+        "TX2": 0,
+        "D0": 0,
+        "D1": 1,
+        "D2": 6,
+        "D3": 7,
+        "D4": 8,
+        "D5": 9,
+        "D6": 10,
+        "D7": 11,
+        "D8": 14,
+        "D9": 15,
+        "D10": 16,
+        "D11": 17,
+        "D12": 20,
+        "D13": 21,
+        "D14": 22,
+        "D15": 23,
+        "D16": 24,
+        "D17": 26,
+        "D18": 28,
+        "A0": 1,
+        "A1": 10,
+        "A2": 20,
+        "A3": 24,
+        "A4": 26,
+        "A5": 28,
+    },
+    "t1-m": {
+        "WIRE2_SCL": 24,
+        "WIRE2_SDA": 26,
+        "SERIAL1_RX": 10,
+        "SERIAL1_TX": 11,
+        "SERIAL2_RX": 1,
+        "SERIAL2_TX": 0,
+        "ADC1": 26,
+        "ADC2": 24,
+        "ADC5": 1,
+        "ADC6": 10,
+        "P0": 0,
+        "P1": 1,
+        "P6": 6,
+        "P8": 8,
+        "P9": 9,
+        "P10": 10,
+        "P11": 11,
+        "P24": 24,
+        "P26": 26,
+        "PWM0": 6,
+        "PWM2": 8,
+        "PWM3": 9,
+        "PWM4": 24,
+        "PWM5": 26,
+        "RX1": 10,
+        "RX2": 1,
+        "SCL2": 24,
+        "SDA2": 26,
+        "TX1": 11,
+        "TX2": 0,
+        "D0": 26,
+        "D1": 6,
+        "D2": 8,
+        "D3": 1,
+        "D4": 10,
+        "D5": 11,
+        "D6": 9,
+        "D7": 24,
+        "D11": 0,
+        "A0": 26,
+        "A1": 10,
+        "A2": 1,
+        "A3": 24,
+    },
     "generic-bk7231t-qfn32-tuya": {
         "SPI0_CS": 15,
         "SPI0_MISO": 17,
@@ -781,6 +1085,75 @@ BK72XX_BOARD_PINS = {
         "A6": 12,
         "A7": 13,
     },
+    "t1-3s": {
+        "SPI0_CS": 15,
+        "SPI0_MISO": 17,
+        "SPI0_MOSI": 16,
+        "SPI0_SCK": 14,
+        "WIRE2_SCL_0": 15,
+        "WIRE2_SCL_1": 24,
+        "WIRE2_SDA_0": 17,
+        "WIRE2_SDA_1": 26,
+        "SERIAL1_RX": 10,
+        "SERIAL1_TX": 11,
+        "SERIAL2_RX": 1,
+        "SERIAL2_TX": 0,
+        "ADC1": 26,
+        "ADC2": 24,
+        "ADC3": 20,
+        "ADC5": 1,
+        "ADC6": 10,
+        "CS": 15,
+        "MISO": 17,
+        "MOSI": 16,
+        "P0": 0,
+        "P1": 1,
+        "P6": 6,
+        "P8": 8,
+        "P9": 9,
+        "P10": 10,
+        "P11": 11,
+        "P14": 14,
+        "P15": 15,
+        "P16": 16,
+        "P17": 17,
+        "P20": 20,
+        "P22": 22,
+        "P23": 23,
+        "P24": 24,
+        "P26": 26,
+        "PWM0": 6,
+        "PWM2": 8,
+        "PWM3": 9,
+        "PWM4": 24,
+        "PWM5": 26,
+        "RX1": 10,
+        "RX2": 1,
+        "SCK": 14,
+        "TX1": 11,
+        "TX2": 0,
+        "D0": 20,
+        "D1": 22,
+        "D2": 6,
+        "D3": 8,
+        "D4": 9,
+        "D5": 23,
+        "D6": 0,
+        "D7": 1,
+        "D8": 24,
+        "D9": 26,
+        "D10": 10,
+        "D11": 11,
+        "D12": 17,
+        "D13": 16,
+        "D14": 15,
+        "D15": 14,
+        "A0": 20,
+        "A1": 1,
+        "A2": 24,
+        "A3": 26,
+        "A4": 10,
+    },
     "wb2l": {
         "WIRE1_SCL": 20,
         "WIRE1_SDA": 21,
@@ -965,6 +1338,84 @@ BK72XX_BOARD_PINS = {
         "D10": 21,
         "A0": 23,
     },
+    "generic-bk7238": {
+        "SPI0_CS": 15,
+        "SPI0_MISO": 17,
+        "SPI0_MOSI": 16,
+        "SPI0_SCK": 14,
+        "WIRE2_SCL_0": 15,
+        "WIRE2_SCL_1": 24,
+        "WIRE2_SDA_0": 17,
+        "WIRE2_SDA_1": 26,
+        "SERIAL1_RX": 10,
+        "SERIAL1_TX": 11,
+        "SERIAL2_RX": 1,
+        "SERIAL2_TX": 0,
+        "ADC1": 26,
+        "ADC2": 24,
+        "ADC3": 20,
+        "ADC4": 28,
+        "ADC5": 1,
+        "ADC6": 10,
+        "CS": 15,
+        "MISO": 17,
+        "MOSI": 16,
+        "P0": 0,
+        "P1": 1,
+        "P6": 6,
+        "P7": 7,
+        "P8": 8,
+        "P9": 9,
+        "P10": 10,
+        "P11": 11,
+        "P14": 14,
+        "P15": 15,
+        "P16": 16,
+        "P17": 17,
+        "P20": 20,
+        "P21": 21,
+        "P22": 22,
+        "P23": 23,
+        "P24": 24,
+        "P26": 26,
+        "P28": 28,
+        "PWM0": 6,
+        "PWM1": 7,
+        "PWM2": 8,
+        "PWM3": 9,
+        "PWM4": 24,
+        "PWM5": 26,
+        "RX1": 10,
+        "RX2": 1,
+        "SCK": 14,
+        "TX1": 11,
+        "TX2": 0,
+        "D0": 0,
+        "D1": 1,
+        "D2": 6,
+        "D3": 7,
+        "D4": 8,
+        "D5": 9,
+        "D6": 10,
+        "D7": 11,
+        "D8": 14,
+        "D9": 15,
+        "D10": 16,
+        "D11": 17,
+        "D12": 20,
+        "D13": 21,
+        "D14": 22,
+        "D15": 23,
+        "D16": 24,
+        "D17": 26,
+        "D18": 28,
+        "A0": 1,
+        "A1": 10,
+        "A2": 20,
+        "A3": 24,
+        "A4": 26,
+        "A5": 28,
+    },
     "wa2": {
         "WIRE1_SCL": 20,
         "WIRE1_SDA": 21,
@@ -1235,6 +1686,51 @@ BK72XX_BOARD_PINS = {
         "D15": 1,
         "A0": 23,
     },
+    "t1-2s": {
+        "WIRE2_SCL": 24,
+        "WIRE2_SDA": 26,
+        "SERIAL1_RX": 10,
+        "SERIAL1_TX": 11,
+        "SERIAL2_RX": 1,
+        "SERIAL2_TX": 0,
+        "ADC1": 26,
+        "ADC2": 24,
+        "ADC5": 1,
+        "ADC6": 10,
+        "P0": 0,
+        "P1": 1,
+        "P6": 6,
+        "P8": 8,
+        "P9": 9,
+        "P10": 10,
+        "P11": 11,
+        "P24": 24,
+        "P26": 26,
+        "PWM0": 6,
+        "PWM2": 8,
+        "PWM3": 9,
+        "PWM4": 24,
+        "PWM5": 26,
+        "RX1": 10,
+        "RX2": 1,
+        "SCL2": 24,
+        "SDA2": 26,
+        "TX1": 11,
+        "TX2": 0,
+        "D0": 26,
+        "D1": 6,
+        "D2": 8,
+        "D3": 1,
+        "D4": 10,
+        "D5": 11,
+        "D6": 9,
+        "D7": 24,
+        "D11": 0,
+        "A0": 26,
+        "A1": 10,
+        "A2": 1,
+        "A3": 24,
+    },
     "wb2s": {
         "WIRE1_SCL": 20,
         "WIRE1_SDA": 21,
diff --git a/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.cpp b/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.cpp
index c69163b1f74..c3461f9c519 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.cpp
@@ -30,19 +30,6 @@ void BluetoothProxy::setup() {
   this->configured_scan_active_ = this->parent_->get_scan_active();
 
   this->parent_->add_scanner_state_listener(this);
-
-  this->set_interval(100, [this]() {
-    if (api::global_api_server->is_connected() && this->api_connection_ != nullptr) {
-      this->flush_pending_advertisements_();
-      return;
-    }
-    for (uint8_t i = 0; i < this->connection_count_; i++) {
-      auto *connection = this->connections_[i];
-      if (connection->get_address() != 0 && !connection->disconnect_pending()) {
-        connection->disconnect();
-      }
-    }
-  });
 }
 
 void BluetoothProxy::on_scanner_state(esp32_ble_tracker::ScannerState state) {
@@ -133,6 +120,25 @@ void BluetoothProxy::dump_config() {
                 YESNO(this->active_), this->connection_count_);
 }
 
+void BluetoothProxy::loop() {
+  // Run advertisement flush / connection cleanup every 100ms
+  uint32_t now = App.get_loop_component_start_time();
+  if (now - this->last_advertisement_flush_time_ < 100)
+    return;
+  this->last_advertisement_flush_time_ = now;
+
+  if (api::global_api_server->is_connected() && this->api_connection_ != nullptr) {
+    this->flush_pending_advertisements_();
+    return;
+  }
+  for (uint8_t i = 0; i < this->connection_count_; i++) {
+    auto *connection = this->connections_[i];
+    if (connection->get_address() != 0 && !connection->disconnect_pending()) {
+      connection->disconnect();
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 esp32_ble_tracker::AdvertisementParserType BluetoothProxy::get_advertisement_parser_type() {
   return esp32_ble_tracker::AdvertisementParserType::RAW_ADVERTISEMENTS;
 }
@@ -201,7 +207,6 @@ void BluetoothProxy::bluetooth_device_request(const api::BluetoothDeviceRequest
         connection->set_connection_type(espbt::ConnectionType::V3_WITHOUT_CACHE);
         this->log_connection_info_(connection, "v3 without cache");
       }
-      uint64_to_bd_addr(msg.address, connection->remote_bda_);
       connection->set_remote_addr_type(static_cast<esp_ble_addr_type_t>(msg.address_type));
       connection->set_state(espbt::ClientState::DISCOVERED);
       this->send_connections_free();
diff --git a/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.h b/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.h
index 6680ab0e840..10449f21f1e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.h
+++ b/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.h
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ class BluetoothProxy final : public esp32_ble_tracker::ESPBTDeviceListener,
   bool parse_devices(const esp32_ble::BLEScanResult *scan_results, size_t count) override;
   void dump_config() override;
   void setup() override;
+  void loop() override;
   esp32_ble_tracker::AdvertisementParserType get_advertisement_parser_type() override;
 
   void register_connection(BluetoothConnection *connection) {
@@ -176,6 +177,9 @@ class BluetoothProxy final : public esp32_ble_tracker::ESPBTDeviceListener,
   // BLE advertisement batching
   api::BluetoothLERawAdvertisementsResponse response_;
 
+  // Group 3: 4-byte types
+  uint32_t last_advertisement_flush_time_{0};
+
   // Pre-allocated response message - always ready to send
   api::BluetoothConnectionsFreeResponse connections_free_response_;
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/bme680/bme680.cpp b/esphome/components/bme680/bme680.cpp
index e3cd80de004..b599d64c0da 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bme680/bme680.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/bme680/bme680.cpp
@@ -78,43 +78,43 @@ void BME680Component::setup() {
   }
 
   // Read calibration
-  uint8_t cal1[25];
-  if (!this->read_bytes(BME680_REGISTER_COEFF1, cal1, 25)) {
+  uint8_t coeff1[25];
+  if (!this->read_bytes(BME680_REGISTER_COEFF1, coeff1, 25)) {
     this->mark_failed();
     return;
   }
-  uint8_t cal2[16];
-  if (!this->read_bytes(BME680_REGISTER_COEFF2, cal2, 16)) {
+  uint8_t coeff2[16];
+  if (!this->read_bytes(BME680_REGISTER_COEFF2, coeff2, 16)) {
     this->mark_failed();
     return;
   }
 
-  this->calibration_.t1 = cal2[9] << 8 | cal2[8];
-  this->calibration_.t2 = cal1[2] << 8 | cal1[1];
-  this->calibration_.t3 = cal1[3];
+  this->calibration_.t1 = coeff2[9] << 8 | coeff2[8];
+  this->calibration_.t2 = coeff1[2] << 8 | coeff1[1];
+  this->calibration_.t3 = coeff1[3];
 
-  this->calibration_.h1 = cal2[2] << 4 | (cal2[1] & 0x0F);
-  this->calibration_.h2 = cal2[0] << 4 | cal2[1] >> 4;
-  this->calibration_.h3 = cal2[3];
-  this->calibration_.h4 = cal2[4];
-  this->calibration_.h5 = cal2[5];
-  this->calibration_.h6 = cal2[6];
-  this->calibration_.h7 = cal2[7];
+  this->calibration_.h1 = coeff2[2] << 4 | (coeff2[1] & 0x0F);
+  this->calibration_.h2 = coeff2[0] << 4 | coeff2[1] >> 4;
+  this->calibration_.h3 = coeff2[3];
+  this->calibration_.h4 = coeff2[4];
+  this->calibration_.h5 = coeff2[5];
+  this->calibration_.h6 = coeff2[6];
+  this->calibration_.h7 = coeff2[7];
 
-  this->calibration_.p1 = cal1[6] << 8 | cal1[5];
-  this->calibration_.p2 = cal1[8] << 8 | cal1[7];
-  this->calibration_.p3 = cal1[9];
-  this->calibration_.p4 = cal1[12] << 8 | cal1[11];
-  this->calibration_.p5 = cal1[14] << 8 | cal1[13];
-  this->calibration_.p6 = cal1[16];
-  this->calibration_.p7 = cal1[15];
-  this->calibration_.p8 = cal1[20] << 8 | cal1[19];
-  this->calibration_.p9 = cal1[22] << 8 | cal1[21];
-  this->calibration_.p10 = cal1[23];
+  this->calibration_.p1 = coeff1[6] << 8 | coeff1[5];
+  this->calibration_.p2 = coeff1[8] << 8 | coeff1[7];
+  this->calibration_.p3 = coeff1[9];
+  this->calibration_.p4 = coeff1[12] << 8 | coeff1[11];
+  this->calibration_.p5 = coeff1[14] << 8 | coeff1[13];
+  this->calibration_.p6 = coeff1[16];
+  this->calibration_.p7 = coeff1[15];
+  this->calibration_.p8 = coeff1[20] << 8 | coeff1[19];
+  this->calibration_.p9 = coeff1[22] << 8 | coeff1[21];
+  this->calibration_.p10 = coeff1[23];
 
-  this->calibration_.gh1 = cal2[14];
-  this->calibration_.gh2 = cal2[12] << 8 | cal2[13];
-  this->calibration_.gh3 = cal2[15];
+  this->calibration_.gh1 = coeff2[14];
+  this->calibration_.gh2 = coeff2[12] << 8 | coeff2[13];
+  this->calibration_.gh3 = coeff2[15];
 
   uint8_t temp_var = 0;
   if (!this->read_byte(0x02, &temp_var)) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/button/__init__.py b/esphome/components/button/__init__.py
index 2c19ea69b1a..dd4fde5705e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/button/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/button/__init__.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from esphome.const import (
 from esphome.core import CORE, CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
 from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
     entity_duplicate_validator,
+    queue_entity_register,
     setup_device_class,
     setup_entity,
 )
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ async def setup_button_core_(var, config):
 async def register_button(var, config):
     if not CORE.has_id(config[CONF_ID]):
         var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], var)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_button(var))
+    queue_entity_register("button", config)
     CORE.register_platform_component("button", var)
     await setup_button_core_(var, config)
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/climate/__init__.py b/esphome/components/climate/__init__.py
index df77fa5c1c9..0fdb18a92c8 100644
--- a/esphome/components/climate/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/climate/__init__.py
@@ -49,7 +49,11 @@ from esphome.const import (
     CONF_WEB_SERVER,
 )
 from esphome.core import CORE, CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
-from esphome.core.entity_helpers import entity_duplicate_validator, setup_entity
+from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
+    entity_duplicate_validator,
+    queue_entity_register,
+    setup_entity,
+)
 from esphome.cpp_generator import MockObjClass
 
 IS_PLATFORM_COMPONENT = True
@@ -442,7 +446,7 @@ async def setup_climate_core_(var, config):
 async def register_climate(var, config):
     if not CORE.has_id(config[CONF_ID]):
         var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], var)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_climate(var))
+    queue_entity_register("climate", config)
     CORE.register_platform_component("climate", var)
     await setup_climate_core_(var, config)
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/cover/__init__.py b/esphome/components/cover/__init__.py
index fdfca55f0f8..41efd2ba7a5 100644
--- a/esphome/components/cover/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/cover/__init__.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ from esphome.const import (
 from esphome.core import CORE, ID, CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
 from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
     entity_duplicate_validator,
+    queue_entity_register,
     setup_device_class,
     setup_entity,
 )
@@ -232,7 +233,7 @@ async def setup_cover_core_(var, config):
 async def register_cover(var, config):
     if not CORE.has_id(config[CONF_ID]):
         var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], var)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_cover(var))
+    queue_entity_register("cover", config)
     CORE.register_platform_component("cover", var)
     await setup_cover_core_(var, config)
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/datetime/__init__.py b/esphome/components/datetime/__init__.py
index 895ac4e243e..87997daa3d9 100644
--- a/esphome/components/datetime/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/datetime/__init__.py
@@ -22,7 +22,11 @@ from esphome.const import (
     CONF_YEAR,
 )
 from esphome.core import CORE, CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
-from esphome.core.entity_helpers import entity_duplicate_validator, setup_entity
+from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
+    entity_duplicate_validator,
+    queue_entity_register,
+    setup_entity,
+)
 from esphome.cpp_generator import MockObjClass
 
 CODEOWNERS = ["@rfdarter", "@jesserockz"]
@@ -160,7 +164,7 @@ async def register_datetime(var, config):
     if not CORE.has_id(config[CONF_ID]):
         var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], var)
     entity_type = config[CONF_TYPE].lower()
-    cg.add(getattr(cg.App, f"register_{entity_type}")(var))
+    queue_entity_register(entity_type, config)
     CORE.register_platform_component(entity_type, var)
     await setup_datetime_core_(var, config)
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/deep_sleep/__init__.py b/esphome/components/deep_sleep/__init__.py
index 0ca557bd6d8..9666c8e5071 100644
--- a/esphome/components/deep_sleep/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/deep_sleep/__init__.py
@@ -193,11 +193,14 @@ def _validate_ex1_wakeup_mode(value):
 
 
 def _validate_sleep_duration(value: core.TimePeriod) -> core.TimePeriod:
-    if not CORE.is_bk72xx:
-        return value
-    max_duration = core.TimePeriod(hours=36)
-    if value > max_duration:
-        raise cv.Invalid("sleep duration cannot be more than 36 hours on BK72XX")
+    if CORE.is_bk72xx:
+        max_duration = core.TimePeriod(hours=36)
+        if value > max_duration:
+            raise cv.Invalid("sleep duration cannot be more than 36 hours on BK72XX")
+    elif CORE.using_zephyr:
+        max_duration = core.TimePeriod(days=49)
+        if value > max_duration:
+            raise cv.Invalid("sleep duration cannot be more than 49 days on Zephyr")
     return value
 
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/deep_sleep/deep_sleep_component.cpp b/esphome/components/deep_sleep/deep_sleep_component.cpp
index d2c5db54b39..d5e34b1f1c8 100644
--- a/esphome/components/deep_sleep/deep_sleep_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/deep_sleep/deep_sleep_component.cpp
@@ -9,18 +9,11 @@ static const char *const TAG = "deep_sleep";
 // 5 seconds for deep sleep to ensure clean disconnect from Home Assistant
 static const uint32_t TEARDOWN_TIMEOUT_DEEP_SLEEP_MS = 5000;
 
-bool global_has_deep_sleep = false;                   // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
-std::atomic<DeepSleepComponent *> global_deep_sleep;  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+bool global_has_deep_sleep = false;  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
 
 void DeepSleepComponent::setup() {
-#ifdef USE_ZEPHYR
-  k_sem_init(&this->wakeup_sem_, 0, 1);
-#endif
   global_has_deep_sleep = true;
   this->schedule_sleep_();
-  // It can be used from another thread for waking up the device.
-  // It should be called as last item in setup.
-  global_deep_sleep.store(this);
 }
 
 void DeepSleepComponent::schedule_sleep_() {
diff --git a/esphome/components/deep_sleep/deep_sleep_component.h b/esphome/components/deep_sleep/deep_sleep_component.h
index 854ab152a16..59381eeabeb 100644
--- a/esphome/components/deep_sleep/deep_sleep_component.h
+++ b/esphome/components/deep_sleep/deep_sleep_component.h
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@
 #include "esphome/core/component.h"
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
-#include <atomic>
-
 #ifdef USE_ESP32
 #include <esp_sleep.h>
 #endif
@@ -15,10 +13,6 @@
 #include "esphome/core/time.h"
 #endif
 
-#ifdef USE_ZEPHYR
-#include <zephyr/kernel.h>
-#endif
-
 #include <cinttypes>
 
 namespace esphome {
@@ -125,9 +119,6 @@ class DeepSleepComponent : public Component {
 
   void prevent_deep_sleep();
   void allow_deep_sleep();
-#ifdef USE_ZEPHYR
-  void wakeup();
-#endif
 
  protected:
   // Returns nullopt if no run duration is set. Otherwise, returns the run
@@ -167,9 +158,6 @@ class DeepSleepComponent : public Component {
   optional<uint32_t> run_duration_;
   bool next_enter_deep_sleep_{false};
   bool prevent_{false};
-#ifdef USE_ZEPHYR
-  k_sem wakeup_sem_;
-#endif
 };
 
 extern bool global_has_deep_sleep;  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
@@ -256,8 +244,5 @@ template<typename... Ts> class AllowDeepSleepAction : public Action<Ts...>, publ
   void play(const Ts &...x) override { this->parent_->allow_deep_sleep(); }
 };
 
-extern std::atomic<DeepSleepComponent *>
-    global_deep_sleep;  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
-
 }  // namespace deep_sleep
 }  // namespace esphome
diff --git a/esphome/components/deep_sleep/deep_sleep_zephyr.cpp b/esphome/components/deep_sleep/deep_sleep_zephyr.cpp
index 82d6d8c7ded..f77b73cd586 100644
--- a/esphome/components/deep_sleep/deep_sleep_zephyr.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/deep_sleep/deep_sleep_zephyr.cpp
@@ -1,17 +1,13 @@
 #include "deep_sleep_component.h"
 #ifdef USE_ZEPHYR
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
+#include "esphome/core/wake.h"
 #include <zephyr/sys/poweroff.h>
-#include <zephyr/kernel.h>
-#include <zephyr/stats/stats.h>
-#include <zephyr/pm/pm.h>
 
 namespace esphome::deep_sleep {
 
 static const char *const TAG = "deep_sleep";
 
-void DeepSleepComponent::wakeup() { k_sem_give(&this->wakeup_sem_); }
-
 optional<uint32_t> DeepSleepComponent::get_run_duration_() const { return this->run_duration_; }
 
 void DeepSleepComponent::dump_config_platform_() {}
@@ -19,9 +15,8 @@ void DeepSleepComponent::dump_config_platform_() {}
 bool DeepSleepComponent::prepare_to_sleep_() { return true; }
 
 void DeepSleepComponent::deep_sleep_() {
-  k_timeout_t sleep_duration = K_FOREVER;
   if (this->sleep_duration_.has_value()) {
-    sleep_duration = K_USEC(*this->sleep_duration_);
+    esphome::internal::wakeable_delay(static_cast<uint32_t>(*this->sleep_duration_ / 1000));
   } else {
 #ifndef USE_ZIGBEE
     // the device can be woken up through one of the following signals:
@@ -33,11 +28,12 @@ void DeepSleepComponent::deep_sleep_() {
     //
     // The system is reset when it wakes up from System OFF mode.
     sys_poweroff();
+#else
+    esphome::internal::wakeable_delay(UINT32_MAX);
 #endif
   }
-  // It might wake up immediately if k_sem_give was called again after wake up
-  int ret = k_sem_take(&this->wakeup_sem_, sleep_duration);
-  if (ret == 0) {
+  const bool woke = esphome::wake_request_take();
+  if (woke) {
     ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Woken up by another thread");
   } else {
     ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Timeout expired (normal sleep)");
diff --git a/esphome/components/demo/demo_alarm_control_panel.h b/esphome/components/demo/demo_alarm_control_panel.h
index 9976e5c7f06..5f0725dd4bb 100644
--- a/esphome/components/demo/demo_alarm_control_panel.h
+++ b/esphome/components/demo/demo_alarm_control_panel.h
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class DemoAlarmControlPanel : public AlarmControlPanel, public Component {
  protected:
   void control(const AlarmControlPanelCall &call) override {
     auto state = call.get_state().value_or(ACP_STATE_DISARMED);
-    auto code = call.get_code();
+    const auto &code = call.get_code();
     switch (state) {
       case ACP_STATE_ARMED_AWAY:
         if (this->get_requires_code_to_arm()) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/dfrobot_sen0395/dfrobot_sen0395.cpp b/esphome/components/dfrobot_sen0395/dfrobot_sen0395.cpp
index f47025698b3..98901bd353c 100644
--- a/esphome/components/dfrobot_sen0395/dfrobot_sen0395.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/dfrobot_sen0395/dfrobot_sen0395.cpp
@@ -104,8 +104,9 @@ int8_t CircularCommandQueue::enqueue(std::unique_ptr<Command> cmd) {
   if (this->is_full()) {
     ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Command queue is full");
     return -1;
-  } else if (this->is_empty())
+  } else if (this->is_empty()) {
     front_++;
+  }
   rear_ = (rear_ + 1) % COMMAND_QUEUE_SIZE;
   commands_[rear_] = std::move(cmd);  // Transfer ownership using std::move
   return 1;
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32/__init__.py b/esphome/components/esp32/__init__.py
index 1a7ae700c78..eb023ce32c3 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32/__init__.py
@@ -1724,6 +1724,11 @@ async def to_code(config):
         CORE.relative_internal_path(".espressif")
     )
 
+    # Both ESP-IDF and ESP32 Arduino builds generate IDF app metadata. Keep
+    # volatile build path/time data out of the binary so equivalent projects can
+    # produce reproducible outputs and downstream tooling can reuse artifacts.
+    add_idf_sdkconfig_option("CONFIG_APP_REPRODUCIBLE_BUILD", True)
+
     if conf[CONF_TYPE] == FRAMEWORK_ESP_IDF:
         cg.add_build_flag("-DUSE_ESP_IDF")
         cg.add_build_flag("-DUSE_ESP32_FRAMEWORK_ESP_IDF")
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32/preferences.cpp b/esphome/components/esp32/preferences.cpp
index 925c4e76624..09835385ac2 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32/preferences.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32/preferences.cpp
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ struct NVSData {
 
 static std::vector<NVSData> s_pending_save;  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
 
+// open() runs from app_main() before the logger is initialized, so any failure
+// must be deferred until after global_logger is set. This is emitted from the
+// first make_preference() call, which runs from the generated setup() after
+// log->pre_setup() has run at EARLY_INIT priority.
+static esp_err_t s_open_err = ESP_OK;  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+
 bool ESP32PreferenceBackend::save(const uint8_t *data, size_t len) {
   // try find in pending saves and update that
   for (auto &obj : s_pending_save) {
@@ -70,12 +76,14 @@ bool ESP32PreferenceBackend::load(uint8_t *data, size_t len) {
 }
 
 void ESP32Preferences::open() {
+  // Runs from app_main() before the logger is initialized; any logging here
+  // must be deferred. See s_open_err and make_preference() below.
   nvs_flash_init();
   esp_err_t err = nvs_open("esphome", NVS_READWRITE, &this->nvs_handle);
   if (err == 0)
     return;
 
-  ESP_LOGW(TAG, "nvs_open failed: %s - erasing NVS", esp_err_to_name(err));
+  s_open_err = err;
   nvs_flash_deinit();
   nvs_flash_erase();
   nvs_flash_init();
@@ -87,6 +95,14 @@ void ESP32Preferences::open() {
 }
 
 ESPPreferenceObject ESP32Preferences::make_preference(size_t length, uint32_t type) {
+  if (s_open_err != ESP_OK) {
+    if (this->nvs_handle == 0) {
+      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "nvs_open failed: %s - NVS unavailable", esp_err_to_name(s_open_err));
+    } else {
+      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "nvs_open failed: %s - erased NVS", esp_err_to_name(s_open_err));
+    }
+    s_open_err = ESP_OK;
+  }
   auto *pref = new ESP32PreferenceBackend();  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-owning-memory)
   pref->nvs_handle = this->nvs_handle;
   pref->key = type;
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_ble/ble_uuid.cpp b/esphome/components/esp32_ble/ble_uuid.cpp
index 334780e3b82..886f8237adb 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_ble/ble_uuid.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_ble/ble_uuid.cpp
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ ESPBTUUID ESPBTUUID::as_128bit() const {
   } else {
     uuid32 = this->uuid_.uuid.uuid16;
   }
-  for (uint8_t i = 0; i < this->uuid_.len; i++) {
+  for (uint16_t i = 0; i < this->uuid_.len; i++) {
     data[12 + i] = ((uuid32 >> i * 8) & 0xFF);
   }
   return ESPBTUUID::from_raw(data);
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.cpp b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.cpp
index c7f2319d69d..f57cb7f5dc5 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.cpp
@@ -166,8 +166,9 @@ void ESP32BLETracker::loop() {
   ClientStateCounts counts = this->count_client_states_();
   if (counts != this->client_state_counts_) {
     this->client_state_counts_ = counts;
-    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "connecting: %d, discovered: %d, disconnecting: %d", this->client_state_counts_.connecting,
-             this->client_state_counts_.discovered, this->client_state_counts_.disconnecting);
+    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "connecting: %d, discovered: %d, disconnecting: %d, active: %d",
+             this->client_state_counts_.connecting, this->client_state_counts_.discovered,
+             this->client_state_counts_.disconnecting, this->client_state_counts_.active);
   }
 
   // Scanner failure: reached when set_scanner_state_(FAILED) or scan_set_param_failed_ set
@@ -190,10 +191,18 @@ void ESP32BLETracker::loop() {
   */
 
   // Start scan: reached when scanner_state_ becomes IDLE (via set_scanner_state_()) and
-  // all clients are idle (their state changes increment version when they finish)
+  // no clients are in the transient CONNECTING / DISCOVERED / DISCONNECTING states
+  // (their state changes increment version when they finish). CONNECTED / ESTABLISHED
+  // clients do NOT block this branch — the coex revert below has its own active-count gate.
   if (this->scanner_state_ == ScannerState::IDLE && !counts.connecting && !counts.disconnecting && !counts.discovered) {
 #ifdef USE_ESP32_BLE_SOFTWARE_COEXISTENCE
-    this->update_coex_preference_(false);
+    // Only revert to BALANCE when no connections are active. Established connections
+    // continue to need PREFER_BT so peer GATT responses can reach us while WiFi traffic
+    // (advertisement upload, log streaming) competes for the shared radio. Reverting too
+    // early causes Bluedroid to time out at ~20s and synthesize status=133.
+    if (!counts.active) {
+      this->update_coex_preference_(false);
+    }
 #endif
     if (this->scan_continuous_) {
       this->start_scan_(false);  // first = false
@@ -701,9 +710,10 @@ void ESP32BLETracker::dump_config() {
                 this->scan_active_ ? "ACTIVE" : "PASSIVE", YESNO(this->scan_continuous_));
   ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG,
                 "  Scanner State: %s\n"
-                "  Connecting: %d, discovered: %d, disconnecting: %d",
+                "  Connecting: %d, discovered: %d, disconnecting: %d, active: %d",
                 this->scanner_state_to_string_(this->scanner_state_), this->client_state_counts_.connecting,
-                this->client_state_counts_.discovered, this->client_state_counts_.disconnecting);
+                this->client_state_counts_.discovered, this->client_state_counts_.disconnecting,
+                this->client_state_counts_.active);
   if (this->scan_start_fail_count_) {
     ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Scan Start Fail Count: %d", this->scan_start_fail_count_);
   }
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.h b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.h
index 43405b02b7f..78ff60f3741 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.h
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.h
@@ -160,9 +160,13 @@ struct ClientStateCounts {
   uint8_t connecting = 0;
   uint8_t discovered = 0;
   uint8_t disconnecting = 0;
+  // CONNECTED + ESTABLISHED clients. Tracked so coex stays at PREFER_BT
+  // while active connections may still need to send/receive GATT traffic.
+  uint8_t active = 0;
 
   bool operator==(const ClientStateCounts &other) const {
-    return connecting == other.connecting && discovered == other.discovered && disconnecting == other.disconnecting;
+    return connecting == other.connecting && discovered == other.discovered && disconnecting == other.disconnecting &&
+           active == other.active;
   }
 
   bool operator!=(const ClientStateCounts &other) const { return !(*this == other); }
@@ -381,6 +385,10 @@ class ESP32BLETracker : public Component,
         case ClientState::CONNECTING:
           counts.connecting++;
           break;
+        case ClientState::CONNECTED:
+        case ClientState::ESTABLISHED:
+          counts.active++;
+          break;
         default:
           break;
       }
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_touch/esp32_touch.cpp b/esphome/components/esp32_touch/esp32_touch.cpp
index e44bc807e9a..54bbbe52ed8 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_touch/esp32_touch.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_touch/esp32_touch.cpp
@@ -216,6 +216,7 @@ void ESP32TouchComponent::setup() {
   // Do initial oneshot scans to populate baseline values
   for (uint32_t i = 0; i < ONESHOT_SCAN_COUNT; i++) {
     err = touch_sensor_trigger_oneshot_scanning(this->sens_handle_, ONESHOT_SCAN_TIMEOUT_MS);
+    App.feed_wdt();  // 3 scans with 2s timeout might exceed WDT, so feed it here to be safe
     if (err != ESP_OK) {
       ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Oneshot scan %" PRIu32 " failed: %s", i, esp_err_to_name(err));
     }
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp8266/__init__.py b/esphome/components/esp8266/__init__.py
index bef7e36470a..34540bd48da 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp8266/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/esp8266/__init__.py
@@ -314,6 +314,11 @@ async def to_code(config):
         for symbol in ("vprintf", "printf", "fprintf"):
             cg.add_build_flag(f"-Wl,--wrap={symbol}")
 
+    # Wrap Arduino's millis() so all callers (including Arduino libraries and ISR
+    # handlers) use our fast accumulator instead of the expensive 4x 64-bit multiply
+    # implementation in the Arduino ESP8266 core.
+    cg.add_build_flag("-Wl,--wrap=millis")
+
     cg.add_platformio_option("board_build.flash_mode", config[CONF_BOARD_FLASH_MODE])
 
     ver: cv.Version = CORE.data[KEY_CORE][KEY_FRAMEWORK_VERSION]
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp8266/core.cpp b/esphome/components/esp8266/core.cpp
index 389560cb1a1..ed280274457 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp8266/core.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp8266/core.cpp
@@ -16,8 +16,74 @@ extern "C" {
 namespace esphome {
 
 // yield(), micros(), millis_64() inlined in hal.h.
-uint32_t IRAM_ATTR HOT millis() { return ::millis(); }
-void HOT delay(uint32_t ms) { ::delay(ms); }
+// Fast accumulator replacement for Arduino's millis() (~3.3 μs via 4× 64-bit
+// multiplies on the LX106). Tracks a running ms counter from 32-bit
+// system_get_time() deltas using pure 32-bit ops. Installed as __wrap_millis
+// (via -Wl,--wrap=millis) so Arduino libs and IRAM_ATTR ISR handlers (e.g.
+// Wiegand, ZyAura) also get the fast version. xt_rsil(15) guards the static
+// state against ISR re-entry; the critical section is bounded (≤10 while-loop
+// iterations, ~100 ns on the common path, or a constant-time /1000 ~2.5 μs on
+// the rare path — well under WiFi's ~10 μs ISR latency budget). NMIs (level
+// >15) are not masked, but the ESP8266 SDK's NMI handlers don't call millis().
+//
+// system_get_time() wraps every ~71.6 min; unsigned (now_us - last_us) handles
+// one wrap. The main loop calls millis() at 60+ Hz, so delta stays tiny — a
+// >71 min block would trip the watchdog long before it could matter here.
+static constexpr uint32_t MILLIS_RARE_PATH_THRESHOLD_US = 10000;
+static constexpr uint32_t US_PER_MS = 1000;
+
+uint32_t IRAM_ATTR HOT millis() {
+  // Struct packs the three statics so the compiler loads one base address
+  // instead of three separate literal pool entries (saves ~8 bytes IRAM).
+  static struct {
+    uint32_t cache;
+    uint32_t remainder;
+    uint32_t last_us;
+  } state = {0, 0, 0};
+  uint32_t ps = xt_rsil(15);
+  uint32_t now_us = system_get_time();
+  uint32_t delta = now_us - state.last_us;
+  state.last_us = now_us;
+  state.remainder += delta;
+  if (state.remainder >= MILLIS_RARE_PATH_THRESHOLD_US) {
+    // Rare path: large gap (WiFi scan, boot, long block). Constant-time
+    // conversion keeps the critical section bounded.
+    uint32_t ms = state.remainder / US_PER_MS;
+    state.cache += ms;
+    // Reuse ms instead of `remainder %= US_PER_MS` — `%` would compile to a
+    // second __umodsi3 call on the LX106 (no hardware divide).
+    state.remainder -= ms * US_PER_MS;
+  } else {
+    // Common path: small gap. At most ~10 iterations since remainder was
+    // < threshold (10 ms) on entry and delta adds at most one more threshold
+    // before exiting this branch.
+    while (state.remainder >= US_PER_MS) {
+      state.cache++;
+      state.remainder -= US_PER_MS;
+    }
+  }
+  uint32_t result = state.cache;
+  xt_wsr_ps(ps);
+  return result;
+}
+// Poll-based delay that avoids ::delay() — Arduino's __delay has an intra-object
+// call to the original millis() that --wrap can't intercept, so calling ::delay()
+// would keep the slow Arduino millis body alive in IRAM. optimistic_yield still
+// enters esp_schedule()/esp_suspend_within_cont() via yield(), so SDK tasks and
+// WiFi run correctly. Theoretically less power-efficient than Arduino's
+// os_timer-based delay() for long waits, but nearly all ESPHome delays are short
+// (sensor/I²C/SPI settling in the 1–100 ms range) where the difference is
+// negligible.
+void HOT delay(uint32_t ms) {
+  if (ms == 0) {
+    optimistic_yield(1000);
+    return;
+  }
+  uint32_t start = millis();
+  while (millis() - start < ms) {
+    optimistic_yield(1000);
+  }
+}
 void IRAM_ATTR HOT delayMicroseconds(uint32_t us) { delay_microseconds_safe(us); }
 void arch_restart() {
   system_restart();
@@ -76,4 +142,12 @@ extern "C" void resetPins() {  // NOLINT
 
 }  // namespace esphome
 
+// Linker wrap: redirect all ::millis() calls (Arduino libs, ISRs) to our accumulator.
+// Requires -Wl,--wrap=millis in build flags (added by __init__.py).
+// NOLINTNEXTLINE(bugprone-reserved-identifier,cert-dcl37-c,cert-dcl51-cpp,readability-identifier-naming)
+extern "C" uint32_t IRAM_ATTR __wrap_millis() { return esphome::millis(); }
+// Note: Arduino's init() registers a 60-second overflow timer for micros64().
+// We leave it running — wrapping init() as a no-op would break micros64()'s
+// overflow tracking, and the timer's cost is negligible (~3 μs per 60 s).
+
 #endif  // USE_ESP8266
diff --git a/esphome/components/esphome/ota/ota_esphome.cpp b/esphome/components/esphome/ota/ota_esphome.cpp
index 47f661a8eaa..be771eb6899 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esphome/ota/ota_esphome.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esphome/ota/ota_esphome.cpp
@@ -292,6 +292,7 @@ void ESPHomeOTAComponent::handle_data_() {
   bool update_started = false;
   size_t total = 0;
   uint32_t last_progress = 0;
+  uint32_t last_data_ms = 0;
   uint8_t buf[OTA_BUFFER_SIZE];
   char *sbuf = reinterpret_cast<char *>(buf);
   size_t ota_size;
@@ -350,8 +351,18 @@ void ESPHomeOTAComponent::handle_data_() {
   // Acknowledge MD5 OK - 1 byte
   this->write_byte_(ota::OTA_RESPONSE_BIN_MD5_OK);
 
+  // Track when we last received data so a silently-vanished peer (no FIN/RST
+  // delivered, e.g. uploader killed mid-transfer or NAT/router dropped state)
+  // can't wedge the device indefinitely. Without this, the loop only exits
+  // on actual data, EOF, or a non-EWOULDBLOCK error from read(), and lwIP
+  // TCP keepalive isn't enabled here.
+  last_data_ms = millis();
   while (total < ota_size) {
-    // TODO: timeout check
+    if (millis() - last_data_ms > OTA_SOCKET_TIMEOUT_DATA) {
+      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "No data received for %u ms", (unsigned) OTA_SOCKET_TIMEOUT_DATA);
+      error_code = ota::OTA_RESPONSE_ERROR_UNKNOWN;
+      goto error;  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-goto)
+    }
     size_t remaining = ota_size - total;
     size_t requested = remaining < OTA_BUFFER_SIZE ? remaining : OTA_BUFFER_SIZE;
     ssize_t read = this->client_->read(buf, requested);
@@ -369,6 +380,7 @@ void ESPHomeOTAComponent::handle_data_() {
       goto error;  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-goto)
     }
 
+    last_data_ms = millis();
     error_code = this->backend_->write(buf, read);
     if (error_code != ota::OTA_RESPONSE_OK) {
       ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Flash write err %d", error_code);
diff --git a/esphome/components/event/__init__.py b/esphome/components/event/__init__.py
index 9c9dd025b18..4cab1bff9bb 100644
--- a/esphome/components/event/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/event/__init__.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from esphome.const import (
 from esphome.core import CORE, CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
 from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
     entity_duplicate_validator,
+    queue_entity_register,
     setup_device_class,
     setup_entity,
 )
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ async def setup_event_core_(var, config, *, event_types: list[str]):
 async def register_event(var, config, *, event_types: list[str]):
     if not CORE.has_id(config[CONF_ID]):
         var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], var)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_event(var))
+    queue_entity_register("event", config)
     CORE.register_platform_component("event", var)
     await setup_event_core_(var, config, event_types=event_types)
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/external_components/__init__.py b/esphome/components/external_components/__init__.py
index ceb402c5b73..6eb577e5ade 100644
--- a/esphome/components/external_components/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/external_components/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import logging
 from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any
 
 from esphome import git, loader
 import esphome.config_validation as cv
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ from esphome.const import (
     TYPE_GIT,
     TYPE_LOCAL,
 )
-from esphome.core import CORE
+from esphome.core import CORE, TimePeriodSeconds
 
 _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -35,17 +36,15 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.ensure_list(
 )
 
 
-async def to_code(config):
+async def to_code(config: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     pass
 
 
-def _process_git_config(config: dict, refresh, skip_update: bool = False) -> str:
-    # When skip_update is True, use NEVER_REFRESH to prevent updates
-    actual_refresh = git.NEVER_REFRESH if skip_update else refresh
+def _process_git_config(config: dict[str, Any], refresh: TimePeriodSeconds) -> Path:
     repo_dir, _ = git.clone_or_update(
         url=config[CONF_URL],
         ref=config.get(CONF_REF),
-        refresh=actual_refresh,
+        refresh=refresh,
         domain=DOMAIN,
         username=config.get(CONF_USERNAME),
         password=config.get(CONF_PASSWORD),
@@ -72,12 +71,12 @@ def _process_git_config(config: dict, refresh, skip_update: bool = False) -> str
     return components_dir
 
 
-def _process_single_config(config: dict, skip_update: bool = False):
+def _process_single_config(config: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     conf = config[CONF_SOURCE]
     if conf[CONF_TYPE] == TYPE_GIT:
         with cv.prepend_path([CONF_SOURCE]):
             components_dir = _process_git_config(
-                config[CONF_SOURCE], config[CONF_REFRESH], skip_update
+                config[CONF_SOURCE], config[CONF_REFRESH]
             )
     elif conf[CONF_TYPE] == TYPE_LOCAL:
         components_dir = Path(CORE.relative_config_path(conf[CONF_PATH]))
@@ -107,7 +106,7 @@ def _process_single_config(config: dict, skip_update: bool = False):
     loader.install_meta_finder(components_dir, allowed_components=allowed_components)
 
 
-def do_external_components_pass(config: dict, skip_update: bool = False) -> None:
+def do_external_components_pass(config: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     conf = config.get(DOMAIN)
     if conf is None:
         return
@@ -115,4 +114,4 @@ def do_external_components_pass(config: dict, skip_update: bool = False) -> None
         conf = CONFIG_SCHEMA(conf)
         for i, c in enumerate(conf):
             with cv.prepend_path(i):
-                _process_single_config(c, skip_update)
+                _process_single_config(c)
diff --git a/esphome/components/ezo/ezo.cpp b/esphome/components/ezo/ezo.cpp
index 2dc65b7d14c..bb8fb92f21a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ezo/ezo.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/ezo/ezo.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ void EZOSensor::update() {
     }
 
     if (!found) {
-      std::unique_ptr<EzoCommand> ezo_command(new EzoCommand);
+      auto ezo_command = make_unique<EzoCommand>();
       ezo_command->command = "R";
       ezo_command->command_type = EzoCommandType::EZO_READ;
       ezo_command->delay_ms = 900;
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ void EZOSensor::loop() {
 }
 
 void EZOSensor::add_command_(const char *command, EzoCommandType command_type, uint16_t delay_ms) {
-  std::unique_ptr<EzoCommand> ezo_command(new EzoCommand);
+  auto ezo_command = make_unique<EzoCommand>();
   ezo_command->command = command;
   ezo_command->command_type = command_type;
   ezo_command->delay_ms = delay_ms;
diff --git a/esphome/components/fan/__init__.py b/esphome/components/fan/__init__.py
index ce1e55d36b1..713f20fb95e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/fan/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/fan/__init__.py
@@ -32,7 +32,11 @@ from esphome.const import (
     CONF_WEB_SERVER,
 )
 from esphome.core import CORE, CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
-from esphome.core.entity_helpers import entity_duplicate_validator, setup_entity
+from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
+    entity_duplicate_validator,
+    queue_entity_register,
+    setup_entity,
+)
 
 IS_PLATFORM_COMPONENT = True
 
@@ -292,7 +296,7 @@ async def setup_fan_core_(var, config):
 async def register_fan(var, config):
     if not CORE.has_id(config[CONF_ID]):
         var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], var)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_fan(var))
+    queue_entity_register("fan", config)
     CORE.register_platform_component("fan", var)
     await setup_fan_core_(var, config)
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/feedback/feedback_cover.cpp b/esphome/components/feedback/feedback_cover.cpp
index 1dff210cd6b..672e99949b7 100644
--- a/esphome/components/feedback/feedback_cover.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/feedback/feedback_cover.cpp
@@ -3,11 +3,12 @@
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
 #include "esphome/core/application.h"
 
-namespace esphome {
-namespace feedback {
+namespace esphome::feedback {
 
 static const char *const TAG = "feedback.cover";
 
+static constexpr uint32_t DIRECTION_CHANGE_TIMEOUT_ID = 1;
+
 using namespace esphome::cover;
 
 void FeedbackCover::setup() {
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ void FeedbackCover::setup() {
   }
 #endif
 
-  this->last_recompute_time_ = this->start_dir_time_ = millis();
+  this->last_recompute_time_ = this->start_dir_time_ = App.get_loop_component_start_time();
 }
 
 CoverTraits FeedbackCover::get_traits() {
@@ -135,7 +136,7 @@ void FeedbackCover::set_close_endstop(binary_sensor::BinarySensor *close_endstop
 #endif
 
 void FeedbackCover::endstop_reached_(bool open_endstop) {
-  const uint32_t now = millis();
+  const uint32_t now = App.get_loop_component_start_time();
 
   this->position = open_endstop ? COVER_OPEN : COVER_CLOSED;
 
@@ -174,7 +175,7 @@ void FeedbackCover::set_current_operation_(cover::CoverOperation operation, bool
   if (!is_triggered || (this->open_feedback_ == nullptr || this->close_feedback_ == nullptr))
 #endif
   {
-    auto now = millis();
+    const uint32_t now = App.get_loop_component_start_time();
     this->current_operation = operation;
     this->start_dir_time_ = this->last_recompute_time_ = now;
     this->publish_state();
@@ -306,7 +307,7 @@ void FeedbackCover::control(const CoverCall &call) {
 
 void FeedbackCover::stop_prev_trigger_() {
   if (this->direction_change_waittime_.has_value()) {
-    this->cancel_timeout("direction_change");
+    this->cancel_timeout(DIRECTION_CHANGE_TIMEOUT_ID);
   }
   if (this->prev_command_trigger_ != nullptr) {
     this->prev_command_trigger_->stop_action();
@@ -377,7 +378,7 @@ void FeedbackCover::start_direction_(CoverOperation dir) {
     ESP_LOGD(TAG, "'%s' - Reversing direction.", this->name_.c_str());
     this->start_direction_(COVER_OPERATION_IDLE);
 
-    this->set_timeout("direction_change", *this->direction_change_waittime_,
+    this->set_timeout(DIRECTION_CHANGE_TIMEOUT_ID, *this->direction_change_waittime_,
                       [this, dir]() { this->start_direction_(dir); });
 
   } else {
@@ -395,7 +396,7 @@ void FeedbackCover::recompute_position_() {
   if (this->current_operation == COVER_OPERATION_IDLE)
     return;
 
-  const uint32_t now = millis();
+  const uint32_t now = App.get_loop_component_start_time();
   float dir;
   float action_dur;
   float min_pos;
@@ -451,5 +452,4 @@ void FeedbackCover::recompute_position_() {
   this->last_recompute_time_ = now;
 }
 
-}  // namespace feedback
-}  // namespace esphome
+}  // namespace esphome::feedback
diff --git a/esphome/components/feedback/feedback_cover.h b/esphome/components/feedback/feedback_cover.h
index 6be8939413d..ed6f7490f8b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/feedback/feedback_cover.h
+++ b/esphome/components/feedback/feedback_cover.h
@@ -8,8 +8,7 @@
 #endif
 #include "esphome/components/cover/cover.h"
 
-namespace esphome {
-namespace feedback {
+namespace esphome::feedback {
 
 class FeedbackCover : public cover::Cover, public Component {
  public:
@@ -85,5 +84,4 @@ class FeedbackCover : public cover::Cover, public Component {
   uint32_t update_interval_{1000};
 };
 
-}  // namespace feedback
-}  // namespace esphome
+}  // namespace esphome::feedback
diff --git a/esphome/components/haier/smartair2_climate.cpp b/esphome/components/haier/smartair2_climate.cpp
index 2be5d130504..200cac25575 100644
--- a/esphome/components/haier/smartair2_climate.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/haier/smartair2_climate.cpp
@@ -210,8 +210,9 @@ void Smartair2Climate::process_phase(std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point now)
 #ifdef USE_WIFI
       else if (this->send_wifi_signal_ &&
                (std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::milliseconds>(now - this->last_signal_request_).count() >
-                SIGNAL_LEVEL_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS))
+                SIGNAL_LEVEL_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS)) {
         this->set_phase(ProtocolPhases::SENDING_UPDATE_SIGNAL_REQUEST);
+      }
 #endif
     } break;
     default:
diff --git a/esphome/components/host/core.cpp b/esphome/components/host/core.cpp
index 0ade4274feb..b067ebbf6ef 100644
--- a/esphome/components/host/core.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/host/core.cpp
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 #include <csignal>
 #include <sched.h>
 #include <time.h>
-#include <cmath>
 #include <cstdlib>
 
 namespace {
@@ -22,9 +21,7 @@ void HOT yield() { ::sched_yield(); }
 uint32_t IRAM_ATTR HOT millis() {
   struct timespec spec;
   clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &spec);
-  time_t seconds = spec.tv_sec;
-  uint32_t ms = round(spec.tv_nsec / 1e6);
-  return ((uint32_t) seconds) * 1000U + ms;
+  return static_cast<uint32_t>(spec.tv_sec * 1000ULL + spec.tv_nsec / 1000000);
 }
 uint64_t millis_64() {
   struct timespec spec;
@@ -43,9 +40,7 @@ void HOT delay(uint32_t ms) {
 uint32_t IRAM_ATTR HOT micros() {
   struct timespec spec;
   clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &spec);
-  time_t seconds = spec.tv_sec;
-  uint32_t us = round(spec.tv_nsec / 1e3);
-  return ((uint32_t) seconds) * 1000000U + us;
+  return static_cast<uint32_t>(spec.tv_sec * 1000000ULL + spec.tv_nsec / 1000);
 }
 void IRAM_ATTR HOT delayMicroseconds(uint32_t us) {
   struct timespec ts;
diff --git a/esphome/components/http_request/http_request.h b/esphome/components/http_request/http_request.h
index f37bf776333..2477e26bc12 100644
--- a/esphome/components/http_request/http_request.h
+++ b/esphome/components/http_request/http_request.h
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ template<typename... Ts> class HttpRequestSendAction : public Action<Ts...> {
     this->request_headers_.push_back({key, value});
   }
 
-  void add_collect_header(const char *value) { this->lower_case_collect_headers_.push_back(value); }
+  void add_collect_header(const char *value) { this->lower_case_collect_headers_.emplace_back(value); }
 
   void init_json(size_t count) { this->json_.init(count); }
   void add_json(const char *key, TemplatableValue<std::string, Ts...> value) { this->json_.push_back({key, value}); }
diff --git a/esphome/components/i2c/i2c_bus_zephyr.h b/esphome/components/i2c/i2c_bus_zephyr.h
index 49cac5b9921..3c4aa9ed1d8 100644
--- a/esphome/components/i2c/i2c_bus_zephyr.h
+++ b/esphome/components/i2c/i2c_bus_zephyr.h
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #include "i2c_bus.h"
 #include "esphome/core/component.h"
 
-struct device;
+struct device;  // NOLINT(readability-identifier-naming) - forward decl of Zephyr's device type
 
 namespace esphome::i2c {
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/image/__init__.py b/esphome/components/image/__init__.py
index 8375ab91d3e..365554f7d2d 100644
--- a/esphome/components/image/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/image/__init__.py
@@ -744,21 +744,28 @@ async def write_image(config, all_frames=False):
         if frame_count <= 1:
             _LOGGER.warning("Image file %s has no animation frames", path)
 
-    total_rows = height * frame_count
-    encoder = IMAGE_TYPE[type](width, total_rows, transparency, dither, invert_alpha)
-    if byte_order := config.get(CONF_BYTE_ORDER):
-        # Check for valid type has already been done in validate_settings
-        encoder.set_big_endian(byte_order == "BIG_ENDIAN")
+    # Encode each frame with its own encoder and concatenate. This keeps every
+    # frame self-contained on disk (e.g. RGB565+alpha emits [RGB plane | alpha plane]
+    # per frame) so animation frame stepping in image.cpp / animation.cpp stays
+    # correct without needing to know the total frame count.
+    byte_order = config.get(CONF_BYTE_ORDER)
+    combined_data: list[int] = []
+    encoder: ImageEncoder | None = None
     for frame_index in range(frame_count):
         image.seek(frame_index)
+        encoder = IMAGE_TYPE[type](width, height, transparency, dither, invert_alpha)
+        if byte_order is not None:
+            # Check for valid type has already been done in validate_settings
+            encoder.set_big_endian(byte_order == "BIG_ENDIAN")
         pixels = encoder.convert(image.resize((width, height)), path).getdata()
         for row in range(height):
             for col in range(width):
                 encoder.encode(pixels[row * width + col])
             encoder.end_row()
-    encoder.end_image()
+        encoder.end_image()
+        combined_data.extend(encoder.data)
 
-    rhs = [HexInt(x) for x in encoder.data]
+    rhs = [HexInt(x) for x in combined_data]
     prog_arr = cg.progmem_array(config[CONF_RAW_DATA_ID], rhs)
     image_type = get_image_type_enum(type)
     trans_value = get_transparency_enum(encoder.transparency)
diff --git a/esphome/components/infrared/__init__.py b/esphome/components/infrared/__init__.py
index 6a2a72fa5d7..f8e77209b24 100644
--- a/esphome/components/infrared/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/infrared/__init__.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import esphome.codegen as cg
 import esphome.config_validation as cv
 from esphome.const import CONF_ID
 from esphome.core import CORE, coroutine_with_priority
-from esphome.core.entity_helpers import setup_entity
+from esphome.core.entity_helpers import queue_entity_register, setup_entity
 from esphome.coroutine import CoroPriority
 from esphome.types import ConfigType
 
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ async def register_infrared(var: cg.Pvariable, config: ConfigType) -> None:
     """Register an infrared device with the core."""
     cg.add_define("USE_IR_RF")
     await cg.register_component(var, config)
+    queue_entity_register("infrared", config)
     await setup_infrared_core_(var, config)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_infrared(var))
     CORE.register_platform_component("infrared", var)
 
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/inkbird_ibsth1_mini/inkbird_ibsth1_mini.cpp b/esphome/components/inkbird_ibsth1_mini/inkbird_ibsth1_mini.cpp
index 94c22ae84de..c53d8e50298 100644
--- a/esphome/components/inkbird_ibsth1_mini/inkbird_ibsth1_mini.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/inkbird_ibsth1_mini/inkbird_ibsth1_mini.cpp
@@ -41,12 +41,12 @@ bool InkbirdIbstH1Mini::parse_device(const esp32_ble_tracker::ESPBTDevice &devic
     ESP_LOGVV(TAG, "parse_device(): service_data is expected to be empty");
     return false;
   }
-  auto mnf_datas = device.get_manufacturer_datas();
+  const auto &mnf_datas = device.get_manufacturer_datas();
   if (mnf_datas.size() != 1) {
     ESP_LOGVV(TAG, "parse_device(): manufacturer_datas is expected to have a single element");
     return false;
   }
-  auto mnf_data = mnf_datas[0];
+  const auto &mnf_data = mnf_datas[0];
   if (mnf_data.uuid.get_uuid().len != ESP_UUID_LEN_16) {
     ESP_LOGVV(TAG, "parse_device(): manufacturer data element is expected to have uuid of length 16");
     return false;
diff --git a/esphome/components/ir_rf_proxy/ir_rf_proxy.cpp b/esphome/components/ir_rf_proxy/ir_rf_proxy.cpp
index 5239a4667c0..60b0cd513bb 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ir_rf_proxy/ir_rf_proxy.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/ir_rf_proxy/ir_rf_proxy.cpp
@@ -1,13 +1,73 @@
 #include "ir_rf_proxy.h"
+
+#include <cinttypes>
+
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
 
 namespace esphome::ir_rf_proxy {
 
 static const char *const TAG = "ir_rf_proxy";
 
+// ========== Shared transmit helper ==========
+// Static template: all instantiations occur in this translation unit.
+
+template<typename CallT>
+static void transmit_raw_timings(remote_base::RemoteTransmitterBase *transmitter, uint32_t carrier_frequency,
+                                 const CallT &call) {
+  if (transmitter == nullptr) {
+    ESP_LOGW(TAG, "No transmitter configured");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (!call.has_raw_timings()) {
+    ESP_LOGE(TAG, "No raw timings provided");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  auto transmit_call = transmitter->transmit();
+  auto *transmit_data = transmit_call.get_data();
+  transmit_data->set_carrier_frequency(carrier_frequency);
+
+  if (call.is_packed()) {
+    transmit_data->set_data_from_packed_sint32(call.get_packed_data(), call.get_packed_length(),
+                                               call.get_packed_count());
+    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Transmitting packed raw timings: count=%" PRIu16 ", repeat=%" PRIu32, call.get_packed_count(),
+             call.get_repeat_count());
+  } else if (call.is_base64url()) {
+    if (!transmit_data->set_data_from_base64url(call.get_base64url_data())) {
+      ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Invalid base64url data");
+      return;
+    }
+    constexpr int32_t max_timing_us = 500000;
+    for (int32_t timing : transmit_data->get_data()) {
+      int32_t abs_timing = timing < 0 ? -timing : timing;
+      if (abs_timing > max_timing_us) {
+        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Invalid timing value: %" PRId32 " µs (max %" PRId32 ")", timing, max_timing_us);
+        return;
+      }
+    }
+    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Transmitting base64url raw timings: count=%zu, repeat=%" PRIu32, transmit_data->get_data().size(),
+             call.get_repeat_count());
+  } else {
+    transmit_data->set_data(call.get_raw_timings());
+    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Transmitting raw timings: count=%zu, repeat=%" PRIu32, call.get_raw_timings().size(),
+             call.get_repeat_count());
+  }
+
+  if (call.get_repeat_count() > 0) {
+    transmit_call.set_send_times(call.get_repeat_count());
+  }
+
+  transmit_call.perform();
+}
+
+// ========== IrRfProxy (Infrared platform) ==========
+
+#ifdef USE_IR_RF
+
 void IrRfProxy::dump_config() {
   ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG,
-                "IR/RF Proxy '%s'\n"
+                "IR Proxy '%s'\n"
                 "  Supports Transmitter: %s\n"
                 "  Supports Receiver: %s",
                 this->get_name().c_str(), YESNO(this->traits_.get_supports_transmitter()),
@@ -20,4 +80,54 @@ void IrRfProxy::dump_config() {
   }
 }
 
+void IrRfProxy::control(const infrared::InfraredCall &call) {
+  uint32_t carrier = call.get_carrier_frequency().value_or(0);
+  transmit_raw_timings(this->transmitter_, carrier, call);
+}
+
+#endif  // USE_IR_RF
+
+// ========== RfProxy (Radio Frequency platform) ==========
+
+#ifdef USE_RADIO_FREQUENCY
+
+void RfProxy::setup() {
+  this->traits_.set_supports_transmitter(this->transmitter_ != nullptr);
+  this->traits_.set_supports_receiver(this->receiver_ != nullptr);
+
+  // remote_transmitter/receiver always uses OOK (on-off keying)
+  this->traits_.add_supported_modulation(radio_frequency::RadioFrequencyModulation::RADIO_FREQUENCY_MODULATION_OOK);
+
+  if (this->receiver_ != nullptr) {
+    this->receiver_->register_listener(this);
+  }
+}
+
+void RfProxy::dump_config() {
+  ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG,
+                "RF Proxy '%s'\n"
+                "  Backend: remote_transmitter/receiver\n"
+                "  Supports Transmitter: %s\n"
+                "  Supports Receiver: %s",
+                this->get_name().c_str(), YESNO(this->traits_.get_supports_transmitter()),
+                YESNO(this->traits_.get_supports_receiver()));
+
+  const auto &traits = this->traits_;
+  if (traits.get_frequency_min_hz() > 0) {
+    if (traits.get_frequency_min_hz() == traits.get_frequency_max_hz()) {
+      ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Frequency: %.3f MHz (fixed)", traits.get_frequency_min_hz() / 1e6f);
+    } else {
+      ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Frequency Range: %.3f - %.3f MHz", traits.get_frequency_min_hz() / 1e6f,
+                    traits.get_frequency_max_hz() / 1e6f);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+void RfProxy::control(const radio_frequency::RadioFrequencyCall &call) {
+  // RF: no IR carrier modulation
+  transmit_raw_timings(this->transmitter_, 0, call);
+}
+
+#endif  // USE_RADIO_FREQUENCY
+
 }  // namespace esphome::ir_rf_proxy
diff --git a/esphome/components/ir_rf_proxy/ir_rf_proxy.h b/esphome/components/ir_rf_proxy/ir_rf_proxy.h
index 05b988f2877..973e9e20514 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ir_rf_proxy/ir_rf_proxy.h
+++ b/esphome/components/ir_rf_proxy/ir_rf_proxy.h
@@ -4,10 +4,19 @@
 // without following the normal breaking changes policy. Use at your own risk.
 // Once the API is considered stable, this warning will be removed.
 
+#include "esphome/components/remote_base/remote_base.h"
+
+#ifdef USE_IR_RF
 #include "esphome/components/infrared/infrared.h"
+#endif
+
+#ifdef USE_RADIO_FREQUENCY
+#include "esphome/components/radio_frequency/radio_frequency.h"
+#endif
 
 namespace esphome::ir_rf_proxy {
 
+#ifdef USE_IR_RF
 /// IrRfProxy - Infrared platform implementation using remote_transmitter/receiver as backend
 class IrRfProxy : public infrared::Infrared {
  public:
@@ -26,8 +35,36 @@ class IrRfProxy : public infrared::Infrared {
   void set_receiver_frequency(uint32_t frequency_hz) { this->get_traits().set_receiver_frequency_hz(frequency_hz); }
 
  protected:
+  void control(const infrared::InfraredCall &call) override;
+
   // RF frequency in kHz (Hz / 1000); 0 = infrared, non-zero = RF
   uint32_t frequency_khz_{0};
 };
+#endif  // USE_IR_RF
+
+#ifdef USE_RADIO_FREQUENCY
+/// RfProxy - Radio Frequency platform implementation using remote_transmitter/receiver as backend
+class RfProxy : public radio_frequency::RadioFrequency {
+ public:
+  RfProxy() = default;
+
+  void setup() override;
+  void dump_config() override;
+
+  /// Set the remote transmitter component
+  void set_transmitter(remote_base::RemoteTransmitterBase *transmitter) { this->transmitter_ = transmitter; }
+  /// Set the remote receiver component
+  void set_receiver(remote_base::RemoteReceiverBase *receiver) { this->receiver_ = receiver; }
+
+  /// Set the fixed carrier frequency in Hz (metadata: advertised via traits, does not tune hardware)
+  void set_frequency_hz(uint32_t freq_hz) { this->traits_.set_fixed_frequency_hz(freq_hz); }
+
+ protected:
+  void control(const radio_frequency::RadioFrequencyCall &call) override;
+
+  remote_base::RemoteTransmitterBase *transmitter_{nullptr};
+  remote_base::RemoteReceiverBase *receiver_{nullptr};
+};
+#endif  // USE_RADIO_FREQUENCY
 
 }  // namespace esphome::ir_rf_proxy
diff --git a/esphome/components/ir_rf_proxy/radio_frequency.py b/esphome/components/ir_rf_proxy/radio_frequency.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9982f5e4d10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/esphome/components/ir_rf_proxy/radio_frequency.py
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+"""Radio Frequency platform implementation using remote_base (remote_transmitter/receiver)."""
+
+import esphome.codegen as cg
+from esphome.components import radio_frequency, remote_receiver, remote_transmitter
+import esphome.config_validation as cv
+from esphome.const import CONF_CARRIER_DUTY_PERCENT, CONF_FREQUENCY
+import esphome.final_validate as fv
+from esphome.types import ConfigType
+
+from . import CONF_REMOTE_RECEIVER_ID, CONF_REMOTE_TRANSMITTER_ID, ir_rf_proxy_ns
+
+CODEOWNERS = ["@kbx81"]
+DEPENDENCIES = ["radio_frequency"]
+
+RfProxy = ir_rf_proxy_ns.class_("RfProxy", radio_frequency.RadioFrequency)
+
+CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
+    radio_frequency.radio_frequency_schema(RfProxy).extend(
+        {
+            cv.Optional(CONF_FREQUENCY): cv.frequency,
+            cv.Optional(CONF_REMOTE_RECEIVER_ID): cv.use_id(
+                remote_receiver.RemoteReceiverComponent
+            ),
+            cv.Optional(CONF_REMOTE_TRANSMITTER_ID): cv.use_id(
+                remote_transmitter.RemoteTransmitterComponent
+            ),
+        }
+    ),
+    cv.has_exactly_one_key(CONF_REMOTE_RECEIVER_ID, CONF_REMOTE_TRANSMITTER_ID),
+)
+
+
+def _final_validate(config: ConfigType) -> None:
+    """Validate that RF transmitters have carrier duty set to 100%."""
+    if CONF_REMOTE_TRANSMITTER_ID not in config:
+        return
+
+    transmitter_id = config[CONF_REMOTE_TRANSMITTER_ID]
+    full_config = fv.full_config.get()
+    transmitter_path = full_config.get_path_for_id(transmitter_id)[:-1]
+    transmitter_config = full_config.get_config_for_path(transmitter_path)
+
+    duty_percent = transmitter_config.get(CONF_CARRIER_DUTY_PERCENT)
+    if duty_percent is not None and duty_percent != 100:
+        raise cv.Invalid(
+            f"Transmitter '{transmitter_id}' must have '{CONF_CARRIER_DUTY_PERCENT}' "
+            "set to 100% for RF transmission. Dedicated RF hardware handles modulation; "
+            "applying a carrier duty cycle would corrupt the signal"
+        )
+
+
+FINAL_VALIDATE_SCHEMA = _final_validate
+
+
+async def to_code(config: ConfigType) -> None:
+    """Code generation for remote_base radio frequency platform."""
+    var = await radio_frequency.new_radio_frequency(config)
+
+    if CONF_FREQUENCY in config:
+        cg.add(var.set_frequency_hz(int(config[CONF_FREQUENCY])))
+
+    if CONF_REMOTE_TRANSMITTER_ID in config:
+        transmitter = await cg.get_variable(config[CONF_REMOTE_TRANSMITTER_ID])
+        cg.add(var.set_transmitter(transmitter))
+
+    if CONF_REMOTE_RECEIVER_ID in config:
+        receiver = await cg.get_variable(config[CONF_REMOTE_RECEIVER_ID])
+        cg.add(var.set_receiver(receiver))
diff --git a/esphome/components/json/json_util.cpp b/esphome/components/json/json_util.cpp
index edcd23f922e..ec1490be1ff 100644
--- a/esphome/components/json/json_util.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/json/json_util.cpp
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ bool parse_json(const uint8_t *data, size_t len, const json_parse_t &f) {
 }
 
 JsonDocument parse_json(const uint8_t *data, size_t len) {
-  // NOLINTBEGIN(clang-analyzer-cplusplus.NewDeleteLeaks) false positive with ArduinoJson
+  // NOLINTBEGIN(clang-analyzer-cplusplus.NewDeleteLeaks,clang-analyzer-core.StackAddressEscape) false positives with
+  // ArduinoJson
   if (data == nullptr || len == 0) {
     ESP_LOGE(TAG, "No data to parse");
     return JsonObject();  // return unbound object
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ JsonDocument parse_json(const uint8_t *data, size_t len) {
   }
   ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Parse error: %s", err.c_str());
   return JsonObject();  // return unbound object
-  // NOLINTEND(clang-analyzer-cplusplus.NewDeleteLeaks)
+  // NOLINTEND(clang-analyzer-cplusplus.NewDeleteLeaks,clang-analyzer-core.StackAddressEscape)
 }
 
 SerializationBuffer<> JsonBuilder::serialize() {
diff --git a/esphome/components/libretiny/const.py b/esphome/components/libretiny/const.py
index 332be0de1dd..5de4a164b57 100644
--- a/esphome/components/libretiny/const.py
+++ b/esphome/components/libretiny/const.py
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ COMPONENT_RTL87XX = "rtl87xx"
 FAMILY_BK7231N = "BK7231N"
 FAMILY_BK7231Q = "BK7231Q"
 FAMILY_BK7231T = "BK7231T"
+FAMILY_BK7238 = "BK7238"
 FAMILY_BK7251 = "BK7251"
 FAMILY_LN882H = "LN882H"
 FAMILY_RTL8710B = "RTL8710B"
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ FAMILIES = [
     FAMILY_BK7231N,
     FAMILY_BK7231Q,
     FAMILY_BK7231T,
+    FAMILY_BK7238,
     FAMILY_BK7251,
     FAMILY_LN882H,
     FAMILY_RTL8710B,
@@ -75,6 +77,7 @@ FAMILY_FRIENDLY = {
     FAMILY_BK7231N: "BK7231N",
     FAMILY_BK7231Q: "BK7231Q",
     FAMILY_BK7231T: "BK7231T",
+    FAMILY_BK7238: "BK7238",
     FAMILY_BK7251: "BK7251",
     FAMILY_LN882H: "LN882H",
     FAMILY_RTL8710B: "RTL8710B",
@@ -84,6 +87,7 @@ FAMILY_COMPONENT = {
     FAMILY_BK7231N: COMPONENT_BK72XX,
     FAMILY_BK7231Q: COMPONENT_BK72XX,
     FAMILY_BK7231T: COMPONENT_BK72XX,
+    FAMILY_BK7238: COMPONENT_BK72XX,
     FAMILY_BK7251: COMPONENT_BK72XX,
     FAMILY_LN882H: COMPONENT_LN882X,
     FAMILY_RTL8710B: COMPONENT_RTL87XX,
diff --git a/esphome/components/light/__init__.py b/esphome/components/light/__init__.py
index 5925afb472d..9540c644860 100644
--- a/esphome/components/light/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/light/__init__.py
@@ -40,7 +40,11 @@ from esphome.const import (
     CONF_WHITE,
 )
 from esphome.core import CORE, ID, CoroPriority, HexInt, Lambda, coroutine_with_priority
-from esphome.core.entity_helpers import entity_duplicate_validator, setup_entity
+from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
+    entity_duplicate_validator,
+    queue_entity_register,
+    setup_entity,
+)
 from esphome.cpp_generator import MockObjClass
 import esphome.final_validate as fv
 from esphome.types import ConfigType
@@ -405,7 +409,7 @@ async def setup_light_core_(light_var, config, output_var):
 
 async def register_light(output_var, config):
     light_var = cg.new_Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], output_var)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_light(light_var))
+    queue_entity_register("light", config)
     CORE.register_platform_component("light", light_var)
     await cg.register_component(light_var, config)
     await setup_light_core_(light_var, config, output_var)
diff --git a/esphome/components/lock/__init__.py b/esphome/components/lock/__init__.py
index a36d52a5d82..0a8ad58bc2d 100644
--- a/esphome/components/lock/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/lock/__init__.py
@@ -13,7 +13,11 @@ from esphome.const import (
     CONF_WEB_SERVER,
 )
 from esphome.core import CORE, CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
-from esphome.core.entity_helpers import entity_duplicate_validator, setup_entity
+from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
+    entity_duplicate_validator,
+    queue_entity_register,
+    setup_entity,
+)
 from esphome.cpp_generator import MockObjClass
 
 CODEOWNERS = ["@esphome/core"]
@@ -112,7 +116,7 @@ async def _setup_lock_core(var, config):
 async def register_lock(var, config):
     if not CORE.has_id(config[CONF_ID]):
         var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], var)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_lock(var))
+    queue_entity_register("lock", config)
     CORE.register_platform_component("lock", var)
     await _setup_lock_core(var, config)
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/lvgl/binary_sensor/__init__.py b/esphome/components/lvgl/binary_sensor/__init__.py
index f9df7d23fa3..aa68e764211 100644
--- a/esphome/components/lvgl/binary_sensor/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/lvgl/binary_sensor/__init__.py
@@ -4,15 +4,25 @@ from esphome.components.binary_sensor import (
     new_binary_sensor,
 )
 import esphome.config_validation as cv
+from esphome.const import CONF_STATE
 
-from ..defines import CONF_WIDGET
-from ..lvcode import EVENT_ARG, LambdaContext, LvContext, lvgl_static
-from ..types import LV_EVENT, lv_pseudo_button_t
+from ..defines import CONF_WIDGET, LV_OBJ_FLAG, LvConstant
+from ..lvcode import EVENT_ARG, UPDATE_EVENT, LambdaContext, LvContext, lvgl_static
+from ..types import LV_EVENT, LV_STATE, lv_pseudo_button_t
 from ..widgets import Widget, get_widgets, wait_for_widgets
 
+STATE_PRESSED = "PRESSED"
+STATE_CHECKED = "CHECKED"
+
+BS_STATE = LvConstant(
+    "LV_STATE_",
+    STATE_PRESSED,
+    STATE_CHECKED,
+)
 CONFIG_SCHEMA = binary_sensor_schema(BinarySensor).extend(
     {
         cv.Required(CONF_WIDGET): cv.use_id(lv_pseudo_button_t),
+        cv.Optional(CONF_STATE, default=STATE_PRESSED): BS_STATE.one_of,
     }
 )
 
@@ -22,16 +32,23 @@ async def to_code(config):
     widget = await get_widgets(config, CONF_WIDGET)
     widget = widget[0]
     assert isinstance(widget, Widget)
+    state = await BS_STATE.process(config[CONF_STATE])
     await wait_for_widgets()
-    async with LambdaContext(EVENT_ARG) as pressed_ctx:
-        pressed_ctx.add(sensor.publish_state(widget.is_pressed()))
+    is_pressed = str(state) == str(LV_STATE.PRESSED)
+    test_expr = widget.is_pressed() if is_pressed else widget.is_checked()
+    async with LambdaContext(EVENT_ARG) as test_ctx:
+        test_ctx.add(sensor.publish_state(test_expr))
     async with LvContext() as ctx:
-        ctx.add(sensor.publish_initial_state(widget.is_pressed()))
+        ctx.add(sensor.publish_initial_state(test_expr))
+        if is_pressed:
+            events = [LV_EVENT.PRESSED, LV_EVENT.RELEASED]
+            widget.add_flag(LV_OBJ_FLAG.CLICKABLE)
+        else:
+            events = [LV_EVENT.VALUE_CHANGED, UPDATE_EVENT]
         ctx.add(
             lvgl_static.add_event_cb(
                 widget.obj,
-                await pressed_ctx.get_lambda(),
-                LV_EVENT.PRESSED,
-                LV_EVENT.RELEASED,
+                await test_ctx.get_lambda(),
+                *events,
             )
         )
diff --git a/esphome/components/lvgl/gradient.py b/esphome/components/lvgl/gradient.py
index c4a3c8f2cb6..e075433d03e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/lvgl/gradient.py
+++ b/esphome/components/lvgl/gradient.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from operator import itemgetter
+
 from esphome import config_validation as cv
 import esphome.codegen as cg
 from esphome.const import (
@@ -11,6 +13,7 @@ from esphome.core import ID
 from esphome.cpp_generator import MockObj
 
 from .defines import CONF_GRADIENTS, CONF_OPA, LV_DITHER, add_define, add_warning
+from .helpers import add_lv_use
 from .lv_validation import lv_color, lv_percentage, opacity
 from .lvcode import lv
 from .types import lv_color_t, lv_gradient_t, lv_opa_t
@@ -50,6 +53,7 @@ GRADIENT_SCHEMA = cv.ensure_list(
 
 
 async def gradients_to_code(config):
+    add_lv_use("gradient")
     max_stops = 2
     if any(CONF_DITHER in x for x in config.get(CONF_GRADIENTS, ())):
         add_warning(
@@ -58,7 +62,7 @@ async def gradients_to_code(config):
     for gradient in config.get(CONF_GRADIENTS, ()):
         var = MockObj(cg.new_Pvariable(gradient[CONF_ID]), "->")
         idbase = gradient[CONF_ID].id
-        stops = gradient[CONF_STOPS]
+        stops = sorted(gradient[CONF_STOPS], key=itemgetter(CONF_POSITION))
         max_stops = max(max_stops, len(stops))
         if gradient[CONF_DIRECTION].startswith("VER"):
             lv.grad_vertical_init(var)
diff --git a/esphome/components/lvgl/layout.py b/esphome/components/lvgl/layout.py
index 46026852af0..32304276d3e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/lvgl/layout.py
+++ b/esphome/components/lvgl/layout.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import math
 import re
 import textwrap
 
@@ -85,6 +86,22 @@ def grid_free_space(value):
 
 grid_spec = cv.Any(size, LvConstant("LV_GRID_", "CONTENT").one_of, grid_free_space)
 
+
+def grid_dimension(value):
+    """
+    Validator for a grid `rows` or `columns` value.
+    Accepts either a positive integer (interpreted as that many cells of equal
+    `LV_GRID_FR(1)` size) or a non-empty list of grid specs.
+    """
+    if isinstance(value, int):
+        value = cv.int_range(min=1)(value)
+        return ["LV_GRID_FR(1)"] * value
+    result = cv.Schema([grid_spec])(value)
+    if not result:
+        raise cv.Invalid("Grid dimension list must contain at least one entry")
+    return result
+
+
 GRID_CELL_SCHEMA = {
     cv.Optional(CONF_GRID_CELL_ROW_POS): cv.positive_int,
     cv.Optional(CONF_GRID_CELL_COLUMN_POS): cv.positive_int,
@@ -184,7 +201,16 @@ class DirectionalLayout(FlexLayout):
 
 
 class GridLayout(Layout):
-    _GRID_LAYOUT_REGEX = re.compile(r"^\s*(\d+)\s*x\s*(\d+)\s*$")
+    # Match shorthand grid layout strings: "NxM", "Nx" or "xM".
+    # At least one of the two numbers must be present; this is enforced after matching.
+    _GRID_LAYOUT_REGEX = re.compile(r"^\s*(\d+)?\s*x\s*(\d+)?\s*$")
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _match_shorthand(layout):
+        match = GridLayout._GRID_LAYOUT_REGEX.match(layout)
+        if match is None or (match.group(1) is None and match.group(2) is None):
+            return None
+        return match
 
     def get_type(self):
         return TYPE_GRID
@@ -192,7 +218,7 @@ class GridLayout(Layout):
     def get_layout_schemas(self, config: dict) -> tuple:
         layout = config.get(CONF_LAYOUT)
         if isinstance(layout, str):
-            if GridLayout._GRID_LAYOUT_REGEX.match(layout):
+            if GridLayout._match_shorthand(layout):
                 return (
                     cv.string,
                     {
@@ -213,59 +239,107 @@ class GridLayout(Layout):
 
         if not isinstance(layout, dict) or layout.get(CONF_TYPE).lower() != TYPE_GRID:
             return None, {}
+        x_default = (
+            "center" if isinstance(layout.get(CONF_GRID_ROWS), int) else cv.UNDEFINED
+        )
+        y_default = (
+            "center" if isinstance(layout.get(CONF_GRID_COLUMNS), int) else cv.UNDEFINED
+        )
+        x_align = layout.get(CONF_GRID_CELL_X_ALIGN, x_default)
+        y_align = layout.get(CONF_GRID_CELL_Y_ALIGN, y_default)
         return (
             {
                 cv.Required(CONF_TYPE): cv.one_of(TYPE_GRID, lower=True),
-                cv.Required(CONF_GRID_ROWS): [grid_spec],
-                cv.Required(CONF_GRID_COLUMNS): [grid_spec],
+                cv.Optional(CONF_GRID_ROWS): grid_dimension,
+                cv.Optional(CONF_GRID_COLUMNS): grid_dimension,
                 cv.Optional(CONF_GRID_COLUMN_ALIGN): grid_alignments,
                 cv.Optional(CONF_GRID_ROW_ALIGN): grid_alignments,
                 cv.Optional(CONF_PAD_ROW): padding,
                 cv.Optional(CONF_PAD_COLUMN): padding,
                 cv.Optional(CONF_MULTIPLE_WIDGETS_PER_CELL, default=False): cv.boolean,
+                cv.Optional(CONF_GRID_CELL_X_ALIGN): grid_alignments,
+                cv.Optional(CONF_GRID_CELL_Y_ALIGN): grid_alignments,
             },
             {
                 cv.Optional(CONF_GRID_CELL_ROW_POS): cv.positive_int,
                 cv.Optional(CONF_GRID_CELL_COLUMN_POS): cv.positive_int,
                 cv.Optional(CONF_GRID_CELL_ROW_SPAN): cv.int_range(min=1),
                 cv.Optional(CONF_GRID_CELL_COLUMN_SPAN): cv.int_range(min=1),
-                cv.Optional(CONF_GRID_CELL_X_ALIGN): grid_alignments,
-                cv.Optional(CONF_GRID_CELL_Y_ALIGN): grid_alignments,
+                cv.Optional(CONF_GRID_CELL_X_ALIGN, default=x_align): grid_alignments,
+                cv.Optional(CONF_GRID_CELL_Y_ALIGN, default=y_align): grid_alignments,
             },
         )
 
     def validate(self, config: dict):
         """
         Validate the grid layout.
-        The `layout:` key may be a dictionary with `rows` and `columns` keys, or a string in the format "rows x columns".
+        The `layout:` key may be a dictionary with `rows` and/or `columns` keys, or a
+        shorthand string in the format "<rows>x<columns>", "<rows>x" or "x<columns>".
+        Either dimension may be omitted, in which case it will be calculated from the
+        other dimension and the number of configured widgets.
         Either all cells must have a row and column,
         or none, in which case the grid layout is auto-generated.
         :param config:
         :return: The config updated with auto-generated values
         """
         layout = config.get(CONF_LAYOUT)
+        widgets = config.get(CONF_WIDGETS, [])
+        num_widgets = len(widgets)
         if isinstance(layout, str):
-            # If the layout is a string, assume it is in the format "rows x columns", implying
-            # a grid layout with the specified number of rows and columns each with CONTENT sizing.
+            # Shorthand string: "<rows>x<columns>", "<rows>x" or "x<columns>".
+            # Each dimension defaults to LV_GRID_FR(1). A missing dimension is
+            # calculated from the other dimension and the number of widgets.
             layout = layout.strip()
-            match = GridLayout._GRID_LAYOUT_REGEX.match(layout)
-            if match:
-                rows = int(match.group(1))
-                cols = int(match.group(2))
-                layout = {
-                    CONF_TYPE: TYPE_GRID,
-                    CONF_GRID_ROWS: ["LV_GRID_FR(1)"] * rows,
-                    CONF_GRID_COLUMNS: ["LV_GRID_FR(1)"] * cols,
-                }
-                config[CONF_LAYOUT] = layout
-            else:
+            match = GridLayout._match_shorthand(layout)
+            if not match:
                 raise cv.Invalid(
-                    f"Invalid grid layout format: {config}, expected 'rows x columns'",
+                    f"Invalid grid layout format: {layout!r}, expected "
+                    "'<rows>x<columns>', '<rows>x' or 'x<columns>'",
                     [CONF_LAYOUT],
                 )
+            rows_int = int(match.group(1)) if match.group(1) is not None else None
+            cols_int = int(match.group(2)) if match.group(2) is not None else None
+            for label, val in (("row", rows_int), ("column", cols_int)):
+                if val is not None and val < 1:
+                    raise cv.Invalid(
+                        f"Invalid grid layout {layout!r}: {label} count must be "
+                        "at least 1",
+                        [CONF_LAYOUT],
+                    )
+            if rows_int is not None and cols_int is not None:
+                rows = rows_int
+                cols = cols_int
+            elif rows_int is not None:
+                rows = rows_int
+                cols = max(1, math.ceil(num_widgets / rows)) if num_widgets else 1
+            else:
+                cols = cols_int
+                rows = max(1, math.ceil(num_widgets / cols)) if num_widgets else 1
+            layout = {
+                CONF_TYPE: TYPE_GRID,
+                CONF_GRID_ROWS: ["LV_GRID_FR(1)"] * rows,
+                CONF_GRID_COLUMNS: ["LV_GRID_FR(1)"] * cols,
+            }
+            config[CONF_LAYOUT] = layout
         # should be guaranteed to be a dict at this point
         assert isinstance(layout, dict)
         assert layout.get(CONF_TYPE).lower() == TYPE_GRID
+        rows_list = layout.get(CONF_GRID_ROWS)
+        cols_list = layout.get(CONF_GRID_COLUMNS)
+        if rows_list is None and cols_list is None:
+            raise cv.Invalid(
+                "Grid layout requires at least one of 'rows' or 'columns' to be "
+                "specified",
+                [CONF_LAYOUT],
+            )
+        if rows_list is None:
+            cols = len(cols_list)
+            rows = max(1, math.ceil(num_widgets / cols)) if num_widgets else 1
+            layout[CONF_GRID_ROWS] = ["LV_GRID_FR(1)"] * rows
+        elif cols_list is None:
+            rows = len(rows_list)
+            cols = max(1, math.ceil(num_widgets / rows)) if num_widgets else 1
+            layout[CONF_GRID_COLUMNS] = ["LV_GRID_FR(1)"] * cols
         allow_multiple = layout.get(CONF_MULTIPLE_WIDGETS_PER_CELL, False)
         rows = len(layout[CONF_GRID_ROWS])
         columns = len(layout[CONF_GRID_COLUMNS])
@@ -379,7 +453,8 @@ def append_layout_schema(schema, config: dict):
         textwrap.dedent(
             """
                 Invalid 'layout' value
-                layout choices are 'horizontal', 'vertical', '<rows>x<cols>',
+                layout choices are 'horizontal', 'vertical',
+                '<rows>x<cols>', '<rows>x', 'x<cols>',
                 or a dictionary with a 'type' key
             """
         ),
diff --git a/esphome/components/lvgl/lvgl_esphome.cpp b/esphome/components/lvgl/lvgl_esphome.cpp
index d8248e4aa4e..0308e6b783f 100644
--- a/esphome/components/lvgl/lvgl_esphome.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/lvgl/lvgl_esphome.cpp
@@ -864,6 +864,32 @@ void lv_scale_draw_event_cb(lv_event_t *e, int16_t range_start, int16_t range_en
 }
 #endif  // USE_LVGL_SCALE
 
+#ifdef USE_LVGL_GRADIENT
+/**
+ *
+ * @param dsc The gradient descriptor containing the color stops
+ * @param pos The current position to calculate the color for
+ * @return The color for the given position
+ */
+
+lv_color_t lv_grad_calculate_color(const lv_grad_dsc_t *dsc, int32_t pos) {
+  if (dsc->stops_count == 0)
+    return lv_color_black();
+  if (dsc->stops_count == 1 || pos <= dsc->stops[0].frac)
+    return dsc->stops[0].color;
+  if (pos >= dsc->stops[dsc->stops_count - 1].frac)
+    return dsc->stops[dsc->stops_count - 1].color;
+  int i = 1;
+  while (i < dsc->stops_count && dsc->stops[i].frac < pos)
+    i++;
+  auto *stop1 = &dsc->stops[i - 1];
+  auto *stop2 = &dsc->stops[i];
+  int32_t range = stop2->frac - stop1->frac;
+  int32_t offset = pos - stop1->frac;
+  return lv_color_mix(stop2->color, stop1->color, range == 0 ? 0 : (offset * 255) / range);
+}
+#endif
+
 static void lv_container_constructor(const lv_obj_class_t *class_p, lv_obj_t *obj) {
   LV_TRACE_OBJ_CREATE("begin");
   LV_UNUSED(class_p);
diff --git a/esphome/components/lvgl/lvgl_esphome.h b/esphome/components/lvgl/lvgl_esphome.h
index 146866f5bd7..83cf9cc0995 100644
--- a/esphome/components/lvgl/lvgl_esphome.h
+++ b/esphome/components/lvgl/lvgl_esphome.h
@@ -115,6 +115,16 @@ inline void lv_animimg_set_src(lv_obj_t *img, std::vector<image::Image *> images
 int16_t lv_get_needle_angle_for_value(lv_obj_t *obj, int value);
 #endif
 
+#ifdef USE_LVGL_GRADIENT
+/**
+ *
+ * @param dsc The gradient descriptor containing the color stops
+ * @param pos The current position to calculate the color for
+ * @return The color for the given position
+ */
+
+lv_color_t lv_grad_calculate_color(const lv_grad_dsc_t *dsc, int32_t pos);
+#endif
 // Parent class for things that wrap an LVGL object
 class LvCompound {
  public:
diff --git a/esphome/components/mapping/__init__.py b/esphome/components/mapping/__init__.py
index a36b414fd51..3c7d78a27bc 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mapping/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/mapping/__init__.py
@@ -1,18 +1,27 @@
+from collections.abc import Callable
 import difflib
 
 import esphome.codegen as cg
+from esphome.components.const import KEY_METADATA
 import esphome.config_validation as cv
 from esphome.const import CONF_FROM, CONF_ID, CONF_TO
-from esphome.core import CORE
-from esphome.cpp_generator import MockObj, VariableDeclarationExpression, add_global
+from esphome.core import CORE, ID
+from esphome.cpp_generator import (
+    MockObj,
+    MockObjClass,
+    VariableDeclarationExpression,
+    add_global,
+)
 from esphome.loader import get_component
 
 CODEOWNERS = ["@clydebarrow"]
 MULTI_CONF = True
+DOMAIN = "mapping"
 
 mapping_ns = cg.esphome_ns.namespace("mapping")
 mapping_class = mapping_ns.class_("Mapping")
 
+CONF_DEFAULT_VALUE = "default_value"
 CONF_ENTRIES = "entries"
 CONF_CLASS = "class"
 
@@ -22,11 +31,18 @@ class IndexType:
     Represents a type of index in a map.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, validator, data_type, conversion):
+    def __init__(
+        self, validator: Callable, data_type: MockObj, conversion: Callable = None
+    ) -> None:
         self.validator = validator
         self.data_type = data_type
         self.conversion = conversion
 
+    async def convert_value(self, value):
+        if self.conversion:
+            return self.conversion(value)
+        return await cg.get_variable(value)
+
 
 INDEX_TYPES = {
     "int": IndexType(cv.int_, cg.int_, int),
@@ -38,6 +54,12 @@ INDEX_TYPES = {
 }
 
 
+class MappingMetaData:
+    def __init__(self, from_: IndexType, to_: IndexType) -> None:
+        self.from_ = from_
+        self.to_ = to_
+
+
 def to_schema(value):
     """
     Generate a schema for the 'to' field of a map. This can be either one of the index types or a class name.
@@ -60,7 +82,7 @@ BASE_SCHEMA = cv.Schema(
 )
 
 
-def get_object_type(to_):
+def get_object_type(to_) -> MockObjClass | None:
     """
     Get the object type from a string. Possible formats:
        xxx The name of a component which defines INSTANCE_TYPE
@@ -81,25 +103,60 @@ def get_object_type(to_):
     return None
 
 
+def get_all_mapping_metadata() -> dict[str, MappingMetaData]:
+    """Get all mapping metadata."""
+    return CORE.data.setdefault(DOMAIN, {}).setdefault(KEY_METADATA, {})
+
+
+def get_mapping_metadata(mapping_id: str) -> MappingMetaData:
+    """Get mapping metadata by ID for use by other components."""
+    return get_all_mapping_metadata()[mapping_id]
+
+
+def add_metadata(
+    mapping_id: ID,
+    from_: IndexType,
+    to_: IndexType,
+) -> None:
+    get_all_mapping_metadata()[mapping_id.id] = MappingMetaData(from_, to_)
+
+
 def map_schema(config):
     config = BASE_SCHEMA(config)
     if CONF_ENTRIES not in config or not isinstance(config[CONF_ENTRIES], dict):
-        raise cv.Invalid("an entries list is required for a map")
+        raise cv.Invalid("an entries dictionary is required for a mapping")
     entries = config[CONF_ENTRIES]
     if len(entries) == 0:
-        raise cv.Invalid("Map must have at least one entry")
+        raise cv.Invalid("A mapping must have at least one entry")
     to_ = config[CONF_TO]
     if to_ in INDEX_TYPES:
-        value_type = INDEX_TYPES[to_].validator
+        value_type = INDEX_TYPES[to_]
     else:
-        value_type = get_object_type(to_)
-        if value_type is None:
+        object_type = get_object_type(to_)
+        if object_type is None:
             matches = difflib.get_close_matches(to_, CORE.id_classes)
             raise cv.Invalid(
                 f"No known mappable class name matches '{to_}'; did you mean one of {', '.join(matches)}?"
             )
-        value_type = cv.use_id(value_type)
-    config[CONF_ENTRIES] = {k: value_type(v) for k, v in entries.items()}
+        validator = cv.use_id(object_type)
+        value_type = IndexType(validator, object_type)
+    config[CONF_ENTRIES] = {k: value_type.validator(v) for k, v in entries.items()}
+    if (default_value := config.get(CONF_DEFAULT_VALUE)) is not None:
+        config[CONF_DEFAULT_VALUE] = value_type.validator(default_value)
+    unexpected_keys = config.keys() - {
+        CONF_ENTRIES,
+        CONF_TO,
+        CONF_FROM,
+        CONF_ID,
+        CONF_DEFAULT_VALUE,
+    }
+    if unexpected_keys:
+        errors = [
+            cv.Invalid(f"Unexpected key '{k}'", path=[k]) for k in unexpected_keys
+        ]
+        raise cv.MultipleInvalid(errors)
+
+    add_metadata(config[CONF_ID], INDEX_TYPES[config[CONF_FROM]], value_type)
     return config
 
 
@@ -107,29 +164,19 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = map_schema
 
 
 async def to_code(config):
-    entries = config[CONF_ENTRIES]
-    from_ = config[CONF_FROM]
-    to_ = config[CONF_TO]
-    index_conversion = INDEX_TYPES[from_].conversion
-    index_type = INDEX_TYPES[from_].data_type
-    if to_ in INDEX_TYPES:
-        value_conversion = INDEX_TYPES[to_].conversion
-        value_type = INDEX_TYPES[to_].data_type
-        entries = {
-            index_conversion(key): value_conversion(value)
-            for key, value in entries.items()
-        }
-    else:
-        entries = {
-            index_conversion(key): await cg.get_variable(value)
-            for key, value in entries.items()
-        }
-        value_type = get_object_type(to_)
-        if list(entries.values())[0].op != ".":
-            value_type = value_type.operator("ptr")
     varid = config[CONF_ID]
+    metadata = get_mapping_metadata(varid.id)
+    entries = {
+        metadata.from_.conversion(key): await metadata.to_.convert_value(value)
+        for key, value in config[CONF_ENTRIES].items()
+    }
+    value_type = metadata.to_.data_type
+    # entries guaranteed to be non-empty here.
+    value_0 = list(entries.values())[0]
+    if isinstance(value_0, MockObj) and value_0.op != ".":
+        value_type = value_type.operator("ptr")
     varid.type = mapping_class.template(
-        index_type,
+        metadata.from_.data_type,
         value_type,
     )
     var = MockObj(varid, ".")
@@ -139,4 +186,6 @@ async def to_code(config):
 
     for key, value in entries.items():
         cg.add(var.set(key, value))
+    if (default_value := config.get(CONF_DEFAULT_VALUE)) is not None:
+        cg.add(var.set_default_value(await metadata.to_.convert_value(default_value)))
     return var
diff --git a/esphome/components/mapping/mapping.h b/esphome/components/mapping/mapping.h
index 2b8f0d39b2a..d6790caa35d 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mapping/mapping.h
+++ b/esphome/components/mapping/mapping.h
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ template<typename K, typename V> class Mapping {
     if (it != this->map_.end()) {
       return V{it->second};
     }
+    if (this->default_value_.has_value()) {
+      return this->default_value_.value();
+    }
     if constexpr (std::is_pointer_v<K>) {
       esph_log_e(TAG, "Key '%p' not found in mapping", key);
     } else if constexpr (std::is_same_v<K, std::string>) {
@@ -69,11 +72,17 @@ template<typename K, typename V> class Mapping {
     if (it != this->map_.end()) {
       return it->second.c_str();  // safe since value remains in map
     }
+    if (this->default_value_.has_value()) {
+      return this->default_value_.value();
+    }
     return "";
   }
 
+  void set_default_value(const V &default_value) { this->default_value_ = default_value; }
+
  protected:
   std::map<key_t, value_t, std::less<key_t>, RAMAllocator<std::pair<key_t, value_t>>> map_;
+  std::optional<V> default_value_{};
 };
 
 }  // namespace esphome::mapping
diff --git a/esphome/components/mdns/__init__.py b/esphome/components/mdns/__init__.py
index 7c36295e8d9..2b25cf243d7 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mdns/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/mdns/__init__.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from esphome.const import (
 from esphome.core import CORE, Lambda, coroutine_with_priority
 from esphome.coroutine import CoroPriority
 from esphome.cpp_generator import LambdaExpression
+import esphome.final_validate as fv
 from esphome.types import ConfigType
 
 CODEOWNERS = ["@esphome/core"]
@@ -61,6 +62,28 @@ def _consume_mdns_sockets(config: ConfigType) -> ConfigType:
     return config
 
 
+def _require_network_interface(config: ConfigType) -> ConfigType:
+    """Require a network interface for mDNS on Arduino/LEAmDNS platforms.
+
+    On ESP8266 and RP2040 the C++ implementation needs at least one IP state
+    listener (WiFi on ESP8266; WiFi or Ethernet on RP2040) to arm its polling
+    window. Reject at config time rather than silently producing a component
+    that never initializes.
+    """
+    if config.get(CONF_DISABLED) or not (CORE.is_esp8266 or CORE.is_rp2040):
+        return config
+    full_config = fv.full_config.get()
+    has_wifi = "wifi" in full_config
+    has_ethernet = CORE.is_rp2040 and "ethernet" in full_config
+    if not (has_wifi or has_ethernet):
+        options = "'wifi'" if CORE.is_esp8266 else "'wifi' or 'ethernet'"
+        raise cv.Invalid(
+            "mdns on this platform requires a network interface — "
+            f"add a {options} component to your configuration."
+        )
+    return config
+
+
 CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
     cv.Schema(
         {
@@ -74,6 +97,9 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
 )
 
 
+FINAL_VALIDATE_SCHEMA = _require_network_interface
+
+
 def mdns_txt_record(key: str, value: str) -> cg.RawExpression:
     """Create a mDNS TXT record.
 
@@ -169,6 +195,19 @@ async def to_code(config):
         elif CORE.is_rp2040:
             cg.add_library("LEAmDNS", None)
 
+        # Subscribe to the network IP state listener(s) so MDNS.update() is only
+        # scheduled during the probe+announce phase. Same on_ip_state() override
+        # serves both WiFi and Ethernet (signatures match).
+        if CORE.is_esp8266 or CORE.is_rp2040:
+            if "wifi" in CORE.config:
+                from esphome.components import wifi
+
+                wifi.request_wifi_ip_state_listener()
+            if CORE.is_rp2040 and "ethernet" in CORE.config:
+                from esphome.components import ethernet
+
+                ethernet.request_ethernet_ip_state_listener()
+
     if CORE.is_esp32:
         add_idf_component(name="espressif/mdns", ref="1.11.0")
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/mdns/mdns_component.h b/esphome/components/mdns/mdns_component.h
index adf88a9cf16..798af0e0bf5 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mdns/mdns_component.h
+++ b/esphome/components/mdns/mdns_component.h
@@ -5,6 +5,22 @@
 #include "esphome/core/automation.h"
 #include "esphome/core/component.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
+// On ESP8266 and RP2040 the scheduler-backed MDNS.update() polling window is armed by
+// IP state listener events on whichever network interface is configured.
+#if (defined(USE_ESP8266) || defined(USE_RP2040)) && \
+    ((defined(USE_WIFI) && defined(USE_WIFI_IP_STATE_LISTENERS)) || \
+     (defined(USE_ETHERNET) && defined(USE_ETHERNET_IP_STATE_LISTENERS)))
+#include "esphome/components/network/ip_address.h"
+#define USE_MDNS_EVENT_DRIVEN_POLLING
+#if defined(USE_WIFI) && defined(USE_WIFI_IP_STATE_LISTENERS)
+#include "esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h"
+#define USE_MDNS_WIFI_LISTENER
+#endif
+#if defined(USE_ETHERNET) && defined(USE_ETHERNET_IP_STATE_LISTENERS)
+#include "esphome/components/ethernet/ethernet_component.h"
+#define USE_MDNS_ETHERNET_LISTENER
+#endif
+#endif
 
 namespace esphome::mdns {
 
@@ -40,33 +56,40 @@ struct MDNSService {
   FixedVector<MDNSTXTRecord> txt_records;
 };
 
-class MDNSComponent final : public Component {
+class MDNSComponent final : public Component
+#ifdef USE_MDNS_WIFI_LISTENER
+    ,
+                            public wifi::WiFiIPStateListener
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_MDNS_ETHERNET_LISTENER
+    ,
+                            public ethernet::EthernetIPStateListener
+#endif
+{
  public:
   void setup() override;
   void dump_config() override;
 
-  // Polling interval for MDNS.update() on platforms that require it (ESP8266, RP2040).
-  //
-  // On these platforms, MDNS.update() calls _process(true) which only manages timer-driven
-  // state machines (probe/announce timeouts and service query cache TTLs). Incoming mDNS
-  // packets are handled independently via the lwIP onRx UDP callback and are NOT affected
-  // by how often update() is called.
-  //
-  // The shortest internal timer is the 250ms probe interval (RFC 6762 Section 8.1).
-  // Announcement intervals are 1000ms and cache TTL checks are on the order of seconds
-  // to minutes. A 50ms polling interval provides sufficient resolution for all timers
-  // while completely removing mDNS from the per-iteration loop list.
-  //
-  // In steady state (after the ~8 second boot probe/announce phase completes), update()
-  // checks timers that are set to never expire, making every call pure overhead.
-  //
-  // Tasmota uses a 50ms main loop cycle with mDNS working correctly, confirming this
-  // interval is safe in production.
-  //
-  // By using set_interval() instead of overriding loop(), the component is excluded from
-  // the main loop list via has_overridden_loop(), eliminating all per-iteration overhead
-  // including virtual dispatch.
+#ifdef USE_MDNS_EVENT_DRIVEN_POLLING
+  // LEAmDNS has meaningful work only during the probe+announce phase (3×250ms probes +
+  // 8×1000ms announces, ~9s). Afterwards every internal timer is resetToNeverExpires()
+  // and update() becomes pure overhead. We arm a bounded polling window from IP state
+  // listener events so update() runs only during that phase.
   static constexpr uint32_t MDNS_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS = 50;
+  // Must exceed LEAmDNS's longest restart-to-announce-complete path:
+  //   MDNS_PROBE_DELAY (250ms) × MDNS_PROBE_COUNT (3) = 750ms probing
+  // + MDNS_ANNOUNCE_DELAY (1000ms) × MDNS_ANNOUNCE_COUNT (8) = 8000ms announcing
+  // + rand() % MDNS_PROBE_DELAY jitter on first probe (0–250ms)
+  // + debounced schedule_function() hop when statusChangeCB fires on ESP8266
+  // ≈ 9s nominal. 15s gives ~6s margin to absorb main-loop blocking (long
+  // component setup, WiFi scan, flash writes) that could stretch the deadlines
+  // between our polls. If LEAmDNS ever extends its phase (upstream library
+  // update) this constant needs to grow. Constants defined in LEAmDNS_Priv.h
+  // (ESP8266 core 3.1.2 / arduino-pico 5.5.1).
+  static constexpr uint32_t MDNS_POLL_WINDOW_MS = 15000;
+  static constexpr uint32_t MDNS_POLL_ID = 0;
+  static constexpr uint32_t MDNS_POLL_STOP_ID = 1;
+#endif
   float get_setup_priority() const override { return setup_priority::AFTER_CONNECTION; }
 
 #ifdef USE_MDNS_EXTRA_SERVICES
@@ -87,7 +110,17 @@ class MDNSComponent final : public Component {
   }
 #endif
 
+#ifdef USE_MDNS_EVENT_DRIVEN_POLLING
+  void on_ip_state(const network::IPAddresses &ips, const network::IPAddress &dns1,
+                   const network::IPAddress &dns2) override;
+#endif
+
  protected:
+#ifdef USE_MDNS_EVENT_DRIVEN_POLLING
+  /// Arm a fresh MDNS_POLL_WINDOW_MS polling window. Idempotent — re-arming replaces
+  /// the previous window via the scheduler's atomic cancel-and-add on matching IDs.
+  void start_polling_window_();
+#endif
   /// Helper to set up services and MAC buffers, then call platform-specific registration
   using PlatformRegisterFn = void (*)(MDNSComponent *, StaticVector<MDNSService, MDNS_SERVICE_COUNT> &);
 
@@ -130,8 +163,8 @@ class MDNSComponent final : public Component {
 #ifdef USE_MDNS_STORE_SERVICES
   StaticVector<MDNSService, MDNS_SERVICE_COUNT> services_{};
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_RP2040
-  bool was_connected_{false};
+#if defined(USE_RP2040) && defined(USE_MDNS_EVENT_DRIVEN_POLLING)
+  // RP2040 defers MDNS.begin() until the first IP-up event; this tracks that.
   bool initialized_{false};
 #endif
   void compile_records_(StaticVector<MDNSService, MDNS_SERVICE_COUNT> &services, char *mac_address_buf);
diff --git a/esphome/components/mdns/mdns_esp8266.cpp b/esphome/components/mdns/mdns_esp8266.cpp
index 70c614f8d34..f6d57866756 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mdns/mdns_esp8266.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/mdns/mdns_esp8266.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
 #include "mdns_component.h"
+// wifi_component.h is pulled in transitively by mdns_component.h when
+// USE_MDNS_WIFI_LISTENER is defined.
 
 namespace esphome::mdns {
 
@@ -36,15 +38,36 @@ static void register_esp8266(MDNSComponent *, StaticVector<MDNSService, MDNS_SER
   }
 }
 
+#ifdef USE_MDNS_EVENT_DRIVEN_POLLING
+void MDNSComponent::start_polling_window_() {
+  // uint32_t-ID set_interval/set_timeout already does atomic cancel-and-add.
+  this->set_interval(MDNS_POLL_ID, MDNS_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS, []() { MDNS.update(); });
+  this->set_timeout(MDNS_POLL_STOP_ID, MDNS_POLL_WINDOW_MS, [this]() { this->cancel_interval(MDNS_POLL_ID); });
+}
+#endif
+
 void MDNSComponent::setup() {
   this->setup_buffers_and_register_(register_esp8266);
-  // Schedule MDNS.update() via set_interval() instead of overriding loop().
-  // This removes the component from the per-iteration loop list entirely,
-  // eliminating virtual dispatch overhead on every main loop cycle.
-  // See MDNS_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS comment in mdns_component.h for safety analysis.
-  this->set_interval(MDNS_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS, []() { MDNS.update(); });
+#ifdef USE_MDNS_WIFI_LISTENER
+  // LEAmDNS's own LwipIntf::statusChangeCB drives _restart() on netif changes; we just
+  // arm the window around the initial probe/announce and each reconnect. Unconditional
+  // here is safe: setup_priority::AFTER_CONNECTION guarantees the network is up.
+  wifi::global_wifi_component->add_ip_state_listener(this);
+  this->start_polling_window_();
+#endif
 }
 
+#ifdef USE_MDNS_WIFI_LISTENER
+void MDNSComponent::on_ip_state(const network::IPAddresses &ips, const network::IPAddress &,
+                                const network::IPAddress &) {
+  // IP listener only fires on acquisition (not loss), so any notification is a fresh
+  // IP worth re-arming for. start_polling_window_() is idempotent.
+  if (ips[0].is_set()) {
+    this->start_polling_window_();
+  }
+}
+#endif
+
 void MDNSComponent::on_shutdown() {
   MDNS.close();
   delay(10);
diff --git a/esphome/components/mdns/mdns_rp2040.cpp b/esphome/components/mdns/mdns_rp2040.cpp
index 64b603030c8..f5848893a34 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mdns/mdns_rp2040.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/mdns/mdns_rp2040.cpp
@@ -6,9 +6,10 @@
 #include "esphome/core/application.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
 #include "mdns_component.h"
+// wifi_component.h / ethernet_component.h are pulled in transitively by
+// mdns_component.h when their respective listener defines are active.
 
 // Arduino-Pico's PolledTimeout.h (pulled in by ESP8266mDNS.h) redefines IRAM_ATTR to empty.
-// Save and restore our definition around the include to avoid a redefinition warning.
 #pragma push_macro("IRAM_ATTR")
 #undef IRAM_ATTR
 #include <ESP8266mDNS.h>
@@ -20,10 +21,7 @@ static void register_rp2040(MDNSComponent *, StaticVector<MDNSService, MDNS_SERV
   MDNS.begin(App.get_name().c_str());
 
   for (const auto &service : services) {
-    // Strip the leading underscore from the proto and service_type. While it is
-    // part of the wire protocol to have an underscore, and for example ESP-IDF
-    // expects the underscore to be there, the ESP8266 implementation always adds
-    // the underscore itself.
+    // ESP8266mDNS always adds the leading underscore itself, so strip it here.
     auto *proto = MDNS_STR_ARG(service.proto);
     while (*proto == '_') {
       proto++;
@@ -40,34 +38,58 @@ static void register_rp2040(MDNSComponent *, StaticVector<MDNSService, MDNS_SERV
   }
 }
 
-void MDNSComponent::setup() {
-  // RP2040's LEAmDNS library registers a LwipIntf::stateUpCB() callback to restart
-  // mDNS when the network interface reconnects. However, stateUpCB() is stubbed out
-  // in arduino-pico's LwipIntfCB.cpp because the original ESP8266 implementation used
-  // schedule_function() which doesn't exist in arduino-pico, and the callback can't
-  // safely run directly since netif status callbacks fire from IRQ context
-  // (PICO_CYW43_ARCH_THREADSAFE_BACKGROUND) while _restart() allocates UDP sockets.
-  //
-  // Workaround: defer MDNS.begin() and service registration until the network is
-  // connected (has an IP), then call notifyAPChange() on subsequent reconnects to
-  // restart mDNS probing and announcing — all from main loop context so it's
-  // thread-safe.
-  this->set_interval(MDNS_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS, [this]() {
-    bool connected = network::is_connected();
-    if (connected && !this->was_connected_) {
-      if (!this->initialized_) {
-        this->setup_buffers_and_register_(register_rp2040);
-        this->initialized_ = true;
-      } else {
-        MDNS.notifyAPChange();
-      }
-    }
-    this->was_connected_ = connected;
-    if (this->initialized_) {
-      MDNS.update();
-    }
-  });
+#ifdef USE_MDNS_EVENT_DRIVEN_POLLING
+void MDNSComponent::start_polling_window_() {
+  // uint32_t-ID set_interval/set_timeout already does atomic cancel-and-add.
+  this->set_interval(MDNS_POLL_ID, MDNS_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS, []() { MDNS.update(); });
+  this->set_timeout(MDNS_POLL_STOP_ID, MDNS_POLL_WINDOW_MS, [this]() { this->cancel_interval(MDNS_POLL_ID); });
 }
+#endif
+
+void MDNSComponent::setup() {
+  // arduino-pico stubs out LwipIntf::stateUpCB (the netif status callback LEAmDNS uses
+  // on ESP8266 for auto-restart), so we must drive begin()/notifyAPChange() from our
+  // own IP state listener. Both WiFi and Ethernet have the same listener signature —
+  // one on_ip_state() override serves both.
+#ifdef USE_MDNS_WIFI_LISTENER
+  wifi::global_wifi_component->add_ip_state_listener(this);
+  // AFTER_CONNECTION priority means the network may already be up; the listener only
+  // fires on subsequent changes, so seed the current state.
+  {
+    const auto ips = wifi::global_wifi_component->wifi_sta_ip_addresses();
+    if (ips[0].is_set()) {
+      this->on_ip_state(ips, wifi::global_wifi_component->get_dns_address(0),
+                        wifi::global_wifi_component->get_dns_address(1));
+    }
+  }
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_MDNS_ETHERNET_LISTENER
+  ethernet::global_eth_component->add_ip_state_listener(this);
+  if (ethernet::global_eth_component->is_connected()) {
+    const auto ips = ethernet::global_eth_component->get_ip_addresses();
+    if (ips[0].is_set()) {
+      this->on_ip_state(ips, network::IPAddress{}, network::IPAddress{});
+    }
+  }
+#endif
+}
+
+#ifdef USE_MDNS_EVENT_DRIVEN_POLLING
+void MDNSComponent::on_ip_state(const network::IPAddresses &ips, const network::IPAddress &,
+                                const network::IPAddress &) {
+  // Listener only fires on IP acquisition (not loss); every event is a fresh IP.
+  if (!ips[0].is_set()) {
+    return;
+  }
+  if (!this->initialized_) {
+    this->setup_buffers_and_register_(register_rp2040);
+    this->initialized_ = true;
+  } else {
+    MDNS.notifyAPChange();
+  }
+  this->start_polling_window_();
+}
+#endif
 
 void MDNSComponent::on_shutdown() {
   MDNS.close();
diff --git a/esphome/components/media_player/__init__.py b/esphome/components/media_player/__init__.py
index d1db868ace4..0024e3b9658 100644
--- a/esphome/components/media_player/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/media_player/__init__.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from esphome.core import CORE
 from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
     entity_duplicate_validator,
     inherit_property_from,
+    queue_entity_register,
     setup_entity,
 )
 from esphome.coroutine import CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
@@ -262,7 +263,7 @@ async def setup_media_player_core_(var, config):
 async def register_media_player(var, config):
     if not CORE.has_id(config[CONF_ID]):
         var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], var)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_media_player(var))
+    queue_entity_register("media_player", config)
     CORE.register_platform_component("media_player", var)
     await setup_media_player_core_(var, config)
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/mitsubishi_cn105/mitsubishi_cn105.cpp b/esphome/components/mitsubishi_cn105/mitsubishi_cn105.cpp
index 1a354956183..f04a5906c16 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mitsubishi_cn105/mitsubishi_cn105.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/mitsubishi_cn105/mitsubishi_cn105.cpp
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ void MitsubishiCN105::set_target_temperature(float target_temperature) {
     ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Setting temperature out-of-range: %.1f", target_temperature);
     return;
   }
-  this->status_.target_temperature = std::round(target_temperature);
+  this->status_.target_temperature = target_temperature;
   this->pending_updates_.set(UpdateFlag::TEMPERATURE);
 }
 
@@ -387,9 +387,9 @@ void MitsubishiCN105::apply_settings_() {
   if (this->pending_updates_.has(UpdateFlag::TEMPERATURE)) {
     payload[1] |= 0x04;
     if (this->use_temperature_encoding_b_) {
-      payload[14] = static_cast<uint8_t>(this->status_.target_temperature * 2.0f + 128.0f);
+      payload[14] = static_cast<uint8_t>(std::round(this->status_.target_temperature * 2.0f) + 128);
     } else {
-      payload[5] = static_cast<uint8_t>(TARGET_TEMPERATURE_ENC_A_OFFSET - this->status_.target_temperature);
+      payload[5] = static_cast<uint8_t>(TARGET_TEMPERATURE_ENC_A_OFFSET - std::round(this->status_.target_temperature));
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/modbus_controller/__init__.py b/esphome/components/modbus_controller/__init__.py
index 2af58a96beb..67e5757397c 100644
--- a/esphome/components/modbus_controller/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/modbus_controller/__init__.py
@@ -3,11 +3,8 @@ import binascii
 from esphome import automation
 import esphome.codegen as cg
 from esphome.components import modbus
-from esphome.components.const import CONF_ENABLED
 from esphome.components.modbus.helpers import (
-    CPP_TYPE_REGISTER_MAP,
     MODBUS_REGISTER_TYPE,
-    SENSOR_VALUE_TYPE,
     TYPE_REGISTER_MAP,
     ModbusRegisterType,
 )
@@ -29,11 +26,10 @@ from .const import (
     CONF_ON_OFFLINE,
     CONF_ON_ONLINE,
     CONF_REGISTER_COUNT,
-    CONF_REGISTER_LAST_ADDRESS,
     CONF_REGISTER_TYPE,
-    CONF_REGISTER_VALUE,
     CONF_RESPONSE_SIZE,
     CONF_SERVER_COURTESY_RESPONSE,
+    CONF_SERVER_REGISTERS,
     CONF_SKIP_UPDATES,
     CONF_VALUE_TYPE,
 )
@@ -42,9 +38,6 @@ CODEOWNERS = ["@martgras"]
 
 AUTO_LOAD = ["modbus"]
 
-CONF_READ_LAMBDA = "read_lambda"
-CONF_WRITE_LAMBDA = "write_lambda"
-CONF_SERVER_REGISTERS = "server_registers"
 MULTI_CONF = True
 
 modbus_controller_ns = cg.esphome_ns.namespace("modbus_controller")
@@ -53,30 +46,9 @@ ModbusController = modbus_controller_ns.class_(
 )
 
 SensorItem = modbus_controller_ns.struct("SensorItem")
-ServerCourtesyResponse = modbus_controller_ns.struct("ServerCourtesyResponse")
-ServerRegister = modbus_controller_ns.struct("ServerRegister")
 
 _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-SERVER_COURTESY_RESPONSE_SCHEMA = cv.Schema(
-    {
-        cv.Optional(CONF_ENABLED, default=False): cv.boolean,
-        cv.Optional(CONF_REGISTER_LAST_ADDRESS, default=0xFFFF): cv.hex_uint16_t,
-        cv.Optional(CONF_REGISTER_VALUE, default=0): cv.hex_uint16_t,
-    }
-)
-
-ModbusServerRegisterSchema = cv.Schema(
-    {
-        cv.GenerateID(): cv.declare_id(ServerRegister),
-        cv.Required(CONF_ADDRESS): cv.positive_int,
-        cv.Optional(CONF_VALUE_TYPE, default="U_WORD"): cv.enum(SENSOR_VALUE_TYPE),
-        cv.Required(CONF_READ_LAMBDA): cv.returning_lambda,
-        cv.Optional(CONF_WRITE_LAMBDA): cv.returning_lambda,
-    }
-)
-
-
 CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
     cv.Schema(
         {
@@ -85,12 +57,16 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
             cv.Optional(
                 CONF_COMMAND_THROTTLE, default="0ms"
             ): cv.positive_time_period_milliseconds,
-            cv.Optional(CONF_SERVER_COURTESY_RESPONSE): SERVER_COURTESY_RESPONSE_SCHEMA,
+            cv.Optional(CONF_SERVER_COURTESY_RESPONSE): cv.invalid(
+                "This option has been removed. Use modbus_server component instead: https://esphome.io/components/modbus_server/"
+            ),
             cv.Optional(CONF_MAX_CMD_RETRIES, default=4): cv.positive_int,
             cv.Optional(CONF_OFFLINE_SKIP_UPDATES, default=0): cv.positive_int,
             cv.Optional(
                 CONF_SERVER_REGISTERS,
-            ): cv.ensure_list(ModbusServerRegisterSchema),
+            ): cv.invalid(
+                "This option has been removed. Use modbus_server component instead: https://esphome.io/components/modbus_server/"
+            ),
             cv.Optional(CONF_ON_COMMAND_SENT): automation.validate_automation({}),
             cv.Optional(CONF_ON_ONLINE): automation.validate_automation({}),
             cv.Optional(CONF_ON_OFFLINE): automation.validate_automation({}),
@@ -142,11 +118,9 @@ def validate_modbus_register(config):
 
 
 def _final_validate(config):
-    if CONF_SERVER_COURTESY_RESPONSE in config or CONF_SERVER_REGISTERS in config:
-        return modbus.final_validate_modbus_device("modbus_controller", role="server")(
-            config
-        )
-    return config
+    return modbus.final_validate_modbus_device("modbus_controller", role="client")(
+        config
+    )
 
 
 FINAL_VALIDATE_SCHEMA = _final_validate
@@ -228,53 +202,8 @@ async def to_code(config):
     var = cg.new_Pvariable(config[CONF_ID])
     cg.add(var.set_allow_duplicate_commands(config[CONF_ALLOW_DUPLICATE_COMMANDS]))
     cg.add(var.set_command_throttle(config[CONF_COMMAND_THROTTLE]))
-    if server_courtesy_response := config.get(CONF_SERVER_COURTESY_RESPONSE):
-        cg.add(
-            var.set_server_courtesy_response(
-                cg.StructInitializer(
-                    ServerCourtesyResponse,
-                    ("enabled", server_courtesy_response[CONF_ENABLED]),
-                    (
-                        "register_last_address",
-                        server_courtesy_response[CONF_REGISTER_LAST_ADDRESS],
-                    ),
-                    ("register_value", server_courtesy_response[CONF_REGISTER_VALUE]),
-                )
-            )
-        )
     cg.add(var.set_max_cmd_retries(config[CONF_MAX_CMD_RETRIES]))
     cg.add(var.set_offline_skip_updates(config[CONF_OFFLINE_SKIP_UPDATES]))
-    if CONF_SERVER_REGISTERS in config:
-        for server_register in config[CONF_SERVER_REGISTERS]:
-            server_register_var = cg.new_Pvariable(
-                server_register[CONF_ID],
-                server_register[CONF_ADDRESS],
-                server_register[CONF_VALUE_TYPE],
-                TYPE_REGISTER_MAP[server_register[CONF_VALUE_TYPE]],
-            )
-            cpp_type = CPP_TYPE_REGISTER_MAP[server_register[CONF_VALUE_TYPE]]
-            cg.add(
-                server_register_var.set_read_lambda(
-                    cg.TemplateArguments(cpp_type),
-                    await cg.process_lambda(
-                        server_register[CONF_READ_LAMBDA],
-                        [(cg.uint16, "address")],
-                        return_type=cpp_type,
-                    ),
-                )
-            )
-            if CONF_WRITE_LAMBDA in server_register:
-                cg.add(
-                    server_register_var.set_write_lambda(
-                        cg.TemplateArguments(cpp_type),
-                        await cg.process_lambda(
-                            server_register[CONF_WRITE_LAMBDA],
-                            parameters=[(cg.uint16, "address"), (cpp_type, "x")],
-                            return_type=cg.bool_,
-                        ),
-                    )
-                )
-            cg.add(var.add_server_register(server_register_var))
     await register_modbus_device(var, config)
     await automation.build_callback_automations(var, config, _CALLBACK_AUTOMATIONS)
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/modbus_controller/const.py b/esphome/components/modbus_controller/const.py
index c689d845765..0149a3cc499 100644
--- a/esphome/components/modbus_controller/const.py
+++ b/esphome/components/modbus_controller/const.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ CONF_REGISTER_TYPE = "register_type"
 CONF_REGISTER_VALUE = "register_value"
 CONF_RESPONSE_SIZE = "response_size"
 CONF_SERVER_COURTESY_RESPONSE = "server_courtesy_response"
+CONF_SERVER_REGISTERS = "server_registers"
 CONF_SKIP_UPDATES = "skip_updates"
 CONF_USE_WRITE_MULTIPLE = "use_write_multiple"
 CONF_VALUE_TYPE = "value_type"
diff --git a/esphome/components/modbus_controller/modbus_controller.cpp b/esphome/components/modbus_controller/modbus_controller.cpp
index 5c3b39c9548..dabed7136b9 100644
--- a/esphome/components/modbus_controller/modbus_controller.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/modbus_controller/modbus_controller.cpp
@@ -112,167 +112,6 @@ void ModbusController::on_modbus_error(uint8_t function_code, uint8_t exception_
   }
 }
 
-void ModbusController::on_modbus_read_registers(uint8_t function_code, uint16_t start_address,
-                                                uint16_t number_of_registers) {
-  ESP_LOGD(TAG,
-           "Received read holding/input registers for device 0x%X. FC: 0x%X. Start address: 0x%X. Number of registers: "
-           "0x%X.",
-           this->address_, function_code, start_address, number_of_registers);
-
-  if (number_of_registers == 0 || number_of_registers > modbus::MAX_NUM_OF_REGISTERS_TO_READ) {
-    ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Invalid number of registers %d. Sending exception response.", number_of_registers);
-    this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::ILLEGAL_DATA_ADDRESS);
-    return;
-  }
-
-  std::vector<uint16_t> sixteen_bit_response;
-  for (uint16_t current_address = start_address; current_address < start_address + number_of_registers;) {
-    bool found = false;
-    for (auto *server_register : this->server_registers_) {
-      if (server_register->address == current_address) {
-        if (!server_register->read_lambda) {
-          break;
-        }
-        int64_t value = server_register->read_lambda();
-        ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Matched register. Address: 0x%02X. Value type: %zu. Register count: %u. Value: %s.",
-                 server_register->address, static_cast<size_t>(server_register->value_type),
-                 server_register->register_count, server_register->format_value(value).c_str());
-
-        std::vector<uint16_t> payload;
-        payload.reserve(server_register->register_count * 2);
-        modbus::helpers::number_to_payload(payload, value, server_register->value_type);
-        sixteen_bit_response.insert(sixteen_bit_response.end(), payload.cbegin(), payload.cend());
-        current_address += server_register->register_count;
-        found = true;
-        break;
-      }
-    }
-
-    if (!found) {
-      if (this->server_courtesy_response_.enabled &&
-          (current_address <= this->server_courtesy_response_.register_last_address)) {
-        ESP_LOGD(TAG,
-                 "Could not match any register to address 0x%02X, but default allowed. "
-                 "Returning default value: %d.",
-                 current_address, this->server_courtesy_response_.register_value);
-        sixteen_bit_response.push_back(this->server_courtesy_response_.register_value);
-        current_address += 1;  // Just increment by 1, as the default response is a single register
-      } else {
-        ESP_LOGW(TAG,
-                 "Could not match any register to address 0x%02X and default not allowed. Sending exception response.",
-                 current_address);
-        this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::ILLEGAL_DATA_ADDRESS);
-        return;
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  std::vector<uint8_t> response;
-  for (auto v : sixteen_bit_response) {
-    auto decoded_value = decode_value(v);
-    response.push_back(decoded_value[0]);
-    response.push_back(decoded_value[1]);
-  }
-
-  this->send(function_code, start_address, number_of_registers, response.size(), response.data());
-}
-
-void ModbusController::on_modbus_write_registers(uint8_t function_code, const std::vector<uint8_t> &data) {
-  uint16_t number_of_registers;
-  uint16_t payload_offset;
-
-  if (function_code == ModbusFunctionCode::WRITE_MULTIPLE_REGISTERS) {
-    if (data.size() < 5) {
-      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Write multiple registers data too short (%zu bytes)", data.size());
-      this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::ILLEGAL_DATA_VALUE);
-      return;
-    }
-    number_of_registers = uint16_t(data[3]) | (uint16_t(data[2]) << 8);
-    if (number_of_registers == 0 || number_of_registers > modbus::MAX_NUM_OF_REGISTERS_TO_WRITE) {
-      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Invalid number of registers %d. Sending exception response.", number_of_registers);
-      this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::ILLEGAL_DATA_VALUE);
-      return;
-    }
-    uint16_t payload_size = data[4];
-    if (payload_size != number_of_registers * 2) {
-      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Payload size of %d bytes is not 2 times the number of registers (%d). Sending exception response.",
-               payload_size, number_of_registers);
-      this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::ILLEGAL_DATA_VALUE);
-      return;
-    }
-    if (data.size() < 5 + payload_size) {
-      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Write multiple registers payload truncated (%zu bytes, expected %u)", data.size(),
-               5 + payload_size);
-      this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::ILLEGAL_DATA_VALUE);
-      return;
-    }
-    payload_offset = 5;
-  } else if (function_code == ModbusFunctionCode::WRITE_SINGLE_REGISTER) {
-    if (data.size() < 4) {
-      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Write single register data too short (%zu bytes)", data.size());
-      this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::ILLEGAL_DATA_VALUE);
-      return;
-    }
-    number_of_registers = 1;
-    payload_offset = 2;
-  } else {
-    ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Invalid function code 0x%X. Sending exception response.", function_code);
-    this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::ILLEGAL_FUNCTION);
-    return;
-  }
-
-  uint16_t start_address = uint16_t(data[1]) | (uint16_t(data[0]) << 8);
-  ESP_LOGD(TAG,
-           "Received write holding registers for device 0x%X. FC: 0x%X. Start address: 0x%X. Number of registers: "
-           "0x%X.",
-           this->address_, function_code, start_address, number_of_registers);
-
-  auto for_each_register = [this, start_address, number_of_registers, payload_offset](
-                               const std::function<bool(ServerRegister *, uint16_t offset)> &callback) -> bool {
-    uint16_t offset = payload_offset;
-    for (uint16_t current_address = start_address; current_address < start_address + number_of_registers;) {
-      bool ok = false;
-      for (auto *server_register : this->server_registers_) {
-        if (server_register->address == current_address) {
-          ok = callback(server_register, offset);
-          current_address += server_register->register_count;
-          offset += server_register->register_count * sizeof(uint16_t);
-          break;
-        }
-      }
-
-      if (!ok) {
-        return false;
-      }
-    }
-    return true;
-  };
-
-  // check all registers are writable before writing to any of them:
-  if (!for_each_register([](ServerRegister *server_register, uint16_t offset) -> bool {
-        return server_register->write_lambda != nullptr;
-      })) {
-    this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::ILLEGAL_FUNCTION);
-    return;
-  }
-
-  // Actually write to the registers:
-  if (!for_each_register([&data](ServerRegister *server_register, uint16_t offset) {
-        int64_t number = modbus::helpers::payload_to_number(data, server_register->value_type, offset, 0xFFFFFFFF);
-        return server_register->write_lambda(number);
-      })) {
-    this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::SERVICE_DEVICE_FAILURE);
-    return;
-  }
-
-  std::vector<uint8_t> response;
-  response.reserve(6);
-  response.push_back(this->address_);
-  response.push_back(function_code);
-  response.insert(response.end(), data.begin(), data.begin() + 4);
-  this->send_raw(response);
-}
-
 SensorSet ModbusController::find_sensors_(ModbusRegisterType register_type, uint16_t start_address) const {
   auto reg_it = std::find_if(
       std::begin(this->register_ranges_), std::end(this->register_ranges_),
@@ -472,14 +311,8 @@ void ModbusController::dump_config() {
                 "ModbusController:\n"
                 "  Address: 0x%02X\n"
                 "  Max Command Retries: %d\n"
-                "  Offline Skip Updates: %d\n"
-                "  Server Courtesy Response:\n"
-                "    Enabled: %s\n"
-                "    Register Last Address: 0x%02X\n"
-                "    Register Value: %d",
-                this->address_, this->max_cmd_retries_, this->offline_skip_updates_,
-                this->server_courtesy_response_.enabled ? "true" : "false",
-                this->server_courtesy_response_.register_last_address, this->server_courtesy_response_.register_value);
+                "  Offline Skip Updates: %d\n",
+                this->address_, this->max_cmd_retries_, this->offline_skip_updates_);
 
 #if ESPHOME_LOG_LEVEL >= ESPHOME_LOG_LEVEL_VERBOSE
   ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "sensormap");
@@ -493,11 +326,6 @@ void ModbusController::dump_config() {
     ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Range type=%u start=0x%X count=%d skip_updates=%d", static_cast<uint8_t>(it.register_type),
                   it.start_address, it.register_count, it.skip_updates);
   }
-  ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "server registers");
-  for (auto &r : this->server_registers_) {
-    ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Address=0x%02X value_type=%u register_count=%u", r->address,
-                  static_cast<uint8_t>(r->value_type), r->register_count);
-  }
 #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/modbus_controller/modbus_controller.h b/esphome/components/modbus_controller/modbus_controller.h
index 6c6c748b73f..40139f055b4 100644
--- a/esphome/components/modbus_controller/modbus_controller.h
+++ b/esphome/components/modbus_controller/modbus_controller.h
@@ -120,82 +120,6 @@ class SensorItem {
   bool force_new_range{false};
 };
 
-struct ServerCourtesyResponse {
-  bool enabled{false};
-  uint16_t register_last_address{0xFFFF};
-  uint16_t register_value{0};
-};
-
-class ServerRegister {
-  using ReadLambda = std::function<int64_t()>;
-  using WriteLambda = std::function<bool(int64_t value)>;
-
- public:
-  ServerRegister(uint16_t address, SensorValueType value_type, uint8_t register_count) {
-    this->address = address;
-    this->value_type = value_type;
-    this->register_count = register_count;
-  }
-
-  template<typename T> void set_read_lambda(const std::function<T(uint16_t address)> &&user_read_lambda) {
-    this->read_lambda = [this, user_read_lambda]() -> int64_t {
-      T user_value = user_read_lambda(this->address);
-      if constexpr (std::is_same_v<T, float>) {
-        return bit_cast<uint32_t>(user_value);
-      } else {
-        return static_cast<int64_t>(user_value);
-      }
-    };
-  }
-
-  template<typename T>
-  void set_write_lambda(const std::function<bool(uint16_t address, const T v)> &&user_write_lambda) {
-    this->write_lambda = [this, user_write_lambda](int64_t number) {
-      if constexpr (std::is_same_v<T, float>) {
-        float float_value = bit_cast<float>(static_cast<uint32_t>(number));
-        return user_write_lambda(this->address, float_value);
-      }
-      return user_write_lambda(this->address, static_cast<T>(number));
-    };
-  }
-
-  // Formats a raw value into a string representation based on the value type for debugging
-  std::string format_value(int64_t value) const {
-    // max 44: float with %.1f can be up to 42 chars (3.4e38 → 39 integer digits + sign + decimal + 1 digit)
-    // plus null terminator = 43, rounded to 44 for 4-byte alignment
-    char buf[44];
-    switch (this->value_type) {
-      case SensorValueType::U_WORD:
-      case SensorValueType::U_DWORD:
-      case SensorValueType::U_DWORD_R:
-      case SensorValueType::U_QWORD:
-      case SensorValueType::U_QWORD_R:
-        buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), 0, "%" PRIu64, static_cast<uint64_t>(value));
-        return buf;
-      case SensorValueType::S_WORD:
-      case SensorValueType::S_DWORD:
-      case SensorValueType::S_DWORD_R:
-      case SensorValueType::S_QWORD:
-      case SensorValueType::S_QWORD_R:
-        buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), 0, "%" PRId64, value);
-        return buf;
-      case SensorValueType::FP32_R:
-      case SensorValueType::FP32:
-        buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), 0, "%.1f", bit_cast<float>(static_cast<uint32_t>(value)));
-        return buf;
-      default:
-        buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), 0, "%" PRId64, value);
-        return buf;
-    }
-  }
-
-  uint16_t address{0};
-  SensorValueType value_type{SensorValueType::RAW};
-  uint8_t register_count{0};
-  ReadLambda read_lambda;
-  WriteLambda write_lambda;
-};
-
 // ModbusController::create_register_ranges_ tries to optimize register range
 // for this the sensors must be ordered by register_type, start_address and bitmask
 class SensorItemsComparator {
@@ -367,16 +291,10 @@ class ModbusController : public PollingComponent, public modbus::ModbusDevice {
   void queue_command(const ModbusCommandItem &command);
   /// Registers a sensor with the controller. Called by esphomes code generator
   void add_sensor_item(SensorItem *item) { sensorset_.insert(item); }
-  /// Registers a server register with the controller. Called by esphomes code generator
-  void add_server_register(ServerRegister *server_register) { server_registers_.push_back(server_register); }
   /// called when a modbus response was parsed without errors
   void on_modbus_data(const std::vector<uint8_t> &data) override;
   /// called when a modbus error response was received
   void on_modbus_error(uint8_t function_code, uint8_t exception_code) override;
-  /// called when a modbus request (function code 0x03 or 0x04) was parsed without errors
-  void on_modbus_read_registers(uint8_t function_code, uint16_t start_address, uint16_t number_of_registers) final;
-  /// called when a modbus request (function code 0x06 or 0x10) was parsed without errors
-  void on_modbus_write_registers(uint8_t function_code, const std::vector<uint8_t> &data) final;
   /// default delegate called by process_modbus_data when a response has retrieved from the incoming queue
   void on_register_data(ModbusRegisterType register_type, uint16_t start_address, const std::vector<uint8_t> &data);
   /// default delegate called by process_modbus_data when a response for a write response has retrieved from the
@@ -413,12 +331,6 @@ class ModbusController : public PollingComponent, public modbus::ModbusDevice {
   void set_max_cmd_retries(uint8_t max_cmd_retries) { this->max_cmd_retries_ = max_cmd_retries; }
   /// get how many times a command will be (re)sent if no response is received
   uint8_t get_max_cmd_retries() { return this->max_cmd_retries_; }
-  /// Called by esphome generated code to set the server courtesy response object
-  void set_server_courtesy_response(const ServerCourtesyResponse &server_courtesy_response) {
-    this->server_courtesy_response_ = server_courtesy_response;
-  }
-  /// Get the server courtesy response object
-  ServerCourtesyResponse get_server_courtesy_response() const { return this->server_courtesy_response_; }
 
  protected:
   /// parse sensormap_ and create range of sequential addresses
@@ -435,8 +347,6 @@ class ModbusController : public PollingComponent, public modbus::ModbusDevice {
   void dump_sensors_();
   /// Collection of all sensors for this component
   SensorSet sensorset_;
-  /// Collection of all server registers for this component
-  std::vector<ServerRegister *> server_registers_{};
   /// Continuous range of modbus registers
   std::vector<RegisterRange> register_ranges_{};
   /// Hold the pending requests to be sent
@@ -461,9 +371,6 @@ class ModbusController : public PollingComponent, public modbus::ModbusDevice {
   CallbackManager<void(int, int)> online_callback_{};
   /// Server offline callback
   CallbackManager<void(int, int)> offline_callback_{};
-  /// Server courtesy response
-  ServerCourtesyResponse server_courtesy_response_{
-      .enabled = false, .register_last_address = 0xFFFF, .register_value = 0};
 };
 
 /** Convert vector<uint8_t> response payload to float.
diff --git a/esphome/components/modbus_server/__init__.py b/esphome/components/modbus_server/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5182bc05d12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/esphome/components/modbus_server/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+import esphome.codegen as cg
+from esphome.components import modbus
+from esphome.components.const import CONF_ENABLED
+from esphome.components.modbus.helpers import (
+    CPP_TYPE_REGISTER_MAP,
+    SENSOR_VALUE_TYPE,
+    TYPE_REGISTER_MAP,
+)
+import esphome.config_validation as cv
+from esphome.const import CONF_ADDRESS, CONF_ID
+
+from .const import (
+    CONF_COURTESY_RESPONSE,
+    CONF_READ_LAMBDA,
+    CONF_REGISTER_LAST_ADDRESS,
+    CONF_REGISTER_VALUE,
+    CONF_REGISTERS,
+    CONF_VALUE_TYPE,
+    CONF_WRITE_LAMBDA,
+)
+
+CODEOWNERS = ["@exciton"]
+
+AUTO_LOAD = ["modbus"]
+
+MULTI_CONF = True
+
+modbus_server_ns = cg.esphome_ns.namespace("modbus_server")
+ModbusServer = modbus_server_ns.class_(
+    "ModbusServer", cg.Component, modbus.ModbusDevice
+)
+
+ServerCourtesyResponse = modbus_server_ns.struct("ServerCourtesyResponse")
+ServerRegister = modbus_server_ns.struct("ServerRegister")
+
+SERVER_COURTESY_RESPONSE_SCHEMA = cv.Schema(
+    {
+        cv.Optional(CONF_ENABLED, default=False): cv.boolean,
+        cv.Optional(CONF_REGISTER_LAST_ADDRESS, default=0xFFFF): cv.hex_uint16_t,
+        cv.Optional(CONF_REGISTER_VALUE, default=0): cv.hex_uint16_t,
+    }
+)
+
+ModbusServerRegisterSchema = cv.Schema(
+    {
+        cv.GenerateID(): cv.declare_id(ServerRegister),
+        cv.Required(CONF_ADDRESS): cv.positive_int,
+        cv.Optional(CONF_VALUE_TYPE, default="U_WORD"): cv.enum(SENSOR_VALUE_TYPE),
+        cv.Required(CONF_READ_LAMBDA): cv.returning_lambda,
+        cv.Optional(CONF_WRITE_LAMBDA): cv.returning_lambda,
+    }
+)
+
+
+CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
+    cv.Schema(
+        {
+            cv.GenerateID(): cv.declare_id(ModbusServer),
+            cv.Optional(CONF_COURTESY_RESPONSE): SERVER_COURTESY_RESPONSE_SCHEMA,
+            cv.Optional(
+                CONF_REGISTERS,
+            ): cv.ensure_list(ModbusServerRegisterSchema),
+        }
+    ).extend(modbus.modbus_device_schema(0x01)),
+)
+
+
+def _final_validate(config):
+    return modbus.final_validate_modbus_device("modbus_server", role="server")(config)
+
+
+FINAL_VALIDATE_SCHEMA = _final_validate
+
+
+async def to_code(config):
+    var = cg.new_Pvariable(config[CONF_ID])
+    if server_courtesy_response := config.get(CONF_COURTESY_RESPONSE):
+        cg.add(
+            var.set_server_courtesy_response(
+                cg.StructInitializer(
+                    ServerCourtesyResponse,
+                    ("enabled", server_courtesy_response[CONF_ENABLED]),
+                    (
+                        "register_last_address",
+                        server_courtesy_response[CONF_REGISTER_LAST_ADDRESS],
+                    ),
+                    ("register_value", server_courtesy_response[CONF_REGISTER_VALUE]),
+                )
+            )
+        )
+    if CONF_REGISTERS in config:
+        for server_register in config[CONF_REGISTERS]:
+            server_register_var = cg.new_Pvariable(
+                server_register[CONF_ID],
+                server_register[CONF_ADDRESS],
+                server_register[CONF_VALUE_TYPE],
+                TYPE_REGISTER_MAP[server_register[CONF_VALUE_TYPE]],
+            )
+            cpp_type = CPP_TYPE_REGISTER_MAP[server_register[CONF_VALUE_TYPE]]
+            cg.add(
+                server_register_var.set_read_lambda(
+                    cg.TemplateArguments(cpp_type),
+                    await cg.process_lambda(
+                        server_register[CONF_READ_LAMBDA],
+                        [(cg.uint16, "address")],
+                        return_type=cpp_type,
+                    ),
+                )
+            )
+            if CONF_WRITE_LAMBDA in server_register:
+                cg.add(
+                    server_register_var.set_write_lambda(
+                        cg.TemplateArguments(cpp_type),
+                        await cg.process_lambda(
+                            server_register[CONF_WRITE_LAMBDA],
+                            parameters=[(cg.uint16, "address"), (cpp_type, "x")],
+                            return_type=cg.bool_,
+                        ),
+                    )
+                )
+            cg.add(var.add_server_register(server_register_var))
+    cg.add(var.set_address(config[CONF_ADDRESS]))
+    await cg.register_component(var, config)
+    return await modbus.register_modbus_device(var, config)
diff --git a/esphome/components/modbus_server/const.py b/esphome/components/modbus_server/const.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f83211c207b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/esphome/components/modbus_server/const.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+CONF_REGISTER_LAST_ADDRESS = "register_last_address"
+CONF_REGISTER_VALUE = "register_value"
+CONF_VALUE_TYPE = "value_type"
+CONF_COURTESY_RESPONSE = "courtesy_response"
+CONF_READ_LAMBDA = "read_lambda"
+CONF_WRITE_LAMBDA = "write_lambda"
+CONF_REGISTERS = "registers"
diff --git a/esphome/components/modbus_server/modbus_server.cpp b/esphome/components/modbus_server/modbus_server.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0063da3a1da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/esphome/components/modbus_server/modbus_server.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,192 @@
+#include "modbus_server.h"
+#include "esphome/core/application.h"
+#include "esphome/core/log.h"
+
+namespace esphome::modbus_server {
+using modbus::ModbusFunctionCode;
+using modbus::ModbusExceptionCode;
+
+static const char *const TAG = "modbus_server";
+
+void ModbusServer::on_modbus_read_registers(uint8_t function_code, uint16_t start_address,
+                                            uint16_t number_of_registers) {
+  ESP_LOGD(TAG,
+           "Received read holding/input registers for device 0x%X. FC: 0x%X. Start address: 0x%X. Number of registers: "
+           "0x%X.",
+           this->address_, function_code, start_address, number_of_registers);
+
+  if (number_of_registers == 0 || number_of_registers > modbus::MAX_NUM_OF_REGISTERS_TO_READ) {
+    ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Invalid number of registers %d. Sending exception response.", number_of_registers);
+    this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::ILLEGAL_DATA_ADDRESS);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  std::vector<uint16_t> sixteen_bit_response;
+  for (uint16_t current_address = start_address; current_address < start_address + number_of_registers;) {
+    bool found = false;
+    for (auto *server_register : this->server_registers_) {
+      if (server_register->address == current_address) {
+        if (!server_register->read_lambda) {
+          break;
+        }
+        int64_t value = server_register->read_lambda();
+        ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Matched register. Address: 0x%02X. Value type: %zu. Register count: %u. Value: %s.",
+                 server_register->address, static_cast<size_t>(server_register->value_type),
+                 server_register->register_count, server_register->format_value(value).c_str());
+
+        std::vector<uint16_t> payload;
+        payload.reserve(server_register->register_count * 2);
+        modbus::helpers::number_to_payload(payload, value, server_register->value_type);
+        sixteen_bit_response.insert(sixteen_bit_response.end(), payload.cbegin(), payload.cend());
+        current_address += server_register->register_count;
+        found = true;
+        break;
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (!found) {
+      if (this->server_courtesy_response_.enabled &&
+          (current_address <= this->server_courtesy_response_.register_last_address)) {
+        ESP_LOGD(TAG,
+                 "Could not match any register to address 0x%02X, but default allowed. "
+                 "Returning default value: %d.",
+                 current_address, this->server_courtesy_response_.register_value);
+        sixteen_bit_response.push_back(this->server_courtesy_response_.register_value);
+        current_address += 1;  // Just increment by 1, as the default response is a single register
+      } else {
+        ESP_LOGW(TAG,
+                 "Could not match any register to address 0x%02X and default not allowed. Sending exception response.",
+                 current_address);
+        this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::ILLEGAL_DATA_ADDRESS);
+        return;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  std::vector<uint8_t> response;
+  for (auto v : sixteen_bit_response) {
+    auto decoded_value = decode_value(v);
+    response.push_back(decoded_value[0]);
+    response.push_back(decoded_value[1]);
+  }
+
+  this->send(function_code, start_address, number_of_registers, response.size(), response.data());
+}
+
+void ModbusServer::on_modbus_write_registers(uint8_t function_code, const std::vector<uint8_t> &data) {
+  uint16_t number_of_registers;
+  uint16_t payload_offset;
+
+  if (function_code == ModbusFunctionCode::WRITE_MULTIPLE_REGISTERS) {
+    if (data.size() < 5) {
+      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Write multiple registers data too short (%zu bytes)", data.size());
+      this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::ILLEGAL_DATA_VALUE);
+      return;
+    }
+    number_of_registers = uint16_t(data[3]) | (uint16_t(data[2]) << 8);
+    if (number_of_registers == 0 || number_of_registers > modbus::MAX_NUM_OF_REGISTERS_TO_WRITE) {
+      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Invalid number of registers %d. Sending exception response.", number_of_registers);
+      this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::ILLEGAL_DATA_VALUE);
+      return;
+    }
+    uint16_t payload_size = data[4];
+    if (payload_size != number_of_registers * 2) {
+      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Payload size of %d bytes is not 2 times the number of registers (%d). Sending exception response.",
+               payload_size, number_of_registers);
+      this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::ILLEGAL_DATA_VALUE);
+      return;
+    }
+    if (data.size() < 5 + payload_size) {
+      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Write multiple registers payload truncated (%zu bytes, expected %u)", data.size(),
+               5 + payload_size);
+      this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::ILLEGAL_DATA_VALUE);
+      return;
+    }
+    payload_offset = 5;
+  } else if (function_code == ModbusFunctionCode::WRITE_SINGLE_REGISTER) {
+    if (data.size() < 4) {
+      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Write single register data too short (%zu bytes)", data.size());
+      this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::ILLEGAL_DATA_VALUE);
+      return;
+    }
+    number_of_registers = 1;
+    payload_offset = 2;
+  } else {
+    ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Invalid function code 0x%X. Sending exception response.", function_code);
+    this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::ILLEGAL_FUNCTION);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  uint16_t start_address = uint16_t(data[1]) | (uint16_t(data[0]) << 8);
+  ESP_LOGD(TAG,
+           "Received write holding registers for device 0x%X. FC: 0x%X. Start address: 0x%X. Number of registers: "
+           "0x%X.",
+           this->address_, function_code, start_address, number_of_registers);
+
+  auto for_each_register = [this, start_address, number_of_registers, payload_offset](
+                               const std::function<bool(ServerRegister *, uint16_t offset)> &callback) -> bool {
+    uint16_t offset = payload_offset;
+    for (uint16_t current_address = start_address; current_address < start_address + number_of_registers;) {
+      bool ok = false;
+      for (auto *server_register : this->server_registers_) {
+        if (server_register->address == current_address) {
+          ok = callback(server_register, offset);
+          current_address += server_register->register_count;
+          offset += server_register->register_count * sizeof(uint16_t);
+          break;
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (!ok) {
+        return false;
+      }
+    }
+    return true;
+  };
+
+  // check all registers are writable before writing to any of them:
+  if (!for_each_register([](ServerRegister *server_register, uint16_t offset) -> bool {
+        return server_register->write_lambda != nullptr;
+      })) {
+    this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::ILLEGAL_FUNCTION);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Actually write to the registers:
+  if (!for_each_register([&data](ServerRegister *server_register, uint16_t offset) {
+        int64_t number = modbus::helpers::payload_to_number(data, server_register->value_type, offset, 0xFFFFFFFF);
+        return server_register->write_lambda(number);
+      })) {
+    this->send_error(function_code, ModbusExceptionCode::SERVICE_DEVICE_FAILURE);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  std::vector<uint8_t> response;
+  response.reserve(6);
+  response.push_back(this->address_);
+  response.push_back(function_code);
+  response.insert(response.end(), data.begin(), data.begin() + 4);
+  this->send_raw(response);
+}
+
+void ModbusServer::dump_config() {
+  ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG,
+                "ModbusServer:\n"
+                "  Address: 0x%02X\n"
+                "  Server Courtesy Response:\n"
+                "    Enabled: %s\n"
+                "    Register Last Address: 0x%02X\n"
+                "    Register Value: %" PRIu16,
+                this->address_, this->server_courtesy_response_.enabled ? "true" : "false",
+                this->server_courtesy_response_.register_last_address, this->server_courtesy_response_.register_value);
+
+#if ESPHOME_LOG_LEVEL >= ESPHOME_LOG_LEVEL_VERBOSE
+  ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "server registers");
+  for (auto &r : this->server_registers_) {
+    ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Address=0x%02X value_type=%u register_count=%u", r->address,
+                  static_cast<uint8_t>(r->value_type), r->register_count);
+  }
+#endif
+}
+
+}  // namespace esphome::modbus_server
diff --git a/esphome/components/modbus_server/modbus_server.h b/esphome/components/modbus_server/modbus_server.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0fc2e0bef5d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/esphome/components/modbus_server/modbus_server.h
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "esphome/core/component.h"
+
+#include "esphome/components/modbus/modbus.h"
+#include "esphome/components/modbus/modbus_helpers.h"
+#include "esphome/core/automation.h"
+
+#include <utility>
+#include <vector>
+
+namespace esphome::modbus_server {
+
+using modbus::helpers::SensorValueType;
+
+struct ServerCourtesyResponse {
+  bool enabled{false};
+  uint16_t register_last_address{0xFFFF};
+  uint16_t register_value{0};
+};
+
+class ServerRegister {
+  using ReadLambda = std::function<int64_t()>;
+  using WriteLambda = std::function<bool(int64_t value)>;
+
+ public:
+  ServerRegister(uint16_t address, SensorValueType value_type, uint8_t register_count) {
+    this->address = address;
+    this->value_type = value_type;
+    this->register_count = register_count;
+  }
+
+  template<typename T> void set_read_lambda(const std::function<T(uint16_t address)> &&user_read_lambda) {
+    this->read_lambda = [this, user_read_lambda]() -> int64_t {
+      T user_value = user_read_lambda(this->address);
+      if constexpr (std::is_same_v<T, float>) {
+        return bit_cast<uint32_t>(user_value);
+      } else {
+        return static_cast<int64_t>(user_value);
+      }
+    };
+  }
+
+  template<typename T>
+  void set_write_lambda(const std::function<bool(uint16_t address, const T v)> &&user_write_lambda) {
+    this->write_lambda = [this, user_write_lambda](int64_t number) {
+      if constexpr (std::is_same_v<T, float>) {
+        float float_value = bit_cast<float>(static_cast<uint32_t>(number));
+        return user_write_lambda(this->address, float_value);
+      }
+      return user_write_lambda(this->address, static_cast<T>(number));
+    };
+  }
+
+  // Formats a raw value into a string representation based on the value type for debugging
+  std::string format_value(int64_t value) const {
+    // max 44: float with %.1f can be up to 42 chars (3.4e38 → 39 integer digits + sign + decimal + 1 digit)
+    // plus null terminator = 43, rounded to 44 for 4-byte alignment
+    char buf[44];
+    switch (this->value_type) {
+      case SensorValueType::U_WORD:
+      case SensorValueType::U_DWORD:
+      case SensorValueType::U_DWORD_R:
+      case SensorValueType::U_QWORD:
+      case SensorValueType::U_QWORD_R:
+        buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), 0, "%" PRIu64, static_cast<uint64_t>(value));
+        return buf;
+      case SensorValueType::S_WORD:
+      case SensorValueType::S_DWORD:
+      case SensorValueType::S_DWORD_R:
+      case SensorValueType::S_QWORD:
+      case SensorValueType::S_QWORD_R:
+        buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), 0, "%" PRId64, value);
+        return buf;
+      case SensorValueType::FP32_R:
+      case SensorValueType::FP32:
+        buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), 0, "%.1f", bit_cast<float>(static_cast<uint32_t>(value)));
+        return buf;
+      default:
+        buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), 0, "%" PRId64, value);
+        return buf;
+    }
+  }
+
+  uint16_t address{0};
+  SensorValueType value_type{SensorValueType::RAW};
+  uint8_t register_count{0};
+  ReadLambda read_lambda;
+  WriteLambda write_lambda;
+};
+
+class ModbusServer : public Component, public modbus::ModbusDevice {
+ public:
+  void dump_config() override;
+
+  /// Not used for ModbusServer.
+  void on_modbus_data(const std::vector<uint8_t> &data) override{};
+  /// Registers a server register with the controller. Called by esphomes code generator
+  void add_server_register(ServerRegister *server_register) { server_registers_.push_back(server_register); }
+  /// called when a modbus request (function code 0x03 or 0x04) was parsed without errors
+  void on_modbus_read_registers(uint8_t function_code, uint16_t start_address, uint16_t number_of_registers) final;
+  /// called when a modbus request (function code 0x06 or 0x10) was parsed without errors
+  void on_modbus_write_registers(uint8_t function_code, const std::vector<uint8_t> &data) final;
+  /// Called by esphome generated code to set the server courtesy response object
+  void set_server_courtesy_response(const ServerCourtesyResponse &server_courtesy_response) {
+    this->server_courtesy_response_ = server_courtesy_response;
+  }
+  /// Get the server courtesy response object
+  ServerCourtesyResponse get_server_courtesy_response() const { return this->server_courtesy_response_; }
+
+ protected:
+  /// Collection of all server registers for this component
+  std::vector<ServerRegister *> server_registers_{};
+  /// Server courtesy response
+  ServerCourtesyResponse server_courtesy_response_{
+      .enabled = false, .register_last_address = 0xFFFF, .register_value = 0};
+};
+
+}  // namespace esphome::modbus_server
diff --git a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_upload_arduino.cpp b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_upload_arduino.cpp
index c79c68552ea..399f217a19f 100644
--- a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_upload_arduino.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_upload_arduino.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,13 @@ namespace esphome::nextion {
 static const char *const TAG = "nextion.upload.arduino";
 static constexpr size_t NEXTION_MAX_RESPONSE_LOG_BYTES = 16;
 
+// Timeout for display acknowledgment during TFT upload (ms).
+// A single value is used for all chunks; the happy path returns as soon as
+// 0x05/0x08 arrives, so this only bounds failed-detection latency. Field
+// reports showed the previous 500ms steady-state value was too tight for
+// some firmware variants.
+static constexpr uint32_t NEXTION_UPLOAD_ACK_TIMEOUT_MS = 5000;
+
 // Followed guide
 // https://unofficialnextion.com/t/nextion-upload-protocol-v1-2-the-fast-one/1044/2
 
@@ -80,14 +87,14 @@ int Nextion::upload_by_chunks_(HTTPClient &http_client, uint32_t &range_start) {
       recv_string.clear();
       this->write_array(buffer, buffer_size);
       App.feed_wdt();
-      this->recv_ret_string_(recv_string, this->upload_first_chunk_sent_ ? 500 : 5000, true);
+      this->recv_ret_string_(recv_string, NEXTION_UPLOAD_ACK_TIMEOUT_MS, true);
       this->content_length_ -= read_len;
       const float upload_percentage = 100.0f * (this->tft_size_ - this->content_length_) / this->tft_size_;
       ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Upload: %0.2f%% (%" PRIu32 " left, heap: %" PRIu32 ")", upload_percentage, this->content_length_,
                EspClass::getFreeHeap());
       this->upload_first_chunk_sent_ = true;
       if (recv_string.empty()) {
-        ESP_LOGW(TAG, "No response from display during upload");
+        ESP_LOGW(TAG, "No response from display after %" PRIu32 "ms", NEXTION_UPLOAD_ACK_TIMEOUT_MS);
         allocator.deallocate(buffer, 4096);
         buffer = nullptr;
         return -1;
@@ -324,7 +331,7 @@ bool Nextion::upload_tft(uint32_t baud_rate, bool exit_reparse) {
 
 #ifdef USE_ESP8266
 WiFiClient *Nextion::get_wifi_client_() {
-  if (this->tft_url_.compare(0, 6, "https:") == 0) {
+  if (this->tft_url_.starts_with("https:")) {
     if (this->wifi_client_secure_ == nullptr) {
       // NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-owning-memory)
       this->wifi_client_secure_ = new BearSSL::WiFiClientSecure();
diff --git a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_upload_esp32.cpp b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_upload_esp32.cpp
index 40a284dc46b..db4558e2fe2 100644
--- a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_upload_esp32.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_upload_esp32.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,13 @@ namespace esphome::nextion {
 static const char *const TAG = "nextion.upload.esp32";
 static constexpr size_t NEXTION_MAX_RESPONSE_LOG_BYTES = 16;
 
+// Timeout for display acknowledgment during TFT upload (ms).
+// A single value is used for all chunks; the happy path returns as soon as
+// 0x05/0x08 arrives, so this only bounds failed-detection latency. Field
+// reports showed the previous 500ms steady-state value was too tight for
+// some firmware variants.
+static constexpr uint32_t NEXTION_UPLOAD_ACK_TIMEOUT_MS = 5000;
+
 // Followed guide
 // https://unofficialnextion.com/t/nextion-upload-protocol-v1-2-the-fast-one/1044/2
 
@@ -96,7 +103,7 @@ int Nextion::upload_by_chunks_(esp_http_client_handle_t http_client, uint32_t &r
       recv_string.clear();
       this->write_array(buffer, buffer_size);
       App.feed_wdt();
-      this->recv_ret_string_(recv_string, upload_first_chunk_sent_ ? 500 : 5000, true);
+      this->recv_ret_string_(recv_string, NEXTION_UPLOAD_ACK_TIMEOUT_MS, true);
       this->content_length_ -= read_len;
       const float upload_percentage = 100.0f * (this->tft_size_ - this->content_length_) / this->tft_size_;
 #ifdef USE_PSRAM
@@ -109,7 +116,7 @@ int Nextion::upload_by_chunks_(esp_http_client_handle_t http_client, uint32_t &r
 #endif
       upload_first_chunk_sent_ = true;
       if (recv_string.empty()) {
-        ESP_LOGW(TAG, "No response from display during upload");
+        ESP_LOGW(TAG, "No response from display after %" PRIu32 "ms", NEXTION_UPLOAD_ACK_TIMEOUT_MS);
         allocator.deallocate(buffer, 4096);
         buffer = nullptr;
         return -1;
diff --git a/esphome/components/nrf52/__init__.py b/esphome/components/nrf52/__init__.py
index 5d92a4fa801..d2ed3b15e9c 100644
--- a/esphome/components/nrf52/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/nrf52/__init__.py
@@ -141,6 +141,22 @@ CONF_UICR_ERASE = "uicr_erase"
 VOLTAGE_LEVELS = [1.8, 2.1, 2.4, 2.7, 3.0, 3.3]
 
 
+_DFU_SCHEMA = cv.Schema(
+    {
+        cv.GenerateID(): cv.declare_id(DeviceFirmwareUpdate),
+        cv.Optional(CONF_RESET_PIN): pins.gpio_output_pin_schema,
+    }
+)
+
+
+def _dfu_schema(value: bool | ConfigType) -> ConfigType:
+    if isinstance(value, bool):
+        if not value:
+            raise cv.Invalid("Use 'dfu: true' or specify a configuration dict")
+        return _DFU_SCHEMA({})
+    return _DFU_SCHEMA(value)
+
+
 CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
     _detect_bootloader,
     set_core_data,
@@ -150,12 +166,7 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
                 cv.string_strict, cv.ByteLength(max=BOARD_MAX_LENGTH)
             ),
             cv.Optional(KEY_BOOTLOADER): cv.one_of(*BOOTLOADERS, lower=True),
-            cv.Optional(CONF_DFU): cv.Schema(
-                {
-                    cv.GenerateID(): cv.declare_id(DeviceFirmwareUpdate),
-                    cv.Required(CONF_RESET_PIN): pins.gpio_output_pin_schema,
-                }
-            ),
+            cv.Optional(CONF_DFU): _dfu_schema,
             cv.Optional(CONF_DCDC, default=True): cv.boolean,
             cv.Optional(CONF_REG0): cv.Schema(
                 {
@@ -321,8 +332,9 @@ async def to_code(config: ConfigType) -> None:
 async def _dfu_to_code(dfu_config):
     cg.add_define("USE_NRF52_DFU")
     var = cg.new_Pvariable(dfu_config[CONF_ID])
-    pin = await cg.gpio_pin_expression(dfu_config[CONF_RESET_PIN])
-    cg.add(var.set_reset_pin(pin))
+    if CONF_RESET_PIN in dfu_config:
+        pin = await cg.gpio_pin_expression(dfu_config[CONF_RESET_PIN])
+        cg.add(var.set_reset_pin(pin))
     zephyr_add_prj_conf("CDC_ACM_DTE_RATE_CALLBACK_SUPPORT", True)
     await cg.register_component(var, dfu_config)
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/nrf52/dfu.cpp b/esphome/components/nrf52/dfu.cpp
index c2017248d20..24dee997269 100644
--- a/esphome/components/nrf52/dfu.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/nrf52/dfu.cpp
@@ -2,24 +2,34 @@
 
 #ifdef USE_NRF52_DFU
 
+#include "esphome/core/application.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
 #include "esphome/components/zephyr/cdc_acm.h"
 
-namespace esphome {
-namespace nrf52 {
+#include <hal/nrf_power.h>
+
+namespace esphome::nrf52 {
 
 static const char *const TAG = "dfu";
 
 static const uint32_t DFU_DBL_RESET_MAGIC = 0x5A1AD5;  // SALADS
+static const uint8_t DFU_MAGIC_UF2_RESET = 0x57;       // Adafruit nRF52 bootloader UF2 magic
 
 void DeviceFirmwareUpdate::setup() {
-  this->reset_pin_->setup();
+  if (this->reset_pin_ != nullptr) {
+    this->reset_pin_->setup();
+  }
 #if defined(CONFIG_CDC_ACM_DTE_RATE_CALLBACK_SUPPORT)
   zephyr::global_cdc_acm->add_on_rate_callback([this](const device *, uint32_t rate) {
     if (rate == 1200) {
       volatile uint32_t *dbl_reset_mem = (volatile uint32_t *) 0x20007F7C;
       (*dbl_reset_mem) = DFU_DBL_RESET_MAGIC;
-      this->reset_pin_->digital_write(true);
+      if (this->reset_pin_ != nullptr) {
+        this->reset_pin_->digital_write(true);
+      } else {
+        NRF_POWER->GPREGRET = DFU_MAGIC_UF2_RESET;
+        App.reboot();
+      }
     }
   });
 #endif
@@ -27,10 +37,13 @@ void DeviceFirmwareUpdate::setup() {
 
 void DeviceFirmwareUpdate::dump_config() {
   ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "DFU:");
-  LOG_PIN("  RESET Pin: ", this->reset_pin_);
+  if (this->reset_pin_ != nullptr) {
+    LOG_PIN("  RESET Pin: ", this->reset_pin_);
+  } else {
+    ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Method: GPREGRET");
+  }
 }
 
-}  // namespace nrf52
-}  // namespace esphome
+}  // namespace esphome::nrf52
 
 #endif
diff --git a/esphome/components/nrf52/dfu.h b/esphome/components/nrf52/dfu.h
index 71060e43c18..82c7d9f54eb 100644
--- a/esphome/components/nrf52/dfu.h
+++ b/esphome/components/nrf52/dfu.h
@@ -5,8 +5,7 @@
 #include "esphome/core/component.h"
 #include "esphome/core/gpio.h"
 
-namespace esphome {
-namespace nrf52 {
+namespace esphome::nrf52 {
 class DeviceFirmwareUpdate : public Component {
  public:
   void setup() override;
@@ -14,10 +13,9 @@ class DeviceFirmwareUpdate : public Component {
   void dump_config() override;
 
  protected:
-  GPIOPin *reset_pin_;
+  GPIOPin *reset_pin_{nullptr};
 };
 
-}  // namespace nrf52
-}  // namespace esphome
+}  // namespace esphome::nrf52
 
 #endif
diff --git a/esphome/components/number/__init__.py b/esphome/components/number/__init__.py
index f13ccc4c36d..ee2d53c65a4 100644
--- a/esphome/components/number/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/number/__init__.py
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ from esphome.core import CORE, CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
 from esphome.core.config import UNIT_OF_MEASUREMENT_MAX_LENGTH
 from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
     entity_duplicate_validator,
+    queue_entity_register,
     setup_device_class,
     setup_entity,
     setup_unit_of_measurement,
@@ -301,7 +302,7 @@ async def register_number(
 ):
     if not CORE.has_id(config[CONF_ID]):
         var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], var)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_number(var))
+    queue_entity_register("number", config)
     CORE.register_platform_component("number", var)
     await setup_number_core_(
         var, config, min_value=min_value, max_value=max_value, step=step
diff --git a/esphome/components/online_image/online_image.cpp b/esphome/components/online_image/online_image.cpp
index 24926aa4dcd..a5a3ea51041 100644
--- a/esphome/components/online_image/online_image.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/online_image/online_image.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ bool OnlineImage::validate_url_(const std::string &url) {
     ESP_LOGE(TAG, "URL is too long");
     return false;
   }
-  if (url.compare(0, 7, "http://") != 0 && url.compare(0, 8, "https://") != 0) {
+  if (!url.starts_with("http://") && !url.starts_with("https://")) {
     ESP_LOGE(TAG, "URL must start with http:// or https://");
     return false;
   }
diff --git a/esphome/components/output/__init__.py b/esphome/components/output/__init__.py
index 36798f2d7f0..4f6c8943f5e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/output/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/output/__init__.py
@@ -54,10 +54,16 @@ async def setup_output_platform_(obj, config):
         power_supply_ = await cg.get_variable(config[CONF_POWER_SUPPLY])
         cg.add(obj.set_power_supply(power_supply_))
     if CONF_MAX_POWER in config:
+        cg.add_define("USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING")
         cg.add(obj.set_max_power(config[CONF_MAX_POWER]))
     if CONF_MIN_POWER in config:
+        cg.add_define("USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING")
         cg.add(obj.set_min_power(config[CONF_MIN_POWER]))
-    if CONF_ZERO_MEANS_ZERO in config:
+    # Only emit when zero_means_zero is actually enabled. The schema defaults to False
+    # so this key is always present; emitting unconditionally would force
+    # USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING on for every output, defeating the gate.
+    if config.get(CONF_ZERO_MEANS_ZERO):
+        cg.add_define("USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING")
         cg.add(obj.set_zero_means_zero(config[CONF_ZERO_MEANS_ZERO]))
 
 
@@ -121,6 +127,7 @@ async def output_set_level_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
     synchronous=True,
 )
 async def output_set_min_power_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
+    cg.add_define("USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING")
     paren = await cg.get_variable(config[CONF_ID])
     var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg, paren)
     template_ = await cg.templatable(config[CONF_MIN_POWER], args, cg.float_)
@@ -140,6 +147,7 @@ async def output_set_min_power_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
     synchronous=True,
 )
 async def output_set_max_power_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
+    cg.add_define("USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING")
     paren = await cg.get_variable(config[CONF_ID])
     var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg, paren)
     template_ = await cg.templatable(config[CONF_MAX_POWER], args, cg.float_)
diff --git a/esphome/components/output/automation.h b/esphome/components/output/automation.h
index 32793781292..537226a143d 100644
--- a/esphome/components/output/automation.h
+++ b/esphome/components/output/automation.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #include "esphome/core/component.h"
 #include "esphome/core/automation.h"
+#include "esphome/core/defines.h"
 #include "esphome/components/output/binary_output.h"
 #include "esphome/components/output/float_output.h"
 
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ template<typename... Ts> class SetLevelAction : public Action<Ts...> {
   FloatOutput *output_;
 };
 
+#ifdef USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING
 template<typename... Ts> class SetMinPowerAction : public Action<Ts...> {
  public:
   SetMinPowerAction(FloatOutput *output) : output_(output) {}
@@ -63,6 +65,7 @@ template<typename... Ts> class SetMaxPowerAction : public Action<Ts...> {
  protected:
   FloatOutput *output_;
 };
+#endif  // USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING
 
 }  // namespace output
 }  // namespace esphome
diff --git a/esphome/components/output/float_output.cpp b/esphome/components/output/float_output.cpp
index 46014e0903a..35629c828af 100644
--- a/esphome/components/output/float_output.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/output/float_output.cpp
@@ -7,13 +7,15 @@ namespace output {
 
 static const char *const TAG = "output.float";
 
+#ifdef USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING
 void FloatOutput::set_max_power(float max_power) {
-  this->max_power_ = clamp(max_power, this->min_power_, 1.0f);  // Clamp to MIN>=MAX>=1.0
+  this->max_power_ = clamp(max_power, this->min_power_, 1.0f);  // Clamp to min_power <= max <= 1.0
 }
 
 void FloatOutput::set_min_power(float min_power) {
-  this->min_power_ = clamp(min_power, 0.0f, this->max_power_);  // Clamp to 0.0>=MIN>=MAX
+  this->min_power_ = clamp(min_power, 0.0f, this->max_power_);  // Clamp to 0.0 <= min <= max_power
 }
+#endif
 
 void FloatOutput::set_level(float state) {
   state = clamp(state, 0.0f, 1.0f);
@@ -26,8 +28,10 @@ void FloatOutput::set_level(float state) {
   }
 #endif
 
+#ifdef USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING
   if (state != 0.0f || !this->zero_means_zero_)  // regardless of min_power_, 0.0 means off
     state = (state * (this->max_power_ - this->min_power_)) + this->min_power_;
+#endif
 
   if (this->is_inverted())
     state = 1.0f - state;
diff --git a/esphome/components/output/float_output.h b/esphome/components/output/float_output.h
index 5225f88c669..3e1bd839686 100644
--- a/esphome/components/output/float_output.h
+++ b/esphome/components/output/float_output.h
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include "esphome/core/component.h"
+#include "esphome/core/defines.h"
 #include "binary_output.h"
 
 namespace esphome {
 namespace output {
 
+#ifdef USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING
 #define LOG_FLOAT_OUTPUT(this) \
   LOG_BINARY_OUTPUT(this) \
   if (this->max_power_ != 1.0f) { \
@@ -14,6 +16,9 @@ namespace output {
   if (this->min_power_ != 0.0f) { \
     ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Min Power: %.1f%%", this->min_power_ * 100.0f); \
   }
+#else
+#define LOG_FLOAT_OUTPUT(this) LOG_BINARY_OUTPUT(this)
+#endif
 
 /** Base class for all output components that can output a variable level, like PWM.
  *
@@ -22,14 +27,18 @@ namespace output {
  * makes using maths much easier and (in theory) supports all possible bit depths.
  *
  * If you want to create a FloatOutput yourself, you essentially just have to override write_state(float).
- * That method will be called for you with inversion and max-min power and offset to min power already applied.
+ * That method will be called for you with inversion already applied. When USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING is
+ * enabled (set automatically by Python codegen if any output uses min_power/max_power/zero_means_zero or the
+ * matching runtime actions), the value will additionally have max-min power scaling and offset to min_power
+ * applied; otherwise only inversion is applied.
  *
  * This interface is compatible with BinaryOutput (and will automatically convert the binary states to floating
  * point states for you). Additionally, this class provides a way for users to set a minimum and/or maximum power
- * output
+ * output (gated on USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING).
  */
 class FloatOutput : public BinaryOutput {
  public:
+#ifdef USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING
   /** Set the maximum power output of this component.
    *
    * All values are multiplied by max_power - min_power and offset to min_power to get the adjusted value.
@@ -51,6 +60,32 @@ class FloatOutput : public BinaryOutput {
    * @param zero_means_zero True if a 0 state should mean 0 and not min_power.
    */
   void set_zero_means_zero(bool zero_means_zero) { this->zero_means_zero_ = zero_means_zero; }
+#else
+  // Compile-time guards for users calling these methods from lambdas (documented usage at
+  // https://esphome.io/components/output/#output-set_min_power_action). When power scaling
+  // is compiled out, these template stubs fail to compile with an actionable error pointing
+  // at the user's lambda. Templating on a default-false bool means static_assert only fires
+  // on instantiation (i.e. when the user actually calls the method), not on every parse.
+  template<bool _use_output_float_power_scaling = false> void set_max_power(float max_power) {
+    static_assert(_use_output_float_power_scaling,
+                  "set_max_power() requires USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING. "
+                  "To enable it, add 'max_power: 100%' (or any value) to one output entry in your YAML — "
+                  "the codegen will then keep the scaling fields. "
+                  "See https://esphome.io/components/output/ for details.");
+  }
+  template<bool _use_output_float_power_scaling = false> void set_min_power(float min_power) {
+    static_assert(_use_output_float_power_scaling,
+                  "set_min_power() requires USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING. "
+                  "To enable it, add 'min_power: 0%' (or any value) to one output entry in your YAML — "
+                  "the codegen will then keep the scaling fields. "
+                  "See https://esphome.io/components/output/ for details.");
+  }
+  template<bool _use_output_float_power_scaling = false> void set_zero_means_zero(bool zero_means_zero) {
+    static_assert(_use_output_float_power_scaling,
+                  "set_zero_means_zero() requires USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING. "
+                  "To enable it, add 'zero_means_zero: true' to one output entry in your YAML.");
+  }
+#endif
 
   /** Set the level of this float output, this is called from the front-end.
    *
@@ -69,20 +104,30 @@ class FloatOutput : public BinaryOutput {
   // ========== INTERNAL METHODS ==========
   // (In most use cases you won't need these)
 
+#ifdef USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING
   /// Get the maximum power output.
   float get_max_power() const { return this->max_power_; }
 
   /// Get the minimum power output.
   float get_min_power() const { return this->min_power_; }
+#else
+  /// Get the maximum power output.
+  float get_max_power() const { return 1.0f; }
+
+  /// Get the minimum power output.
+  float get_min_power() const { return 0.0f; }
+#endif
 
  protected:
   /// Implement BinarySensor's write_enabled; this should never be called.
   void write_state(bool state) override;
   virtual void write_state(float state) = 0;
 
+#ifdef USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING
   float max_power_{1.0f};
   float min_power_{0.0f};
-  bool zero_means_zero_;
+  bool zero_means_zero_{false};
+#endif
 };
 
 }  // namespace output
diff --git a/esphome/components/packages/__init__.py b/esphome/components/packages/__init__.py
index b6ec0067c93..47a1fd20a75 100644
--- a/esphome/components/packages/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/packages/__init__.py
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.Any(  # under `packages:` we can have either:
 )
 
 
-def _process_remote_package(config: dict, skip_update: bool = False) -> dict:
+def _process_remote_package(config: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
     """Clone/update a git repo and load the YAML files listed in the package definition.
 
     Returns ``{"packages": {<filename>: <loaded_yaml>, ...}}`` so the caller
@@ -215,11 +215,10 @@ def _process_remote_package(config: dict, skip_update: bool = False) -> dict:
     If loading fails after cloning, attempts a revert and retry in case
     a prior cached checkout is stale.
     """
-    actual_refresh = git.NEVER_REFRESH if skip_update else config[CONF_REFRESH]
     repo_dir, revert = git.clone_or_update(
         url=config[CONF_URL],
         ref=config.get(CONF_REF),
-        refresh=actual_refresh,
+        refresh=config[CONF_REFRESH],
         domain=DOMAIN,
         username=config.get(CONF_USERNAME),
         password=config.get(CONF_PASSWORD),
@@ -378,9 +377,8 @@ def _substitute_package_definition(
     Local package contents are left untouched — they will be substituted
     later during the main substitution pass.
     """
-    if isinstance(package_config, str) or (
-        isinstance(package_config, dict) and is_remote_package(package_config)
-    ):
+
+    def do_substitute(package_config: dict | str) -> dict | str:
         # Collect undefined-variable errors (rather than raising strict) so the
         # path walked through a remote-package dict is preserved and the user
         # sees which field (url / path / ref / ...) referenced the undefined
@@ -394,6 +392,22 @@ def _substitute_package_definition(
             errors=errors,
         )
         raise_first_undefined(errors, "package definition")
+        return package_config
+
+    if isinstance(package_config, str):
+        return do_substitute(package_config)
+
+    if isinstance(package_config, dict) and is_remote_package(package_config):
+        # Mark vars as literal to avoid substituting variables in the vars block itself, since they are meant to be
+        # passed as-is to the package YAML and may contain their own substitution expressions that should not
+        # be prematurely evaluated here.
+        if CONF_FILES in package_config:
+            for file_def in package_config[CONF_FILES]:
+                if isinstance(file_def, dict) and CONF_VARS in file_def:
+                    file_def[CONF_VARS] = yaml_util.make_literal(file_def[CONF_VARS])
+
+        package_config = do_substitute(package_config)
+
     return package_config
 
 
@@ -441,11 +455,9 @@ class _PackageProcessor:
         self,
         substitutions: UserDict,
         command_line_substitutions: dict[str, Any] | None,
-        skip_update: bool,
     ) -> None:
         self.substitutions = substitutions
         self.parent_context = UserDict(command_line_substitutions or {})
-        self.skip_update = skip_update
 
     def resolve_package(
         self,
@@ -493,7 +505,7 @@ class _PackageProcessor:
             )
 
         if is_remote_package(package_config):
-            package_config = _process_remote_package(package_config, self.skip_update)
+            package_config = _process_remote_package(package_config)
         return package_config
 
     def collect_substitutions(self, package_config: dict) -> None:
@@ -537,11 +549,10 @@ class _PackageProcessor:
 
 
 def do_packages_pass(
-    config: dict,
+    config: dict[str, Any],
     *,
     command_line_substitutions: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
-    skip_update: bool = False,
-) -> dict:
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
     """Load, validate, and flatten all packages in the config.
 
     Returns the config with all packages loaded in-place (but not yet merged)
@@ -556,9 +567,7 @@ def do_packages_pass(
                 config.pop(CONF_SUBSTITUTIONS, {}), command_line_substitutions
             )
         )
-    processor = _PackageProcessor(
-        substitutions, command_line_substitutions, skip_update
-    )
+    processor = _PackageProcessor(substitutions, command_line_substitutions)
     _update_substitutions_context(processor.parent_context, substitutions)
 
     context_vars = push_context(
diff --git a/esphome/components/pipsolar/pipsolar.cpp b/esphome/components/pipsolar/pipsolar.cpp
index c304d206c00..5123d8d9d33 100644
--- a/esphome/components/pipsolar/pipsolar.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/pipsolar/pipsolar.cpp
@@ -433,13 +433,17 @@ void Pipsolar::handle_qpigs_(const char *message) {
 }
 
 void Pipsolar::handle_qmod_(const char *message) {
-  std::string mode;
-  char device_mode = char(message[1]);
   if (this->last_qmod_) {
     this->last_qmod_->publish_state(message);
   }
+  // QMOD response is "(M" where M is the device-mode character. Bail out if the
+  // message is shorter than 2 chars (e.g. empty error response from
+  // handle_poll_error_) — reading message[1] would otherwise be out of bounds.
+  if (message[0] == '\0' || message[1] == '\0')
+    return;
   if (this->device_mode_) {
-    mode = device_mode;
+    std::string mode;
+    mode = char(message[1]);
     this->device_mode_->publish_state(mode);
   }
 }
diff --git a/esphome/components/pn532/pn532.cpp b/esphome/components/pn532/pn532.cpp
index 199a44dacc1..3017b78414d 100644
--- a/esphome/components/pn532/pn532.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/pn532/pn532.cpp
@@ -317,6 +317,7 @@ enum PN532ReadReady PN532::read_ready_(bool block) {
   if (!this->rd_start_time_.has_value()) {
     this->rd_start_time_ = millis();
   }
+  const uint32_t rd_start_time = *this->rd_start_time_;
 
   while (true) {
     if (this->is_read_ready()) {
@@ -324,7 +325,7 @@ enum PN532ReadReady PN532::read_ready_(bool block) {
       break;
     }
 
-    if (millis() - *this->rd_start_time_ > 100) {
+    if (millis() - rd_start_time > 100) {
       ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Timed out waiting for readiness from PN532!");
       this->rd_ready_ = TIMEOUT;
       break;
diff --git a/esphome/components/radio_frequency/__init__.py b/esphome/components/radio_frequency/__init__.py
index b00590ceb58..a54ab6e2492 100644
--- a/esphome/components/radio_frequency/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/radio_frequency/__init__.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import esphome.codegen as cg
 import esphome.config_validation as cv
 from esphome.const import CONF_ID
 from esphome.core import CORE, coroutine_with_priority
-from esphome.core.entity_helpers import setup_entity
+from esphome.core.entity_helpers import queue_entity_register, setup_entity
 from esphome.coroutine import CoroPriority
 from esphome.types import ConfigType
 
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ async def register_radio_frequency(var: cg.Pvariable, config: ConfigType) -> Non
     """Register a radio frequency device with the core."""
     cg.add_define("USE_RADIO_FREQUENCY")
     await cg.register_component(var, config)
+    queue_entity_register("radio_frequency", config)
     await setup_radio_frequency_core_(var, config)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_radio_frequency(var))
     CORE.register_platform_component("radio_frequency", var)
 
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/rotary_encoder/sensor.py b/esphome/components/rotary_encoder/sensor.py
index 21239863e45..0e5a03523df 100644
--- a/esphome/components/rotary_encoder/sensor.py
+++ b/esphome/components/rotary_encoder/sensor.py
@@ -129,6 +129,6 @@ async def to_code(config):
 async def sensor_template_publish_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
     paren = await cg.get_variable(config[CONF_ID])
     var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg, paren)
-    template_ = await cg.templatable(config[CONF_VALUE], args, cg.int32)
+    template_ = await cg.templatable(config[CONF_VALUE], args, cg.int_)
     cg.add(var.set_value(template_))
     return var
diff --git a/esphome/components/rtttl/__init__.py b/esphome/components/rtttl/__init__.py
index c661aad972a..4880f9ac41a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/rtttl/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/rtttl/__init__.py
@@ -93,7 +93,9 @@ async def to_code(config):
 
     cg.add(var.set_gain(config[CONF_GAIN]))
 
-    await automation.build_callback_automations(var, config, _CALLBACK_AUTOMATIONS)
+    if config.get(CONF_ON_FINISHED_PLAYBACK):
+        cg.add_define("USE_RTTTL_FINISHED_PLAYBACK_CALLBACK")
+        await automation.build_callback_automations(var, config, _CALLBACK_AUTOMATIONS)
 
 
 @automation.register_action(
diff --git a/esphome/components/rtttl/rtttl.cpp b/esphome/components/rtttl/rtttl.cpp
index 08d902b4be8..a5f8567c9da 100644
--- a/esphome/components/rtttl/rtttl.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/rtttl/rtttl.cpp
@@ -424,7 +424,9 @@ void Rtttl::set_state_(State state) {
   // Clear loop_done when transitioning from `State::STOPPED` to any other state
   if (state == State::STOPPED) {
     this->disable_loop();
+#ifdef USE_RTTTL_FINISHED_PLAYBACK_CALLBACK
     this->on_finished_playback_callback_.call();
+#endif
     ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Playback finished");
   } else if (old_state == State::STOPPED) {
     this->enable_loop();
diff --git a/esphome/components/rtttl/rtttl.h b/esphome/components/rtttl/rtttl.h
index 98ed9ba1bf4..9dac92be2ad 100644
--- a/esphome/components/rtttl/rtttl.h
+++ b/esphome/components/rtttl/rtttl.h
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 #include "esphome/core/automation.h"
 #include "esphome/core/component.h"
+#include "esphome/core/defines.h"
+#include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 
 #ifdef USE_OUTPUT
 #include "esphome/components/output/float_output.h"
@@ -45,9 +47,11 @@ class Rtttl : public Component {
 
   bool is_playing() { return this->state_ != State::STOPPED; }
 
+#ifdef USE_RTTTL_FINISHED_PLAYBACK_CALLBACK
   template<typename F> void add_on_finished_playback_callback(F &&callback) {
     this->on_finished_playback_callback_.add(std::forward<F>(callback));
   }
+#endif
 
  protected:
   inline uint16_t get_integer_() {
@@ -106,8 +110,10 @@ class Rtttl : public Component {
   uint32_t samples_gap_{0};
 #endif  // USE_SPEAKER
 
+#ifdef USE_RTTTL_FINISHED_PLAYBACK_CALLBACK
   /// The callback to call when playback is finished.
   CallbackManager<void()> on_finished_playback_callback_;
+#endif
 };
 
 template<typename... Ts> class PlayAction : public Action<Ts...> {
diff --git a/esphome/components/safe_mode/__init__.py b/esphome/components/safe_mode/__init__.py
index 6df0ba78b1f..578376258a1 100644
--- a/esphome/components/safe_mode/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/safe_mode/__init__.py
@@ -76,8 +76,9 @@ async def to_code(config):
         var = cg.new_Pvariable(config[CONF_ID])
         await cg.register_component(var, config)
 
-        if config.get(CONF_ON_SAFE_MODE):
+        if on_safe_mode := config.get(CONF_ON_SAFE_MODE):
             cg.add_define("USE_SAFE_MODE_CALLBACK")
+            cg.add_define("ESPHOME_SAFE_MODE_CALLBACK_COUNT", len(on_safe_mode))
             await automation.build_callback_automations(
                 var, config, _CALLBACK_AUTOMATIONS
             )
diff --git a/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.h b/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.h
index 2733054962e..b458a9a3021 100644
--- a/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.h
+++ b/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.h
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class SafeModeComponent final : public Component {
   // Larger objects at the end
   ESPPreferenceObject rtc_;
 #ifdef USE_SAFE_MODE_CALLBACK
-  CallbackManager<void()> safe_mode_callback_{};
+  StaticCallbackManager<ESPHOME_SAFE_MODE_CALLBACK_COUNT, void()> safe_mode_callback_{};
 #endif
 
   static const uint32_t ENTER_SAFE_MODE_MAGIC =
diff --git a/esphome/components/select/__init__.py b/esphome/components/select/__init__.py
index ba5214e550a..f561c030a49 100644
--- a/esphome/components/select/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/select/__init__.py
@@ -19,7 +19,11 @@ from esphome.const import (
     CONF_WEB_SERVER,
 )
 from esphome.core import CORE, ID, CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
-from esphome.core.entity_helpers import entity_duplicate_validator, setup_entity
+from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
+    entity_duplicate_validator,
+    queue_entity_register,
+    setup_entity,
+)
 from esphome.cpp_generator import MockObjClass, TemplateArguments
 from esphome.cpp_types import global_ns
 
@@ -113,7 +117,7 @@ async def setup_select_core_(var, config, *, options: list[str]):
 async def register_select(var, config, *, options: list[str]):
     if not CORE.has_id(config[CONF_ID]):
         var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], var)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_select(var))
+    queue_entity_register("select", config)
     CORE.register_platform_component("select", var)
     await setup_select_core_(var, config, options=options)
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/sendspin/__init__.py b/esphome/components/sendspin/__init__.py
index 6f5ccddb86d..58687ae8389 100644
--- a/esphome/components/sendspin/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/sendspin/__init__.py
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ async def to_code(config: ConfigType) -> None:
         )
 
     # sendspin-cpp library
-    esp32.add_idf_component(name="sendspin/sendspin-cpp", ref="0.3.0")
+    esp32.add_idf_component(name="sendspin/sendspin-cpp", ref="0.3.1")
 
     cg.add_define("USE_SENDSPIN", True)  # for MDNS
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/sensor/__init__.py b/esphome/components/sensor/__init__.py
index 43fbc989531..48b7d25d4df 100644
--- a/esphome/components/sensor/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/sensor/__init__.py
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ from esphome.core import CORE, CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
 from esphome.core.config import UNIT_OF_MEASUREMENT_MAX_LENGTH
 from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
     entity_duplicate_validator,
+    queue_entity_register,
     setup_device_class,
     setup_entity,
     setup_unit_of_measurement,
@@ -982,7 +983,7 @@ async def setup_sensor_core_(var, config):
 async def register_sensor(var, config):
     if not CORE.has_id(config[CONF_ID]):
         var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], var)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_sensor(var))
+    queue_entity_register("sensor", config)
     CORE.register_platform_component("sensor", var)
     await setup_sensor_core_(var, config)
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/sim800l/sim800l.cpp b/esphome/components/sim800l/sim800l.cpp
index 913d920c94e..001ec774546 100644
--- a/esphome/components/sim800l/sim800l.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/sim800l/sim800l.cpp
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ void Sim800LComponent::parse_cmd_(std::string message) {
     case STATE_INIT: {
       // While we were waiting for update to check for messages, this notifies a message
       // is available.
-      bool message_available = message.compare(0, 6, "+CMTI:") == 0;
+      bool message_available = message.starts_with("+CMTI:");
       if (!message_available) {
         if (message == "RING") {
           // Incoming call...
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ void Sim800LComponent::parse_cmd_(std::string message) {
             this->call_state_ = 6;
             this->call_disconnected_callback_.call();
           }
-        } else if (message.compare(0, 6, "+CUSD:") == 0) {
+        } else if (message.starts_with("+CUSD:")) {
           // Incoming USSD MESSAGE
           this->state_ = STATE_CHECK_USSD;
         }
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ void Sim800LComponent::parse_cmd_(std::string message) {
       break;
     case STATE_CHECK_USSD:
       ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Check ussd code: '%s'", message.c_str());
-      if (message.compare(0, 6, "+CUSD:") == 0) {
+      if (message.starts_with("+CUSD:")) {
         this->state_ = STATE_RECEIVED_USSD;
         this->ussd_ = "";
         size_t start = 10;
@@ -196,8 +196,7 @@ void Sim800LComponent::parse_cmd_(std::string message) {
     case STATE_CREG_WAIT: {
       // Response: "+CREG: 0,1" -- the one there means registered ok
       //           "+CREG: -,-" means not registered ok
-      bool registered =
-          message.size() > 9 && message.compare(0, 6, "+CREG:") == 0 && (message[9] == '1' || message[9] == '5');
+      bool registered = message.size() > 9 && message.starts_with("+CREG:") && (message[9] == '1' || message[9] == '5');
       if (registered) {
         if (!this->registered_) {
           ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Registered OK");
@@ -223,7 +222,7 @@ void Sim800LComponent::parse_cmd_(std::string message) {
       this->state_ = STATE_CSQ_RESPONSE;
       break;
     case STATE_CSQ_RESPONSE:
-      if (message.compare(0, 5, "+CSQ:") == 0) {
+      if (message.starts_with("+CSQ:")) {
         size_t comma = message.find(',', 6);
         if (comma != 6) {
           int rssi = parse_number<int>(message.substr(6, comma - 6)).value_or(0);
@@ -243,7 +242,7 @@ void Sim800LComponent::parse_cmd_(std::string message) {
       this->state_ = STATE_CHECK_SMS;
       break;
     case STATE_PARSE_SMS_RESPONSE:
-      if (message.compare(0, 6, "+CMGL:") == 0 && this->parse_index_ == 0) {
+      if (message.starts_with("+CMGL:") && this->parse_index_ == 0) {
         size_t start = 7;
         size_t end = message.find(',', start);
         uint8_t item = 0;
@@ -278,7 +277,7 @@ void Sim800LComponent::parse_cmd_(std::string message) {
       }
       break;
     case STATE_CHECK_CALL:
-      if (message.compare(0, 6, "+CLCC:") == 0 && this->parse_index_ == 0) {
+      if (message.starts_with("+CLCC:") && this->parse_index_ == 0) {
         this->expect_ack_ = true;
         size_t start = 7;
         size_t end = message.find(',', start);
@@ -324,7 +323,7 @@ void Sim800LComponent::parse_cmd_(std::string message) {
       /* Our recipient is set and the message body is in message
         kick ESPHome callback now
       */
-      if (ok || message.compare(0, 6, "+CMGL:") == 0) {
+      if (ok || message.starts_with("+CMGL:")) {
         ESP_LOGD(TAG,
                  "Received SMS from: %s\n"
                  "  %s",
@@ -360,7 +359,7 @@ void Sim800LComponent::parse_cmd_(std::string message) {
       }
       break;
     case STATE_SENDING_SMS_3:
-      if (message.compare(0, 6, "+CMGS:") == 0) {
+      if (message.starts_with("+CMGS:")) {
         ESP_LOGD(TAG, "SMS Sent OK: %s", message.c_str());
         this->send_pending_ = false;
         this->state_ = STATE_CHECK_SMS;
@@ -383,7 +382,7 @@ void Sim800LComponent::parse_cmd_(std::string message) {
       this->state_ = STATE_INIT;
       break;
     case STATE_PARSE_CLIP:
-      if (message.compare(0, 6, "+CLIP:") == 0) {
+      if (message.starts_with("+CLIP:")) {
         std::string caller_id;
         size_t start = 7;
         size_t end = message.find(',', start);
diff --git a/esphome/components/speaker/media_player/speaker_media_player.cpp b/esphome/components/speaker/media_player/speaker_media_player.cpp
index 930373c6fcd..ab11a89c3f4 100644
--- a/esphome/components/speaker/media_player/speaker_media_player.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/speaker/media_player/speaker_media_player.cpp
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ void SpeakerMediaPlayer::control(const media_player::MediaPlayerCall &call) {
     media_command.announce = false;
   }
 
-  auto media_url = call.get_media_url();
+  const auto &media_url = call.get_media_url();
   if (media_url.has_value()) {
     media_command.url =
         new std::string(*media_url);  // Must be manually deleted after receiving media_command from a queue
diff --git a/esphome/components/speaker_source/speaker_source_media_player.cpp b/esphome/components/speaker_source/speaker_source_media_player.cpp
index 2caab828fb4..87fd4fe9ed5 100644
--- a/esphome/components/speaker_source/speaker_source_media_player.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/speaker_source/speaker_source_media_player.cpp
@@ -698,7 +698,7 @@ void SpeakerSourceMediaPlayer::control(const media_player::MediaPlayerCall &call
     }
   }
 
-  auto media_url = call.get_media_url();
+  const auto &media_url = call.get_media_url();
   if (media_url.has_value()) {
     auto command = call.get_command();
     bool enqueue = command.has_value() && command.value() == media_player::MEDIA_PLAYER_COMMAND_ENQUEUE;
diff --git a/esphome/components/spi/spi.h b/esphome/components/spi/spi.h
index dc538f4c41f..e6f592c6e44 100644
--- a/esphome/components/spi/spi.h
+++ b/esphome/components/spi/spi.h
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ class SPIDevice : public SPIClient {
 
   uint8_t read_byte() { return this->delegate_->transfer(0); }
 
-  void read_array(uint8_t *data, size_t length) { return this->delegate_->read_array(data, length); }
+  void read_array(uint8_t *data, size_t length) { this->delegate_->read_array(data, length); }
 
   /**
    * Write a single data item, up to 32 bits.
diff --git a/esphome/components/sprinkler/sprinkler.cpp b/esphome/components/sprinkler/sprinkler.cpp
index 0802cdec8e4..e977c05c48f 100644
--- a/esphome/components/sprinkler/sprinkler.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/sprinkler/sprinkler.cpp
@@ -897,11 +897,12 @@ void Sprinkler::resume() {
   }
 
   if (this->paused_valve_.has_value() && (this->resume_duration_.has_value())) {
+    const size_t paused_valve = *this->paused_valve_;
+    const uint32_t resume_duration = *this->resume_duration_;
     // Resume only if valve has not been completed yet
-    if (!this->valve_cycle_complete_(this->paused_valve_.value())) {
-      ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Resuming valve %zu with %" PRIu32 " seconds remaining", this->paused_valve_.value_or(0),
-               this->resume_duration_.value_or(0));
-      this->fsm_request_(this->paused_valve_.value(), this->resume_duration_.value());
+    if (!this->valve_cycle_complete_(paused_valve)) {
+      ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Resuming valve %zu with %" PRIu32 " seconds remaining", paused_valve, resume_duration);
+      this->fsm_request_(paused_valve, resume_duration);
     }
     this->reset_resume();
   } else {
diff --git a/esphome/components/switch/__init__.py b/esphome/components/switch/__init__.py
index 9fa4a013ff8..1108652e993 100644
--- a/esphome/components/switch/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/switch/__init__.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ from esphome.const import (
 from esphome.core import CORE, CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
 from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
     entity_duplicate_validator,
+    queue_entity_register,
     setup_device_class,
     setup_entity,
 )
@@ -166,7 +167,7 @@ async def setup_switch_core_(var, config):
 async def register_switch(var, config):
     if not CORE.has_id(config[CONF_ID]):
         var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], var)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_switch(var))
+    queue_entity_register("switch", config)
     CORE.register_platform_component("switch", var)
     await setup_switch_core_(var, config)
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/text/__init__.py b/esphome/components/text/__init__.py
index 224f4580d4a..06b5a108926 100644
--- a/esphome/components/text/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/text/__init__.py
@@ -14,7 +14,11 @@ from esphome.const import (
     CONF_WEB_SERVER,
 )
 from esphome.core import CORE, CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
-from esphome.core.entity_helpers import entity_duplicate_validator, setup_entity
+from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
+    entity_duplicate_validator,
+    queue_entity_register,
+    setup_entity,
+)
 from esphome.cpp_generator import MockObjClass
 
 CODEOWNERS = ["@mauritskorse"]
@@ -122,7 +126,7 @@ async def register_text(
 ):
     if not CORE.has_id(config[CONF_ID]):
         var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], var)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_text(var))
+    queue_entity_register("text", config)
     CORE.register_platform_component("text", var)
     await setup_text_core_(
         var, config, min_length=min_length, max_length=max_length, pattern=pattern
diff --git a/esphome/components/text_sensor/__init__.py b/esphome/components/text_sensor/__init__.py
index 94014e8d206..01a57cbaa1b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/text_sensor/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/text_sensor/__init__.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from esphome.const import (
 from esphome.core import CORE, CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
 from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
     entity_duplicate_validator,
+    queue_entity_register,
     setup_device_class,
     setup_entity,
 )
@@ -221,7 +222,7 @@ async def setup_text_sensor_core_(var, config):
 async def register_text_sensor(var, config):
     if not CORE.has_id(config[CONF_ID]):
         var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], var)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_text_sensor(var))
+    queue_entity_register("text_sensor", config)
     CORE.register_platform_component("text_sensor", var)
     await setup_text_sensor_core_(var, config)
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/tlc5971/tlc5971.cpp b/esphome/components/tlc5971/tlc5971.cpp
index be17780f8c9..8128dd90462 100644
--- a/esphome/components/tlc5971/tlc5971.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/tlc5971/tlc5971.cpp
@@ -68,13 +68,8 @@ void TLC5971::transfer_(uint8_t send) {
   uint8_t startbit = 0x80;
 
   bool towrite, lastmosi = !(send & startbit);
-  uint8_t bitdelay_us = (1000000 / 1000000) / 2;
 
   for (uint8_t b = startbit; b != 0; b = b >> 1) {
-    if (bitdelay_us) {
-      delayMicroseconds(bitdelay_us);
-    }
-
     towrite = send & b;
     if ((lastmosi != towrite)) {
       this->data_pin_->digital_write(towrite);
@@ -82,11 +77,6 @@ void TLC5971::transfer_(uint8_t send) {
     }
 
     this->clock_pin_->digital_write(true);
-
-    if (bitdelay_us) {
-      delayMicroseconds(bitdelay_us);
-    }
-
     this->clock_pin_->digital_write(false);
   }
 }
diff --git a/esphome/components/update/__init__.py b/esphome/components/update/__init__.py
index db6c1445e34..ddb471be18f 100644
--- a/esphome/components/update/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/update/__init__.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from esphome.const import (
 from esphome.core import CORE, CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
 from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
     entity_duplicate_validator,
+    queue_entity_register,
     setup_device_class,
     setup_entity,
 )
@@ -113,7 +114,7 @@ async def setup_update_core_(var, config):
 async def register_update(var, config):
     if not CORE.has_id(config[CONF_ID]):
         var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], var)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_update(var))
+    queue_entity_register("update", config)
     CORE.register_platform_component("update", var)
     await setup_update_core_(var, config)
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/valve/__init__.py b/esphome/components/valve/__init__.py
index 1930a7ad0c9..a6808c9da7b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/valve/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/valve/__init__.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ from esphome.const import (
 from esphome.core import CORE, CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
 from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
     entity_duplicate_validator,
+    queue_entity_register,
     setup_device_class,
     setup_entity,
 )
@@ -162,7 +163,7 @@ async def _setup_valve_core(var, config):
 async def register_valve(var, config):
     if not CORE.has_id(config[CONF_ID]):
         var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], var)
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_valve(var))
+    queue_entity_register("valve", config)
     CORE.register_platform_component("valve", var)
     await _setup_valve_core(var, config)
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/watchdog/watchdog.cpp b/esphome/components/watchdog/watchdog.cpp
index 2ce46756e44..545d83a6791 100644
--- a/esphome/components/watchdog/watchdog.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/watchdog/watchdog.cpp
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 #include <cinttypes>
 #include <cstdint>
 #ifdef USE_ESP32
-#include <soc/soc_caps.h>
 #include "esp_idf_version.h"
 #include "esp_task_wdt.h"
 #endif
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@ void WatchdogManager::set_timeout_(uint32_t timeout_ms) {
 #ifdef USE_ESP32
   esp_task_wdt_config_t wdt_config = {
       .timeout_ms = timeout_ms,
-      .idle_core_mask = (1 << SOC_CPU_CORES_NUM) - 1,
+      .idle_core_mask = (1U << CONFIG_FREERTOS_NUMBER_OF_CORES) - 1U,
       .trigger_panic = true,
   };
   esp_task_wdt_reconfigure(&wdt_config);
diff --git a/esphome/components/water_heater/__init__.py b/esphome/components/water_heater/__init__.py
index 58cf5a4054e..f3eec16a406 100644
--- a/esphome/components/water_heater/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/water_heater/__init__.py
@@ -9,7 +9,11 @@ from esphome.const import (
     CONF_VISUAL,
 )
 from esphome.core import CORE, CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
-from esphome.core.entity_helpers import entity_duplicate_validator, setup_entity
+from esphome.core.entity_helpers import (
+    entity_duplicate_validator,
+    queue_entity_register,
+    setup_entity,
+)
 from esphome.cpp_generator import MockObjClass
 from esphome.types import ConfigType
 
@@ -90,7 +94,7 @@ async def register_water_heater(var: cg.Pvariable, config: ConfigType) -> cg.Pva
 
     cg.add_define("USE_WATER_HEATER")
 
-    cg.add(cg.App.register_water_heater(var))
+    queue_entity_register("water_heater", config)
 
     CORE.register_platform_component("water_heater", var)
     await setup_water_heater_core_(var, config)
diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
index f7c70b1147a..1da2d630c10 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
@@ -1099,9 +1099,9 @@ void WiFiComponent::start_connecting(const WiFiAP &ap) {
   }
 
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_WPA2_EAP
-  auto eap_opt = ap.get_eap();
+  const auto &eap_opt = ap.get_eap();
   if (eap_opt.has_value()) {
-    EAPAuth eap_config = *eap_opt;
+    const EAPAuth &eap_config = *eap_opt;
     // clang-format off
     ESP_LOGV(
         TAG,
diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp8266.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp8266.cpp
index bf3a0d29497..402ca051cde 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp8266.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp8266.cpp
@@ -313,10 +313,10 @@ bool WiFiComponent::wifi_sta_connect_(const WiFiAP &ap) {
 
   // setup enterprise authentication if required
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_WPA2_EAP
-  auto eap_opt = ap.get_eap();
+  const auto &eap_opt = ap.get_eap();
   if (eap_opt.has_value()) {
     // note: all certificates and keys have to be null terminated. Lengths are appended by +1 to include \0.
-    EAPAuth eap = *eap_opt;
+    const EAPAuth &eap = *eap_opt;
     ret = wifi_station_set_enterprise_identity((uint8_t *) eap.identity.c_str(), eap.identity.length());
     if (ret) {
       ESP_LOGV(TAG, "esp_wifi_sta_wpa2_ent_set_identity failed: %d", ret);
diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp_idf.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp_idf.cpp
index 29d135ce900..4f39a3a4b12 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp_idf.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp_idf.cpp
@@ -179,7 +179,10 @@ void WiFiComponent::wifi_pre_setup_() {
 #endif  // USE_WIFI_AP
 
   wifi_init_config_t cfg = WIFI_INIT_CONFIG_DEFAULT();
-  // cfg.nvs_enable = false;
+  if (global_preferences->nvs_handle == 0) {
+    ESP_LOGW(TAG, "starting wifi without nvs");
+    cfg.nvs_enable = false;
+  }
   err = esp_wifi_init(&cfg);
   if (err != ERR_OK) {
     ESP_LOGE(TAG, "esp_wifi_init failed: %s", esp_err_to_name(err));
@@ -404,10 +407,10 @@ bool WiFiComponent::wifi_sta_connect_(const WiFiAP &ap) {
 
   // setup enterprise authentication if required
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_WPA2_EAP
-  auto eap_opt = ap.get_eap();
+  const auto &eap_opt = ap.get_eap();
   if (eap_opt.has_value()) {
     // note: all certificates and keys have to be null terminated. Lengths are appended by +1 to include \0.
-    EAPAuth eap = *eap_opt;
+    const EAPAuth &eap = *eap_opt;
 #if ESP_IDF_VERSION >= ESP_IDF_VERSION_VAL(5, 1, 0)
     err = esp_eap_client_set_identity((uint8_t *) eap.identity.c_str(), eap.identity.length());
 #else
diff --git a/esphome/components/zigbee/__init__.py b/esphome/components/zigbee/__init__.py
index 0bb5f95bb68..018dab73488 100644
--- a/esphome/components/zigbee/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/zigbee/__init__.py
@@ -75,6 +75,13 @@ SENSOR_SCHEMA = cv.Schema({}).extend(zephyr_sensor)
 SWITCH_SCHEMA = cv.Schema({}).extend(zephyr_switch)
 NUMBER_SCHEMA = cv.Schema({}).extend(zephyr_number)
 
+
+def _validate_router_sleepy(config: ConfigType) -> ConfigType:
+    if config.get(CONF_ROUTER) and config.get(CONF_SLEEPY):
+        raise cv.Invalid("router and sleepy are mutually exclusive")
+    return config
+
+
 CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
     cv.Schema(
         {
@@ -82,10 +89,7 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
             cv.Optional(CONF_MODEL, default=CORE.name): cv.All(
                 cv.string, cv.Length(max=31)
             ),
-            cv.OnlyWith(CONF_ROUTER, "esp32", default=False): cv.All(
-                cv.requires_component("esp32"),
-                cv.boolean,
-            ),
+            cv.Optional(CONF_ROUTER, default=False): cv.boolean,
             cv.Optional(CONF_ON_JOIN): cv.All(
                 cv.requires_component("nrf52"),
                 automation.validate_automation(single=True),
@@ -113,6 +117,7 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
             ),
         }
     ).extend(cv.COMPONENT_SCHEMA),
+    _validate_router_sleepy,
     zigbee_require_vfs_select,
     zigbee_set_core_data,
     cv.Any(
diff --git a/esphome/components/zigbee/zigbee_zephyr.cpp b/esphome/components/zigbee/zigbee_zephyr.cpp
index 90bb66c91d5..26bef8fb174 100644
--- a/esphome/components/zigbee/zigbee_zephyr.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/zigbee/zigbee_zephyr.cpp
@@ -4,9 +4,7 @@
 #include <zephyr/settings/settings.h>
 #include <zephyr/storage/flash_map.h>
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
-#ifdef USE_DEEP_SLEEP
-#include "esphome/components/deep_sleep/deep_sleep_component.h"
-#endif
+#include "esphome/core/wake.h"
 
 extern "C" {
 #include <zboss_api.h>
@@ -119,11 +117,7 @@ void ZigbeeComponent::zcl_device_cb(zb_bufid_t bufid) {
   /* Set default response value. */
   p_device_cb_param->status = RET_OK;
 
-#ifdef USE_DEEP_SLEEP
-  if (auto *ds = deep_sleep::global_deep_sleep.load()) {
-    ds->wakeup();
-  }
-#endif
+  esphome::wake_loop_threadsafe();
 
   // endpoints are enumerated from 1
   if (global_zigbee->callbacks_.size() >= endpoint) {
@@ -190,7 +184,9 @@ void ZigbeeComponent::setup() {
     ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Cannot load settings, err: %d", err);
     return;
   }
+#ifdef CONFIG_ZIGBEE_ROLE_END_DEVICE
   zigbee_configure_sleepy_behavior(this->sleepy_);
+#endif
   zigbee_enable();
 }
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/zigbee/zigbee_zephyr.py b/esphome/components/zigbee/zigbee_zephyr.py
index 7d904b6081d..b74074e50f8 100644
--- a/esphome/components/zigbee/zigbee_zephyr.py
+++ b/esphome/components/zigbee/zigbee_zephyr.py
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ from esphome.types import ConfigType
 from .const import (
     CONF_ON_JOIN,
     CONF_POWER_SOURCE,
+    CONF_ROUTER,
     CONF_WIPE_ON_BOOT,
     KEY_ZIGBEE,
     POWER_SOURCE,
@@ -160,7 +161,10 @@ zephyr_number = cv.Schema(
 async def zephyr_to_code(config: ConfigType) -> None:
     zephyr_add_prj_conf("ZIGBEE", True)
     zephyr_add_prj_conf("ZIGBEE_APP_UTILS", True)
-    zephyr_add_prj_conf("ZIGBEE_ROLE_END_DEVICE", True)
+    if config[CONF_ROUTER]:
+        zephyr_add_prj_conf("ZIGBEE_ROLE_ROUTER", True)
+    else:
+        zephyr_add_prj_conf("ZIGBEE_ROLE_END_DEVICE", True)
 
     zephyr_add_prj_conf("ZIGBEE_CHANNEL_SELECTION_MODE_MULTI", True)
 
diff --git a/esphome/config.py b/esphome/config.py
index 641b6ec1b48..6eb67af58b3 100644
--- a/esphome/config.py
+++ b/esphome/config.py
@@ -997,6 +997,8 @@ def validate_config(
 ) -> Config:
     result = Config()
 
+    CORE.skip_external_update = skip_external_update
+
     loader.clear_component_meta_finders()
     loader.install_custom_components_meta_finder()
 
@@ -1009,7 +1011,6 @@ def validate_config(
             config = do_packages_pass(
                 config,
                 command_line_substitutions=command_line_substitutions,
-                skip_update=skip_external_update,
             )
         except vol.Invalid as err:
             result.update(config)
@@ -1050,7 +1051,7 @@ def validate_config(
 
         result.add_output_path([CONF_EXTERNAL_COMPONENTS], CONF_EXTERNAL_COMPONENTS)
         try:
-            do_external_components_pass(config, skip_update=skip_external_update)
+            do_external_components_pass(config)
         except vol.Invalid as err:
             result.update(config)
             result.add_error(err)
@@ -1341,7 +1342,9 @@ def strip_default_ids(config):
     return config
 
 
-def read_config(command_line_substitutions, skip_external_update=False):
+def read_config(
+    command_line_substitutions: dict[str, Any], skip_external_update: bool = False
+) -> Config | None:
     _LOGGER.info("Reading configuration %s...", CORE.config_path)
     try:
         res = load_config(command_line_substitutions, skip_external_update)
diff --git a/esphome/core/__init__.py b/esphome/core/__init__.py
index 009fef2f863..4fecebcd8d2 100644
--- a/esphome/core/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/core/__init__.py
@@ -615,6 +615,9 @@ class EsphomeCore:
         self.address_cache: AddressCache | None = None
         # Cached config hash (computed lazily)
         self._config_hash: int | None = None
+        # When True, skip network freshness checks for cached external files
+        # (e.g. for `esphome logs`, where remote downloads aren't needed)
+        self.skip_external_update: bool = False
 
     def reset(self):
         from esphome.pins import PIN_SCHEMA_REGISTRY
@@ -644,6 +647,7 @@ class EsphomeCore:
         self.current_component = None
         self.address_cache = None
         self._config_hash = None
+        self.skip_external_update = False
         PIN_SCHEMA_REGISTRY.reset()
 
     @contextmanager
diff --git a/esphome/core/application.h b/esphome/core/application.h
index e9b386038ea..4a18714d0de 100644
--- a/esphome/core/application.h
+++ b/esphome/core/application.h
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@
 #include <vector>
 #include "esphome/core/component.h"
 #include "esphome/core/defines.h"
+
+#if defined(USE_LWIP_FAST_SELECT) && defined(ESPHOME_THREAD_MULTI_ATOMICS)
+#include <atomic>  // for std::atomic_thread_fence in Application::loop()
+#endif
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 #include "esphome/core/preferences.h"
@@ -17,6 +21,10 @@
 #include "esphome/core/string_ref.h"
 #include "esphome/core/version.h"
 
+#ifdef USE_ESP32
+#include <sdkconfig.h>  // for CONFIG_ESP_TASK_WDT_TIMEOUT_S (drives WDT_FEED_INTERVAL_MS)
+#endif
+
 #ifdef USE_DEVICES
 #include "esphome/core/device.h"
 #endif
@@ -99,10 +107,19 @@ class Application {
   void set_current_component(Component *component) { this->current_component_ = component; }
   Component *get_current_component() { return this->current_component_; }
 
-// Entity register methods (generated from entity_types.h)
+// Entity register methods (generated from entity_types.h).
+// Each entity type gets two overloads:
+//   - register_<entity>(obj)                              — bare push_back
+//   - register_<entity>(obj, name, hash, fields)          — configure_entity_ + push_back
+// The 4-arg form lets codegen collapse `App.register_<entity>(obj); obj->configure_entity_(...);`
+// into a single call site, saving flash and a `main.cpp` line per entity.
 // NOLINTBEGIN(bugprone-macro-parentheses)
 #define ENTITY_TYPE_(type, singular, plural, count, upper) \
-  void register_##singular(type *obj) { this->plural##_.push_back(obj); }
+  void register_##singular(type *obj) { this->plural##_.push_back(obj); } \
+  void register_##singular(type *obj, const char *name, uint32_t object_id_hash, uint32_t entity_fields) { \
+    obj->configure_entity_(name, object_id_hash, entity_fields); \
+    this->plural##_.push_back(obj); \
+  }
 #define ENTITY_CONTROLLER_TYPE_(type, singular, plural, count, upper, callback) \
   ENTITY_TYPE_(type, singular, plural, count, upper)
 #include "esphome/core/entity_types.h"
@@ -216,16 +233,30 @@ class Application {
   /// loops and scheduler items still feed after every op, so any op exceeding
   /// this threshold triggers a real feed naturally.
   /// Safety margins vs. platform watchdog timeouts:
-  ///   - ESP32 task WDT default (5 s):  ~16x
-  ///   - ESP8266 soft WDT (~1.6 s):     ~5x  <-- floor case; any future change
-  ///                                              must keep comfortable margin here
-  ///   - ESP8266 HW WDT (~6 s):         ~20x
-  ///   - BK72xx HW WDT (10 s):          ~5x  <-- platform override below
+  ///   - ESP32 task WDT (user-configurable):  ~5x  <-- auto-scaled below
+  ///   - ESP8266 soft WDT (~1.6 s):           ~5x  <-- floor case; any future change
+  ///                                                   must keep comfortable margin here
+  ///   - ESP8266 HW WDT (~6 s):               ~20x
+  ///   - BK72xx HW WDT (10 s):                ~5x  <-- platform override below
 #ifdef USE_BK72XX
   // BDK busy-waits 200us per WDT reload (sctrl_dpll_delay200us). LibreTiny
   // sets HW WDT to 10s; 2000ms keeps ~5x margin. See wdt_ctrl WCMD_RELOAD_PERIOD:
   // https://github.com/libretiny-eu/framework-beken-bdk/blob/44800e7451ea30fbcbd3bb6e905315de59349fee/beken378/driver/wdt/wdt.c#L75-L87
   static constexpr uint32_t WDT_FEED_INTERVAL_MS = 2000;
+#elif defined(USE_ESP32)
+  // Auto-scale to 1/5 of the configured ESP32 task WDT timeout so the safety
+  // margin stays constant when the user raises esp32.watchdog_timeout (default
+  // 5 s → 1000 ms feed; 10 s → 2000 ms; 60 s → 12000 ms). The esp32 component
+  // writes CONFIG_ESP_TASK_WDT_TIMEOUT_S into sdkconfig (range is validated
+  // to ≥ 5 s in esp32/__init__.py), giving us the value at compile time.
+  // esp_task_wdt_reset() takes a spinlock and walks the WDT task list, so
+  // each call costs tens of microseconds; longer intervals materially reduce
+  // the main-loop's wdt bucket. Component loops and scheduler items still
+  // feed after every op, so any op exceeding this threshold triggers a real
+  // feed naturally regardless of the rate-limit.
+  static_assert(CONFIG_ESP_TASK_WDT_TIMEOUT_S >= 5,
+                "CONFIG_ESP_TASK_WDT_TIMEOUT_S must be at least 5s for a safe WDT feed interval");
+  static constexpr uint32_t WDT_FEED_INTERVAL_MS = (CONFIG_ESP_TASK_WDT_TIMEOUT_S * 1000U) / 5U;
 #else
   static constexpr uint32_t WDT_FEED_INTERVAL_MS = 300;
 #endif
@@ -343,6 +374,9 @@ class Application {
 #elif defined(USE_ESP8266)
   /// Wake from ISR (ESP8266). No task_woken arg — no FreeRTOS. Caller must be IRAM_ATTR.
   static void IRAM_ATTR ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE wake_loop_isrsafe() { esphome::wake_loop_isrsafe(); }
+#elif defined(USE_ZEPHYR)
+  /// Wake from ISR (Zephyr). No task_woken arg — k_sem_give() handles ISR scheduling internally.
+  static void wake_loop_isrsafe() { esphome::wake_loop_isrsafe(); }
 #endif
 
   /// Wake from any context (ISR, thread, callback).
@@ -350,12 +384,16 @@ class Application {
 
  protected:
   friend Component;
+  friend class Scheduler;
 #ifdef USE_RUNTIME_STATS
   friend class runtime_stats::RuntimeStatsCollector;
 #endif
   friend void ::setup();
   friend void ::original_setup();
 
+  /// Freshen the cached loop component start time. Called by Scheduler before each dispatch.
+  void set_loop_component_start_time_(uint32_t now) { this->loop_component_start_time_ = now; }
+
   /// Walk all registered components looking for any whose component_state_
   /// has the given flag set. Used by Component::status_clear_*_slow_path_()
   /// (which is a friend) to decide whether to clear the corresponding bit on
@@ -364,7 +402,11 @@ class Application {
 
   /// Register a component, detecting loop() override at compile time.
   /// Uses HasLoopOverride<T> which handles ambiguous &T::loop from multiple inheritance.
-  template<typename T> void register_component_(T *comp) {
+  /// Optionally sets the component source index in the same call to avoid emitting
+  /// a separate set_component_source_() line in generated code.
+  template<typename T> void register_component_(T *comp, uint8_t source_index = 0) {
+    if (source_index != 0)
+      comp->set_component_source_(source_index);
     this->register_component_impl_(comp, HasLoopOverride<T>::value);
   }
 
@@ -542,6 +584,15 @@ inline ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE Application::ComponentPhaseGuard::ComponentPhaseGua
 }
 
 inline void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE Application::loop() {
+#if defined(USE_LWIP_FAST_SELECT) && defined(ESPHOME_THREAD_MULTI_ATOMICS)
+  // Pairs with the TCP/IP thread's SYS_ARCH_UNPROTECT release on rcvevent so
+  // subsequent Socket::ready() checks in this iter observe the published state
+  // without a per-call memw. Wake is independent (xTaskNotifyGive/
+  // ulTaskNotifyTake), so non-losing. Skipped on MULTI_NO_ATOMICS (e.g.
+  // BK72xx) — that path keeps `volatile` in esphome_lwip_socket_has_data()
+  // instead.
+  std::atomic_thread_fence(std::memory_order_acquire);
+#endif
 #ifdef USE_RUNTIME_STATS
   // Capture the start of the active (non-sleeping) portion of this iteration.
   // Used to derive main-loop overhead = active time − Σ(component time) −
diff --git a/esphome/core/base_automation.h b/esphome/core/base_automation.h
index 17f937d10d9..afd11c6867d 100644
--- a/esphome/core/base_automation.h
+++ b/esphome/core/base_automation.h
@@ -273,18 +273,32 @@ template<typename... Ts> class WhileLoopContinuation : public Action<Ts...> {
   WhileAction<Ts...> *parent_;
 };
 
+// Wraps a ContinuationAction when Enabled, empty otherwise.
+// Lets IfAction elide the else continuation when HasElse is false.
+template<bool Enabled, typename... Ts> struct OptionalContinuation {
+  ContinuationAction<Ts...> action;
+  explicit OptionalContinuation(Action<Ts...> *parent) : action(parent) {}
+};
+template<typename... Ts> struct OptionalContinuation<false, Ts...> {
+  explicit OptionalContinuation(Action<Ts...> * /*parent*/) {}
+};
+
 template<bool HasElse, typename... Ts> class IfAction : public Action<Ts...> {
  public:
   explicit IfAction(Condition<Ts...> *condition) : condition_(condition) {}
 
+  // Precondition: add_then/add_else must be called at most once per instance.
+  // Codegen always batches the full action list into a single call. Calling
+  // twice would re-append the same inline continuation pointer and form a
+  // self-loop in the next_ chain.
   void add_then(const std::initializer_list<Action<Ts...> *> &actions) {
     this->then_.add_actions(actions);
-    this->then_.add_action(new ContinuationAction<Ts...>(this));
+    this->then_.add_action(&this->then_continuation_);
   }
 
   void add_else(const std::initializer_list<Action<Ts...> *> &actions) requires(HasElse) {
     this->else_.add_actions(actions);
-    this->else_.add_action(new ContinuationAction<Ts...>(this));
+    this->else_.add_action(&this->else_continuation_.action);
   }
 
   void play_complex(const Ts &...x) override {
@@ -316,17 +330,20 @@ template<bool HasElse, typename... Ts> class IfAction : public Action<Ts...> {
  protected:
   Condition<Ts...> *condition_;
   ActionList<Ts...> then_;
+  ContinuationAction<Ts...> then_continuation_{this};
   struct NoElse {};
   [[no_unique_address]] std::conditional_t<HasElse, ActionList<Ts...>, NoElse> else_;
+  [[no_unique_address]] OptionalContinuation<HasElse, Ts...> else_continuation_{this};
 };
 
 template<typename... Ts> class WhileAction : public Action<Ts...> {
  public:
   WhileAction(Condition<Ts...> *condition) : condition_(condition) {}
 
+  // Precondition: must be called at most once per instance (see IfAction::add_then).
   void add_then(const std::initializer_list<Action<Ts...> *> &actions) {
     this->then_.add_actions(actions);
-    this->then_.add_action(new WhileLoopContinuation<Ts...>(this));
+    this->then_.add_action(&this->loop_continuation_);
   }
 
   friend class WhileLoopContinuation<Ts...>;
@@ -354,6 +371,7 @@ template<typename... Ts> class WhileAction : public Action<Ts...> {
  protected:
   Condition<Ts...> *condition_;
   ActionList<Ts...> then_;
+  WhileLoopContinuation<Ts...> loop_continuation_{this};
 };
 
 // Implementation of WhileLoopContinuation::play
@@ -386,9 +404,10 @@ template<typename... Ts> class RepeatAction : public Action<Ts...> {
  public:
   TEMPLATABLE_VALUE(uint32_t, count)
 
+  // Precondition: must be called at most once per instance (see IfAction::add_then).
   void add_then(const std::initializer_list<Action<uint32_t, Ts...> *> &actions) {
     this->then_.add_actions(actions);
-    this->then_.add_action(new RepeatLoopContinuation<Ts...>(this));
+    this->then_.add_action(&this->loop_continuation_);
   }
 
   friend class RepeatLoopContinuation<Ts...>;
@@ -409,6 +428,7 @@ template<typename... Ts> class RepeatAction : public Action<Ts...> {
 
  protected:
   ActionList<uint32_t, Ts...> then_;
+  RepeatLoopContinuation<Ts...> loop_continuation_{this};
 };
 
 // Implementation of RepeatLoopContinuation::play
diff --git a/esphome/core/config.py b/esphome/core/config.py
index bf210876dfb..b4e81ce49fa 100644
--- a/esphome/core/config.py
+++ b/esphome/core/config.py
@@ -242,6 +242,10 @@ PROJECT_MAX_LENGTH = 127
 # Max board/model string length (must fit in single-byte varint for proto encoding)
 BOARD_MAX_LENGTH = 127
 
+# Keep in sync with ESPHOME_COMMENT_SIZE_MAX in esphome/core/application.h
+# (C++ side includes the null terminator).
+COMMENT_MAX_LEN = 255
+
 AREA_SCHEMA = cv.Schema(
     {
         cv.GenerateID(CONF_ID): cv.declare_id(Area),
@@ -275,7 +279,9 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
                 cv.string_no_slash, cv.ByteLength(max=FRIENDLY_NAME_MAX_LEN)
             ),
             cv.Optional(CONF_AREA): validate_area_config,
-            cv.Optional(CONF_COMMENT): cv.All(cv.string, cv.Length(max=255)),
+            cv.Optional(CONF_COMMENT): cv.All(
+                cv.string, cv.ByteLength(max=COMMENT_MAX_LEN)
+            ),
             cv.Required(CONF_BUILD_PATH): cv.string,
             cv.Optional(CONF_PLATFORMIO_OPTIONS, default={}): cv.Schema(
                 {
@@ -786,6 +792,29 @@ FILTER_SOURCE_FILES = filter_source_files_from_platform(
             PlatformFramework.RTL87XX_ARDUINO,
             PlatformFramework.LN882X_ARDUINO,
         },
+        # Per-platform wake implementations — wake.h dispatches to exactly one of
+        # these based on USE_*, so the others can be skipped at the source level
+        # too. Header files next to each .cpp are always copied (the dispatcher
+        # #include's them) but compile to empty TUs on the wrong platform anyway.
+        "wake/wake_freertos.cpp": {
+            PlatformFramework.ESP32_ARDUINO,
+            PlatformFramework.ESP32_IDF,
+            PlatformFramework.BK72XX_ARDUINO,
+            PlatformFramework.RTL87XX_ARDUINO,
+            PlatformFramework.LN882X_ARDUINO,
+        },
+        "wake/wake_esp8266.cpp": {
+            PlatformFramework.ESP8266_ARDUINO,
+        },
+        "wake/wake_rp2040.cpp": {
+            PlatformFramework.RP2040_ARDUINO,
+        },
+        "wake/wake_host.cpp": {
+            PlatformFramework.HOST_NATIVE,
+        },
+        "wake/wake_zephyr.cpp": {
+            PlatformFramework.NRF52_ZEPHYR,
+        },
         # Note: lock_free_queue.h and event_pool.h are header files and don't need to be filtered
         # as they are only included when needed by the preprocessor
     }
diff --git a/esphome/core/defines.h b/esphome/core/defines.h
index 80247f69da1..99ec936c12c 100644
--- a/esphome/core/defines.h
+++ b/esphome/core/defines.h
@@ -17,8 +17,21 @@
 #define ESPHOME_DEBUG_SCHEDULER
 #define ESPHOME_DEBUG_API
 
-// Default threading model for static analysis (ESP32 is multi-threaded with atomics)
+// Threading model for static analysis. Match what the real codegen picks per
+// platform (see esphome/components/<platform>/__init__.py ThreadModel.*):
+//   USE_ESP8266 / USE_RP2040 / USE_NRF52 → SINGLE
+//   USE_BK72XX (ARMv5TE, no LDREX/STREX) → MULTI_NO_ATOMICS
+//   everything else (ESP32, host, RTL87XX, LN882X) → MULTI_ATOMICS
+// Without this the clang-tidy envs end up with USE_<single-threaded platform>
+// + MULTI_ATOMICS simultaneously, a combination that can never occur in a
+// real build.
+#if defined(USE_ESP8266) || defined(USE_RP2040) || defined(USE_NRF52)
+#define ESPHOME_THREAD_SINGLE
+#elif defined(USE_BK72XX)
+#define ESPHOME_THREAD_MULTI_NO_ATOMICS
+#else
 #define ESPHOME_THREAD_MULTI_ATOMICS
+#endif
 
 // logger
 #define ESPHOME_LOG_LEVEL ESPHOME_LOG_LEVEL_VERY_VERBOSE
@@ -83,6 +96,7 @@
 #define USE_LVGL_CHECKBOX
 #define USE_LVGL_DROPDOWN
 #define USE_LVGL_FONT
+#define USE_LVGL_GRADIENT
 #define USE_LVGL_IMAGE
 #define USE_LVGL_IMAGEBUTTON
 #define USE_LVGL_KEY_LISTENER
@@ -132,10 +146,12 @@
 #define USE_NEXTION_WAVEFORM
 #define USE_NUMBER
 #define USE_OUTPUT
+#define USE_OUTPUT_FLOAT_POWER_SCALING
 #define USE_POWER_SUPPLY
 #define USE_PREFERENCES_SYNC_EVERY_LOOP
 #define USE_QR_CODE
 #define USE_SAFE_MODE_CALLBACK
+#define ESPHOME_SAFE_MODE_CALLBACK_COUNT 1
 #define USE_SELECT
 #define USE_SENSOR
 #define USE_SENSOR_FILTER
@@ -185,6 +201,7 @@
 #define USE_MQTT
 #define USE_MQTT_COVER_JSON
 #define USE_NETWORK
+#define USE_RTTTL_FINISHED_PLAYBACK_CALLBACK
 #define USE_RUNTIME_IMAGE_BMP
 #define USE_RUNTIME_IMAGE_PNG
 #define USE_RUNTIME_IMAGE_JPEG
diff --git a/esphome/core/entity_base.h b/esphome/core/entity_base.h
index 5a69c9dd09b..2726a92c97a 100644
--- a/esphome/core/entity_base.h
+++ b/esphome/core/entity_base.h
@@ -238,6 +238,9 @@ class EntityBase {
  protected:
   friend void ::setup();
   friend void ::original_setup();
+  // Application's register_<entity>(obj, name, hash, fields) overloads call configure_entity_
+  // before push_back, so codegen can emit a single combined call per entity.
+  friend class Application;
 
   /// Combined entity setup from codegen: set name, object_id hash, entity string indices, and flags.
   /// Bit layout of entity_fields is defined by the ENTITY_FIELD_*_SHIFT constants above.
diff --git a/esphome/core/entity_helpers.py b/esphome/core/entity_helpers.py
index f09dd013fe2..ff60260280a 100644
--- a/esphome/core/entity_helpers.py
+++ b/esphome/core/entity_helpers.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ from esphome.core.config import (
     UNIT_OF_MEASUREMENT_MAX_LENGTH,
 )
 from esphome.cpp_generator import MockObj, RawStatement, add, get_variable
+from esphome.cpp_types import App
 import esphome.final_validate as fv
 from esphome.helpers import cpp_string_escape, fnv1_hash_object_id, sanitize, snake_case
 from esphome.types import ConfigType, EntityMetadata
@@ -52,6 +53,12 @@ _KEY_INTERNAL = "_entity_internal"
 _KEY_DISABLED_BY_DEFAULT = "_entity_disabled_by_default"
 _KEY_ENTITY_CATEGORY = "_entity_category"
 
+# Private config key for the App.register_<method> entry point.
+# When set, finalize_entity_strings() emits a single combined call
+# `App.register_<method>(var, name, hash, packed)` instead of separate
+# `App.register_<method>(var)` and `var->configure_entity_(...)` calls.
+_KEY_REGISTER_METHOD = "_entity_register_method"
+
 # Maximum unique strings per category (8-bit index, 0 = not set)
 _MAX_DEVICE_CLASSES = 0xFF  # 255
 _MAX_UNITS = 0xFF  # 255
@@ -271,11 +278,26 @@ def _describe_packed_flags(config: ConfigType, entity_category: int) -> str:
     return ", ".join(parts)
 
 
+def queue_entity_register(method_name: str, config: ConfigType) -> None:
+    """Defer ``App.register_<method_name>(var)`` emission to ``finalize_entity_strings``.
+
+    When the deferred call is emitted, it is folded with ``configure_entity_`` into
+    a single ``App.register_<method_name>(var, name, hash, packed)`` call site,
+    which removes one statement and one method dispatch per entity from the
+    generated ``main.cpp``.
+    """
+    config[_KEY_REGISTER_METHOD] = method_name
+
+
 def finalize_entity_strings(var: MockObj, config: ConfigType) -> None:
-    """Emit a single configure_entity_() call with name, hash, packed string indices, and flags.
+    """Emit the entity-registration / configure_entity_ tail.
 
     Call this at the end of each component's setup function, after
     setup_entity() and any register_device_class/register_unit_of_measurement calls.
+
+    If queue_entity_register() was called for this entity, emits one combined call
+    ``App.register_<method>(var, name, hash, packed)``. Otherwise falls back to a
+    standalone ``var->configure_entity_(name, hash, packed)``.
     """
     entity_name = config[_KEY_ENTITY_NAME]
     object_id_hash = config[_KEY_OBJECT_ID_HASH]
@@ -295,7 +317,13 @@ def finalize_entity_strings(var: MockObj, config: ConfigType) -> None:
     )
     # Build inline comment describing the packed flags for readability
     comment = _describe_packed_flags(config, entity_category)
-    expr = var.configure_entity_(entity_name, object_id_hash, packed)
+    register_method = config.get(_KEY_REGISTER_METHOD)
+    if register_method is not None:
+        expr = getattr(App, f"register_{register_method}")(
+            var, entity_name, object_id_hash, packed
+        )
+    else:
+        expr = var.configure_entity_(entity_name, object_id_hash, packed)
     if comment:
         add(RawStatement(f"{expr};  // {comment}"))
     else:
diff --git a/esphome/core/helpers.h b/esphome/core/helpers.h
index 366ae6da9ee..355db6c7f4f 100644
--- a/esphome/core/helpers.h
+++ b/esphome/core/helpers.h
@@ -1633,7 +1633,7 @@ template<typename... Ts> struct Callback<void(Ts...)> {
   void *ctx_{nullptr};
 
   /// Invoke the callback. Only valid on Callbacks created via create(), never on default-constructed instances.
-  void call(Ts... args) const { this->fn_(this->ctx_, args...); }
+  void call(Ts... args) const { this->fn_(this->ctx_, std::forward<Ts>(args)...); }
 
   /// Create from any callable. Small trivially-copyable callables (like [this] lambdas)
   /// are stored inline in the ctx pointer without heap allocation.
@@ -1709,7 +1709,7 @@ template<typename... Ts> class CallbackManager<void(Ts...)> {
   template<typename F> void add(F &&callback) { this->add_(CbType::create(std::forward<F>(callback))); }
 
   /// Call all callbacks in this manager.
-  inline void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE call(Ts... args) {
+  inline void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE call(const Ts &...args) {
     if (this->size_ != 0) {
       for (auto *it = this->data_, *end = it + this->size_; it != end; ++it) {
         it->call(args...);
@@ -1719,7 +1719,7 @@ template<typename... Ts> class CallbackManager<void(Ts...)> {
   uint16_t size() const { return this->size_; }
 
   /// Call all callbacks in this manager.
-  void operator()(Ts... args) { this->call(args...); }
+  void operator()(const Ts &...args) { this->call(args...); }
 
  protected:
   template<typename...> friend class LazyCallbackManager;
diff --git a/esphome/core/lwip_fast_select.h b/esphome/core/lwip_fast_select.h
index 3b5e449148d..4ba2606d76c 100644
--- a/esphome/core/lwip_fast_select.h
+++ b/esphome/core/lwip_fast_select.h
@@ -26,25 +26,23 @@ extern "C" {
 struct lwip_sock *esphome_lwip_get_sock(int fd);
 
 /// Check if a cached LwIP socket has data ready via unlocked hint read of rcvevent.
-/// This avoids lwIP core lock contention between the main loop (CPU0) and
-/// streaming/networking work (CPU1). Correctness is preserved because callers
-/// already handle EWOULDBLOCK on nonblocking sockets — a stale hint simply causes
-/// a harmless retry on the next loop iteration. In practice, stale reads have not
-/// been observed across multi-day testing, but the design does not depend on that.
-///
-/// The sock pointer must have been obtained from esphome_lwip_get_sock() and must
-/// remain valid (caller owns socket lifetime — no concurrent close).
-/// Hot path: inlined volatile 16-bit load — no function call overhead.
-/// Uses offset-based access because lwip/priv/sockets_priv.h conflicts with C++.
+/// On ESPHOME_THREAD_MULTI_ATOMICS builds, the caller must run on the main
+/// loop task after Application::loop's per-iter std::atomic_thread_fence
+/// (memory_order_acquire); that fence pairs with the TCP/IP thread's
+/// SYS_ARCH_UNPROTECT release, so a plain load suffices and avoids the
+/// per-call `memw` that volatile would emit on Xtensa under default
+/// -mserialize-volatile. Without atomics (e.g. BK72xx), the fence is skipped
+/// and the volatile load provides ordering on its own.
+/// Stale reads are harmless either way: the hooked event_callback
+/// xTaskNotifyGives on RCVPLUS, so the next iteration re-snapshots and
+/// ulTaskNotifyTake never loses a wake.
 /// The offset and size are verified at compile time in lwip_fast_select.c.
 static inline bool esphome_lwip_socket_has_data(struct lwip_sock *sock) {
-  // Unlocked hint read — no lwIP core lock needed.
-  // volatile prevents the compiler from caching/reordering this cross-thread read.
-  // The write side (TCP/IP thread) commits via SYS_ARCH_UNPROTECT which releases a
-  // FreeRTOS mutex (ESP32) or resumes the scheduler (LibreTiny), ensuring the value
-  // is visible. Aligned 16-bit reads are single-instruction loads (L16SI/LH/LDRH) on
-  // Xtensa/RISC-V/ARM and cannot produce torn values.
+#ifdef ESPHOME_THREAD_MULTI_ATOMICS
+  return *(int16_t *) ((char *) sock + (int) ESPHOME_LWIP_SOCK_RCVEVENT_OFFSET) > 0;
+#else
   return *(volatile int16_t *) ((char *) sock + (int) ESPHOME_LWIP_SOCK_RCVEVENT_OFFSET) > 0;
+#endif
 }
 
 /// Hook a socket's netconn callback to notify the main loop task on receive events.
diff --git a/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp b/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp
index d83d67d6e42..11884ce4ba9 100644
--- a/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp
@@ -772,6 +772,8 @@ Scheduler::SchedulerItem *HOT Scheduler::pop_raw_locked_() {
 // Helper to execute a scheduler item
 uint32_t HOT Scheduler::execute_item_(SchedulerItem *item, uint32_t now) {
   App.set_current_component(item->component);
+  // Freshen so callbacks reading App.get_loop_component_start_time() see this item's dispatch time.
+  App.set_loop_component_start_time_(now);
   WarnIfComponentBlockingGuard guard{item->component, now};
   item->callback();
   uint32_t end = guard.finish();
diff --git a/esphome/core/time_64.cpp b/esphome/core/time_64.cpp
index cf651c3e91a..25076228d5e 100644
--- a/esphome/core/time_64.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/time_64.cpp
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ static const char *const TAG = "time_64";
 
 #ifdef ESPHOME_THREAD_SINGLE
 // Storage for Millis64Impl inline compute() — defined here so all TUs share one copy.
-uint32_t Millis64Impl::last_millis_{0};
-uint16_t Millis64Impl::millis_major_{0};
+uint32_t Millis64Impl::last_millis{0};
+uint16_t Millis64Impl::millis_major{0};
 #else
 
 uint64_t Millis64Impl::compute(uint32_t now) {
diff --git a/esphome/core/time_64.h b/esphome/core/time_64.h
index b86070cc76b..f66f9afddb8 100644
--- a/esphome/core/time_64.h
+++ b/esphome/core/time_64.h
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ class Millis64Impl {
 
 #ifdef ESPHOME_THREAD_SINGLE
   // Storage defined in time_64.cpp — declared here so the inline body can access them.
-  static uint32_t last_millis_;
-  static uint16_t millis_major_;
+  static uint32_t last_millis;
+  static uint16_t millis_major;
 
   // Raw __attribute__((always_inline)) (not ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE) so this
   // header does not need to pull helpers.h.
@@ -30,17 +30,17 @@ class Millis64Impl {
 
     // Single-core platforms have no concurrency, so this is a simple implementation
     // that just tracks 32-bit rollover (every 49.7 days) without any locking or atomics.
-    uint16_t major = millis_major_;
-    uint32_t last = last_millis_;
+    uint16_t major = millis_major;
+    uint32_t last = last_millis;
 
     // Check for rollover
     if (now < last && (last - now) > HALF_MAX_UINT32) {
-      millis_major_++;
+      millis_major++;
       major++;
-      last_millis_ = now;
+      last_millis = now;
     } else if (now > last) {
       // Only update if time moved forward
-      last_millis_ = now;
+      last_millis = now;
     }
 
     // Combine major (high 32 bits) and now (low 32 bits) into 64-bit time
diff --git a/esphome/core/wake.h b/esphome/core/wake.h
index 0cfca94a78e..5a5d27ceff9 100644
--- a/esphome/core/wake.h
+++ b/esphome/core/wake.h
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 /// @file wake.h
 /// Platform-specific main loop wake primitives.
 /// Always available on all platforms — no opt-in needed.
+///
+/// The public API for callers lives here; the per-platform implementations
+/// live under esphome/core/wake/ and are included at the bottom of this file
+/// based on the active USE_* platform define.
 
 #include "esphome/core/defines.h"
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
@@ -11,21 +15,6 @@
 #include <atomic>
 #endif
 
-#if defined(USE_ESP32) || defined(USE_LIBRETINY)
-#include "esphome/core/main_task.h"
-#endif
-#ifdef USE_ESP8266
-#include <coredecls.h>
-#elif defined(USE_RP2040)
-#include <hardware/sync.h>
-#include <pico/time.h>
-#endif
-
-#ifdef USE_HOST
-#include <sys/select.h>
-#include <sys/socket.h>
-#endif
-
 namespace esphome {
 
 // === Wake flag for ESP8266/RP2040 ===
@@ -67,184 +56,21 @@ __attribute__((always_inline)) inline bool wake_request_take() {
 }
 #endif
 
-// === ESP32 / LibreTiny (FreeRTOS) ===
-#if defined(USE_ESP32) || defined(USE_LIBRETINY)
-
-/// Wake the main loop from any context (ISR or task).
-/// always_inline so callers placed in IRAM keep the whole wake path in IRAM.
-__attribute__((always_inline)) inline void wake_main_task_any_context() {
-  // Set the wake-requested flag BEFORE the task notification so the consumer
-  // (Application::loop() gate) is guaranteed to see it on its next gate check.
-  wake_request_set();
-  if (in_isr_context()) {
-    BaseType_t px_higher_priority_task_woken = pdFALSE;
-    esphome_main_task_notify_from_isr(&px_higher_priority_task_woken);
-#ifdef portYIELD_FROM_ISR
-    portYIELD_FROM_ISR(px_higher_priority_task_woken);
-#else
-    // ARM9 FreeRTOS port (BK72xx) does not define portYIELD_FROM_ISR; the IRQ
-    // exit sequence performs the context switch if one was requested.
-    (void) px_higher_priority_task_woken;
-#endif
-  } else {
-    esphome_main_task_notify();
-  }
-}
-
-/// IRAM_ATTR entry points — defined in wake.cpp.
-void wake_loop_isrsafe(BaseType_t *px_higher_priority_task_woken);
-void wake_loop_any_context();
-
-inline void wake_loop_threadsafe() {
-  wake_request_set();
-  esphome_main_task_notify();
-}
-
-namespace internal {
-inline void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE wakeable_delay(uint32_t ms) {
-  // Fast path (with USE_LWIP_FAST_SELECT): FreeRTOS task notifications posted by the lwip
-  // event_callback wrapper (see lwip_fast_select.c) are the single source of truth for
-  // socket wake-ups. Every NETCONN_EVT_RCVPLUS posts an xTaskNotifyGive, so any notification
-  // that lands between wakes keeps the counter non-zero (next ulTaskNotifyTake returns
-  // immediately) or wakes a blocked Take directly. Additional wake sources:
-  // wake_loop_threadsafe() from background tasks, and the ms timeout.
-  if (ms == 0) [[unlikely]] {
-    yield();
-    return;
-  }
-  ulTaskNotifyTake(pdTRUE, pdMS_TO_TICKS(ms));
-}
-}  // namespace internal
-
-// === ESP8266 ===
-#elif defined(USE_ESP8266)
-
-/// Inline implementation — IRAM callers inline this directly.
-inline void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE wake_loop_impl() {
-  // Set the wake-requested flag BEFORE esp_schedule so the consumer is
-  // guaranteed to see it on its next gate check.
-  wake_request_set();
-  g_main_loop_woke = true;
-  esp_schedule();
-}
-
-/// IRAM_ATTR entry point for ISR callers — defined in wake.cpp.
-void wake_loop_any_context();
-
-/// Non-ISR: always inline.
-inline void wake_loop_threadsafe() { wake_loop_impl(); }
-
-/// ISR-safe: no task_woken arg because ESP8266 has no FreeRTOS. Caller must be IRAM_ATTR.
-inline void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE wake_loop_isrsafe() { wake_loop_impl(); }
-
-namespace internal {
-inline void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE wakeable_delay(uint32_t ms) {
-  if (ms == 0) [[unlikely]] {
-    delay(0);
-    return;
-  }
-  if (g_main_loop_woke) {
-    g_main_loop_woke = false;
-    return;
-  }
-  esp_delay(ms, []() { return !g_main_loop_woke; });
-}
-}  // namespace internal
-
-// === RP2040 ===
-#elif defined(USE_RP2040)
-
-inline void wake_loop_any_context() {
-  // Set the wake-requested flag BEFORE the SEV so the consumer is guaranteed
-  // to see it on its next gate check.
-  wake_request_set();
-  g_main_loop_woke = true;
-  __sev();
-}
-
-inline void wake_loop_threadsafe() { wake_loop_any_context(); }
-
-/// RP2040 wakeable delay uses file-scope state (alarm callback + flag) — defined in wake.cpp.
-namespace internal {
-void wakeable_delay(uint32_t ms);
-}  // namespace internal
-
-// === Host / Zephyr / other ===
-#else
-
-#ifdef USE_HOST
-/// Host: wakes select() via UDP loopback socket. Defined in wake.cpp.
-void wake_loop_threadsafe();
-
-/// Register a socket file descriptor with the host select() loop. Not
-/// thread-safe — main loop only. Returns false if fd is invalid or
-/// >= FD_SETSIZE.
-bool wake_register_fd(int fd);
-
-/// Unregister a socket file descriptor. Not thread-safe — main loop only.
-void wake_unregister_fd(int fd);
-
-/// One-time setup of the loopback wake socket. Called from Application::setup().
-void wake_setup();
-
-// wake_fd_ready() and wake_drain_notifications() are defined inline at the
-// bottom of this file — they need internal::g_read_fds / g_wake_socket_fd in
-// scope, which depend on USE_HOST-only includes pulled in above.
-#else
-/// Zephyr is currently the only platform without a wake mechanism.
-/// wake_loop_threadsafe() is a no-op and wakeable_delay() falls back to delay().
-/// TODO: implement proper Zephyr wake using k_poll / k_sem or similar.
-inline void wake_loop_threadsafe() {}
-#endif
-
-inline void wake_loop_any_context() { wake_loop_threadsafe(); }
-
-namespace internal {
-#ifdef USE_HOST
-/// Host wakeable_delay uses select() over the registered fds — defined in wake.cpp.
-void wakeable_delay(uint32_t ms);
-#else
-inline void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE wakeable_delay(uint32_t ms) {
-  if (ms == 0) [[unlikely]] {
-    yield();
-    return;
-  }
-  delay(ms);
-}
-#endif
-}  // namespace internal
-
-#endif
-
-#ifdef USE_HOST
-namespace internal {
-// File-scope state owned by wake.cpp. Accessed inline by wake_drain_notifications()
-// and wake_fd_ready() so the hot path stays in the header.
-// NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
-extern int g_wake_socket_fd;
-// NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
-extern fd_set g_read_fds;
-}  // namespace internal
-
-inline bool ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE wake_fd_ready(int fd) { return FD_ISSET(fd, &internal::g_read_fds); }
-
-// Small buffer for draining wake notification bytes (1 byte sent per wake).
-// Sized to drain multiple notifications per recvfrom() without wasting stack.
-inline constexpr size_t WAKE_NOTIFY_DRAIN_BUFFER_SIZE = 16;
-
-inline void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE wake_drain_notifications() {
-  // Called from main loop to drain any pending wake notifications.
-  // Must check wake_fd_ready() to avoid blocking on empty socket.
-  if (internal::g_wake_socket_fd >= 0 && wake_fd_ready(internal::g_wake_socket_fd)) {
-    char buffer[WAKE_NOTIFY_DRAIN_BUFFER_SIZE];
-    // Drain all pending notifications with non-blocking reads. Multiple wake events
-    // may have triggered multiple writes, so drain until EWOULDBLOCK. We control
-    // both ends of this loopback socket (always 1 byte per wake), so no error
-    // checking — any error indicates catastrophic system failure.
-    while (::recvfrom(internal::g_wake_socket_fd, buffer, sizeof(buffer), 0, nullptr, nullptr) > 0) {
-    }
-  }
-}
-#endif  // USE_HOST
-
 }  // namespace esphome
+
+// Per-platform implementations. Each header re-enters namespace esphome {} and
+// guards its body with the matching USE_* check, so only one contributes code
+// for the active target.
+#if defined(USE_ESP32) || defined(USE_LIBRETINY)
+#include "esphome/core/wake/wake_freertos.h"
+#elif defined(USE_ESP8266)
+#include "esphome/core/wake/wake_esp8266.h"
+#elif defined(USE_RP2040)
+#include "esphome/core/wake/wake_rp2040.h"
+#elif defined(USE_HOST)
+#include "esphome/core/wake/wake_host.h"
+#elif defined(USE_ZEPHYR)
+#include "esphome/core/wake/wake_zephyr.h"
+#else
+#error "wake.h: wake_loop_threadsafe() is not implemented for this platform"
+#endif
diff --git a/esphome/core/wake/wake_esp8266.cpp b/esphome/core/wake/wake_esp8266.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9ced43c6dff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/esphome/core/wake/wake_esp8266.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#include "esphome/core/defines.h"
+
+#ifdef USE_ESP8266
+
+#include "esphome/core/hal.h"
+#include "esphome/core/wake.h"
+
+namespace esphome {
+
+// === Wake-requested flag + main-loop woke flag storage ===
+// ESP8266 is always ESPHOME_THREAD_SINGLE.
+// NOLINTBEGIN(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+volatile uint8_t g_wake_requested = 0;
+volatile bool g_main_loop_woke = false;
+// NOLINTEND(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+
+void IRAM_ATTR wake_loop_any_context() { wake_loop_impl(); }
+
+}  // namespace esphome
+
+#endif  // USE_ESP8266
diff --git a/esphome/core/wake/wake_esp8266.h b/esphome/core/wake/wake_esp8266.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7eaaae52930
--- /dev/null
+++ b/esphome/core/wake/wake_esp8266.h
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "esphome/core/defines.h"
+
+#ifdef USE_ESP8266
+
+#include "esphome/core/hal.h"
+
+#include <coredecls.h>
+
+namespace esphome {
+
+/// Inline implementation — IRAM callers inline this directly.
+inline void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE wake_loop_impl() {
+  // Set the wake-requested flag BEFORE esp_schedule so the consumer is
+  // guaranteed to see it on its next gate check.
+  wake_request_set();
+  g_main_loop_woke = true;
+  esp_schedule();
+}
+
+/// IRAM_ATTR entry point for ISR callers — defined in wake_esp8266.cpp.
+void wake_loop_any_context();
+
+/// Non-ISR: always inline.
+inline void wake_loop_threadsafe() { wake_loop_impl(); }
+
+/// ISR-safe: no task_woken arg because ESP8266 has no FreeRTOS. Caller must be IRAM_ATTR.
+inline void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE wake_loop_isrsafe() { wake_loop_impl(); }
+
+namespace internal {
+inline void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE wakeable_delay(uint32_t ms) {
+  if (ms == 0) [[unlikely]] {
+    delay(0);
+    return;
+  }
+  if (g_main_loop_woke) {
+    g_main_loop_woke = false;
+    // Yield even on the already-woken fast path so callers in tight loops
+    // (e.g. lwIP raw TCP wait_for_data_) make forward progress when ISRs
+    // keep re-setting g_main_loop_woke between iterations.
+    delay(0);
+    return;
+  }
+  esp_delay(ms, []() { return !g_main_loop_woke; });
+}
+}  // namespace internal
+
+}  // namespace esphome
+
+#endif  // USE_ESP8266
diff --git a/esphome/core/wake/wake_freertos.cpp b/esphome/core/wake/wake_freertos.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0bf700daa89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/esphome/core/wake/wake_freertos.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+#include "esphome/core/defines.h"
+
+#if defined(USE_ESP32) || defined(USE_LIBRETINY)
+
+#include "esphome/core/hal.h"
+#include "esphome/core/wake.h"
+
+namespace esphome {
+
+// === Wake-requested flag storage ===
+// ESP32 is always MULTI_ATOMICS; LibreTiny is MULTI_ATOMICS on chips with
+// proper atomics (e.g. RTL8720) and MULTI_NO_ATOMICS on others (e.g. BK72XX).
+#ifdef ESPHOME_THREAD_MULTI_ATOMICS
+// NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+std::atomic<uint8_t> g_wake_requested{0};
+#else
+// NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+volatile uint8_t g_wake_requested = 0;
+#endif
+
+void IRAM_ATTR wake_loop_isrsafe(BaseType_t *px_higher_priority_task_woken) {
+  // ISR-safe: set flag before notify so the wake is visible on the next gate
+  // check. wake_request_set() is just an aligned 8-bit store / atomic store
+  // and is safe from IRAM.
+  wake_request_set();
+  esphome_main_task_notify_from_isr(px_higher_priority_task_woken);
+}
+
+void IRAM_ATTR wake_loop_any_context() { wake_main_task_any_context(); }
+
+}  // namespace esphome
+
+#endif  // USE_ESP32 || USE_LIBRETINY
diff --git a/esphome/core/wake/wake_freertos.h b/esphome/core/wake/wake_freertos.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..167a422c614
--- /dev/null
+++ b/esphome/core/wake/wake_freertos.h
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "esphome/core/defines.h"
+
+#if defined(USE_ESP32) || defined(USE_LIBRETINY)
+
+#include "esphome/core/hal.h"
+#include "esphome/core/main_task.h"
+
+namespace esphome {
+
+/// Wake the main loop from any context (ISR or task).
+/// always_inline so callers placed in IRAM keep the whole wake path in IRAM.
+__attribute__((always_inline)) inline void wake_main_task_any_context() {
+  // Set the wake-requested flag BEFORE the task notification so the consumer
+  // (Application::loop() gate) is guaranteed to see it on its next gate check.
+  wake_request_set();
+  if (in_isr_context()) {
+    BaseType_t px_higher_priority_task_woken = pdFALSE;
+    esphome_main_task_notify_from_isr(&px_higher_priority_task_woken);
+#ifdef portYIELD_FROM_ISR
+    portYIELD_FROM_ISR(px_higher_priority_task_woken);
+#else
+    // ARM9 FreeRTOS port (BK72xx) does not define portYIELD_FROM_ISR; the IRQ
+    // exit sequence performs the context switch if one was requested.
+    (void) px_higher_priority_task_woken;
+#endif
+  } else {
+    esphome_main_task_notify();
+  }
+}
+
+/// IRAM_ATTR entry points — defined in wake_freertos.cpp.
+void wake_loop_isrsafe(BaseType_t *px_higher_priority_task_woken);
+void wake_loop_any_context();
+
+inline void wake_loop_threadsafe() {
+  wake_request_set();
+  esphome_main_task_notify();
+}
+
+namespace internal {
+inline void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE wakeable_delay(uint32_t ms) {
+  // Fast path (with USE_LWIP_FAST_SELECT): FreeRTOS task notifications posted by the lwip
+  // event_callback wrapper (see lwip_fast_select.c) are the single source of truth for
+  // socket wake-ups. Every NETCONN_EVT_RCVPLUS posts an xTaskNotifyGive, so any notification
+  // that lands between wakes keeps the counter non-zero (next ulTaskNotifyTake returns
+  // immediately) or wakes a blocked Take directly. Additional wake sources:
+  // wake_loop_threadsafe() from background tasks, and the ms timeout.
+  if (ms == 0) [[unlikely]] {
+    yield();
+    return;
+  }
+  ulTaskNotifyTake(pdTRUE, pdMS_TO_TICKS(ms));
+}
+}  // namespace internal
+
+}  // namespace esphome
+
+#endif  // USE_ESP32 || USE_LIBRETINY
diff --git a/esphome/core/wake.cpp b/esphome/core/wake/wake_host.cpp
similarity index 74%
rename from esphome/core/wake.cpp
rename to esphome/core/wake/wake_host.cpp
index cac88ae91ef..9d2a650ca24 100644
--- a/esphome/core/wake.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/wake/wake_host.cpp
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
-#include "esphome/core/wake.h"
-#include "esphome/core/hal.h"
-#include "esphome/core/log.h"
-
-#ifdef USE_ESP8266
-#include <coredecls.h>
-#endif
+#include "esphome/core/defines.h"
 
 #ifdef USE_HOST
+
+#include "esphome/core/hal.h"
+#include "esphome/core/log.h"
+#include "esphome/core/wake.h"
+
 #include <arpa/inet.h>
 #include <cerrno>
 #include <fcntl.h>
@@ -15,88 +14,19 @@
 #include <sys/socket.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <vector>
-#endif
 
 namespace esphome {
 
 // === Wake-requested flag storage ===
-#ifdef ESPHOME_THREAD_MULTI_ATOMICS
+// Host is always ESPHOME_THREAD_MULTI_ATOMICS.
 // NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
 std::atomic<uint8_t> g_wake_requested{0};
-#else
-// NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
-volatile uint8_t g_wake_requested = 0;
-#endif
-
-// === ESP32 / LibreTiny — IRAM_ATTR entry points ===
-#if defined(USE_ESP32) || defined(USE_LIBRETINY)
-void IRAM_ATTR wake_loop_isrsafe(BaseType_t *px_higher_priority_task_woken) {
-  // ISR-safe: set flag before notify so the wake is visible on the next gate
-  // check. wake_request_set() is just an aligned 8-bit store / atomic store
-  // and is safe from IRAM.
-  wake_request_set();
-  esphome_main_task_notify_from_isr(px_higher_priority_task_woken);
-}
-void IRAM_ATTR wake_loop_any_context() { wake_main_task_any_context(); }
-#endif
-
-// === ESP8266 / RP2040 ===
-#if defined(USE_ESP8266) || defined(USE_RP2040)
-// NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
-volatile bool g_main_loop_woke = false;
-#endif
-
-#ifdef USE_ESP8266
-void IRAM_ATTR wake_loop_any_context() { wake_loop_impl(); }
-#endif
-
-// === RP2040 — wakeable_delay (needs file-scope state for alarm callback) ===
-#ifdef USE_RP2040
-// NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
-static volatile bool s_delay_expired = false;
-
-static int64_t alarm_callback_(alarm_id_t id, void *user_data) {
-  (void) id;
-  (void) user_data;
-  s_delay_expired = true;
-  __sev();
-  return 0;
-}
-
-namespace internal {
-void wakeable_delay(uint32_t ms) {
-  if (ms == 0) [[unlikely]] {
-    yield();
-    return;
-  }
-  if (g_main_loop_woke) {
-    g_main_loop_woke = false;
-    return;
-  }
-  s_delay_expired = false;
-  alarm_id_t alarm = add_alarm_in_ms(ms, alarm_callback_, nullptr, true);
-  if (alarm <= 0) {
-    delay(ms);
-    return;
-  }
-  while (!g_main_loop_woke && !s_delay_expired) {
-    __wfe();
-  }
-  if (!s_delay_expired)
-    cancel_alarm(alarm);
-  g_main_loop_woke = false;
-}
-}  // namespace internal
-#endif  // USE_RP2040
-
-// === Host (UDP loopback socket + select() based fd watcher) ===
-#ifdef USE_HOST
 
 static const char *const TAG = "wake";
 
 namespace internal {
 // File-scope state — referenced inline by wake_drain_notifications() and
-// wake_fd_ready() in wake.h, and by the bodies in this file.
+// wake_fd_ready() in wake_host.h, and by the bodies in this file.
 // NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
 int g_wake_socket_fd = -1;
 // NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
@@ -271,6 +201,7 @@ void wake_setup() {
     return;
   }
 }
-#endif  // USE_HOST
 
 }  // namespace esphome
+
+#endif  // USE_HOST
diff --git a/esphome/core/wake/wake_host.h b/esphome/core/wake/wake_host.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9756ed4c39b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/esphome/core/wake/wake_host.h
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "esphome/core/defines.h"
+
+#ifdef USE_HOST
+
+#include "esphome/core/hal.h"
+
+#include <sys/select.h>
+#include <sys/socket.h>
+
+namespace esphome {
+
+/// Host: wakes select() via UDP loopback socket. Defined in wake_host.cpp.
+void wake_loop_threadsafe();
+
+/// Register a socket file descriptor with the host select() loop. Not
+/// thread-safe — main loop only. Returns false if fd is invalid or
+/// >= FD_SETSIZE.
+bool wake_register_fd(int fd);
+
+/// Unregister a socket file descriptor. Not thread-safe — main loop only.
+void wake_unregister_fd(int fd);
+
+/// One-time setup of the loopback wake socket. Called from Application::setup().
+void wake_setup();
+
+inline void wake_loop_any_context() { wake_loop_threadsafe(); }
+
+namespace internal {
+/// Host wakeable_delay uses select() over the registered fds — defined in wake_host.cpp.
+void wakeable_delay(uint32_t ms);
+
+// File-scope state owned by wake_host.cpp. Accessed inline by
+// wake_drain_notifications() and wake_fd_ready() so the hot path stays in the header.
+// NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+extern int g_wake_socket_fd;
+// NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+extern fd_set g_read_fds;
+}  // namespace internal
+
+inline bool ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE wake_fd_ready(int fd) { return FD_ISSET(fd, &internal::g_read_fds); }
+
+// Small buffer for draining wake notification bytes (1 byte sent per wake).
+// Sized to drain multiple notifications per recvfrom() without wasting stack.
+inline constexpr size_t WAKE_NOTIFY_DRAIN_BUFFER_SIZE = 16;
+
+inline void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE wake_drain_notifications() {
+  // Called from main loop to drain any pending wake notifications.
+  // Must check wake_fd_ready() to avoid blocking on empty socket.
+  if (internal::g_wake_socket_fd >= 0 && wake_fd_ready(internal::g_wake_socket_fd)) {
+    char buffer[WAKE_NOTIFY_DRAIN_BUFFER_SIZE];
+    // Drain all pending notifications with non-blocking reads. Multiple wake events
+    // may have triggered multiple writes, so drain until EWOULDBLOCK. We control
+    // both ends of this loopback socket (always 1 byte per wake), so no error
+    // checking — any error indicates catastrophic system failure.
+    while (::recvfrom(internal::g_wake_socket_fd, buffer, sizeof(buffer), 0, nullptr, nullptr) > 0) {
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+}  // namespace esphome
+
+#endif  // USE_HOST
diff --git a/esphome/core/wake/wake_rp2040.cpp b/esphome/core/wake/wake_rp2040.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bdcbb1ad00c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/esphome/core/wake/wake_rp2040.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+#include "esphome/core/defines.h"
+
+#ifdef USE_RP2040
+
+#include "esphome/core/hal.h"
+#include "esphome/core/wake.h"
+
+#include <hardware/sync.h>
+#include <pico/time.h>
+
+namespace esphome {
+
+// === Wake-requested flag + main-loop woke flag storage ===
+// RP2040 is always ESPHOME_THREAD_SINGLE.
+// NOLINTBEGIN(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+volatile uint8_t g_wake_requested = 0;
+volatile bool g_main_loop_woke = false;
+// NOLINTEND(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+
+// NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+static volatile bool s_delay_expired = false;
+
+static int64_t alarm_callback_(alarm_id_t id, void *user_data) {
+  (void) id;
+  (void) user_data;
+  s_delay_expired = true;
+  __sev();
+  return 0;
+}
+
+namespace internal {
+void wakeable_delay(uint32_t ms) {
+  if (ms == 0) [[unlikely]] {
+    yield();
+    return;
+  }
+  if (g_main_loop_woke) {
+    g_main_loop_woke = false;
+    // Yield even on the already-woken fast path so callers in tight loops
+    // (e.g. lwIP raw TCP wait_for_data_) make forward progress when async
+    // wakes keep re-setting g_main_loop_woke between iterations.
+    yield();
+    return;
+  }
+  s_delay_expired = false;
+  alarm_id_t alarm = add_alarm_in_ms(ms, alarm_callback_, nullptr, true);
+  if (alarm <= 0) {
+    delay(ms);
+    return;
+  }
+  while (!g_main_loop_woke && !s_delay_expired) {
+    __wfe();
+  }
+  if (!s_delay_expired)
+    cancel_alarm(alarm);
+  g_main_loop_woke = false;
+}
+}  // namespace internal
+
+}  // namespace esphome
+
+#endif  // USE_RP2040
diff --git a/esphome/core/wake/wake_rp2040.h b/esphome/core/wake/wake_rp2040.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ea1242f535c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/esphome/core/wake/wake_rp2040.h
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "esphome/core/defines.h"
+
+#ifdef USE_RP2040
+
+#include "esphome/core/hal.h"
+
+#include <hardware/sync.h>
+#include <pico/time.h>
+
+namespace esphome {
+
+inline void wake_loop_any_context() {
+  // Set the wake-requested flag BEFORE the SEV so the consumer is guaranteed
+  // to see it on its next gate check.
+  wake_request_set();
+  g_main_loop_woke = true;
+  __sev();
+}
+
+inline void wake_loop_threadsafe() { wake_loop_any_context(); }
+
+/// RP2040 wakeable delay uses file-scope state (alarm callback + flag) — defined in wake_rp2040.cpp.
+namespace internal {
+void wakeable_delay(uint32_t ms);
+}  // namespace internal
+
+}  // namespace esphome
+
+#endif  // USE_RP2040
diff --git a/esphome/core/wake/wake_zephyr.cpp b/esphome/core/wake/wake_zephyr.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..577d53f5d9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/esphome/core/wake/wake_zephyr.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+#include "esphome/core/defines.h"
+
+#ifdef USE_ZEPHYR
+
+#include "esphome/core/hal.h"
+#include "esphome/core/wake.h"
+
+#include <zephyr/kernel.h>
+
+namespace esphome {
+
+// NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+K_SEM_DEFINE(esphome_wake_sem, 0, 1);
+
+// === Wake-requested flag storage ===
+// Zephyr has preemptive threads and ISRs, so wake_loop_threadsafe() is genuinely
+// called cross-context. volatile uint8_t is sufficient because: (1) Cortex-M
+// 8-bit aligned store/load is a single non-tearing instruction, and (2) every
+// producer pairs the store with k_sem_give() (release barrier) and the consumer
+// pairs the load with k_sem_take() (acquire barrier).
+// NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+volatile uint8_t g_wake_requested = 0;
+
+void wake_loop_threadsafe() {
+  wake_request_set();
+  k_sem_give(&esphome_wake_sem);
+}
+
+namespace internal {
+void wakeable_delay(uint32_t ms) {
+  if (ms == 0) [[unlikely]] {
+    yield();
+    return;
+  }
+  k_sem_take(&esphome_wake_sem, ms == UINT32_MAX ? K_FOREVER : K_MSEC(ms));
+}
+}  // namespace internal
+
+}  // namespace esphome
+
+#endif  // USE_ZEPHYR
diff --git a/esphome/core/wake/wake_zephyr.h b/esphome/core/wake/wake_zephyr.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c89cfc68e94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/esphome/core/wake/wake_zephyr.h
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "esphome/core/defines.h"
+
+#ifdef USE_ZEPHYR
+
+#include "esphome/core/hal.h"
+
+namespace esphome {
+
+/// Zephyr: wakes the main loop via k_sem_give(). Thread- and ISR-safe.
+/// Defined in wake_zephyr.cpp.
+void wake_loop_threadsafe();
+
+inline void wake_loop_any_context() { wake_loop_threadsafe(); }
+
+/// ISR-safe: no task_woken arg because Zephyr's k_sem_give() does its own ISR
+/// scheduling. Forwards to wake_loop_threadsafe().
+inline void wake_loop_isrsafe() { wake_loop_threadsafe(); }
+
+namespace internal {
+/// Zephyr wakeable_delay uses k_sem_take() with a timeout — defined in wake_zephyr.cpp.
+void wakeable_delay(uint32_t ms);
+}  // namespace internal
+
+}  // namespace esphome
+
+#endif  // USE_ZEPHYR
diff --git a/esphome/cpp_helpers.py b/esphome/cpp_helpers.py
index f2bd3b92a31..b035e28a7ad 100644
--- a/esphome/cpp_helpers.py
+++ b/esphome/cpp_helpers.py
@@ -197,9 +197,9 @@ async def register_component(var, config):
         )
     if name is not None:
         idx = register_component_source(name)
-        add(var.set_component_source_(idx))
-
-    add(App.register_component_(var))
+        add(App.register_component_(var, idx))
+    else:
+        add(App.register_component_(var))
 
     # Collect C++ type for compile-time looping component count
     comp_entries = CORE.data.setdefault("looping_component_entries", [])
diff --git a/esphome/dashboard/web_server.py b/esphome/dashboard/web_server.py
index b8e17244e53..d67245967c5 100644
--- a/esphome/dashboard/web_server.py
+++ b/esphome/dashboard/web_server.py
@@ -437,7 +437,11 @@ class EsphomePortCommandWebSocket(EsphomeCommandWebSocket):
 class EsphomeLogsHandler(EsphomePortCommandWebSocket):
     async def build_command(self, json_message: dict[str, Any]) -> list[str]:
         """Build the command to run."""
-        return await self.build_device_command(["logs"], json_message)
+        cmd = await self.build_device_command(["logs"], json_message)
+        if json_message.get("no_states"):
+            cmd.append("--no-states")
+            _LOGGER.debug("Built command: %s", cmd)
+        return cmd
 
 
 class EsphomeRenameHandler(EsphomeCommandWebSocket):
diff --git a/esphome/external_files.py b/esphome/external_files.py
index 55711e1b790..bd29dc93b1d 100644
--- a/esphome/external_files.py
+++ b/esphome/external_files.py
@@ -1,14 +1,17 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import contextlib
 from datetime import UTC, datetime
 import logging
+import os
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import requests
 
 import esphome.config_validation as cv
 from esphome.const import __version__
-from esphome.core import CORE, TimePeriodSeconds
+from esphome.core import CORE, EsphomeError, TimePeriodSeconds
+from esphome.helpers import write_file
 
 _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 CODEOWNERS = ["@landonr"]
@@ -16,12 +19,72 @@ CODEOWNERS = ["@landonr"]
 NETWORK_TIMEOUT = 30
 
 IF_MODIFIED_SINCE = "If-Modified-Since"
+IF_NONE_MATCH = "If-None-Match"
+ETAG = "ETag"
 CACHE_CONTROL = "Cache-Control"
 CACHE_CONTROL_MAX_AGE = "max-age="
 CONTENT_DISPOSITION = "content-disposition"
 TEMP_DIR = "temp"
 
 
+def _etag_sidecar_path(local_file_path: Path) -> Path:
+    return local_file_path.parent / f".{local_file_path.name}.etag"
+
+
+def _mtime_seconds(path: Path) -> int:
+    """Return `path`'s mtime as integer seconds.
+
+    Whole seconds is the common-denominator resolution across all
+    filesystems we run on (FAT/exFAT 2s, NTFS 100ns, APFS/ext4 ns), so
+    comparisons survive setting+reading round-trips that would lose
+    sub-second precision on lower-resolution filesystems.
+    """
+    return int(path.stat().st_mtime)
+
+
+def _read_etag(local_file_path: Path) -> str | None:
+    """Return the cached ETag if its sidecar's mtime still matches the cache
+    file's. A mismatch means the cache file was modified out-of-band, so the
+    ETag no longer describes its contents -- delete the stale sidecar and
+    return None.
+    """
+    etag_path = _etag_sidecar_path(local_file_path)
+    try:
+        if _mtime_seconds(etag_path) != _mtime_seconds(local_file_path):
+            _LOGGER.debug(
+                "ETag sidecar mtime mismatch at %s; treating as stale",
+                local_file_path,
+            )
+            etag_path.unlink()
+            return None
+        return etag_path.read_text().strip() or None
+    except OSError:
+        return None
+
+
+def _write_etag(local_file_path: Path, etag: str | None) -> None:
+    etag_path = _etag_sidecar_path(local_file_path)
+    if not etag:
+        # ETag persistence is best-effort; matches `_read_etag`'s tolerance.
+        with contextlib.suppress(OSError):
+            etag_path.unlink()
+        return
+    try:
+        write_file(etag_path, etag)
+    except EsphomeError as e:
+        _LOGGER.debug("Could not save ETag for %s: %s", local_file_path, e)
+        return
+    # Pin the sidecar's mtime to the cache file's mtime. _read_etag relies on
+    # this match to detect out-of-band edits to the cache file.
+    try:
+        file_mtime = _mtime_seconds(local_file_path)
+        os.utime(etag_path, (file_mtime, file_mtime))
+    except OSError as e:
+        _LOGGER.debug(
+            "Could not sync ETag sidecar mtime for %s: %s", local_file_path, e
+        )
+
+
 def has_remote_file_changed(url: str, local_file_path: Path) -> bool:
     if local_file_path.exists():
         _LOGGER.debug("has_remote_file_changed: File exists at %s", local_file_path)
@@ -35,14 +98,17 @@ def has_remote_file_changed(url: str, local_file_path: Path) -> bool:
                 IF_MODIFIED_SINCE: local_modification_time_str,
                 CACHE_CONTROL: CACHE_CONTROL_MAX_AGE + "3600",
             }
+            if etag := _read_etag(local_file_path):
+                headers[IF_NONE_MATCH] = etag
             response = requests.head(
                 url, headers=headers, timeout=NETWORK_TIMEOUT, allow_redirects=True
             )
 
             _LOGGER.debug(
-                "has_remote_file_changed: File %s, Local modified %s, response code %d",
+                "has_remote_file_changed: File %s, Local modified %s, ETag %s, response code %d",
                 local_file_path,
                 local_modification_time_str,
+                etag or "<none>",
                 response.status_code,
             )
 
@@ -51,6 +117,8 @@ def has_remote_file_changed(url: str, local_file_path: Path) -> bool:
                     "has_remote_file_changed: File not modified since %s",
                     local_modification_time_str,
                 )
+                if (new_etag := response.headers.get(ETAG)) and new_etag != etag:
+                    _write_etag(local_file_path, new_etag)
                 return False
             _LOGGER.debug("has_remote_file_changed: File modified")
             return True
@@ -81,7 +149,10 @@ def compute_local_file_dir(domain: str) -> Path:
     return base_directory
 
 
-def download_content(url: str, path: Path, timeout=NETWORK_TIMEOUT) -> bytes:
+def download_content(url: str, path: Path, timeout: int = NETWORK_TIMEOUT) -> bytes:
+    if CORE.skip_external_update and path.exists():
+        _LOGGER.debug("Skipping update for %s (refresh disabled)", url)
+        return path.read_bytes()
     if not has_remote_file_changed(url, path):
         _LOGGER.debug("Remote file has not changed %s", url)
         return path.read_bytes()
@@ -109,7 +180,7 @@ def download_content(url: str, path: Path, timeout=NETWORK_TIMEOUT) -> bytes:
             return path.read_bytes()
         raise cv.Invalid(f"Could not download from {url}: {e}") from e
 
-    path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     data = req.content
-    path.write_bytes(data)
+    write_file(path, data)
+    _write_etag(path, req.headers.get(ETAG))
     return data
diff --git a/esphome/git.py b/esphome/git.py
index 096ff483a71..0106f248451 100644
--- a/esphome/git.py
+++ b/esphome/git.py
@@ -128,7 +128,10 @@ def clone_or_update(
                 # We need to fetch the PR branch first, otherwise git will complain
                 # about missing objects
                 _LOGGER.info("Fetching %s", ref)
-                run_git_command(["git", "fetch", "--", "origin", ref], git_dir=repo_dir)
+                run_git_command(
+                    ["git", "fetch", "--depth=1", "--", "origin", ref],
+                    git_dir=repo_dir,
+                )
                 run_git_command(
                     ["git", "reset", "--hard", "FETCH_HEAD"], git_dir=repo_dir
                 )
@@ -138,7 +141,8 @@ def clone_or_update(
                     "Initializing submodules (%s) for %s", ", ".join(submodules), key
                 )
                 run_git_command(
-                    ["git", "submodule", "update", "--init"] + submodules,
+                    ["git", "submodule", "update", "--init", "--depth=1", "--"]
+                    + submodules,
                     git_dir=repo_dir,
                 )
         except GitException:
@@ -150,9 +154,7 @@ def clone_or_update(
             raise
 
     else:
-        # Check refresh needed
-        # Skip refresh if NEVER_REFRESH is specified
-        if refresh == NEVER_REFRESH:
+        if refresh == NEVER_REFRESH or CORE.skip_external_update:
             _LOGGER.debug("Skipping update for %s (refresh disabled)", key)
             return repo_dir, None
 
@@ -181,8 +183,13 @@ def clone_or_update(
                     git_dir=repo_dir,
                 )
 
-                # Fetch remote ref
-                cmd = ["git", "fetch", "--", "origin"]
+                # Fetch from the remote. --depth=1 keeps the clone shallow
+                # while still picking up new commits when the remote tip
+                # moves: a shallow fetch retrieves the current tip being
+                # fetched, whether that's an explicit ref or the remote's
+                # default branch, then reset --hard FETCH_HEAD updates the
+                # working tree to it.
+                cmd = ["git", "fetch", "--depth=1", "--", "origin"]
                 if ref is not None:
                     cmd.append(ref)
                 run_git_command(cmd, git_dir=repo_dir)
@@ -231,7 +238,8 @@ def clone_or_update(
                     "Updating submodules (%s) for %s", ", ".join(submodules), key
                 )
                 run_git_command(
-                    ["git", "submodule", "update", "--init"] + submodules,
+                    ["git", "submodule", "update", "--init", "--depth=1", "--"]
+                    + submodules,
                     git_dir=repo_dir,
                 )
 
diff --git a/esphome/idf_component.yml b/esphome/idf_component.yml
index f422d94097d..cb7f5903cfd 100644
--- a/esphome/idf_component.yml
+++ b/esphome/idf_component.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ dependencies:
   esphome/esp-micro-speech-features:
     version: 1.2.3
   esphome/micro-decoder:
-    version: 0.1.1
+    version: 0.2.0
   esphome/micro-flac:
     version: 0.1.1
   esphome/micro-opus:
@@ -92,6 +92,6 @@ dependencies:
   esp32async/asynctcp:
     version: 3.4.91
   sendspin/sendspin-cpp:
-    version: 0.3.0
+    version: 0.3.1
   lvgl/lvgl:
     version: 9.5.0
diff --git a/esphome/loader.py b/esphome/loader.py
index 68664aaa265..2405fa6f884 100644
--- a/esphome/loader.py
+++ b/esphome/loader.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from typing import Any
 from esphome.const import SOURCE_FILE_EXTENSIONS
 from esphome.core import CORE
 import esphome.core.config
+from esphome.cpp_generator import MockObjClass
 from esphome.types import ConfigType
 
 _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -31,8 +32,9 @@ class FileResource:
 
 
 class ComponentManifest:
-    def __init__(self, module: ModuleType):
+    def __init__(self, module: ModuleType, recursive_sources: bool = False):
         self.module = module
+        self.recursive_sources = recursive_sources
 
     @property
     def package(self) -> str:
@@ -92,7 +94,7 @@ class ComponentManifest:
         return getattr(self.module, "CODEOWNERS", [])
 
     @property
-    def instance_type(self) -> list[str]:
+    def instance_type(self) -> MockObjClass | None:
         return getattr(self.module, "INSTANCE_TYPE", None)
 
     @property
@@ -108,8 +110,10 @@ class ComponentManifest:
     def resources(self) -> list[FileResource]:
         """Return a list of all file resources defined in the package of this component.
 
-        This will return all cpp source files that are located in the same folder as the
-        loaded .py file (does not look through subdirectories)
+        By default only files directly in the package directory are returned. Manifests
+        constructed with ``recursive_sources=True`` also descend into non-subpackage
+        subdirectories (subdirectories without an ``__init__.py``), so core code can
+        live under ``esphome/core/<group>/`` without every component paying the cost.
         """
         ret: list[FileResource] = []
 
@@ -121,23 +125,30 @@ class ComponentManifest:
             set(filter_source_files_func()) if filter_source_files_func else set()
         )
 
-        # Process all resources
-        for resource in (
-            r.name
-            for r in importlib.resources.files(self.package).iterdir()
-            if r.is_file()
-        ):
-            if Path(resource).suffix not in SOURCE_FILE_EXTENSIONS:
-                continue
-            if not importlib.resources.files(self.package).joinpath(resource).is_file():
-                # Not a resource = this is a directory (yeah this is confusing)
-                continue
+        root = importlib.resources.files(self.package)
 
-            # Skip excluded files
-            if resource in excluded_files:
-                continue
+        for child in root.iterdir():
+            name = child.name
+            if child.is_file():
+                if Path(name).suffix not in SOURCE_FILE_EXTENSIONS:
+                    continue
+                if name in excluded_files:
+                    continue
+                ret.append(FileResource(self.package, name))
+            elif self.recursive_sources and child.is_dir() and name != "__pycache__":
+                # Skip Python subpackages — they load as their own components.
+                if child.joinpath("__init__.py").is_file():
+                    continue
+                for sub in child.iterdir():
+                    if not sub.is_file():
+                        continue
+                    if Path(sub.name).suffix not in SOURCE_FILE_EXTENSIONS:
+                        continue
+                    resource = f"{name}/{sub.name}"
+                    if resource in excluded_files:
+                        continue
+                    ret.append(FileResource(self.package, resource))
 
-            ret.append(FileResource(self.package, resource))
         return ret
 
 
@@ -237,7 +248,9 @@ def get_platform(domain: str, platform: str) -> ComponentManifest | None:
 
 _COMPONENT_CACHE: dict[str, ComponentManifest] = {}
 CORE_COMPONENTS_PATH = (Path(__file__).parent / "components").resolve()
-_COMPONENT_CACHE["esphome"] = ComponentManifest(esphome.core.config)
+_COMPONENT_CACHE["esphome"] = ComponentManifest(
+    esphome.core.config, recursive_sources=True
+)
 
 
 def _replace_component_manifest(domain: str, manifest: ComponentManifest) -> None:
diff --git a/esphome/writer.py b/esphome/writer.py
index 787ecac6f6e..816c57a0bc1 100644
--- a/esphome/writer.py
+++ b/esphome/writer.py
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ from esphome.helpers import (
     read_file,
     rmtree,
     walk_files,
-    write_file,
     write_file_if_changed,
 )
 from esphome.storage_json import StorageJSON, storage_path
@@ -171,6 +170,7 @@ VERSION_H_FORMAT = """\
 DEFINES_H_TARGET = "esphome/core/defines.h"
 VERSION_H_TARGET = "esphome/core/version.h"
 BUILD_INFO_DATA_H_TARGET = "esphome/core/build_info_data.h"
+BUILD_INFO_DATA_CPP_TARGET = "esphome/core/build_info_data.cpp"
 ENTITY_TYPES_H_TARGET = "esphome/core/entity_types.h"
 ESPHOME_README_TXT = """
 THIS DIRECTORY IS AUTO-GENERATED, DO NOT MODIFY
@@ -209,13 +209,22 @@ def copy_src_tree():
 
     source_files_copy = source_files_map.copy()
     ignore_targets = [
-        Path(x) for x in (DEFINES_H_TARGET, VERSION_H_TARGET, BUILD_INFO_DATA_H_TARGET)
+        Path(x)
+        for x in (
+            DEFINES_H_TARGET,
+            VERSION_H_TARGET,
+            BUILD_INFO_DATA_H_TARGET,
+            BUILD_INFO_DATA_CPP_TARGET,
+        )
     ]
     for t in ignore_targets:
         source_files_copy.pop(t, None)
 
     # Files to exclude from sources_changed tracking (generated files)
-    generated_files = {Path("esphome/core/build_info_data.h")}
+    generated_files = {
+        Path("esphome/core/build_info_data.h"),
+        Path("esphome/core/build_info_data.cpp"),
+    }
 
     sources_changed = False
     for fname in walk_files(CORE.relative_src_path("esphome")):
@@ -268,12 +277,15 @@ def copy_src_tree():
     build_info_data_h_path = CORE.relative_src_path(
         "esphome", "core", "build_info_data.h"
     )
+    build_info_data_cpp_path = CORE.relative_src_path(
+        "esphome", "core", "build_info_data.cpp"
+    )
     build_info_json_path = CORE.relative_build_path("build_info.json")
     config_hash, build_time, build_time_str, comment = get_build_info()
 
     # Defensively force a rebuild if the build_info files don't exist, or if
     # there was a config change which didn't actually cause a source change
-    if not build_info_data_h_path.exists():
+    if not build_info_data_h_path.exists() or not build_info_data_cpp_path.exists():
         sources_changed = True
     else:
         try:
@@ -288,13 +300,19 @@ def copy_src_tree():
 
     # Write build_info header and JSON metadata
     if sources_changed:
-        write_file(
+        # write_file_if_changed avoids bumping mtime on identical content,
+        # which is what makes the stable header actually isolate metadata churn.
+        write_file_if_changed(
             build_info_data_h_path,
-            generate_build_info_data_h(
+            generate_build_info_data_h(),
+        )
+        write_file_if_changed(
+            build_info_data_cpp_path,
+            generate_build_info_data_cpp(
                 config_hash, build_time, build_time_str, comment
             ),
         )
-        write_file(
+        write_file_if_changed(
             build_info_json_path,
             json.dumps(
                 {
@@ -345,27 +363,60 @@ def get_build_info() -> tuple[int, int, str, str]:
     return config_hash, build_time, build_time_str, comment
 
 
-def generate_build_info_data_h(
-    config_hash: int, build_time: int, build_time_str: str, comment: str
-) -> str:
-    """Generate build_info_data.h header with config hash, build time, and comment."""
-    # cpp_string_escape returns '"escaped"', slice off the quotes since template has them
-    escaped_comment = cpp_string_escape(comment)[1:-1]
-    # +1 for null terminator
-    comment_size = len(comment) + 1
-    return f"""#pragma once
-// Auto-generated build_info data
-#define ESPHOME_CONFIG_HASH 0x{config_hash:08x}U  // NOLINT
-#define ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME {build_time}  // NOLINT
-#define ESPHOME_COMMENT_SIZE {comment_size}  // NOLINT
+def generate_build_info_data_h() -> str:
+    """Generate stable declarations for build info provided by generated C++."""
+    return """#pragma once
+// Auto-generated build_info declarations
+#include <cstddef>
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <ctime>
 #ifdef USE_ESP8266
 #include <pgmspace.h>
-static const char ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME_STR[] PROGMEM = "{build_time_str}";
-static const char ESPHOME_COMMENT_STR[] PROGMEM = "{escaped_comment}";
-#else
-static const char ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME_STR[] = "{build_time_str}";
-static const char ESPHOME_COMMENT_STR[] = "{escaped_comment}";
 #endif
+
+namespace esphome {
+extern const uint32_t ESPHOME_CONFIG_HASH;
+extern const time_t ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME;
+extern const size_t ESPHOME_COMMENT_SIZE;
+#ifdef USE_ESP8266
+extern const char ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME_STR[] PROGMEM;
+extern const char ESPHOME_COMMENT_STR[] PROGMEM;
+#else
+extern const char ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME_STR[];
+extern const char ESPHOME_COMMENT_STR[];
+#endif
+}  // namespace esphome
+"""
+
+
+def generate_build_info_data_cpp(
+    config_hash: int, build_time: int, build_time_str: str, comment: str
+) -> str:
+    """Generate build_info_data.cpp with config hash, build time, and comment."""
+    from esphome.core.config import COMMENT_MAX_LEN
+
+    # Defense-in-depth clamp; errors="ignore" drops a partial trailing UTF-8
+    # sequence so the literal never decodes to a truncated codepoint.
+    encoded = comment.encode("utf-8")[:COMMENT_MAX_LEN]
+    comment = encoded.decode("utf-8", errors="ignore")
+    # cpp_string_escape wraps in quotes; strip them since the template has them.
+    escaped_comment = cpp_string_escape(comment)[1:-1]
+    comment_size = len(comment.encode("utf-8")) + 1  # +1 for NUL
+    return f"""// Auto-generated build_info data
+#include "esphome/core/build_info_data.h"
+
+namespace esphome {{
+const uint32_t ESPHOME_CONFIG_HASH = 0x{config_hash:08x}U;  // NOLINT
+const time_t ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME = {build_time};  // NOLINT
+const size_t ESPHOME_COMMENT_SIZE = {comment_size};  // NOLINT
+#ifdef USE_ESP8266
+const char ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME_STR[] PROGMEM = "{build_time_str}";
+const char ESPHOME_COMMENT_STR[] PROGMEM = "{escaped_comment}";
+#else
+const char ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME_STR[] = "{build_time_str}";
+const char ESPHOME_COMMENT_STR[] = "{escaped_comment}";
+#endif
+}}  // namespace esphome
 """
 
 
diff --git a/esphome/yaml_util.py b/esphome/yaml_util.py
index 42da27ec142..3cfc9c4b15d 100644
--- a/esphome/yaml_util.py
+++ b/esphome/yaml_util.py
@@ -113,6 +113,15 @@ def make_data_base(
         return value
 
 
+def make_literal(value: Any) -> ESPLiteralValue | Any:
+    """Wrap a value in an ESPLiteralValue object."""
+    try:
+        return add_class_to_obj(value, ESPLiteralValue)
+    except TypeError:
+        # Adding class failed, ignore error
+        return value
+
+
 def add_context(value: Any, context_vars: dict[str, Any] | None) -> Any:
     """Tags a list/string/dict value with context vars that must be applied to it and its children
     during the substitution pass. If no vars are given, no tagging is done.
@@ -525,7 +534,7 @@ class ESPHomeLoaderMixin:
             obj = self.construct_sequence(node)
         elif isinstance(node, yaml.MappingNode):
             obj = self.construct_mapping(node)
-        return add_class_to_obj(obj, ESPLiteralValue)
+        return make_literal(obj)
 
     @_add_data_ref
     def construct_extend(self, node: yaml.Node) -> Extend:
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 90b06938408..abc8ac5dbb6 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-cryptography==46.0.7
+cryptography==47.0.0
 voluptuous==0.16.0
 PyYAML==6.0.3
 paho-mqtt==1.6.1
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@ colorama==0.4.6
 icmplib==3.0.4
 tornado==6.5.5
 tzlocal==5.3.1    # from time
-tzdata>=2026.1  # from time
+tzdata>=2026.2  # from time
 pyserial==3.5
 platformio==6.1.19
 esptool==5.2.0
 click==8.3.3
-esphome-dashboard==20260408.1
-aioesphomeapi==44.21.0
+esphome-dashboard==20260425.0
+aioesphomeapi==44.22.0
 zeroconf==0.148.0
 puremagic==1.30
 ruamel.yaml==0.19.1 # dashboard_import
diff --git a/requirements_test.txt b/requirements_test.txt
index bb98375cb65..568d79d6764 100644
--- a/requirements_test.txt
+++ b/requirements_test.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 pylint==4.0.5
 flake8==7.3.0  # also change in .pre-commit-config.yaml when updating
-ruff==0.15.11  # also change in .pre-commit-config.yaml when updating
+ruff==0.15.12  # also change in .pre-commit-config.yaml when updating
 pyupgrade==3.21.2  # also change in .pre-commit-config.yaml when updating
 pre-commit
 
@@ -12,3 +12,6 @@ pytest-asyncio==1.3.0
 pytest-xdist==3.8.0
 asyncmock==0.4.2
 hypothesis==6.92.1
+
+# Used by the import-time regression check (.github/workflows/ci.yml → import-time job)
+importtime-waterfall==1.0.0
diff --git a/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py b/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py
index c10479a726e..bf672d05674 100755
--- a/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py
+++ b/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py
@@ -184,6 +184,11 @@ class TypeInfo(ABC):
         """Check if this field should always be encoded (skip zero/empty check)."""
         return get_field_opt(self._field, pb.force, False)
 
+    @property
+    def mac_address(self) -> bool:
+        """Check if this uint64 field is a 48-bit MAC address (use 7-byte fast path)."""
+        return get_field_opt(self._field, pb.mac_address, False)
+
     @property
     def max_value(self) -> int | None:
         """Get the max_value option for this field, or None if not set."""
@@ -665,8 +670,22 @@ class UInt64Type(VarintTypeMixin, TypeInfo):
         return o
 
     def get_size_calculation(self, name: str, force: bool = False) -> str:
+        if self.mac_address and force:
+            field_id_size = self.calculate_field_id_size()
+            return (
+                f"size += ProtoSize::calc_uint64_48bit_force({field_id_size}, {name});"
+            )
         return self._get_simple_size_calculation(name, force, "uint64")
 
+    @property
+    def RAW_ENCODE_MAP(self) -> dict[str, str]:  # noqa: N802
+        if self.mac_address:
+            return {
+                **TypeInfo.RAW_ENCODE_MAP,
+                "encode_uint64": "ProtoEncode::encode_varint_raw_48bit(pos, {value});",
+            }
+        return TypeInfo.RAW_ENCODE_MAP
+
     def get_estimated_size(self) -> int:
         return self.calculate_field_id_size() + 3  # field ID + 3 bytes typical varint
 
@@ -3558,8 +3577,13 @@ static const char *const TAG = "api.service";
     # Generate read_message_ as APIConnection method (not base class) so the compiler
     # can devirtualize and inline the on_* handler calls within the same class.
     # APIConnection declares this method in api_connection.h.
+    # Guard with #ifdef USE_API since APIConnection itself is only defined when
+    # USE_API is set; without this, builds that compile this .cpp without
+    # USE_API (e.g. C++ unit tests for api dependencies) fail to find the
+    # class declaration.
 
-    out = "void APIConnection::read_message_(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, const uint8_t *msg_data) {\n"
+    out = "#ifdef USE_API\n"
+    out += "void APIConnection::read_message_(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, const uint8_t *msg_data) {\n"
 
     # Auth check block before dispatch switch
     out += "  // Check authentication/connection requirements\n"
@@ -3604,6 +3628,7 @@ static const char *const TAG = "api.service";
     out += "      break;\n"
     out += "  }\n"
     out += "}\n"
+    out += "#endif  // USE_API\n"
     cpp += out
     hpp += "};\n"
 
diff --git a/script/build_helpers.py b/script/build_helpers.py
index 1cfae51fca9..4cf2f93fbb6 100644
--- a/script/build_helpers.py
+++ b/script/build_helpers.py
@@ -324,8 +324,23 @@ def compile_and_get_binary(
             domain_list.append({CONF_PLATFORM: component})
         # Skip "core" — it's a pseudo-component handled by the build
         # system, not a real loadable component (get_component returns None)
-        elif get_component(component_name) is not None:
-            config.setdefault(component_name, [])
+        elif (component := get_component(component_name)) is not None:
+            # MULTI_CONF components store their config as a list of dicts,
+            # everything else stores a single dict. Run the component's
+            # schema with {} so defaults get populated -- code paths like
+            # socket.FILTER_SOURCE_FILES expect a fully-populated mapping.
+            if component.multi_conf:
+                config.setdefault(component_name, [])
+            elif component_name not in config:
+                schema = component.config_schema
+                try:
+                    config[component_name] = schema({}) if schema is not None else {}
+                except Exception:  # noqa: BLE001
+                    # Schema requires explicit input we can't synthesize; fall
+                    # back to an empty mapping so subscripting at least returns
+                    # KeyError on missing keys rather than crashing on the
+                    # wrong type.
+                    config[component_name] = {}
 
     # Register platforms from the extra config (benchmark.yaml) so
     # USE_SENSOR, USE_LIGHT, etc. defines are emitted without needing
diff --git a/script/check_import_time.py b/script/check_import_time.py
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..0d5362c9681
--- /dev/null
+++ b/script/check_import_time.py
@@ -0,0 +1,241 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Regression check for `import esphome.__main__` cost.
+
+Runs `python -m importtime_waterfall --har esphome.__main__` (which invokes
+`-X importtime` in fresh subprocesses, best-of-N) and compares the root
+cumulative import time against a checked-in budget
+(`script/import_time_budget.json`).
+
+The CLI pays this cost on every invocation before the requested command even
+runs, so a regression here hurts every user.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import argparse
+import json
+from pathlib import Path
+import subprocess
+import sys
+from typing import Any, TextIO
+
+SCRIPT_DIR = Path(__file__).parent
+BUDGET_PATH = SCRIPT_DIR / "import_time_budget.json"
+
+TARGET_MODULE = "esphome.__main__"
+DEFAULT_MARGIN_PCT = 15
+OFFENDERS_TOP_N = 15
+
+
+def run_waterfall(module: str) -> str:
+    """Run `importtime_waterfall --har <module>` and return the HAR JSON text.
+
+    `importtime_waterfall` itself runs the target in 6 fresh subprocesses
+    under `-X importtime` and emits the HAR of the fastest run.
+    """
+    result = subprocess.run(
+        [sys.executable, "-m", "importtime_waterfall", "--har", module],
+        check=True,
+        stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+        text=True,
+    )
+    return result.stdout
+
+
+def measure(module: str, har_path: Path | None = None) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Return the parsed HAR for importing `module`.
+
+    When `har_path` is given, also write the raw HAR JSON to that path so
+    callers can combine `--check` with `--har` without measuring twice.
+    """
+    har_text = run_waterfall(module)
+    if har_path is not None:
+        har_path.write_text(har_text)
+    return json.loads(har_text)
+
+
+def _entries(har: dict[str, Any]) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+    return har["log"]["entries"]
+
+
+def root_cumulative_us(har: dict[str, Any], module: str) -> int:
+    """Return the cumulative import time (µs) of `module` from a HAR.
+
+    The HAR `time` field is authored by importtime_waterfall using µs values
+    fed through `timedelta(milliseconds=...)`, so the number read back is the
+    original self/cumulative time in microseconds (labelled "ms" in HAR).
+    """
+    for entry in _entries(har):
+        if entry["request"]["url"] == module:
+            return entry["time"]
+    raise RuntimeError(
+        f"No HAR entry for {module!r}. Is it importable with "
+        f"`python -c 'import {module}'`?"
+    )
+
+
+def top_offenders(har: dict[str, Any], n: int) -> list[tuple[str, int, int]]:
+    """Return up to `n` (name, self_us, cumulative_us), ranked by self_us desc.
+
+    A module imported from multiple places is counted once (first entry wins,
+    matching importtime's own de-duplication).
+    """
+    seen: dict[str, tuple[int, int]] = {}
+    for entry in _entries(har):
+        name = entry["request"]["url"]
+        if name in seen:
+            continue
+        self_us = entry["timings"]["receive"]
+        cumulative_us = entry["time"]
+        seen[name] = (self_us, cumulative_us)
+    ranked = sorted(
+        ((name, s, c) for name, (s, c) in seen.items()),
+        key=lambda row: row[1],
+        reverse=True,
+    )
+    return ranked[:n]
+
+
+def read_budget() -> dict[str, Any]:
+    if not BUDGET_PATH.exists():
+        return {}
+    with BUDGET_PATH.open() as f:
+        return json.load(f)
+
+
+def write_budget(cumulative_us: int, margin_pct: int) -> None:
+    payload = {
+        "target_module": TARGET_MODULE,
+        "margin_pct": margin_pct,
+        "cumulative_us": cumulative_us,
+    }
+    with BUDGET_PATH.open("w") as f:
+        json.dump(payload, f, indent=2)
+        f.write("\n")
+
+
+def _format_us(us: int) -> str:
+    if us >= 1000:
+        return f"{us / 1000:.1f}ms"
+    return f"{us}us"
+
+
+def _print_offenders_table(
+    offenders: list[tuple[str, int, int]], stream: TextIO
+) -> None:
+    name_w = max(len(name) for name, _, _ in offenders)
+    print(f"\n{'module':<{name_w}}  {'self':>10}  {'cumulative':>12}", file=stream)
+    print(f"{'-' * name_w}  {'-' * 10}  {'-' * 12}", file=stream)
+    for name, self_us, cum_us in offenders:
+        print(
+            f"{name:<{name_w}}  {_format_us(self_us):>10}  {_format_us(cum_us):>12}",
+            file=stream,
+        )
+
+
+def cmd_check(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
+    budget = read_budget()
+    if not budget:
+        print(
+            f"ERROR: {BUDGET_PATH.name} missing. Run with --update first.",
+            file=sys.stderr,
+        )
+        return 2
+
+    har = measure(TARGET_MODULE, har_path=Path(args.har) if args.har else None)
+    measured = root_cumulative_us(har, TARGET_MODULE)
+
+    baseline = budget["cumulative_us"]
+    margin_pct = budget.get("margin_pct", DEFAULT_MARGIN_PCT)
+    ceiling = int(baseline * (1 + margin_pct / 100))
+
+    summary = (
+        f"measured   {TARGET_MODULE}: {_format_us(measured)} "
+        f"(budget {_format_us(baseline)} + {margin_pct}% = {_format_us(ceiling)})"
+    )
+    passed = measured <= ceiling
+    stream = sys.stdout if passed else sys.stderr
+
+    if passed:
+        print(summary)
+    else:
+        print(
+            f"REGRESSION: `import {TARGET_MODULE}` took {_format_us(measured)}, "
+            f"exceeding the budget of {_format_us(baseline)} + {margin_pct}% "
+            f"({_format_us(ceiling)}).",
+            file=stream,
+        )
+
+    print("\nTop import-time offenders (by self time):", file=stream)
+    _print_offenders_table(top_offenders(har, OFFENDERS_TOP_N), stream)
+
+    if not passed:
+        print(
+            "\nIf this regression is intentional, regenerate the budget with:\n"
+            "  script/check_import_time.py --update\n"
+            "Otherwise, consider making the new import lazy "
+            "(import inside the function that uses it).",
+            file=stream,
+        )
+        return 1
+    return 0
+
+
+def cmd_update(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
+    har = measure(TARGET_MODULE, har_path=Path(args.har) if args.har else None)
+    measured = root_cumulative_us(har, TARGET_MODULE)
+    write_budget(measured, args.margin_pct)
+    print(
+        f"Wrote {BUDGET_PATH.name}: "
+        f"{TARGET_MODULE}={_format_us(measured)} "
+        f"(margin {args.margin_pct}%)"
+    )
+    return 0
+
+
+def cmd_har_only(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
+    Path(args.har).write_text(run_waterfall(TARGET_MODULE))
+    print(f"Wrote waterfall HAR to {args.har}")
+    return 0
+
+
+def main() -> int:
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=__doc__)
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--margin-pct",
+        type=int,
+        default=DEFAULT_MARGIN_PCT,
+        help=(f"Margin over baseline for --update (default: {DEFAULT_MARGIN_PCT}%%)."),
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--har",
+        metavar="PATH",
+        help=(
+            "Write a waterfall HAR file at PATH. Can be combined with "
+            "--check or --update to reuse that run's measurement (avoids "
+            "measuring twice)."
+        ),
+    )
+    mode = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group()
+    mode.add_argument(
+        "--check", action="store_true", help="Fail if measured time exceeds budget."
+    )
+    mode.add_argument(
+        "--update",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Rewrite the budget from a fresh measurement.",
+    )
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    if args.check:
+        return cmd_check(args)
+    if args.update:
+        return cmd_update(args)
+    if args.har:
+        return cmd_har_only(args)
+    parser.error("Specify at least one of --check, --update, or --har PATH.")
+    return 2  # unreachable; parser.error exits. Here to satisfy ruff RET503.
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    sys.exit(main())
diff --git a/script/ci-custom.py b/script/ci-custom.py
index 02ec08bc318..b257a3818bd 100755
--- a/script/ci-custom.py
+++ b/script/ci-custom.py
@@ -511,6 +511,40 @@ def lint_no_std_string_view(fname, match):
     )
 
 
+@lint_re_check(
+    r"(?:"
+    # `from esphome.components.const import ...`
+    r"from\s+esphome\.components\.const\s+import"
+    r"|"
+    # `import esphome.components.const` (with optional `as` alias)
+    r"import\s+esphome\.components\.const\b"
+    r"|"
+    # `from esphome.components import [(] ... const ... [)]`
+    # Handles parenthesized + multiline import lists by allowing newlines inside
+    # the parens via [^)]*. Single-line form falls back to the [^#\n]* branch.
+    r"from\s+esphome\.components\s+import\s*"
+    r"(?:\([^)]*\bconst\b[^)]*\)|(?:[^#\n]*[\s,])?\bconst\b)"
+    r")",
+    include=["*.py"],
+    exclude=[
+        "esphome/components/*",
+        "tests/*",
+        "script/ci-custom.py",
+    ],
+)
+def lint_no_components_const_outside_components(fname, match):
+    return (
+        f"Constants in {highlight('esphome/components/const/__init__.py')} are intended "
+        f"to be shared only between components in {highlight('esphome/components/')}. "
+        f"Code outside this folder must not import from "
+        f"{highlight('esphome.components.const')}.\n"
+        f"For core code (used outside {highlight('esphome/components/')}), define the "
+        f"constant in {highlight('esphome/const.py')} instead. When adding a new "
+        f"{highlight('CONF_')} constant there, bump {highlight('CONST_PY_MAX_CONF')} "
+        f"in this file accordingly (see {highlight('lint_const_py_frozen')})."
+    )
+
+
 @lint_post_check
 def lint_constants_usage():
     errs = []
@@ -837,7 +871,16 @@ def lint_no_std_to_string(fname, match):
         f"{highlight('std::to_string()')} (including unqualified {highlight('to_string()')}) "
         f"allocates heap memory. On long-running embedded devices, repeated heap allocations "
         f"fragment memory over time.\n"
-        f"Please use {highlight('snprintf()')} with a stack buffer instead.\n"
+        f"\n"
+        f"For plain integer formatting, prefer the dedicated helpers in helpers.h over "
+        f"{highlight('snprintf()')} — they avoid pulling in printf formatting code and are "
+        f"smaller and faster:\n"
+        f"  int8_t:                       {highlight('int8_to_str(buf, val)')}      (buf >= 5 bytes)\n"
+        f"  uint8_t/uint16_t/uint32_t:    {highlight('uint32_to_str(buf, val)')}    (buf = UINT32_MAX_STR_SIZE; smaller types auto-widen)\n"
+        f"Example: {highlight('char buf[UINT32_MAX_STR_SIZE]; uint32_to_str(buf, value);')}\n"
+        f"For sensor values, use {highlight('value_accuracy_to_buf()')} from helpers.h.\n"
+        f"\n"
+        f"Otherwise use {highlight('snprintf()')} with a stack buffer.\n"
         f"\n"
         f"Buffer sizes and format specifiers (sizes include sign and null terminator):\n"
         f"  uint8_t:          4 chars   - %u (or PRIu8)\n"
@@ -851,7 +894,6 @@ def lint_no_std_to_string(fname, match):
         f"  float/double:     24 chars  - %.8g (15 digits + sign + decimal + e+XXX)\n"
         f"                    317 chars - %f (for DBL_MAX: 309 int digits + decimal + 6 frac + sign)\n"
         f"\n"
-        f"For sensor values, use value_accuracy_to_buf() from helpers.h.\n"
         f'Example: char buf[11]; snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%" PRIu32, value);\n'
         f"(If strictly necessary, add `{highlight('// NOLINT')}` to the end of the line)"
     )
diff --git a/script/determine-jobs.py b/script/determine-jobs.py
index d94d472c9ed..6fd7ab297c8 100755
--- a/script/determine-jobs.py
+++ b/script/determine-jobs.py
@@ -349,6 +349,42 @@ def should_run_python_linters(branch: str | None = None) -> bool:
     return _any_changed_file_endswith(branch, PYTHON_FILE_EXTENSIONS)
 
 
+# Files outside esphome/**/*.py whose changes can affect `import esphome.__main__`
+# cost. requirements.txt / pyproject.toml change the dependency graph pulled in
+# by top-level imports; check_import_time.py itself changes the check's behavior.
+IMPORT_TIME_TRIGGER_FILES = frozenset(
+    {
+        "requirements.txt",
+        "requirements_dev.txt",
+        "requirements_test.txt",
+        "pyproject.toml",
+        "script/check_import_time.py",
+        "script/import_time_budget.json",
+    }
+)
+
+
+def should_run_import_time(branch: str | None = None) -> bool:
+    """Determine if the `import esphome.__main__` time regression check should run.
+
+    Runs when any Python file under `esphome/` changes (those modules are
+    loaded transitively from `esphome.__main__`), when dependency
+    declarations change, or when the check script/budget itself changes.
+
+    Args:
+        branch: Branch to compare against. If None, uses default.
+
+    Returns:
+        True if the import-time check should run, False otherwise.
+    """
+    for file in changed_files(branch):
+        if file.startswith("esphome/") and file.endswith(PYTHON_FILE_EXTENSIONS):
+            return True
+        if file in IMPORT_TIME_TRIGGER_FILES:
+            return True
+    return False
+
+
 def determine_cpp_unit_tests(
     branch: str | None = None,
 ) -> tuple[bool, list[str]]:
@@ -402,8 +438,11 @@ def should_run_benchmarks(branch: str | None = None) -> bool:
     Benchmarks run when any of the following conditions are met:
 
     1. Core C++ files changed (esphome/core/*)
-    2. A directly changed component has benchmark files (no dependency expansion)
-    3. Benchmark infrastructure changed (tests/benchmarks/*, script/cpp_benchmark.py,
+    2. The host platform changed (esphome/components/host/*) — benchmarks
+       are built and run on the host platform, so its implementations of
+       ``millis()``/``micros()``/etc. affect every benchmark
+    3. A directly changed component has benchmark files (no dependency expansion)
+    4. Benchmark infrastructure changed (tests/benchmarks/*, script/cpp_benchmark.py,
        script/build_helpers.py, script/setup_codspeed_lib.py)
 
     Unlike unit tests, benchmarks do NOT expand to dependent components.
@@ -420,6 +459,10 @@ def should_run_benchmarks(branch: str | None = None) -> bool:
     if core_changed(files):
         return True
 
+    # Host platform supplies the runtime that benchmarks execute on
+    if any(f.startswith("esphome/components/host/") for f in files):
+        return True
+
     # Check if benchmark infrastructure changed
     if any(
         f.startswith("tests/benchmarks/") or f in BENCHMARK_INFRASTRUCTURE_FILES
@@ -773,6 +816,7 @@ def main() -> None:
     run_clang_tidy = should_run_clang_tidy(args.branch)
     run_clang_format = should_run_clang_format(args.branch)
     run_python_linters = should_run_python_linters(args.branch)
+    run_import_time = should_run_import_time(args.branch)
     changed_cpp_file_count = count_changed_cpp_files(args.branch)
 
     # Get changed components
@@ -906,6 +950,7 @@ def main() -> None:
         "clang_tidy_mode": clang_tidy_mode,
         "clang_format": run_clang_format,
         "python_linters": run_python_linters,
+        "import_time": run_import_time,
         "changed_components": changed_components,
         "changed_components_with_tests": changed_components_with_tests,
         "directly_changed_components_with_tests": list(directly_changed_with_tests),
diff --git a/script/import_time_budget.json b/script/import_time_budget.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1e656dc9776
--- /dev/null
+++ b/script/import_time_budget.json
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "target_module": "esphome.__main__",
+  "margin_pct": 15,
+  "cumulative_us": 123000
+}
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/binary_sensor/test_binary_sensor.py b/tests/component_tests/binary_sensor/test_binary_sensor.py
index 4f41f2cc704..e1d999abc7c 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/binary_sensor/test_binary_sensor.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/binary_sensor/test_binary_sensor.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ def test_binary_sensor_sets_mandatory_fields(generate_main):
     )
 
     # Then
-    assert 'bs_1->configure_entity_("test bs1",' in main_cpp
+    assert 'App.register_binary_sensor(bs_1, "test bs1",' in main_cpp
     assert "bs_1->set_pin(" in main_cpp
 
 
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/button/test_button.py b/tests/component_tests/button/test_button.py
index 544e748f913..f8881a832ce 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/button/test_button.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/button/test_button.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def test_button_sets_mandatory_fields(generate_main):
     main_cpp = generate_main("tests/component_tests/button/test_button.yaml")
 
     # Then
-    assert 'wol_1->configure_entity_("wol_test_1",' in main_cpp
+    assert 'App.register_button(wol_1, "wol_test_1",' in main_cpp
     assert "wol_2->set_macaddr(18, 52, 86, 120, 144, 171);" in main_cpp
 
 
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/deep_sleep/test_deep_sleep.py b/tests/component_tests/deep_sleep/test_deep_sleep.py
index 8c1278a3323..84128d75d7c 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/deep_sleep/test_deep_sleep.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/deep_sleep/test_deep_sleep.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ def test_deep_sleep_setup(generate_main):
         in main_cpp
     )
     assert "new(deepsleep) deep_sleep::DeepSleepComponent();" in main_cpp
-    assert "App.register_component_(deepsleep);" in main_cpp
+    assert "App.register_component_(deepsleep, " in main_cpp
 
 
 def test_deep_sleep_sleep_duration(generate_main):
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/esp32/config/reproducible_build.yaml b/tests/component_tests/esp32/config/reproducible_build.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..eb9721b4320
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/component_tests/esp32/config/reproducible_build.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+esphome:
+  name: test
+
+esp32:
+  board: esp32dev
+  variant: esp32
+  framework:
+    type: esp-idf
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/esp32/config/reproducible_build_arduino.yaml b/tests/component_tests/esp32/config/reproducible_build_arduino.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a5433a441d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/component_tests/esp32/config/reproducible_build_arduino.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+esphome:
+  name: test
+
+esp32:
+  board: esp32dev
+  variant: esp32
+  framework:
+    type: arduino
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/esp32/test_esp32.py b/tests/component_tests/esp32/test_esp32.py
index ac492e27529..203f4841072 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/esp32/test_esp32.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/esp32/test_esp32.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ from esphome.const import (
     CONF_ESPHOME,
     CONF_IGNORE_PIN_VALIDATION_ERROR,
     CONF_NUMBER,
+    KEY_NATIVE_IDF,
     PlatformFramework,
 )
 from esphome.core import CORE
@@ -232,3 +233,41 @@ def test_execute_from_psram_disabled_sdkconfig(
     assert "CONFIG_SPIRAM_FETCH_INSTRUCTIONS" not in sdkconfig
     assert "CONFIG_SPIRAM_RODATA" not in sdkconfig
     assert "CONFIG_SPIRAM_XIP_FROM_PSRAM" not in sdkconfig
+
+
+def test_platformio_idf_enables_reproducible_build(
+    generate_main: Callable[[str | Path], str],
+    component_config_path: Callable[[str], Path],
+) -> None:
+    """Test PlatformIO ESP-IDF builds enable reproducible app metadata."""
+    generate_main(component_config_path("reproducible_build.yaml"))
+
+    sdkconfig = CORE.data[KEY_ESP32][KEY_SDKCONFIG_OPTIONS]
+    assert sdkconfig.get("CONFIG_APP_REPRODUCIBLE_BUILD") is True
+
+
+def test_platformio_arduino_enables_reproducible_build(
+    generate_main: Callable[[str | Path], str],
+    component_config_path: Callable[[str], Path],
+) -> None:
+    """Test PlatformIO Arduino builds enable reproducible app metadata."""
+    generate_main(component_config_path("reproducible_build_arduino.yaml"))
+
+    sdkconfig = CORE.data[KEY_ESP32][KEY_SDKCONFIG_OPTIONS]
+    assert sdkconfig.get("CONFIG_APP_REPRODUCIBLE_BUILD") is True
+
+
+def test_native_idf_enables_reproducible_build(
+    component_config_path: Callable[[str], Path],
+) -> None:
+    """Test native ESP-IDF builds enable reproducible app metadata."""
+    from esphome.__main__ import generate_cpp_contents
+    from esphome.config import read_config
+
+    CORE.config_path = component_config_path("reproducible_build.yaml")
+    CORE.config = read_config({})
+    CORE.data[KEY_NATIVE_IDF] = True
+    generate_cpp_contents(CORE.config)
+
+    sdkconfig = CORE.data[KEY_ESP32][KEY_SDKCONFIG_OPTIONS]
+    assert sdkconfig.get("CONFIG_APP_REPRODUCIBLE_BUILD") is True
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/external_components/test_init.py b/tests/component_tests/external_components/test_init.py
index 905c0afa8b3..d3813ecc759 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/external_components/test_init.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/external_components/test_init.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-"""Tests for the external_components skip_update functionality."""
+"""Tests for the external_components skip-update behavior driven by CORE.skip_external_update."""
 
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
@@ -12,25 +12,17 @@ from esphome.const import (
     CONF_URL,
     TYPE_GIT,
 )
+from esphome.core import CORE, TimePeriodSeconds
 
 
-def test_external_components_skip_update_true(
-    tmp_path: Path, mock_clone_or_update: MagicMock, mock_install_meta_finder: MagicMock
-) -> None:
-    """Test that external components don't update when skip_update=True."""
-    # Create a components directory structure
+def _make_config(tmp_path: Path) -> dict[str, Any]:
     components_dir = tmp_path / "components"
     components_dir.mkdir()
-
-    # Create a test component
     test_component_dir = components_dir / "test_component"
     test_component_dir.mkdir()
     (test_component_dir / "__init__.py").write_text("# Test component")
 
-    # Set up mock to return our tmp_path
-    mock_clone_or_update.return_value = (tmp_path, None)
-
-    config: dict[str, Any] = {
+    return {
         CONF_EXTERNAL_COMPONENTS: [
             {
                 CONF_SOURCE: {
@@ -43,92 +35,37 @@ def test_external_components_skip_update_true(
         ]
     }
 
-    # Call with skip_update=True
-    do_external_components_pass(config, skip_update=True)
 
-    # Verify clone_or_update was called with NEVER_REFRESH
-    mock_clone_or_update.assert_called_once()
-    call_args = mock_clone_or_update.call_args
-    from esphome import git
-
-    assert call_args.kwargs["refresh"] == git.NEVER_REFRESH
-
-
-def test_external_components_skip_update_false(
-    tmp_path: Path, mock_clone_or_update: MagicMock, mock_install_meta_finder: MagicMock
+def test_external_components_skip_update_via_core_flag(
+    tmp_path: Path,
+    mock_clone_or_update: MagicMock,
+    mock_install_meta_finder: MagicMock,
 ) -> None:
-    """Test that external components update when skip_update=False."""
-    # Create a components directory structure
-    components_dir = tmp_path / "components"
-    components_dir.mkdir()
-
-    # Create a test component
-    test_component_dir = components_dir / "test_component"
-    test_component_dir.mkdir()
-    (test_component_dir / "__init__.py").write_text("# Test component")
-
-    # Set up mock to return our tmp_path
+    """When CORE.skip_external_update is True, refresh is still passed through;
+    git.clone_or_update itself short-circuits the actual fetch."""
     mock_clone_or_update.return_value = (tmp_path, None)
+    config = _make_config(tmp_path)
+
+    CORE.skip_external_update = True
+    do_external_components_pass(config)
+
+    mock_clone_or_update.assert_called_once()
+    call_args = mock_clone_or_update.call_args
+    # Refresh is passed through verbatim — the global flag is enforced inside git.clone_or_update.
+    assert call_args.kwargs["refresh"] == TimePeriodSeconds(days=1)
+
+
+def test_external_components_normal_refresh(
+    tmp_path: Path,
+    mock_clone_or_update: MagicMock,
+    mock_install_meta_finder: MagicMock,
+) -> None:
+    """When CORE.skip_external_update is False, the configured refresh value is used."""
+    mock_clone_or_update.return_value = (tmp_path, None)
+    config = _make_config(tmp_path)
 
-    config: dict[str, Any] = {
-        CONF_EXTERNAL_COMPONENTS: [
-            {
-                CONF_SOURCE: {
-                    "type": TYPE_GIT,
-                    CONF_URL: "https://github.com/test/components",
-                },
-                CONF_REFRESH: "1d",
-                "components": "all",
-            }
-        ]
-    }
-
-    # Call with skip_update=False
-    do_external_components_pass(config, skip_update=False)
-
-    # Verify clone_or_update was called with actual refresh value
-    mock_clone_or_update.assert_called_once()
-    call_args = mock_clone_or_update.call_args
-    from esphome.core import TimePeriodSeconds
-
-    assert call_args.kwargs["refresh"] == TimePeriodSeconds(days=1)
-
-
-def test_external_components_default_no_skip(
-    tmp_path: Path, mock_clone_or_update: MagicMock, mock_install_meta_finder: MagicMock
-) -> None:
-    """Test that external components update by default when skip_update not specified."""
-    # Create a components directory structure
-    components_dir = tmp_path / "components"
-    components_dir.mkdir()
-
-    # Create a test component
-    test_component_dir = components_dir / "test_component"
-    test_component_dir.mkdir()
-    (test_component_dir / "__init__.py").write_text("# Test component")
-
-    # Set up mock to return our tmp_path
-    mock_clone_or_update.return_value = (tmp_path, None)
-
-    config: dict[str, Any] = {
-        CONF_EXTERNAL_COMPONENTS: [
-            {
-                CONF_SOURCE: {
-                    "type": TYPE_GIT,
-                    CONF_URL: "https://github.com/test/components",
-                },
-                CONF_REFRESH: "1d",
-                "components": "all",
-            }
-        ]
-    }
-
-    # Call without skip_update parameter
     do_external_components_pass(config)
 
-    # Verify clone_or_update was called with actual refresh value
     mock_clone_or_update.assert_called_once()
     call_args = mock_clone_or_update.call_args
-    from esphome.core import TimePeriodSeconds
-
     assert call_args.kwargs["refresh"] == TimePeriodSeconds(days=1)
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/helpers.py b/tests/component_tests/helpers.py
index 568d1639d0c..2eb588c0ca3 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/helpers.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/helpers.py
@@ -8,12 +8,22 @@ INTERNAL_BIT = 1 << 24
 
 
 def extract_packed_value(main_cpp: str, var_name: str) -> int:
-    """Extract the third (packed) argument from a configure_entity_ call."""
-    pattern = (
-        rf"{re.escape(var_name)}->configure_entity_\("
+    """Extract the packed-fields argument from the entity's configure call.
+
+    Matches both legacy form ``var->configure_entity_(name, hash, packed)`` and the
+    combined form ``App.register_<entity>(var, name, hash, packed)``.
+    """
+    escaped_var = re.escape(var_name)
+    legacy_pattern = (
+        rf"{escaped_var}->configure_entity_\("
         r'"(?:\\.|[^"\\])*"'
         r",\s*\w+,\s*(\d+)\)"
     )
-    match = re.search(pattern, main_cpp)
-    assert match, f"configure_entity_ call not found for {var_name}"
+    combined_pattern = (
+        rf"App\.register_\w+\(\s*{escaped_var}\s*,\s*"
+        r'"(?:\\.|[^"\\])*"'
+        r",\s*\w+,\s*(\d+)\)"
+    )
+    match = re.search(combined_pattern, main_cpp) or re.search(legacy_pattern, main_cpp)
+    assert match, f"configure call not found for {var_name}"
     return int(match.group(1))
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/image/test_init.py b/tests/component_tests/image/test_init.py
index 6f73888c7d1..f7f60a1f4d5 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/image/test_init.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/image/test_init.py
@@ -7,10 +7,12 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
 
+from PIL import Image as PILImage
 import pytest
 
 from esphome import config_validation as cv
 from esphome.components.image import (
+    CONF_ALPHA_CHANNEL,
     CONF_INVERT_ALPHA,
     CONF_OPAQUE,
     CONF_TRANSPARENCY,
@@ -411,3 +413,70 @@ async def test_svg_with_mm_dimensions_succeeds(
     assert 30 < height < 50, (
         f"Height should be around 39 pixels for 10mm at 100dpi, got {height}"
     )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_rgb565_alpha_animation_layout_per_frame(
+    tmp_path: Path,
+    mock_progmem_array: MagicMock,
+) -> None:
+    """RGB565+alpha animations must store each frame as a self-contained
+    [RGB plane | alpha plane] block. Animation::update_data_start_ steps frames
+    with a single per-frame stride, so any cross-frame layout (all RGB then all
+    alpha) makes the C++ alpha read land in the next frame's RGB bytes — that
+    was the regression behind issue #15999.
+    """
+    # Build a 2-frame APNG where each frame is a solid color with a known
+    # alpha. APNG preserves full RGBA per pixel (GIF only has 1-bit alpha so
+    # round-tripping mid-range alpha values does not work). Frame 0 is fully
+    # opaque red, frame 1 is fully transparent blue.
+    width = 4
+    height = 3
+    frame0 = PILImage.new("RGBA", (width, height), (255, 0, 0, 0xFF))
+    frame1 = PILImage.new("RGBA", (width, height), (0, 0, 255, 0x00))
+    apng_path = tmp_path / "anim.png"
+    frame0.save(
+        apng_path,
+        format="PNG",
+        save_all=True,
+        append_images=[frame1],
+        duration=100,
+        loop=0,
+    )
+
+    config = {
+        CONF_FILE: str(apng_path),
+        CONF_TYPE: "RGB565",
+        CONF_TRANSPARENCY: CONF_ALPHA_CHANNEL,
+        CONF_DITHER: "NONE",
+        CONF_INVERT_ALPHA: False,
+        CONF_RAW_DATA_ID: "test_raw_data_id",
+    }
+
+    _, _, _, _, _, frame_count = await write_image(config, all_frames=True)
+    assert frame_count == 2
+
+    # Recover the bytes handed to progmem_array. Signature is (id_, rhs).
+    _, raw_data = mock_progmem_array.call_args.args
+    data = [int(x) for x in raw_data]
+
+    rgb_size = width * height * 2
+    alpha_size = width * height
+    frame_size = rgb_size + alpha_size
+    assert len(data) == frame_size * frame_count, (
+        "RGB565+alpha animation buffer must be (RGB + alpha) per frame, not "
+        "all RGB followed by all alpha"
+    )
+
+    # Frame 0: RGB plane is red, alpha plane is 0xFF. Frame 1: alpha plane is
+    # 0x00. If the layout regresses to [all RGB | all alpha], the alpha bytes
+    # would all land at the tail of the buffer and the per-frame slices below
+    # would point at RGB565 noise instead.
+    frame0_alpha = data[rgb_size : rgb_size + alpha_size]
+    frame1_alpha = data[frame_size + rgb_size : frame_size + rgb_size + alpha_size]
+    assert all(a == 0xFF for a in frame0_alpha), (
+        f"Frame 0 alpha plane should be opaque, got {frame0_alpha}"
+    )
+    assert all(a == 0x00 for a in frame1_alpha), (
+        f"Frame 1 alpha plane should be transparent, got {frame1_alpha}"
+    )
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/lvgl/__init__.py b/tests/component_tests/lvgl/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e69de29bb2d
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/lvgl/test_grid_layout.py b/tests/component_tests/lvgl/test_grid_layout.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..dfd4b2460cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/component_tests/lvgl/test_grid_layout.py
@@ -0,0 +1,239 @@
+"""Unit tests for the LVGL grid layout shorthand and rows/columns auto-sizing."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import pytest
+from voluptuous import Invalid
+
+from esphome.components.lvgl.defines import (
+    CONF_GRID_COLUMNS,
+    CONF_GRID_ROWS,
+    CONF_LAYOUT,
+    CONF_WIDGETS,
+    TYPE_GRID,
+)
+from esphome.components.lvgl.layout import GridLayout, grid_dimension
+from esphome.const import CONF_TYPE
+
+FR1 = "LV_GRID_FR(1)"
+
+
+def _widgets(n: int) -> list[dict]:
+    """Build a list of `n` placeholder widgets for the validate() input."""
+    return [{"label": {}} for _ in range(n)]
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# grid_dimension validator
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_grid_dimension_int_expands_to_fr1_list() -> None:
+    """A positive integer should expand to a list of LV_GRID_FR(1) entries."""
+    assert grid_dimension(1) == [FR1]
+    assert grid_dimension(3) == [FR1, FR1, FR1]
+
+
+def test_grid_dimension_zero_or_negative_rejected() -> None:
+    """Non-positive integers must be rejected."""
+    with pytest.raises(Invalid):
+        grid_dimension(0)
+    with pytest.raises(Invalid):
+        grid_dimension(-2)
+
+
+def test_grid_dimension_list_passes_through() -> None:
+    """A list should be validated through the existing grid_spec list schema."""
+    result = grid_dimension(["100px", "content", "fr(2)"])
+    # `grid_spec` normalises each entry: pixel sizes become ints, the
+    # CONTENT keyword is uppercased and prefixed, and FR(n) is normalised.
+    assert result == [100, "LV_GRID_CONTENT", "LV_GRID_FR(2)"]
+
+
+def test_grid_dimension_invalid_string_rejected() -> None:
+    """A string is not a valid grid dimension and should be rejected."""
+    with pytest.raises(Invalid):
+        grid_dimension("not a list")
+
+
+def test_grid_dimension_empty_list_rejected() -> None:
+    """An empty list of grid specs must be rejected."""
+    with pytest.raises(Invalid, match="at least one entry"):
+        grid_dimension([])
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Shorthand string layouts
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_shorthand_full_form_unchanged() -> None:
+    """`<rows>x<cols>` continues to work and yields the exact dimensions."""
+    config = {CONF_LAYOUT: "2x3", CONF_WIDGETS: _widgets(0)}
+    result = GridLayout().validate(config)
+    layout = result[CONF_LAYOUT]
+    assert layout[CONF_TYPE] == TYPE_GRID
+    assert layout[CONF_GRID_ROWS] == [FR1, FR1]
+    assert layout[CONF_GRID_COLUMNS] == [FR1, FR1, FR1]
+
+
+def test_shorthand_rows_only_calculates_columns_from_widgets() -> None:
+    """`<rows>x` derives the column count from the number of widgets."""
+    config = {CONF_LAYOUT: "3x", CONF_WIDGETS: _widgets(7)}
+    result = GridLayout().validate(config)
+    layout = result[CONF_LAYOUT]
+    # 7 widgets / 3 rows -> ceil = 3 columns.
+    assert len(layout[CONF_GRID_ROWS]) == 3
+    assert len(layout[CONF_GRID_COLUMNS]) == 3
+
+
+def test_shorthand_columns_only_calculates_rows_from_widgets() -> None:
+    """`x<cols>` derives the row count from the number of widgets."""
+    config = {CONF_LAYOUT: "x4", CONF_WIDGETS: _widgets(5)}
+    result = GridLayout().validate(config)
+    layout = result[CONF_LAYOUT]
+    # 5 widgets / 4 cols -> ceil = 2 rows.
+    assert len(layout[CONF_GRID_ROWS]) == 2
+    assert len(layout[CONF_GRID_COLUMNS]) == 4
+
+
+def test_shorthand_rows_only_no_widgets_defaults_columns_to_one() -> None:
+    """With no widgets and only rows specified, the column count defaults to 1."""
+    config = {CONF_LAYOUT: "3x", CONF_WIDGETS: []}
+    result = GridLayout().validate(config)
+    layout = result[CONF_LAYOUT]
+    assert len(layout[CONF_GRID_ROWS]) == 3
+    assert len(layout[CONF_GRID_COLUMNS]) == 1
+
+
+def test_shorthand_columns_only_no_widgets_defaults_rows_to_one() -> None:
+    """With no widgets and only columns specified, the row count defaults to 1."""
+    config = {CONF_LAYOUT: "x4", CONF_WIDGETS: []}
+    result = GridLayout().validate(config)
+    layout = result[CONF_LAYOUT]
+    assert len(layout[CONF_GRID_ROWS]) == 1
+    assert len(layout[CONF_GRID_COLUMNS]) == 4
+
+
+def test_shorthand_with_whitespace_accepted() -> None:
+    """The shorthand parser should tolerate whitespace around the components."""
+    config = {CONF_LAYOUT: "  3 x ", CONF_WIDGETS: _widgets(6)}
+    result = GridLayout().validate(config)
+    layout = result[CONF_LAYOUT]
+    # 6 widgets / 3 rows -> 2 columns.
+    assert len(layout[CONF_GRID_ROWS]) == 3
+    assert len(layout[CONF_GRID_COLUMNS]) == 2
+
+
+def test_shorthand_bare_x_rejected() -> None:
+    """Pure `x` (no digits at all) is not a valid shorthand."""
+    config = {CONF_LAYOUT: "x", CONF_WIDGETS: _widgets(2)}
+    with pytest.raises(Invalid):
+        GridLayout().validate(config)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "layout,bad_label",
+    [
+        ("0x3", "row"),
+        ("3x0", "column"),
+        ("0x", "row"),
+        ("x0", "column"),
+        ("0x0", "row"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_shorthand_zero_dimension_rejected(layout: str, bad_label: str) -> None:
+    """Shorthand row/column counts must be >= 1."""
+    config = {CONF_LAYOUT: layout, CONF_WIDGETS: _widgets(2)}
+    with pytest.raises(Invalid, match=f"{bad_label} count must be at least 1"):
+        GridLayout().validate(config)
+
+
+def test_shorthand_get_layout_schemas_recognizes_partial_forms() -> None:
+    """`<rows>x` and `x<cols>` should be picked up by GridLayout.get_layout_schemas."""
+    grid = GridLayout()
+    for layout in ("3x", "x4", "2x3"):
+        layout_schema, _ = grid.get_layout_schemas({CONF_LAYOUT: layout})
+        assert layout_schema is not None, f"{layout!r} should be recognised"
+    # Pure `x` and unrelated strings should not be picked up as a grid layout.
+    for layout in ("x", "horizontal"):
+        layout_schema, _ = grid.get_layout_schemas({CONF_LAYOUT: layout})
+        assert layout_schema is None, f"{layout!r} should not be recognised"
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Dict-form layouts with rows/columns auto-sizing
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_dict_rows_only_calculates_columns_from_widgets() -> None:
+    """A dict layout with only rows fills in the column count from widget count."""
+    config = {
+        CONF_LAYOUT: {
+            CONF_TYPE: TYPE_GRID,
+            CONF_GRID_ROWS: [FR1, FR1],
+        },
+        CONF_WIDGETS: _widgets(5),
+    }
+    result = GridLayout().validate(config)
+    layout = result[CONF_LAYOUT]
+    # 5 widgets / 2 rows -> ceil = 3 columns.
+    assert len(layout[CONF_GRID_ROWS]) == 2
+    assert layout[CONF_GRID_COLUMNS] == [FR1, FR1, FR1]
+
+
+def test_dict_columns_only_calculates_rows_from_widgets() -> None:
+    """A dict layout with only columns fills in the row count from widget count."""
+    config = {
+        CONF_LAYOUT: {
+            CONF_TYPE: TYPE_GRID,
+            CONF_GRID_COLUMNS: [FR1, FR1, FR1],
+        },
+        CONF_WIDGETS: _widgets(7),
+    }
+    result = GridLayout().validate(config)
+    layout = result[CONF_LAYOUT]
+    # 7 widgets / 3 cols -> ceil = 3 rows.
+    assert layout[CONF_GRID_ROWS] == [FR1, FR1, FR1]
+    assert len(layout[CONF_GRID_COLUMNS]) == 3
+
+
+def test_dict_rows_only_no_widgets_defaults_columns_to_one() -> None:
+    """A dict layout with rows but no widgets defaults columns to 1."""
+    config = {
+        CONF_LAYOUT: {
+            CONF_TYPE: TYPE_GRID,
+            CONF_GRID_ROWS: [FR1, FR1, FR1],
+        },
+        CONF_WIDGETS: [],
+    }
+    result = GridLayout().validate(config)
+    layout = result[CONF_LAYOUT]
+    assert len(layout[CONF_GRID_ROWS]) == 3
+    assert layout[CONF_GRID_COLUMNS] == [FR1]
+
+
+def test_dict_neither_rows_nor_columns_rejected() -> None:
+    """A grid layout dict without rows AND without columns must be rejected."""
+    config = {
+        CONF_LAYOUT: {CONF_TYPE: TYPE_GRID},
+        CONF_WIDGETS: _widgets(3),
+    }
+    with pytest.raises(Invalid):
+        GridLayout().validate(config)
+
+
+def test_dict_both_rows_and_columns_unchanged() -> None:
+    """When both dimensions are present they are preserved as-is."""
+    config = {
+        CONF_LAYOUT: {
+            CONF_TYPE: TYPE_GRID,
+            CONF_GRID_ROWS: [FR1, FR1],
+            CONF_GRID_COLUMNS: [FR1, FR1, FR1],
+        },
+        CONF_WIDGETS: _widgets(0),
+    }
+    result = GridLayout().validate(config)
+    layout = result[CONF_LAYOUT]
+    assert layout[CONF_GRID_ROWS] == [FR1, FR1]
+    assert layout[CONF_GRID_COLUMNS] == [FR1, FR1, FR1]
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/ota/test_web_server_ota.py b/tests/component_tests/ota/test_web_server_ota.py
index 4b3a4c705c1..4b8b7540e84 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/ota/test_web_server_ota.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/ota/test_web_server_ota.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def test_web_server_ota_generated(generate_main: Callable[[str], str]) -> None:
     assert "global_web_server_base" in main_cpp
 
     # Check component is registered
-    assert "App.register_component_(web_server_webserverotacomponent_id)" in main_cpp
+    assert "App.register_component_(web_server_webserverotacomponent_id" in main_cpp
 
 
 def test_web_server_ota_with_callbacks(generate_main: Callable[[str], str]) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/packages/test_init.py b/tests/component_tests/packages/test_init.py
index fd30c2433f2..19c7bd36692 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/packages/test_init.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/packages/test_init.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-"""Tests for the packages component skip_update functionality."""
+"""Tests for the packages skip-update behavior driven by CORE.skip_external_update."""
 
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
@@ -6,24 +6,12 @@ from unittest.mock import MagicMock
 
 from esphome.components.packages import do_packages_pass
 from esphome.const import CONF_FILES, CONF_PACKAGES, CONF_REFRESH, CONF_URL
+from esphome.core import CORE, TimePeriodSeconds
 from esphome.util import OrderedDict
 
 
-def test_packages_skip_update_true(
-    tmp_path: Path, mock_clone_or_update: MagicMock, mock_load_yaml: MagicMock
-) -> None:
-    """Test that packages don't update when skip_update=True."""
-    # Set up mock to return our tmp_path
-    mock_clone_or_update.return_value = (tmp_path, None)
-
-    # Create the test yaml file
-    test_file = tmp_path / "test.yaml"
-    test_file.write_text("sensor: []")
-
-    # Set mock_load_yaml to return some valid config
-    mock_load_yaml.return_value = OrderedDict({"sensor": []})
-
-    config: dict[str, Any] = {
+def _make_config() -> dict[str, Any]:
+    return {
         CONF_PACKAGES: {
             "test_package": {
                 CONF_URL: "https://github.com/test/repo",
@@ -33,82 +21,47 @@ def test_packages_skip_update_true(
         }
     }
 
-    # Call with skip_update=True
-    do_packages_pass(config, skip_update=True)
 
-    # Verify clone_or_update was called with NEVER_REFRESH
-    mock_clone_or_update.assert_called_once()
-    call_args = mock_clone_or_update.call_args
-    from esphome import git
-
-    assert call_args.kwargs["refresh"] == git.NEVER_REFRESH
-
-
-def test_packages_skip_update_false(
-    tmp_path: Path, mock_clone_or_update: MagicMock, mock_load_yaml: MagicMock
+def test_packages_skip_update_via_core_flag(
+    tmp_path: Path,
+    mock_clone_or_update: MagicMock,
+    mock_load_yaml: MagicMock,
 ) -> None:
-    """Test that packages update when skip_update=False."""
-    # Set up mock to return our tmp_path
+    """When CORE.skip_external_update is True, refresh is still passed through;
+    git.clone_or_update itself short-circuits the actual fetch."""
     mock_clone_or_update.return_value = (tmp_path, None)
 
-    # Create the test yaml file
     test_file = tmp_path / "test.yaml"
     test_file.write_text("sensor: []")
-
-    # Set mock_load_yaml to return some valid config
     mock_load_yaml.return_value = OrderedDict({"sensor": []})
 
-    config: dict[str, Any] = {
-        CONF_PACKAGES: {
-            "test_package": {
-                CONF_URL: "https://github.com/test/repo",
-                CONF_FILES: ["test.yaml"],
-                CONF_REFRESH: "1d",
-            }
-        }
-    }
+    config = _make_config()
+
+    CORE.skip_external_update = True
+    do_packages_pass(config, command_line_substitutions={})
+
+    mock_clone_or_update.assert_called_once()
+    call_args = mock_clone_or_update.call_args
+    # Refresh is passed through verbatim — the global flag is enforced inside git.clone_or_update.
+    assert call_args.kwargs["refresh"] == TimePeriodSeconds(days=1)
+
+
+def test_packages_normal_refresh(
+    tmp_path: Path,
+    mock_clone_or_update: MagicMock,
+    mock_load_yaml: MagicMock,
+) -> None:
+    """When CORE.skip_external_update is False, the configured refresh value is used."""
+    mock_clone_or_update.return_value = (tmp_path, None)
+
+    test_file = tmp_path / "test.yaml"
+    test_file.write_text("sensor: []")
+    mock_load_yaml.return_value = OrderedDict({"sensor": []})
+
+    config = _make_config()
 
-    # Call with skip_update=False (default)
-    do_packages_pass(config, command_line_substitutions={}, skip_update=False)
-
-    # Verify clone_or_update was called with actual refresh value
-    mock_clone_or_update.assert_called_once()
-    call_args = mock_clone_or_update.call_args
-    from esphome.core import TimePeriodSeconds
-
-    assert call_args.kwargs["refresh"] == TimePeriodSeconds(days=1)
-
-
-def test_packages_default_no_skip(
-    tmp_path: Path, mock_clone_or_update: MagicMock, mock_load_yaml: MagicMock
-) -> None:
-    """Test that packages update by default when skip_update not specified."""
-    # Set up mock to return our tmp_path
-    mock_clone_or_update.return_value = (tmp_path, None)
-
-    # Create the test yaml file
-    test_file = tmp_path / "test.yaml"
-    test_file.write_text("sensor: []")
-
-    # Set mock_load_yaml to return some valid config
-    mock_load_yaml.return_value = OrderedDict({"sensor": []})
-
-    config: dict[str, Any] = {
-        CONF_PACKAGES: {
-            "test_package": {
-                CONF_URL: "https://github.com/test/repo",
-                CONF_FILES: ["test.yaml"],
-                CONF_REFRESH: "1d",
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    # Call without skip_update parameter
     do_packages_pass(config, command_line_substitutions={})
 
-    # Verify clone_or_update was called with actual refresh value
     mock_clone_or_update.assert_called_once()
     call_args = mock_clone_or_update.call_args
-    from esphome.core import TimePeriodSeconds
-
     assert call_args.kwargs["refresh"] == TimePeriodSeconds(days=1)
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/packages/test_packages.py b/tests/component_tests/packages/test_packages.py
index af4b6db7961..13a6da9f2c6 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/packages/test_packages.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/packages/test_packages.py
@@ -1491,3 +1491,133 @@ def test_substitute_package_definition_includes_source_location(tmp_path: Path)
     line, col = int(match.group(1)), int(match.group(2))
     assert line == 2, f"expected 1-based line 2, got {line} (err={err!r})"
     assert col >= 1, f"expected 1-based column ≥ 1, got {col} (err={err!r})"
+
+
+def test_substitute_package_definition_vars_preserved_literally() -> None:
+    """``vars:`` blocks in remote-package files are not substituted prematurely.
+
+    Variable references inside ``vars:`` may resolve to substitutions
+    contributed by sibling packages that have not yet been loaded, so they
+    must be passed through untouched and resolved later by the package YAML.
+    """
+    pkg = {
+        CONF_URL: "https://github.com/esphome/non-existant-repo",
+        CONF_REF: "main",
+        CONF_FILES: [
+            {
+                CONF_PATH: "common/somefile.yaml",
+                CONF_VARS: {"pin": "${PIN}"},
+            },
+        ],
+    }
+    # Note: PIN is intentionally NOT in the context — it is meant to
+    # be resolved later, when the package YAML is processed.
+    result = _substitute_package_definition(pkg, ContextVars())
+
+    assert result[CONF_FILES][0][CONF_VARS] == {"pin": "${PIN}"}
+
+
+def test_substitute_package_definition_other_fields_still_substituted() -> None:
+    """Marking ``vars:`` literal does not stop substitution of url/ref/path."""
+    ctx = ContextVars({"branch": "release", "org": "esphome"})
+    pkg = {
+        CONF_URL: "https://github.com/${org}/firmware",
+        CONF_REF: "${branch}",
+        CONF_FILES: [
+            {
+                CONF_PATH: "common/sensor.yaml",
+                CONF_VARS: {"pin": "${PIN}"},
+            },
+        ],
+    }
+    result = _substitute_package_definition(pkg, ctx)
+
+    assert result[CONF_URL] == "https://github.com/esphome/firmware"
+    assert result[CONF_REF] == "release"
+    # vars passed through unchanged
+    assert result[CONF_FILES][0][CONF_VARS] == {"pin": "${PIN}"}
+
+
+def test_substitute_package_definition_without_vars_unaffected() -> None:
+    """Files entries without a ``vars:`` block continue to work."""
+    ctx = ContextVars({"branch": "main"})
+    pkg = {
+        CONF_URL: "https://github.com/esphome/firmware",
+        CONF_REF: "${branch}",
+        CONF_FILES: [
+            {CONF_PATH: "file1.yaml"},
+            "file2.yaml",
+        ],
+    }
+    result = _substitute_package_definition(pkg, ctx)
+
+    assert result[CONF_REF] == "main"
+    assert result[CONF_FILES][0] == {CONF_PATH: "file1.yaml"}
+    assert result[CONF_FILES][1] == "file2.yaml"
+
+
+@patch("esphome.yaml_util.load_yaml")
+@patch("pathlib.Path.is_file")
+@patch("esphome.git.clone_or_update")
+def test_remote_package_vars_resolved_against_sibling_package_substitutions(
+    mock_clone_or_update, mock_is_file, mock_load_yaml
+) -> None:
+    """A ``vars:`` reference in one remote package can resolve to a
+    substitution defined in a sibling remote package.
+
+    A higher-priority package declares ``substitutions:`` (e.g. ``SENSOR_PIN: 5``) and a
+    lower-priority package's ``files: -> vars:`` references that substitution.
+    Because packages are processed highest-priority first and ``vars:`` is now
+    preserved literally during package-definition processing, the substitution
+    is resolved correctly when the package YAML itself is loaded.
+    """
+    mock_clone_or_update.return_value = (Path("/tmp/noexists"), MagicMock())
+    mock_is_file.return_value = True
+
+    # Two YAML files mocked from the "remote" repo:
+    #   - platform.yaml exports a substitution ``SENSOR_PIN``
+    #   - sensor.yaml uses ``${pin}`` (which is bound from ``vars:`` to
+    #     ``${SENSOR_PIN}`` and resolved against the merged substitutions).
+    mock_load_yaml.side_effect = [
+        # Order matches reverse-priority traversal (highest priority first).
+        OrderedDict(
+            {
+                CONF_SUBSTITUTIONS: {"SENSOR_PIN": "GPIO5"},
+            }
+        ),
+        OrderedDict(
+            {
+                CONF_SENSOR: [
+                    {
+                        CONF_PLATFORM: TEST_SENSOR_PLATFORM_1,
+                        CONF_NAME: TEST_SENSOR_NAME_1,
+                        "pin": "${pin}",
+                    }
+                ],
+            }
+        ),
+    ]
+
+    config = {
+        CONF_PACKAGES: {
+            "special_sensor": {
+                CONF_URL: "https://github.com/esphome/non-existant-repo",
+                CONF_FILES: [
+                    {
+                        CONF_PATH: "sensor.yaml",
+                        CONF_VARS: {"pin": "${SENSOR_PIN}"},
+                    },
+                ],
+                CONF_REFRESH: "1d",
+            },
+            "platform": {
+                CONF_URL: "https://github.com/esphome/non-existant-repo",
+                CONF_FILES: ["platform.yaml"],
+                CONF_REFRESH: "1d",
+            },
+        }
+    }
+
+    actual = packages_pass(config)
+
+    assert actual[CONF_SENSOR][0]["pin"] == "GPIO5"
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/text/test_text.py b/tests/component_tests/text/test_text.py
index 63eb4f19515..f5ac07c1cd1 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/text/test_text.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/text/test_text.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def test_text_sets_mandatory_fields(generate_main):
     main_cpp = generate_main("tests/component_tests/text/test_text.yaml")
 
     # Then
-    assert 'it_1->configure_entity_("test 1 text",' in main_cpp
+    assert 'App.register_text(it_1, "test 1 text",' in main_cpp
 
 
 def test_text_config_value_internal_set(generate_main):
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/text_sensor/test_text_sensor.py b/tests/component_tests/text_sensor/test_text_sensor.py
index ae094fadf87..eb25af3095f 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/text_sensor/test_text_sensor.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/text_sensor/test_text_sensor.py
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ def test_text_sensor_sets_mandatory_fields(generate_main):
     main_cpp = generate_main("tests/component_tests/text_sensor/test_text_sensor.yaml")
 
     # Then
-    assert 'ts_1->configure_entity_("Template Text Sensor 1",' in main_cpp
-    assert 'ts_2->configure_entity_("Template Text Sensor 2",' in main_cpp
-    assert 'ts_3->configure_entity_("Template Text Sensor 3",' in main_cpp
+    assert 'App.register_text_sensor(ts_1, "Template Text Sensor 1",' in main_cpp
+    assert 'App.register_text_sensor(ts_2, "Template Text Sensor 2",' in main_cpp
+    assert 'App.register_text_sensor(ts_3, "Template Text Sensor 3",' in main_cpp
 
 
 def test_text_sensor_config_value_internal_set(generate_main):
diff --git a/tests/components/api/test_proto_mac_varint.cpp b/tests/components/api/test_proto_mac_varint.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..317a6fb9d6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/api/test_proto_mac_varint.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+#include <gtest/gtest.h>
+
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <ios>
+#include <random>
+
+#include "esphome/components/api/api_buffer.h"
+#include "esphome/components/api/proto.h"
+
+namespace esphome::api::testing {
+
+// Generic varint decoder, used to verify the encoded bytes round-trip back to
+// the original 48-bit MAC value, independent of the specialized encoder under
+// test.
+static uint64_t decode_varint(const uint8_t *buf, size_t len, size_t *consumed) {
+  uint64_t value = 0;
+  int shift = 0;
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < len; i++) {
+    value |= static_cast<uint64_t>(buf[i] & 0x7F) << shift;
+    if ((buf[i] & 0x80) == 0) {
+      *consumed = i + 1;
+      return value;
+    }
+    shift += 7;
+  }
+  *consumed = 0;
+  return 0;
+}
+
+// Reference encoder mirroring ProtoEncode::encode_varint_raw_64.
+static size_t reference_encode(uint64_t value, uint8_t *out) {
+  uint8_t *p = out;
+  if (value < 128) {
+    *p++ = static_cast<uint8_t>(value);
+    return p - out;
+  }
+  do {
+    *p++ = static_cast<uint8_t>(value | 0x80);
+    value >>= 7;
+  } while (value > 0x7F);
+  *p++ = static_cast<uint8_t>(value);
+  return p - out;
+}
+
+// Encode `mac` via the 48-bit fast path and verify:
+//  - byte-identical output to the reference loop
+//  - encoded byte length matches `expected_bytes`
+//  - calc_uint64_48bit_force agrees on the size
+//  - the bytes round-trip through a generic varint decoder
+static void verify_mac(uint64_t mac, size_t expected_bytes) {
+  ASSERT_LT(mac, 1ULL << 48) << "test fixture mac exceeds 48 bits";
+
+  uint8_t ref_buf[16] = {0};
+  size_t ref_len = reference_encode(mac, ref_buf);
+
+  APIBuffer api_buf;
+  api_buf.resize(16);
+  uint8_t *pos = api_buf.data();
+#ifdef ESPHOME_DEBUG_API
+  uint8_t *proto_debug_end_ = api_buf.data() + api_buf.size();
+#endif
+  ProtoEncode::encode_varint_raw_48bit(pos PROTO_ENCODE_DEBUG_ARG, mac);
+  size_t new_len = pos - api_buf.data();
+
+  EXPECT_EQ(new_len, expected_bytes) << "mac=0x" << std::hex << mac << std::dec;
+  EXPECT_EQ(ref_len, expected_bytes) << "reference disagrees on length for mac=0x" << std::hex << mac << std::dec;
+
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < new_len; i++) {
+    EXPECT_EQ(api_buf.data()[i], ref_buf[i])
+        << "byte " << i << " differs for mac=0x" << std::hex << mac << " (got 0x" << static_cast<int>(api_buf.data()[i])
+        << ", expected 0x" << static_cast<int>(ref_buf[i]) << ")" << std::dec;
+  }
+
+  size_t consumed = 0;
+  uint64_t decoded = decode_varint(api_buf.data(), new_len, &consumed);
+  EXPECT_EQ(consumed, new_len) << "decoder did not consume all bytes for mac=0x" << std::hex << mac << std::dec;
+  EXPECT_EQ(decoded, mac) << "round-trip mismatch for mac=0x" << std::hex << mac << std::dec;
+
+  // Verify the size helper agrees. field_id_size = 1 (typical 1-byte tag).
+  uint32_t calc_size = ProtoSize::calc_uint64_48bit_force(1, mac);
+  EXPECT_EQ(calc_size, 1 + expected_bytes)
+      << "calc_uint64_48bit_force size mismatch for mac=0x" << std::hex << mac << std::dec;
+}
+
+// Compute the canonical varint byte length for a value < 1<<48.
+static size_t expected_varint_len(uint64_t v) {
+  if (v < (1ULL << 7))
+    return 1;
+  if (v < (1ULL << 14))
+    return 2;
+  if (v < (1ULL << 21))
+    return 3;
+  if (v < (1ULL << 28))
+    return 4;
+  if (v < (1ULL << 35))
+    return 5;
+  if (v < (1ULL << 42))
+    return 6;
+  return 7;
+}
+
+// --- Specific MACs requested for verification ---
+
+TEST(ProtoMacVarint, AllZeros) { verify_mac(0x000000000000ULL, 1); }        // 00:00:00:00:00:00
+TEST(ProtoMacVarint, FirstByteOnly) { verify_mac(0x110000000000ULL, 7); }   // 11:00:00:00:00:00
+TEST(ProtoMacVarint, SecondByteOnly) { verify_mac(0x00AA00000000ULL, 6); }  // 00:AA:00:00:00:00
+TEST(ProtoMacVarint, ThirdByteOnly) { verify_mac(0x0000BB000000ULL, 5); }   // 00:00:BB:00:00:00
+TEST(ProtoMacVarint, FourthByteOnly) { verify_mac(0x000000CC0000ULL, 4); }  // 00:00:00:CC:00:00
+TEST(ProtoMacVarint, FifthByteOnly) { verify_mac(0x00000000DD00ULL, 3); }   // 00:00:00:00:DD:00
+TEST(ProtoMacVarint, SixthByteOnly) { verify_mac(0x0000000000EEULL, 2); }   // 00:00:00:00:00:EE
+TEST(ProtoMacVarint, AllOnes) { verify_mac(0xFFFFFFFFFFFFULL, 7); }         // FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF
+
+// 100 deterministic-random 48-bit MACs to catch regressions across the space.
+TEST(ProtoMacVarint, RandomSample) {
+  // NOLINTNEXTLINE(cert-msc32-c,cert-msc51-cpp) -- intentional fixed seed for reproducibility.
+  std::mt19937_64 rng(0xC0FFEE);
+  for (int i = 0; i < 100; i++) {
+    uint64_t mac = rng() & 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFULL;
+    verify_mac(mac, expected_varint_len(mac));
+  }
+}
+
+}  // namespace esphome::api::testing
diff --git a/tests/components/json/__init__.py b/tests/components/json/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..40ec1f996ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/json/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+from tests.testing_helpers import ComponentManifestOverride
+
+
+def override_manifest(manifest: ComponentManifestOverride) -> None:
+    # json's to_code calls cg.add_library("bblanchon/ArduinoJson", ...). C++
+    # unit test builds that pull json in transitively (e.g. api) need that
+    # library registration to happen, otherwise json_util.cpp fails to find
+    # ArduinoJson.h.
+    manifest.enable_codegen()
diff --git a/tests/components/lvgl/lvgl-package.yaml b/tests/components/lvgl/lvgl-package.yaml
index d3565c6c59a..9c4ad4bbf85 100644
--- a/tests/components/lvgl/lvgl-package.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/lvgl/lvgl-package.yaml
@@ -16,10 +16,19 @@ binary_sensor:
     platform: template
   - id: left_sensor
     platform: template
+  - platform: lvgl
+    name: Button A pressed
+    widget: button_a
+    state: pressed
+  - platform: lvgl
+    name: Button A checked
+    widget: button_a
+    state: checked
   - platform: lvgl
     id: button_checker
     name: LVGL button
     widget: button_button
+    state: checked
     on_state:
       then:
         - lvgl.checkbox.update:
@@ -29,6 +38,12 @@ binary_sensor:
                   auto y = x; // block inlining of one line return
                   return y;
 
+  - platform: lvgl
+    id: button_presser
+    name: Button pressed
+    widget: button_button
+    state: pressed
+
 lvgl:
   id: lvgl_id
   rotation: 90
@@ -1098,6 +1113,8 @@ lvgl:
                   pad_row: 6px
                   pad_column: 0
                   multiple_widgets_per_cell: true
+                  grid_cell_x_align: center
+                  grid_cell_y_align: center
                 widgets:
                   - image:
                       grid_cell_row_pos: 0
@@ -1290,6 +1307,87 @@ lvgl:
                 hidden: true
                 mode: text_lower
 
+        # Grid shorthand "<rows>x": 3 rows specified, columns derived
+        # from widget count (4 widgets / 3 rows -> 2 columns)
+        - obj:
+            id: grid_rows_only_shorthand
+            layout: 3x
+            widgets:
+              - label:
+                  text: "r1"
+              - label:
+                  text: "r2"
+              - label:
+                  text: "r3"
+              - label:
+                  text: "r4"
+
+        # Grid shorthand "x<cols>": 4 columns specified, rows derived
+        # from widget count (5 widgets / 4 cols -> 2 rows)
+        - obj:
+            id: grid_cols_only_shorthand
+            layout: x4
+            widgets:
+              - label:
+                  text: "a"
+              - label:
+                  text: "b"
+              - label:
+                  text: "c"
+              - label:
+                  text: "d"
+              - label:
+                  text: "e"
+
+        # Grid dict form with grid_rows as a plain integer; columns derived
+        - obj:
+            id: grid_rows_int
+            layout:
+              type: grid
+              grid_rows: 2
+            widgets:
+              - label:
+                  text: "1"
+              - label:
+                  text: "2"
+              - label:
+                  text: "3"
+
+        # Grid dict form with grid_columns as a plain integer; rows derived
+        - obj:
+            id: grid_cols_int
+            layout:
+              type: grid
+              grid_columns: 3
+            widgets:
+              - label:
+                  text: "x"
+              - label:
+                  text: "y"
+              - label:
+                  text: "z"
+              - label:
+                  text: "w"
+              - label:
+                  text: "v"
+
+        # Grid dict form with both grid_rows and grid_columns as plain integers
+        - obj:
+            id: grid_both_int
+            layout:
+              type: grid
+              grid_rows: 2
+              grid_columns: 2
+            widgets:
+              - label:
+                  text: "1,1"
+              - label:
+                  text: "1,2"
+              - label:
+                  text: "2,1"
+              - label:
+                  text: "2,2"
+
 font:
   - file: "gfonts://Roboto"
     id: space16
diff --git a/tests/components/mapping/common.yaml b/tests/components/mapping/common.yaml
index 7ffcfa4f67a..b3db9d54eb7 100644
--- a/tests/components/mapping/common.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/mapping/common.yaml
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ mapping:
     entries:
       clear-night: image_1
       sunny: image_2
+    default_value: image_1
   - id: weather_map_2
     from: string
     to: image
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ mapping:
       2: "two"
       3: "three"
       77: "seventy-seven"
+    default_value: unknown
   - id: string_map
     from: string
     to: int
diff --git a/tests/components/mapping/test.esp32-idf.yaml b/tests/components/mapping/test.esp32-idf.yaml
index a35b6940c74..93adcf9988b 100644
--- a/tests/components/mapping/test.esp32-idf.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/mapping/test.esp32-idf.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ packages:
 
 display:
   spi_id: spi_bus
-  platform: ili9xxx
+  platform: mipi_spi
   id: main_lcd
   model: ili9342
   cs_pin: 12
diff --git a/tests/components/mapping/test.esp8266-ard.yaml b/tests/components/mapping/test.esp8266-ard.yaml
index c59821a2119..6a308b67ddf 100644
--- a/tests/components/mapping/test.esp8266-ard.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/mapping/test.esp8266-ard.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ packages:
 
 display:
   spi_id: spi_bus
-  platform: ili9xxx
+  platform: mipi_spi
   id: main_lcd
   model: ili9342
   cs_pin: 5
diff --git a/tests/components/mapping/test.rp2040-ard.yaml b/tests/components/mapping/test.rp2040-ard.yaml
index fdfed5f6ab9..01b83c4ab82 100644
--- a/tests/components/mapping/test.rp2040-ard.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/mapping/test.rp2040-ard.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ packages:
 
 display:
   spi_id: spi_bus
-  platform: ili9xxx
+  platform: mipi_spi
   id: main_lcd
   model: ili9342
   data_rate: 31.25MHz
diff --git a/tests/components/mdns/common-enabled-ethernet.yaml b/tests/components/mdns/common-enabled-ethernet.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bfa9321d436
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/mdns/common-enabled-ethernet.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+ethernet:
+  type: W5500
+  clk_pin: 18
+  mosi_pin: 19
+  miso_pin: 16
+  cs_pin: 17
+  interrupt_pin: 21
+  reset_pin: 20
+  manual_ip:
+    static_ip: 192.168.178.56
+    gateway: 192.168.178.1
+    subnet: 255.255.255.0
+  domain: .local
+  mac_address: "02:AA:BB:CC:DD:01"
+
+mdns:
+  disabled: false
+  services:
+    - service: _test_service
+      protocol: _tcp
+      port: 8888
+      txt:
+        static_string: Anything
diff --git a/tests/components/mdns/test-enabled-ethernet.rp2040-ard.yaml b/tests/components/mdns/test-enabled-ethernet.rp2040-ard.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f84a0bc276b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/mdns/test-enabled-ethernet.rp2040-ard.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<<: !include common-enabled-ethernet.yaml
diff --git a/tests/components/mitsubishi_cn105/climate/mitsubishi_cn105_tests.cpp b/tests/components/mitsubishi_cn105/climate/mitsubishi_cn105_tests.cpp
index 7846a31193f..86faaeac784 100644
--- a/tests/components/mitsubishi_cn105/climate/mitsubishi_cn105_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/components/mitsubishi_cn105/climate/mitsubishi_cn105_tests.cpp
@@ -341,6 +341,17 @@ TEST(MitsubishiCN105Tests, ApplySettingsTemperatureEncodedB) {
                                                   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xB4, 0x00, 0xC5));
 }
 
+TEST(MitsubishiCN105Tests, ApplySettingsHalfDegreeTemperatureEncodedB) {
+  auto ctx = TestContext{};
+
+  ctx.sut.use_temperature_encoding_b_ = true;
+  ctx.sut.set_target_temperature(26.5f);
+  ctx.sut.apply_settings();
+
+  EXPECT_THAT(ctx.uart.tx, ::testing::ElementsAre(0xFC, 0x41, 0x01, 0x30, 0x10, 0x01, 0x04, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                                                  0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xB5, 0x00, 0xC4));
+}
+
 TEST(MitsubishiCN105Tests, ApplyModeCool) {
   auto ctx = TestContext{};
 
diff --git a/tests/components/modbus_controller/common.yaml b/tests/components/modbus_controller/common.yaml
index ffaa1491c54..51951a45280 100644
--- a/tests/components/modbus_controller/common.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/modbus_controller/common.yaml
@@ -1,53 +1,11 @@
-modbus:
-  - id: mod_bus2
-    uart_id: uart_bus
-    role: server
-
 modbus_controller:
   - id: modbus_controller1
     address: 0x2
     modbus_id: modbus_bus
-    allow_duplicate_commands: false
     on_online:
       then:
         logger.log: "Module Online"
-  - id: modbus_controller2
-    address: 0x2
-    modbus_id: mod_bus2
-    server_registers:
-      - address: 0x0000
-        value_type: S_DWORD_R
-        read_lambda: |-
-          return 42.3;
-    max_cmd_retries: 0
-  - id: modbus_controller3
-    address: 0x3
-    modbus_id: mod_bus2
-    server_registers:
-      - address: 0x0009
-        value_type: S_DWORD
-        read_lambda: |-
-          return 31;
-        write_lambda: |-
-          printf("address=%d, value=%d", x);
-          return true;
-    max_cmd_retries: 0
-  - id: modbus_controller4
-    modbus_id: mod_bus2
-    address: 0x4
-    server_courtesy_response:
-      enabled: true
-      register_last_address: 100
-      register_value: 0
-    server_registers:
-      - address: 0x0001
-        value_type: U_WORD
-        read_lambda: |-
-          return 0x8;
-      - address: 0x0005
-        value_type: U_WORD
-        read_lambda: |-
-          return (random_uint32() % 100);
+
 binary_sensor:
   - platform: modbus_controller
     modbus_controller_id: modbus_controller1
diff --git a/tests/components/modbus_server/common.yaml b/tests/components/modbus_server/common.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3522c9248c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/modbus_server/common.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+modbus:
+  - id: mod_bus2
+    uart_id: uart_bus
+    role: server
+
+modbus_server:
+  - id: modbus_server2
+    address: 0x2
+    modbus_id: mod_bus2
+    registers:
+      - address: 0x0
+        value_type: S_DWORD_R
+        read_lambda: |-
+          return 42.3;
+  - id: modbus_server3
+    address: 0x3
+    modbus_id: mod_bus2
+    registers:
+      - address: 0x9
+        value_type: S_DWORD
+        read_lambda: |-
+          return 31;
+        write_lambda: |-
+          printf("address=%d, value=%d", x);
+          return true;
+  - id: modbus_server4
+    modbus_id: mod_bus2
+    address: 0x4
+    courtesy_response:
+      enabled: true
+      register_last_address: 100
+      register_value: 0
+    registers:
+      - address: 0x1
+        value_type: U_WORD
+        read_lambda: |-
+          return 0x8;
+      - address: 0x5
+        value_type: U_WORD
+        read_lambda: |-
+          return (random_uint32() % 100);
diff --git a/tests/components/modbus_server/test.esp32-idf.yaml b/tests/components/modbus_server/test.esp32-idf.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ace2d95a0b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/modbus_server/test.esp32-idf.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+packages:
+  modbus: !include ../../test_build_components/common/modbus/esp32-idf.yaml
+
+<<: !include common.yaml
diff --git a/tests/components/modbus_server/test.esp8266-ard.yaml b/tests/components/modbus_server/test.esp8266-ard.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..560629b0cd1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/modbus_server/test.esp8266-ard.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+packages:
+  modbus: !include ../../test_build_components/common/modbus/esp8266-ard.yaml
+
+<<: !include common.yaml
diff --git a/tests/components/modbus_server/test.rp2040-ard.yaml b/tests/components/modbus_server/test.rp2040-ard.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..eeebbd2a8aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/modbus_server/test.rp2040-ard.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+packages:
+  modbus: !include ../../test_build_components/common/modbus/rp2040-ard.yaml
+
+<<: !include common.yaml
diff --git a/tests/components/nrf52/test-dfu-pin.nrf52-xiao-ble.yaml b/tests/components/nrf52/test-dfu-pin.nrf52-xiao-ble.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d53c6920017
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/nrf52/test-dfu-pin.nrf52-xiao-ble.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+nrf52:
+  dfu:
+    reset_pin:
+      number: 14
+      inverted: true
+      mode:
+        output: true
+  reg0:
+    voltage: 1.8V
diff --git a/tests/components/nrf52/test.nrf52-xiao-ble.yaml b/tests/components/nrf52/test.nrf52-xiao-ble.yaml
index d53c6920017..de4c0c6e00f 100644
--- a/tests/components/nrf52/test.nrf52-xiao-ble.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/nrf52/test.nrf52-xiao-ble.yaml
@@ -1,9 +1,4 @@
 nrf52:
-  dfu:
-    reset_pin:
-      number: 14
-      inverted: true
-      mode:
-        output: true
+  dfu: true
   reg0:
     voltage: 1.8V
diff --git a/tests/components/radio_frequency/common-rx.yaml b/tests/components/radio_frequency/common-rx.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bcfa1f10c71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/radio_frequency/common-rx.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+remote_receiver:
+  id: rf_receiver
+  pin: ${rx_pin}
+
+# Test radio_frequency platform with receiver
+radio_frequency:
+  # RF 900MHz receiver
+  - platform: ir_rf_proxy
+    id: rf_900_rx
+    name: "RF 900 Receiver"
+    frequency: 900 MHz
+    remote_receiver_id: rf_receiver
+
+  # RF receiver (no frequency specified)
+  - platform: ir_rf_proxy
+    id: rf_rx
+    name: "RF Receiver"
+    remote_receiver_id: rf_receiver
diff --git a/tests/components/radio_frequency/common-tx.yaml b/tests/components/radio_frequency/common-tx.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..778dd68d1ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/radio_frequency/common-tx.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+remote_transmitter:
+  id: rf_transmitter
+  pin: ${tx_pin}
+  carrier_duty_percent: 100%
+
+# Test radio_frequency platform with transmitter
+radio_frequency:
+  # RF 433MHz transmitter
+  - platform: ir_rf_proxy
+    id: rf_433_tx
+    name: "RF 433 Transmitter"
+    frequency: 433 MHz
+    remote_transmitter_id: rf_transmitter
+
+  # RF transmitter (no frequency specified)
+  - platform: ir_rf_proxy
+    id: rf_tx
+    name: "RF Transmitter"
+    remote_transmitter_id: rf_transmitter
diff --git a/tests/components/radio_frequency/common.yaml b/tests/components/radio_frequency/common.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..53a0cd379a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/radio_frequency/common.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+network:
+
+wifi:
+  ssid: MySSID
+  password: password1
+
+api:
diff --git a/tests/components/radio_frequency/test.bk72xx-ard.yaml b/tests/components/radio_frequency/test.bk72xx-ard.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a0e145f4762
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/radio_frequency/test.bk72xx-ard.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+substitutions:
+  tx_pin: GPIO4
+  rx_pin: GPIO5
+
+packages:
+  common: !include common.yaml
+  rx: !include common-rx.yaml
+  tx: !include common-tx.yaml
diff --git a/tests/components/radio_frequency/test.esp32-idf.yaml b/tests/components/radio_frequency/test.esp32-idf.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a0e145f4762
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/radio_frequency/test.esp32-idf.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+substitutions:
+  tx_pin: GPIO4
+  rx_pin: GPIO5
+
+packages:
+  common: !include common.yaml
+  rx: !include common-rx.yaml
+  tx: !include common-tx.yaml
diff --git a/tests/components/radio_frequency/test.esp8266-ard.yaml b/tests/components/radio_frequency/test.esp8266-ard.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a0e145f4762
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/radio_frequency/test.esp8266-ard.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+substitutions:
+  tx_pin: GPIO4
+  rx_pin: GPIO5
+
+packages:
+  common: !include common.yaml
+  rx: !include common-rx.yaml
+  tx: !include common-tx.yaml
diff --git a/tests/components/radio_frequency/test.rp2040-ard.yaml b/tests/components/radio_frequency/test.rp2040-ard.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a0e145f4762
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/radio_frequency/test.rp2040-ard.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+substitutions:
+  tx_pin: GPIO4
+  rx_pin: GPIO5
+
+packages:
+  common: !include common.yaml
+  rx: !include common-rx.yaml
+  tx: !include common-tx.yaml
diff --git a/tests/components/rtttl/common.yaml b/tests/components/rtttl/common.yaml
index 529713583be..a4d8f951f42 100644
--- a/tests/components/rtttl/common.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/rtttl/common.yaml
@@ -29,3 +29,8 @@ output:
 
 rtttl:
   output: rtttl_output
+  on_finished_playback:
+    - then:
+        - logger.log: "Playback finished 1"
+    - then:
+        - logger.log: "Playback finished 2"
diff --git a/tests/components/zigbee/test.nrf52-mcumgr.yaml b/tests/components/zigbee/test.nrf52-mcumgr.yaml
index bf3cb9cdd92..a81feea0691 100644
--- a/tests/components/zigbee/test.nrf52-mcumgr.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/zigbee/test.nrf52-mcumgr.yaml
@@ -1 +1,4 @@
 <<: !include common_nrf52.yaml
+
+zigbee:
+  router: true
diff --git a/tests/dashboard/test_web_server.py b/tests/dashboard/test_web_server.py
index daff3845158..1a62cfda904 100644
--- a/tests/dashboard/test_web_server.py
+++ b/tests/dashboard/test_web_server.py
@@ -1744,6 +1744,64 @@ def test_proc_on_exit_skips_when_already_closed() -> None:
     handler.close.assert_not_called()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_esphome_logs_handler_appends_no_states_when_set() -> None:
+    """Test --no-states is appended when no_states is truthy in the message."""
+    handler = Mock(spec=web_server.EsphomeLogsHandler)
+    handler.build_device_command = AsyncMock(
+        return_value=["esphome", "logs", "device.yaml", "--device", "OTA"]
+    )
+
+    json_message = {
+        "configuration": "device.yaml",
+        "port": "OTA",
+        "no_states": True,
+    }
+    cmd = await web_server.EsphomeLogsHandler.build_command(handler, json_message)
+
+    assert cmd == [
+        "esphome",
+        "logs",
+        "device.yaml",
+        "--device",
+        "OTA",
+        "--no-states",
+    ]
+    handler.build_device_command.assert_awaited_once_with(["logs"], json_message)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_esphome_logs_handler_omits_no_states_when_missing() -> None:
+    """Test --no-states is not added when no_states is absent from the message."""
+    handler = Mock(spec=web_server.EsphomeLogsHandler)
+    handler.build_device_command = AsyncMock(
+        return_value=["esphome", "logs", "device.yaml", "--device", "OTA"]
+    )
+
+    cmd = await web_server.EsphomeLogsHandler.build_command(
+        handler, {"configuration": "device.yaml", "port": "OTA"}
+    )
+
+    assert "--no-states" not in cmd
+    assert cmd == ["esphome", "logs", "device.yaml", "--device", "OTA"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_esphome_logs_handler_omits_no_states_when_false() -> None:
+    """Test --no-states is not added when no_states is explicitly False."""
+    handler = Mock(spec=web_server.EsphomeLogsHandler)
+    handler.build_device_command = AsyncMock(
+        return_value=["esphome", "logs", "device.yaml", "--device", "OTA"]
+    )
+
+    cmd = await web_server.EsphomeLogsHandler.build_command(
+        handler,
+        {"configuration": "device.yaml", "port": "OTA", "no_states": False},
+    )
+
+    assert "--no-states" not in cmd
+
+
 def _make_auth_handler(auth_header: str | None = None) -> Mock:
     """Create a mock handler with the given Authorization header."""
     handler = Mock()
diff --git a/tests/integration/fixtures/uart_mock_modbus_server.yaml b/tests/integration/fixtures/uart_mock_modbus_server.yaml
index b657a6fd21b..cc5a59e242a 100644
--- a/tests/integration/fixtures/uart_mock_modbus_server.yaml
+++ b/tests/integration/fixtures/uart_mock_modbus_server.yaml
@@ -86,9 +86,9 @@ modbus:
   uart_id: virtual_uart_dev
   role: server
 
-modbus_controller:
+modbus_server:
   - address: 1
-    server_registers:
+    registers:
       - address: 0x03
         value_type: U_WORD
         read_lambda: |-
diff --git a/tests/integration/fixtures/uart_mock_modbus_server_controller.yaml b/tests/integration/fixtures/uart_mock_modbus_server_controller.yaml
index f0f2c56a36d..1e5f5a3389e 100644
--- a/tests/integration/fixtures/uart_mock_modbus_server_controller.yaml
+++ b/tests/integration/fixtures/uart_mock_modbus_server_controller.yaml
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ uart_mock:
               data: !lambda return data;
   - id: virtual_uart_controller
     baud_rate: 9600
-    auto_start: true  # See comment on virtual_uart_server above
+    auto_start: true # See comment on virtual_uart_server above
     debug:
     on_tx:
       - then:
@@ -56,10 +56,11 @@ modbus_controller:
     update_interval: 1s
     id: modbus_controller_1
 
+modbus_server:
   - address: 1
     modbus_id: virtual_modbus_server
     id: modbus_server_1
-    server_registers:
+    registers:
       - address: 0x01
         value_type: U_WORD
         read_lambda: return 99;
diff --git a/tests/integration/fixtures/uart_mock_modbus_server_controller_multiple.yaml b/tests/integration/fixtures/uart_mock_modbus_server_controller_multiple.yaml
index 7ec67b03db4..e68edd22715 100644
--- a/tests/integration/fixtures/uart_mock_modbus_server_controller_multiple.yaml
+++ b/tests/integration/fixtures/uart_mock_modbus_server_controller_multiple.yaml
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ uart_mock:
               data: !lambda return data;
   - id: virtual_uart_server_2
     baud_rate: 9600
-    auto_start: true  # See comment on virtual_uart_server above
+    auto_start: true # See comment on virtual_uart_server above
     debug:
     on_tx:
       - then:
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ uart_mock:
               data: !lambda return data;
   - id: virtual_uart_controller
     baud_rate: 9600
-    auto_start: true  # See comment on virtual_uart_server above
+    auto_start: true # See comment on virtual_uart_server above
     debug:
     on_tx:
       - then:
@@ -81,15 +81,16 @@ modbus_controller:
     update_interval: 1s
     id: modbus_controller_2
 
+modbus_server:
   - address: 1
     modbus_id: virtual_modbus_server
-    server_registers:
+    registers:
       - address: 0x01
         value_type: U_WORD
         read_lambda: return 919;
   - address: 2
     modbus_id: virtual_modbus_server_2
-    server_registers:
+    registers:
       - address: 0x01
         value_type: U_WORD
         read_lambda: return 929;
diff --git a/tests/integration/fixtures/uart_mock_modbus_server_controller_write.yaml b/tests/integration/fixtures/uart_mock_modbus_server_controller_write.yaml
index 3edcc73f07f..94890e90de3 100644
--- a/tests/integration/fixtures/uart_mock_modbus_server_controller_write.yaml
+++ b/tests/integration/fixtures/uart_mock_modbus_server_controller_write.yaml
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ uart_mock:
               data: !lambda return data;
   - id: virtual_uart_controller
     baud_rate: 9600
-    auto_start: true  # See comment on virtual_uart_server above
+    auto_start: true # See comment on virtual_uart_server above
     debug:
     on_tx:
       - then:
@@ -94,10 +94,11 @@ modbus_controller:
     update_interval: 2s
     id: modbus_controller_1
 
+modbus_server:
   - address: 1
     modbus_id: virtual_modbus_server
     id: modbus_server_1
-    server_registers:
+    registers:
       - address: 0x01
         value_type: U_WORD
         read_lambda: return id(stored_u_word);
diff --git a/tests/script/test_check_import_time.py b/tests/script/test_check_import_time.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..223c58002c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/script/test_check_import_time.py
@@ -0,0 +1,191 @@
+"""Unit tests for script/check_import_time.py."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import importlib.util
+import json
+import os
+from pathlib import Path
+import sys
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+import pytest
+
+# Load the script-under-test as `check_import_time` (it's a hyphenated path
+# inside `script/` that mirrors the existing `determine_jobs` pattern).
+script_dir = os.path.abspath(
+    os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "..", "..", "script")
+)
+sys.path.insert(0, script_dir)
+spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(
+    "check_import_time", os.path.join(script_dir, "check_import_time.py")
+)
+check_import_time = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+spec.loader.exec_module(check_import_time)
+
+
+def _entry(name: str, self_us: int, cumulative_us: int) -> dict:
+    """Build a minimal HAR entry matching `importtime_waterfall --har`."""
+    return {
+        "request": {"url": name},
+        "time": cumulative_us,
+        "timings": {"receive": self_us, "wait": cumulative_us - self_us},
+    }
+
+
+def _har(*entries: dict) -> dict:
+    return {"log": {"entries": list(entries)}}
+
+
+def test_root_cumulative_us_returns_time_for_root_module() -> None:
+    har = _har(
+        _entry("dep_a", 500, 500),
+        _entry("dep_b", 300, 300),
+        _entry("esphome.__main__", 100, 1000),
+    )
+    assert check_import_time.root_cumulative_us(har, "esphome.__main__") == 1000
+
+
+def test_root_cumulative_us_missing_module_raises() -> None:
+    har = _har(_entry("something.else", 100, 100))
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="No HAR entry for 'esphome.__main__'"):
+        check_import_time.root_cumulative_us(har, "esphome.__main__")
+
+
+def test_top_offenders_ranks_by_self_time_descending() -> None:
+    har = _har(
+        _entry("small", 100, 100),
+        _entry("big", 5000, 5000),
+        _entry("medium", 2000, 2500),
+    )
+    result = check_import_time.top_offenders(har, n=10)
+    assert [name for name, _, _ in result] == ["big", "medium", "small"]
+    assert result[0] == ("big", 5000, 5000)
+
+
+def test_top_offenders_respects_n_limit() -> None:
+    har = _har(*[_entry(f"m{i}", i * 100, i * 100) for i in range(1, 20)])
+    assert len(check_import_time.top_offenders(har, n=5)) == 5
+
+
+def test_top_offenders_dedupes_repeat_names_keeping_first() -> None:
+    har = _har(
+        _entry("pkg", 5000, 5000),
+        _entry("pkg", 100, 100),  # reimport later in trace
+        _entry("other", 1000, 1000),
+    )
+    result = check_import_time.top_offenders(har, n=10)
+    assert [name for name, _, _ in result] == ["pkg", "other"]
+    # First occurrence wins
+    assert ("pkg", 5000, 5000) in result
+
+
+def test_format_us_switches_to_ms_at_threshold() -> None:
+    assert check_import_time._format_us(500) == "500us"
+    assert check_import_time._format_us(999) == "999us"
+    assert check_import_time._format_us(1000) == "1.0ms"
+    assert check_import_time._format_us(12345) == "12.3ms"
+
+
+def test_read_write_budget_roundtrip(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    budget_path = tmp_path / "budget.json"
+    with patch.object(check_import_time, "BUDGET_PATH", budget_path):
+        assert check_import_time.read_budget() == {}
+        check_import_time.write_budget(cumulative_us=12345, margin_pct=20)
+        loaded = check_import_time.read_budget()
+    assert loaded["cumulative_us"] == 12345
+    assert loaded["margin_pct"] == 20
+    assert loaded["target_module"] == check_import_time.TARGET_MODULE
+
+
+def test_cmd_check_passes_when_measured_within_ceiling(
+    tmp_path: Path, capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str]
+) -> None:
+    budget_path = tmp_path / "budget.json"
+    budget_path.write_text(
+        json.dumps(
+            {
+                "target_module": check_import_time.TARGET_MODULE,
+                "margin_pct": 15,
+                "cumulative_us": 100000,  # 100ms
+            }
+        )
+    )
+    # Measured 90ms: inside 100ms + 15% = 115ms ceiling
+    har = _har(_entry(check_import_time.TARGET_MODULE, 1000, 90000))
+    args = type("A", (), {"har": None})()
+    with (
+        patch.object(check_import_time, "BUDGET_PATH", budget_path),
+        patch.object(check_import_time, "measure", return_value=har),
+    ):
+        rc = check_import_time.cmd_check(args)
+    assert rc == 0
+    out = capsys.readouterr().out
+    assert "measured   esphome.__main__:" in out
+    assert "budget 100.0ms" in out
+
+
+def test_cmd_check_fails_when_measured_exceeds_ceiling(
+    tmp_path: Path, capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str]
+) -> None:
+    budget_path = tmp_path / "budget.json"
+    budget_path.write_text(
+        json.dumps(
+            {
+                "target_module": check_import_time.TARGET_MODULE,
+                "margin_pct": 15,
+                "cumulative_us": 100000,
+            }
+        )
+    )
+    # Measured 120ms: over 100ms + 15% = 115ms ceiling
+    har = _har(
+        _entry("offender_a", 10000, 10000),
+        _entry(check_import_time.TARGET_MODULE, 1000, 120000),
+    )
+    args = type("A", (), {"har": None})()
+    with (
+        patch.object(check_import_time, "BUDGET_PATH", budget_path),
+        patch.object(check_import_time, "measure", return_value=har),
+    ):
+        rc = check_import_time.cmd_check(args)
+    assert rc == 1
+    err = capsys.readouterr().err
+    assert "REGRESSION" in err
+    assert "120.0ms" in err
+    assert "offender_a" in err  # top offender table
+
+
+def test_cmd_check_returns_2_when_budget_missing(
+    tmp_path: Path, capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str]
+) -> None:
+    budget_path = tmp_path / "nonexistent.json"
+    args = type("A", (), {"har": None})()
+    with patch.object(check_import_time, "BUDGET_PATH", budget_path):
+        rc = check_import_time.cmd_check(args)
+    assert rc == 2
+    assert "missing" in capsys.readouterr().err
+
+
+def test_cmd_check_writes_har_when_path_given(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    budget_path = tmp_path / "budget.json"
+    budget_path.write_text(
+        json.dumps(
+            {
+                "target_module": check_import_time.TARGET_MODULE,
+                "margin_pct": 15,
+                "cumulative_us": 100000,
+            }
+        )
+    )
+    har_path = tmp_path / "out.har"
+    har_text = json.dumps(_har(_entry(check_import_time.TARGET_MODULE, 1000, 80000)))
+    args = type("A", (), {"har": str(har_path)})()
+    with (
+        patch.object(check_import_time, "BUDGET_PATH", budget_path),
+        patch.object(check_import_time, "run_waterfall", return_value=har_text),
+    ):
+        rc = check_import_time.cmd_check(args)
+    assert rc == 0
+    assert har_path.exists()
+    assert json.loads(har_path.read_text()) == json.loads(har_text)
diff --git a/tests/script/test_determine_jobs.py b/tests/script/test_determine_jobs.py
index de239ee0b55..44c110b6892 100644
--- a/tests/script/test_determine_jobs.py
+++ b/tests/script/test_determine_jobs.py
@@ -56,6 +56,13 @@ def mock_should_run_python_linters() -> Generator[Mock, None, None]:
         yield mock
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_should_run_import_time() -> Generator[Mock, None, None]:
+    """Mock should_run_import_time from determine_jobs."""
+    with patch.object(determine_jobs, "should_run_import_time") as mock:
+        yield mock
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def mock_determine_cpp_unit_tests() -> Generator[Mock, None, None]:
     """Mock determine_cpp_unit_tests from helpers."""
@@ -91,6 +98,7 @@ def test_main_all_tests_should_run(
     mock_should_run_clang_tidy: Mock,
     mock_should_run_clang_format: Mock,
     mock_should_run_python_linters: Mock,
+    mock_should_run_import_time: Mock,
     mock_changed_files: Mock,
     mock_determine_cpp_unit_tests: Mock,
     capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str],
@@ -104,6 +112,7 @@ def test_main_all_tests_should_run(
     mock_should_run_clang_tidy.return_value = True
     mock_should_run_clang_format.return_value = True
     mock_should_run_python_linters.return_value = True
+    mock_should_run_import_time.return_value = True
     mock_determine_cpp_unit_tests.return_value = (False, ["wifi", "api", "sensor"])
 
     # Mock changed_files to return non-component files (to avoid memory impact)
@@ -158,6 +167,7 @@ def test_main_all_tests_should_run(
     assert output["clang_tidy_mode"] in ["nosplit", "split"]
     assert output["clang_format"] is True
     assert output["python_linters"] is True
+    assert output["import_time"] is True
     assert output["changed_components"] == ["wifi", "api", "sensor"]
     # changed_components_with_tests will only include components that actually have test files
     assert "changed_components_with_tests" in output
@@ -189,6 +199,7 @@ def test_main_no_tests_should_run(
     mock_should_run_clang_tidy: Mock,
     mock_should_run_clang_format: Mock,
     mock_should_run_python_linters: Mock,
+    mock_should_run_import_time: Mock,
     mock_changed_files: Mock,
     mock_determine_cpp_unit_tests: Mock,
     capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str],
@@ -202,6 +213,7 @@ def test_main_no_tests_should_run(
     mock_should_run_clang_tidy.return_value = False
     mock_should_run_clang_format.return_value = False
     mock_should_run_python_linters.return_value = False
+    mock_should_run_import_time.return_value = False
     mock_determine_cpp_unit_tests.return_value = (False, [])
 
     # Mock changed_files to return no component files
@@ -241,6 +253,7 @@ def test_main_no_tests_should_run(
     assert output["clang_tidy_mode"] == "disabled"
     assert output["clang_format"] is False
     assert output["python_linters"] is False
+    assert output["import_time"] is False
     assert output["changed_components"] == []
     assert output["changed_components_with_tests"] == []
     assert output["component_test_count"] == 0
@@ -261,6 +274,7 @@ def test_main_with_branch_argument(
     mock_should_run_clang_tidy: Mock,
     mock_should_run_clang_format: Mock,
     mock_should_run_python_linters: Mock,
+    mock_should_run_import_time: Mock,
     mock_changed_files: Mock,
     mock_determine_cpp_unit_tests: Mock,
     capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str],
@@ -274,6 +288,7 @@ def test_main_with_branch_argument(
     mock_should_run_clang_tidy.return_value = True
     mock_should_run_clang_format.return_value = False
     mock_should_run_python_linters.return_value = True
+    mock_should_run_import_time.return_value = True
     mock_determine_cpp_unit_tests.return_value = (False, ["mqtt"])
 
     # Mock changed_files to return non-component files (to avoid memory impact)
@@ -310,6 +325,7 @@ def test_main_with_branch_argument(
     mock_should_run_clang_tidy.assert_called_once_with("main")
     mock_should_run_clang_format.assert_called_once_with("main")
     mock_should_run_python_linters.assert_called_once_with("main")
+    mock_should_run_import_time.assert_called_once_with("main")
 
     # Check output
     captured = capsys.readouterr()
@@ -322,6 +338,7 @@ def test_main_with_branch_argument(
     assert output["clang_tidy_mode"] in ["nosplit", "split"]
     assert output["clang_format"] is False
     assert output["python_linters"] is True
+    assert output["import_time"] is True
     assert output["changed_components"] == ["mqtt"]
     # changed_components_with_tests will only include components that actually have test files
     assert "changed_components_with_tests" in output
@@ -597,6 +614,50 @@ def test_should_run_python_linters_with_branch() -> None:
         mock_changed.assert_called_once_with("release")
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("changed_files", "expected_result"),
+    [
+        # esphome Python files trigger the check
+        (["esphome/__main__.py"], True),
+        (["esphome/components/wifi/__init__.py"], True),
+        (["esphome/core/config.py"], True),
+        (["esphome/types.pyi"], True),
+        # Dependency declarations and the check's own files trigger
+        (["requirements.txt"], True),
+        (["requirements_dev.txt"], True),
+        (["requirements_test.txt"], True),
+        (["pyproject.toml"], True),
+        (["script/check_import_time.py"], True),
+        (["script/import_time_budget.json"], True),
+        # Mixed: any triggering file is enough
+        (["docs/README.md", "esphome/config.py"], True),
+        # Python files outside esphome/ don't trigger
+        (["script/some_other_script.py"], False),
+        (["tests/script/test_determine_jobs.py"], False),
+        # Non-Python changes don't trigger
+        (["esphome/core/component.cpp"], False),
+        (["tests/components/wifi/test.esp32-idf.yaml"], False),
+        (["README.md"], False),
+        ([], False),
+    ],
+)
+def test_should_run_import_time(
+    changed_files: list[str], expected_result: bool
+) -> None:
+    """Test should_run_import_time function."""
+    with patch.object(determine_jobs, "changed_files", return_value=changed_files):
+        result = determine_jobs.should_run_import_time()
+        assert result == expected_result
+
+
+def test_should_run_import_time_with_branch() -> None:
+    """Test should_run_import_time with branch argument."""
+    with patch.object(determine_jobs, "changed_files") as mock_changed:
+        mock_changed.return_value = []
+        determine_jobs.should_run_import_time("release")
+        mock_changed.assert_called_once_with("release")
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     ("changed_files", "expected_result"),
     [
@@ -1842,6 +1903,22 @@ def test_should_run_benchmarks_core_header_change() -> None:
         assert determine_jobs.should_run_benchmarks() is True
 
 
+def test_should_run_benchmarks_host_platform_change() -> None:
+    """Test benchmarks trigger on host platform changes.
+
+    Benchmarks build and run on the host platform, so changes to its
+    millis()/micros()/etc. implementations affect every benchmark.
+    """
+    for host_file in [
+        "esphome/components/host/core.cpp",
+        "esphome/components/host/__init__.py",
+    ]:
+        with patch.object(determine_jobs, "changed_files", return_value=[host_file]):
+            assert determine_jobs.should_run_benchmarks() is True, (
+                f"Expected benchmarks to run for {host_file}"
+            )
+
+
 def test_should_run_benchmarks_benchmark_infra_change() -> None:
     """Test benchmarks trigger on benchmark infrastructure changes."""
     for infra_file in [
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_cpp_helpers.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_cpp_helpers.py
index a76ea21c23b..e389b56adac 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_cpp_helpers.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_cpp_helpers.py
@@ -34,8 +34,9 @@ async def test_register_component(monkeypatch):
     actual = await ch.register_component(var, {})
 
     assert actual is var
-    assert add_mock.call_count == 2
-    app_mock.register_component_.assert_called_with(var)
+    assert add_mock.call_count == 1
+    app_mock.register_component_.assert_called_once()
+    assert app_mock.register_component_.call_args.args[0] is var
     assert core_mock.component_ids == []
 
 
@@ -77,8 +78,9 @@ async def test_register_component__with_setup_priority(monkeypatch):
 
     assert actual is var
     add_mock.assert_called()
-    assert add_mock.call_count == 4
-    app_mock.register_component_.assert_called_with(var)
+    assert add_mock.call_count == 3
+    app_mock.register_component_.assert_called_once()
+    assert app_mock.register_component_.call_args.args[0] is var
     assert core_mock.component_ids == []
 
 
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_external_files.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_external_files.py
index a319fae83d4..f4d268abe03 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_external_files.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_external_files.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """Tests for external_files.py functions."""
 
+import os
 from pathlib import Path
 import time
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
@@ -9,7 +10,54 @@ import requests
 
 from esphome import external_files
 from esphome.config_validation import Invalid
-from esphome.core import CORE, TimePeriod
+from esphome.core import CORE, EsphomeError, TimePeriod
+
+
+def _seed_etag(cache_file: Path, etag: str) -> Path:
+    """Write an ETag sidecar with its mtime synced to the cache file's mtime,
+    matching the invariant that `_write_etag` enforces in production.
+    """
+    sidecar = external_files._etag_sidecar_path(cache_file)
+    sidecar.write_text(etag)
+    file_mtime = int(cache_file.stat().st_mtime)
+    os.utime(sidecar, (file_mtime, file_mtime))
+    return sidecar
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_requests_head() -> MagicMock:
+    """Patch `external_files.requests.head` so the conditional HEAD-request
+    validator can be tested without doing real HTTP.
+    """
+    with patch("esphome.external_files.requests.head") as m:
+        yield m
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_requests_get() -> MagicMock:
+    """Patch `external_files.requests.get` so the download path can be
+    tested without doing real HTTP.
+    """
+    with patch("esphome.external_files.requests.get") as m:
+        yield m
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_has_remote_file_changed() -> MagicMock:
+    """Patch `external_files.has_remote_file_changed` so download tests can
+    control the conditional check independently from the GET path.
+    """
+    with patch("esphome.external_files.has_remote_file_changed") as m:
+        yield m
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_write_file() -> MagicMock:
+    """Patch `external_files.write_file` so atomic-write failures can be
+    injected without involving the real filesystem helper.
+    """
+    with patch("esphome.external_files.write_file") as m:
+        yield m
 
 
 def test_compute_local_file_dir(setup_core: Path) -> None:
@@ -88,9 +136,8 @@ def test_is_file_recent_with_zero_refresh(setup_core: Path) -> None:
         assert result is False
 
 
-@patch("esphome.external_files.requests.head")
 def test_has_remote_file_changed_not_modified(
-    mock_head: MagicMock, setup_core: Path
+    mock_requests_head: MagicMock, setup_core: Path
 ) -> None:
     """Test has_remote_file_changed returns False when file not modified."""
     test_file = setup_core / "cached.txt"
@@ -98,23 +145,23 @@ def test_has_remote_file_changed_not_modified(
 
     mock_response = MagicMock()
     mock_response.status_code = 304
-    mock_head.return_value = mock_response
+    mock_response.headers = {}
+    mock_requests_head.return_value = mock_response
 
     url = "https://example.com/file.txt"
     result = external_files.has_remote_file_changed(url, test_file)
 
     assert result is False
-    mock_head.assert_called_once()
+    mock_requests_head.assert_called_once()
 
-    call_args = mock_head.call_args
+    call_args = mock_requests_head.call_args
     headers = call_args[1]["headers"]
     assert external_files.IF_MODIFIED_SINCE in headers
     assert external_files.CACHE_CONTROL in headers
 
 
-@patch("esphome.external_files.requests.head")
 def test_has_remote_file_changed_modified(
-    mock_head: MagicMock, setup_core: Path
+    mock_requests_head: MagicMock, setup_core: Path
 ) -> None:
     """Test has_remote_file_changed returns True when file modified."""
     test_file = setup_core / "cached.txt"
@@ -122,7 +169,8 @@ def test_has_remote_file_changed_modified(
 
     mock_response = MagicMock()
     mock_response.status_code = 200
-    mock_head.return_value = mock_response
+    mock_response.headers = {}
+    mock_requests_head.return_value = mock_response
 
     url = "https://example.com/file.txt"
     result = external_files.has_remote_file_changed(url, test_file)
@@ -140,15 +188,16 @@ def test_has_remote_file_changed_no_local_file(setup_core: Path) -> None:
     assert result is True
 
 
-@patch("esphome.external_files.requests.head")
 def test_has_remote_file_changed_network_error(
-    mock_head: MagicMock, setup_core: Path
+    mock_requests_head: MagicMock, setup_core: Path
 ) -> None:
     """Test has_remote_file_changed returns False on network error when file is cached."""
     test_file = setup_core / "cached.txt"
     test_file.write_text("cached content")
 
-    mock_head.side_effect = requests.exceptions.RequestException("Network error")
+    mock_requests_head.side_effect = requests.exceptions.RequestException(
+        "Network error"
+    )
 
     url = "https://example.com/file.txt"
     result = external_files.has_remote_file_changed(url, test_file)
@@ -156,9 +205,8 @@ def test_has_remote_file_changed_network_error(
     assert result is False
 
 
-@patch("esphome.external_files.requests.head")
 def test_has_remote_file_changed_timeout(
-    mock_head: MagicMock, setup_core: Path
+    mock_requests_head: MagicMock, setup_core: Path
 ) -> None:
     """Test has_remote_file_changed respects timeout."""
     test_file = setup_core / "cached.txt"
@@ -166,15 +214,176 @@ def test_has_remote_file_changed_timeout(
 
     mock_response = MagicMock()
     mock_response.status_code = 304
-    mock_head.return_value = mock_response
+    mock_response.headers = {}
+    mock_requests_head.return_value = mock_response
 
     url = "https://example.com/file.txt"
     external_files.has_remote_file_changed(url, test_file)
 
-    call_args = mock_head.call_args
+    call_args = mock_requests_head.call_args
     assert call_args[1]["timeout"] == external_files.NETWORK_TIMEOUT
 
 
+def test_has_remote_file_changed_uses_etag(
+    mock_requests_head: MagicMock, setup_core: Path
+) -> None:
+    """Test has_remote_file_changed sends If-None-Match when ETag is cached."""
+    test_file = setup_core / "cached.txt"
+    test_file.write_text("cached content")
+    _seed_etag(test_file, '"abc123"')
+
+    mock_response = MagicMock()
+    mock_response.status_code = 304
+    mock_response.headers = {}
+    mock_requests_head.return_value = mock_response
+
+    url = "https://example.com/file.txt"
+    result = external_files.has_remote_file_changed(url, test_file)
+
+    assert result is False
+    headers = mock_requests_head.call_args[1]["headers"]
+    assert headers[external_files.IF_NONE_MATCH] == '"abc123"'
+
+
+def test_has_remote_file_changed_no_etag_no_if_none_match(
+    mock_requests_head: MagicMock, setup_core: Path
+) -> None:
+    """Test has_remote_file_changed omits If-None-Match when no ETag is cached."""
+    test_file = setup_core / "cached.txt"
+    test_file.write_text("cached content")
+
+    mock_response = MagicMock()
+    mock_response.status_code = 304
+    mock_response.headers = {}
+    mock_requests_head.return_value = mock_response
+
+    url = "https://example.com/file.txt"
+    external_files.has_remote_file_changed(url, test_file)
+
+    headers = mock_requests_head.call_args[1]["headers"]
+    assert external_files.IF_NONE_MATCH not in headers
+
+
+def test_has_remote_file_changed_refreshes_etag_on_304(
+    mock_requests_head: MagicMock, setup_core: Path
+) -> None:
+    """Test has_remote_file_changed updates the cached ETag when the 304 sends a new one."""
+    test_file = setup_core / "cached.txt"
+    test_file.write_text("cached content")
+    _seed_etag(test_file, '"old"')
+
+    mock_response = MagicMock()
+    mock_response.status_code = 304
+    mock_response.headers = {external_files.ETAG: '"new"'}
+    mock_requests_head.return_value = mock_response
+
+    url = "https://example.com/file.txt"
+    external_files.has_remote_file_changed(url, test_file)
+
+    assert external_files._etag_sidecar_path(test_file).read_text() == '"new"'
+
+
+def test_has_remote_file_changed_ignores_etag_when_mtime_diverges(
+    mock_requests_head: MagicMock, setup_core: Path
+) -> None:
+    """If the cache file was edited out-of-band (mtime no longer matches the
+    sidecar's), the cached ETag must not be used -- it no longer describes the
+    bytes on disk.
+    """
+    test_file = setup_core / "cached.txt"
+    test_file.write_text("cached content")
+    sidecar = _seed_etag(test_file, '"abc123"')
+
+    # Simulate an out-of-band edit to the cache file -- mtime advances by a
+    # full second (so it diverges at whole-second resolution) but the sidecar
+    # is left untouched, so the recorded ETag is now stale.
+    file_stat = test_file.stat()
+    os.utime(test_file, (file_stat.st_atime, file_stat.st_mtime + 1))
+
+    mock_response = MagicMock()
+    mock_response.status_code = 304
+    mock_response.headers = {}
+    mock_requests_head.return_value = mock_response
+
+    external_files.has_remote_file_changed("https://example.com/file.txt", test_file)
+
+    headers = mock_requests_head.call_args[1]["headers"]
+    assert external_files.IF_NONE_MATCH not in headers
+    # Stale sidecar should be removed so future calls don't keep paying the
+    # mtime-comparison cost on a known-bad sidecar.
+    assert not sidecar.exists()
+
+
+def test_download_content_pins_etag_mtime_to_file_mtime(
+    mock_has_remote_file_changed: MagicMock,
+    mock_requests_get: MagicMock,
+    setup_core: Path,
+) -> None:
+    """After a successful download, the sidecar's mtime must equal the cache
+    file's mtime so `_read_etag` accepts it on the next call.
+    """
+    test_file = setup_core / "fresh.txt"
+    mock_has_remote_file_changed.return_value = True
+    mock_response = MagicMock()
+    mock_response.content = b"fresh content"
+    mock_response.headers = {external_files.ETAG: '"deadbeef"'}
+    mock_response.raise_for_status = MagicMock()
+    mock_requests_get.return_value = mock_response
+
+    external_files.download_content("https://example.com/file.txt", test_file)
+
+    sidecar = external_files._etag_sidecar_path(test_file)
+    assert int(sidecar.stat().st_mtime) == int(test_file.stat().st_mtime)
+
+
+def test_write_etag_swallows_write_file_failure(
+    mock_write_file: MagicMock, setup_core: Path, caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture
+) -> None:
+    """If `write_file` raises, _write_etag must not propagate -- ETag
+    persistence is best-effort and a failure here must not abort the
+    surrounding download.
+    """
+    cache_file = setup_core / "cached.txt"
+    cache_file.write_text("cached content")
+    mock_write_file.side_effect = EsphomeError("disk full")
+
+    with caplog.at_level("DEBUG", logger="esphome.external_files"):
+        external_files._write_etag(cache_file, '"abc123"')
+
+    assert "Could not save ETag" in caplog.text
+    # Sidecar wasn't created, since write_file was mocked to fail before
+    # reaching the os.utime step.
+    assert not external_files._etag_sidecar_path(cache_file).exists()
+
+
+def test_write_etag_swallows_utime_failure(
+    setup_core: Path, caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture
+) -> None:
+    """If `os.utime` raises while pinning the sidecar's mtime, _write_etag
+    must not propagate. The sidecar is still written; if its mtime later
+    fails to match the cache file, `_read_etag` will discard it on next
+    read.
+    """
+    cache_file = setup_core / "cached.txt"
+    cache_file.write_text("cached content")
+
+    with (
+        patch(
+            "esphome.external_files.os.utime",
+            side_effect=PermissionError("nope"),
+        ),
+        caplog.at_level("DEBUG", logger="esphome.external_files"),
+    ):
+        external_files._write_etag(cache_file, '"abc123"')
+
+    assert "Could not sync ETag sidecar mtime" in caplog.text
+    # write_file succeeded, so the sidecar exists with the new value even
+    # though we couldn't pin its mtime.
+    sidecar = external_files._etag_sidecar_path(cache_file)
+    assert sidecar.exists()
+    assert sidecar.read_text() == '"abc123"'
+
+
 def test_compute_local_file_dir_creates_parent_dirs(setup_core: Path) -> None:
     """Test compute_local_file_dir creates parent directories."""
     domain = "level1/level2/level3/level4"
@@ -200,10 +409,10 @@ def test_is_file_recent_handles_float_seconds(setup_core: Path) -> None:
     assert result is True
 
 
-@patch("esphome.external_files.requests.get")
-@patch("esphome.external_files.has_remote_file_changed")
 def test_download_content_with_network_error_uses_cache(
-    mock_has_changed: MagicMock, mock_get: MagicMock, setup_core: Path
+    mock_has_remote_file_changed: MagicMock,
+    mock_requests_get: MagicMock,
+    setup_core: Path,
 ) -> None:
     """Test download_content uses cached file when network fails."""
     test_file = setup_core / "cached.txt"
@@ -211,8 +420,10 @@ def test_download_content_with_network_error_uses_cache(
     test_file.write_bytes(cached_content)
 
     # Simulate file has changed, so it tries to download
-    mock_has_changed.return_value = True
-    mock_get.side_effect = requests.exceptions.RequestException("Network error")
+    mock_has_remote_file_changed.return_value = True
+    mock_requests_get.side_effect = requests.exceptions.RequestException(
+        "Network error"
+    )
 
     url = "https://example.com/file.txt"
     result = external_files.download_content(url, test_file)
@@ -220,19 +431,123 @@ def test_download_content_with_network_error_uses_cache(
     assert result == cached_content
 
 
-@patch("esphome.external_files.requests.get")
-@patch("esphome.external_files.has_remote_file_changed")
 def test_download_content_with_network_error_no_cache_fails(
-    mock_has_changed: MagicMock, mock_get: MagicMock, setup_core: Path
+    mock_has_remote_file_changed: MagicMock,
+    mock_requests_get: MagicMock,
+    setup_core: Path,
 ) -> None:
     """Test download_content raises error when network fails and no cache exists."""
     test_file = setup_core / "nonexistent.txt"
 
     # Simulate file has changed (doesn't exist), so it tries to download
-    mock_has_changed.return_value = True
-    mock_get.side_effect = requests.exceptions.RequestException("Network error")
+    mock_has_remote_file_changed.return_value = True
+    mock_requests_get.side_effect = requests.exceptions.RequestException(
+        "Network error"
+    )
 
     url = "https://example.com/file.txt"
 
     with pytest.raises(Invalid, match="Could not download from.*Network error"):
         external_files.download_content(url, test_file)
+
+
+def test_download_content_skip_external_update_uses_cache(
+    mock_has_remote_file_changed: MagicMock,
+    mock_requests_get: MagicMock,
+    setup_core: Path,
+) -> None:
+    """Test download_content skips network checks when CORE.skip_external_update is set."""
+    test_file = setup_core / "cached.txt"
+    cached_content = b"cached content"
+    test_file.write_bytes(cached_content)
+
+    CORE.skip_external_update = True
+    url = "https://example.com/file.txt"
+    result = external_files.download_content(url, test_file)
+
+    assert result == cached_content
+    mock_has_remote_file_changed.assert_not_called()
+    mock_requests_get.assert_not_called()
+
+
+def test_download_content_skip_external_update_downloads_when_missing(
+    mock_has_remote_file_changed: MagicMock,
+    mock_requests_get: MagicMock,
+    setup_core: Path,
+) -> None:
+    """Test download_content still downloads when file is missing, even with skip_external_update."""
+    test_file = setup_core / "missing.txt"
+    new_content = b"fresh content"
+
+    mock_has_remote_file_changed.return_value = True
+    mock_response = MagicMock()
+    mock_response.content = new_content
+    mock_response.headers = {}
+    mock_response.raise_for_status = MagicMock()
+    mock_requests_get.return_value = mock_response
+
+    CORE.skip_external_update = True
+    url = "https://example.com/file.txt"
+    result = external_files.download_content(url, test_file)
+
+    assert result == new_content
+    assert test_file.read_bytes() == new_content
+
+
+def test_download_content_saves_etag(
+    mock_has_remote_file_changed: MagicMock,
+    mock_requests_get: MagicMock,
+    setup_core: Path,
+) -> None:
+    """Test download_content writes the ETag sidecar after a successful download."""
+    test_file = setup_core / "fresh.txt"
+    new_content = b"fresh content"
+
+    mock_has_remote_file_changed.return_value = True
+    mock_response = MagicMock()
+    mock_response.content = new_content
+    mock_response.headers = {external_files.ETAG: '"deadbeef"'}
+    mock_response.raise_for_status = MagicMock()
+    mock_requests_get.return_value = mock_response
+
+    url = "https://example.com/file.txt"
+    external_files.download_content(url, test_file)
+
+    assert external_files._etag_sidecar_path(test_file).read_text() == '"deadbeef"'
+
+
+def test_download_content_atomic_write_no_partial_on_failure(
+    mock_has_remote_file_changed: MagicMock,
+    mock_requests_get: MagicMock,
+    mock_write_file: MagicMock,
+    setup_core: Path,
+) -> None:
+    """If `write_file` (the atomic-write helper) fails, the existing cache
+    file must remain untouched and no temp files may be left behind. Patching
+    `write_file` directly exercises the atomic-rename path -- a failure inside
+    `write_file` is the only reason the rename wouldn't have happened.
+    """
+    from esphome.core import EsphomeError
+
+    test_file = setup_core / "cached.txt"
+    original_content = b"original content"
+    test_file.write_bytes(original_content)
+
+    mock_has_remote_file_changed.return_value = True
+    mock_response = MagicMock()
+    mock_response.content = b"new content"
+    mock_response.headers = {}
+    mock_response.raise_for_status = MagicMock()
+    mock_requests_get.return_value = mock_response
+
+    mock_write_file.side_effect = EsphomeError("disk full")
+
+    with pytest.raises(EsphomeError, match="disk full"):
+        external_files.download_content("https://example.com/file.txt", test_file)
+
+    # Original file is untouched -- write_file aborted before its rename step.
+    assert test_file.read_bytes() == original_content
+    # write_file is responsible for cleaning its own temp files; nothing leaks
+    # into the cache directory either way.
+    leftover_tmps = list(setup_core.glob("tmp*"))
+    assert leftover_tmps == []
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_git.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_git.py
index 745dfad487e..eab6bfc2cb4 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_git.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_git.py
@@ -236,6 +236,35 @@ def test_clone_or_update_with_never_refresh(
     assert revert is None
 
 
+def test_clone_or_update_skips_when_core_skip_external_update(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """CORE.skip_external_update short-circuits the refresh for existing repos."""
+    CORE.config_path = tmp_path / "test.yaml"
+
+    url = "https://github.com/test/repo"
+    ref = None
+    domain = "test"
+    repo_dir = _compute_repo_dir(url, ref, domain)
+
+    repo_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    git_dir = repo_dir / ".git"
+    git_dir.mkdir()
+    (git_dir / "FETCH_HEAD").write_text("test")
+
+    CORE.skip_external_update = True
+    result_dir, revert = git.clone_or_update(
+        url=url,
+        ref=ref,
+        refresh=TimePeriodSeconds(days=1),
+        domain=domain,
+    )
+
+    mock_run_git_command.assert_not_called()
+    assert result_dir == repo_dir
+    assert revert is None
+
+
 def test_clone_or_update_with_refresh_updates_old_repo(
     tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
 ) -> None:
@@ -782,3 +811,193 @@ def test_clone_or_update_stale_clone_is_retried_after_cleanup(
     assert repo_dir.exists()
     assert call_count["clone"] == 2
     assert call_count["fetch"] == 2
+
+
+def test_clone_with_ref_uses_shallow_fetch(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """Clone with a ref should use --depth=1 on both clone and fetch."""
+    CORE.config_path = tmp_path / "test.yaml"
+
+    url = "https://github.com/test/repo"
+    ref = "pull/123/head"
+    domain = "test"
+    repo_dir = _compute_repo_dir(url, ref, domain)
+
+    def git_command_side_effect(
+        cmd: list[str], cwd: str | None = None, **kwargs: Any
+    ) -> str:
+        if _get_git_command_type(cmd) == "clone":
+            repo_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+            (repo_dir / ".git").mkdir(exist_ok=True)
+        return ""
+
+    mock_run_git_command.side_effect = git_command_side_effect
+
+    git.clone_or_update(url=url, ref=ref, refresh=None, domain=domain)
+
+    call_list = mock_run_git_command.call_args_list
+
+    clone_calls = [c for c in call_list if "clone" in c[0][0]]
+    assert len(clone_calls) == 1
+    assert "--depth=1" in clone_calls[0][0][0]
+
+    fetch_calls = [c for c in call_list if "fetch" in c[0][0]]
+    assert len(fetch_calls) == 1
+    assert "--depth=1" in fetch_calls[0][0][0]
+    # Ref must still be passed so the requested commit/branch is fetched.
+    assert ref in fetch_calls[0][0][0]
+
+
+def test_clone_with_submodules_uses_shallow_submodule_update(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """Submodule init on a fresh clone should use --depth=1."""
+    CORE.config_path = tmp_path / "test.yaml"
+
+    url = "https://github.com/test/repo"
+    domain = "test"
+    repo_dir = _compute_repo_dir(url, None, domain)
+
+    def git_command_side_effect(
+        cmd: list[str], cwd: str | None = None, **kwargs: Any
+    ) -> str:
+        if _get_git_command_type(cmd) == "clone":
+            repo_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+            (repo_dir / ".git").mkdir(exist_ok=True)
+        return ""
+
+    mock_run_git_command.side_effect = git_command_side_effect
+
+    git.clone_or_update(
+        url=url,
+        ref=None,
+        refresh=None,
+        domain=domain,
+        submodules=["components/foo"],
+    )
+
+    submodule_calls = [
+        c for c in mock_run_git_command.call_args_list if "submodule" in c[0][0]
+    ]
+    assert len(submodule_calls) == 1
+    cmd = submodule_calls[0][0][0]
+    assert "--depth=1" in cmd
+    assert "components/foo" in cmd
+    # The `--` terminator must precede the submodule paths so a path
+    # beginning with `-` cannot be parsed as an option.
+    assert cmd.index("--") < cmd.index("components/foo")
+
+
+def test_refresh_fetch_is_shallow(tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock) -> None:
+    """The refresh-path fetch should use --depth=1."""
+    CORE.config_path = tmp_path / "test.yaml"
+
+    url = "https://github.com/test/repo"
+    ref = "main"
+    domain = "test"
+    repo_dir = _compute_repo_dir(url, ref, domain)
+
+    _setup_old_repo(repo_dir)
+    mock_run_git_command.return_value = "abc123"
+
+    git.clone_or_update(
+        url=url, ref=ref, refresh=TimePeriodSeconds(days=1), domain=domain
+    )
+
+    fetch_calls = [c for c in mock_run_git_command.call_args_list if "fetch" in c[0][0]]
+    assert len(fetch_calls) == 1
+    cmd = fetch_calls[0][0][0]
+    assert "--depth=1" in cmd
+    # Ref must still be in the refresh fetch so the right tip is updated.
+    assert cmd[-1] == ref
+
+
+def test_refresh_submodule_update_is_shallow(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """The refresh-path submodule update should use --depth=1."""
+    CORE.config_path = tmp_path / "test.yaml"
+
+    url = "https://github.com/test/repo"
+    domain = "test"
+    repo_dir = _compute_repo_dir(url, None, domain)
+
+    _setup_old_repo(repo_dir)
+    mock_run_git_command.return_value = "abc123"
+
+    git.clone_or_update(
+        url=url,
+        ref=None,
+        refresh=TimePeriodSeconds(days=1),
+        domain=domain,
+        submodules=["components/foo"],
+    )
+
+    submodule_calls = [
+        c for c in mock_run_git_command.call_args_list if "submodule" in c[0][0]
+    ]
+    assert len(submodule_calls) == 1
+    cmd = submodule_calls[0][0][0]
+    assert "--depth=1" in cmd
+    assert "components/foo" in cmd
+    assert cmd.index("--") < cmd.index("components/foo")
+
+
+def test_refresh_picks_up_new_remote_commits(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """Shallow fetch must still pull new commits when the remote tip moves.
+
+    Simulates a stale local repo at SHA "old" while the remote has advanced
+    to SHA "new". The refresh path must run fetch (with --depth=1) followed
+    by reset --hard FETCH_HEAD so the working tree advances to the new tip.
+    """
+    CORE.config_path = tmp_path / "test.yaml"
+
+    url = "https://github.com/test/repo"
+    ref = "main"
+    domain = "test"
+    repo_dir = _compute_repo_dir(url, ref, domain)
+
+    _setup_old_repo(repo_dir)
+
+    # rev-parse is called once before fetch to record the pre-update SHA.
+    rev_parse_calls = {"count": 0}
+
+    def git_command_side_effect(
+        cmd: list[str], cwd: str | None = None, **kwargs: Any
+    ) -> str:
+        cmd_type = _get_git_command_type(cmd)
+        if cmd_type == "rev-parse":
+            rev_parse_calls["count"] += 1
+            return "old_sha"
+        return ""
+
+    mock_run_git_command.side_effect = git_command_side_effect
+
+    _, revert = git.clone_or_update(
+        url=url, ref=ref, refresh=TimePeriodSeconds(days=1), domain=domain
+    )
+
+    # Verify the refresh sequence: rev-parse -> stash -> fetch (depth=1) -> reset
+    call_list = mock_run_git_command.call_args_list
+    cmd_sequence = [_get_git_command_type(c[0][0]) for c in call_list]
+    assert cmd_sequence == ["rev-parse", "stash", "fetch", "reset"]
+
+    fetch_cmd = call_list[2][0][0]
+    assert "--depth=1" in fetch_cmd
+    assert fetch_cmd[-1] == ref
+
+    reset_cmd = call_list[3][0][0]
+    assert reset_cmd[-1] == "FETCH_HEAD"
+
+    # revert callback should reset back to the recorded pre-update SHA.
+    assert revert is not None
+    revert()
+    assert mock_run_git_command.call_args_list[-1][0][0] == [
+        "git",
+        "reset",
+        "--hard",
+        "old_sha",
+    ]
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_loader.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_loader.py
index a42cc5cca73..3fb0eca4a06 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_loader.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_loader.py
@@ -158,3 +158,167 @@ def test_component_manifest_resources_with_filter_source_files() -> None:
 
         # Verify the correct number of resources
         assert len(resources) == 3  # test.cpp, test.h, common.cpp
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# recursive_sources — used only by the core "esphome" manifest so that files
+# in esphome/core/<subdir>/*.cpp (e.g. esphome/core/wake/wake_host.cpp) are
+# discovered without promoting <subdir>/ to a Python subpackage.
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def _mock_file(filename: str) -> MagicMock:
+    m = MagicMock()
+    m.name = filename
+    m.is_file.return_value = True
+    m.is_dir.return_value = False
+    return m
+
+
+def _mock_dir(dirname: str, children: list, has_init: bool = False) -> MagicMock:
+    """Mock a directory entry with an iterdir() and joinpath('__init__.py')."""
+    d = MagicMock()
+    d.name = dirname
+    d.is_file.return_value = False
+    d.is_dir.return_value = True
+    d.iterdir.return_value = children
+    init_marker = MagicMock()
+    init_marker.is_file.return_value = has_init
+    d.joinpath.return_value = init_marker
+    return d
+
+
+def test_component_manifest_resources_non_recursive_skips_subdirs() -> None:
+    """Default (recursive_sources=False) does not descend into subdirectories."""
+    mock_module = MagicMock()
+    mock_module.__package__ = "esphome.components.test_component"
+    # No FILTER_SOURCE_FILES.
+    del mock_module.FILTER_SOURCE_FILES
+
+    manifest = ComponentManifest(mock_module)  # recursive_sources defaults to False
+
+    top_level = [
+        _mock_file("top.cpp"),
+        _mock_dir("subdir", [_mock_file("nested.cpp")]),
+    ]
+    with patch("importlib.resources.files") as mock_files_func:
+        pkg = MagicMock()
+        pkg.iterdir.return_value = top_level
+        mock_files_func.return_value = pkg
+
+        names = [r.resource for r in manifest.resources]
+
+    assert names == ["top.cpp"]
+
+
+def test_component_manifest_resources_recursive_walks_non_subpackage_subdirs() -> None:
+    """With recursive_sources=True, a subdir without __init__.py is walked."""
+    mock_module = MagicMock()
+    mock_module.__package__ = "esphome.core"
+    del mock_module.FILTER_SOURCE_FILES
+
+    manifest = ComponentManifest(mock_module, recursive_sources=True)
+
+    wake_dir = _mock_dir(
+        "wake",
+        [
+            _mock_file("wake_host.cpp"),
+            _mock_file("wake_host.h"),
+            _mock_file("README.md"),  # wrong suffix, excluded
+        ],
+        has_init=False,
+    )
+    top_level = [
+        _mock_file("wake.h"),
+        wake_dir,
+    ]
+    with patch("importlib.resources.files") as mock_files_func:
+        pkg = MagicMock()
+        pkg.iterdir.return_value = top_level
+        mock_files_func.return_value = pkg
+
+        names = sorted(r.resource for r in manifest.resources)
+
+    assert names == ["wake.h", "wake/wake_host.cpp", "wake/wake_host.h"]
+
+
+def test_component_manifest_resources_recursive_skips_subpackages() -> None:
+    """Subdirectories that ARE Python subpackages (contain __init__.py) are
+    skipped even with recursive_sources=True — those load as their own
+    ComponentManifest and would otherwise be double-counted."""
+    mock_module = MagicMock()
+    mock_module.__package__ = "esphome.components.haier"
+    del mock_module.FILTER_SOURCE_FILES
+
+    manifest = ComponentManifest(mock_module, recursive_sources=True)
+
+    button_pkg = _mock_dir(
+        "button",
+        [_mock_file("self_cleaning.cpp")],
+        has_init=True,  # Python subpackage — must be skipped.
+    )
+    top_level = [
+        _mock_file("haier.cpp"),
+        button_pkg,
+    ]
+    with patch("importlib.resources.files") as mock_files_func:
+        pkg = MagicMock()
+        pkg.iterdir.return_value = top_level
+        mock_files_func.return_value = pkg
+
+        names = [r.resource for r in manifest.resources]
+
+    assert names == ["haier.cpp"]
+
+
+def test_component_manifest_resources_recursive_skips_pycache() -> None:
+    """__pycache__ inside a recursive walk must never be descended into."""
+    mock_module = MagicMock()
+    mock_module.__package__ = "esphome.core"
+    del mock_module.FILTER_SOURCE_FILES
+
+    manifest = ComponentManifest(mock_module, recursive_sources=True)
+
+    # __pycache__ is_dir=True but must be skipped without checking __init__.py
+    # or calling iterdir (would yield compiled artifacts).
+    pycache = _mock_dir("__pycache__", [_mock_file("wake.cpython-314.pyc")])
+    top_level = [
+        _mock_file("wake.h"),
+        pycache,
+    ]
+    with patch("importlib.resources.files") as mock_files_func:
+        pkg = MagicMock()
+        pkg.iterdir.return_value = top_level
+        mock_files_func.return_value = pkg
+
+        names = [r.resource for r in manifest.resources]
+
+    assert names == ["wake.h"]
+
+
+def test_component_manifest_resources_recursive_filter_source_files_supports_subpaths() -> (
+    None
+):
+    """FILTER_SOURCE_FILES entries using '/'-joined subpaths exclude files
+    inside a recursively-walked subdir."""
+    mock_module = MagicMock()
+    mock_module.__package__ = "esphome.core"
+    mock_module.FILTER_SOURCE_FILES = lambda: ["wake/wake_host.cpp"]
+
+    manifest = ComponentManifest(mock_module, recursive_sources=True)
+
+    wake_dir = _mock_dir(
+        "wake",
+        [
+            _mock_file("wake_host.cpp"),  # excluded
+            _mock_file("wake_freertos.cpp"),  # kept
+        ],
+    )
+    with patch("importlib.resources.files") as mock_files_func:
+        pkg = MagicMock()
+        pkg.iterdir.return_value = [wake_dir]
+        mock_files_func.return_value = pkg
+
+        names = [r.resource for r in manifest.resources]
+
+    assert names == ["wake/wake_freertos.cpp"]
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_substitutions.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_substitutions.py
index 215ec291f9e..cf6d4adbf51 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_substitutions.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_substitutions.py
@@ -654,7 +654,7 @@ def test_resolve_package_max_depth_exceeded(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     package_config = yaml_util.IncludeFile(
         parent, "test.yaml", None, always_returns_include
     )
-    processor = _PackageProcessor({}, None, False)
+    processor = _PackageProcessor({}, None)
     with pytest.raises(
         cv.Invalid,
         match=f"Maximum include nesting depth \\({MAX_INCLUDE_DEPTH}\\) exceeded",
@@ -776,7 +776,7 @@ def test_resolve_package_undefined_var_in_include_filename(tmp_path: Path) -> No
     package_config = yaml_util.IncludeFile(
         parent, "${undefined_var}.yaml", None, loader
     )
-    processor = _PackageProcessor({}, None, False)
+    processor = _PackageProcessor({}, None)
     with pytest.raises(cv.Invalid, match="unresolved substitutions"):
         processor.resolve_package(package_config, substitutions.ContextVars(), [])
 
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_writer.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_writer.py
index 940a394c080..e76769e6a83 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_writer.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_writer.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from datetime import datetime
 import json
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
+import re
 import stat
 from typing import Any
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ from esphome.writer import (
     clean_build,
     clean_cmake_cache,
     copy_src_tree,
+    generate_build_info_data_cpp,
     generate_build_info_data_h,
     get_build_info,
     storage_should_clean,
@@ -1615,49 +1617,62 @@ def test_get_build_info_build_time_str_format(
 
 def test_generate_build_info_data_h_format() -> None:
     """Test generate_build_info_data_h produces correct header content."""
-    config_hash = 0x12345678
-    build_time = 1700000000
-    build_time_str = "2023-11-14 22:13:20 +0000"
-    comment = "Test comment"
-
-    result = generate_build_info_data_h(
-        config_hash, build_time, build_time_str, comment
-    )
+    result = generate_build_info_data_h()
 
     assert "#pragma once" in result
-    assert "#define ESPHOME_CONFIG_HASH 0x12345678U" in result
-    assert "#define ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME 1700000000" in result
-    assert "#define ESPHOME_COMMENT_SIZE 13" in result  # len("Test comment") + 1
-    assert 'ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME_STR[] = "2023-11-14 22:13:20 +0000"' in result
-    assert 'ESPHOME_COMMENT_STR[] = "Test comment"' in result
+    assert "extern const uint32_t ESPHOME_CONFIG_HASH;" in result
+    assert "extern const time_t ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME;" in result
+    assert "extern const size_t ESPHOME_COMMENT_SIZE;" in result
+    assert "extern const char ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME_STR[]" in result
+    assert "extern const char ESPHOME_COMMENT_STR[]" in result
 
 
 def test_generate_build_info_data_h_esp8266_progmem() -> None:
     """Test generate_build_info_data_h includes PROGMEM for ESP8266."""
-    result = generate_build_info_data_h(0xABCDEF01, 1700000000, "test", "comment")
+    result = generate_build_info_data_h()
 
     # Should have ESP8266 PROGMEM conditional
     assert "#ifdef USE_ESP8266" in result
     assert "#include <pgmspace.h>" in result
     assert "PROGMEM" in result
-    # Both build time and comment should have PROGMEM versions
+
+
+def test_generate_build_info_data_cpp_format() -> None:
+    """Test generate_build_info_data_cpp produces correct data definitions."""
+    result = generate_build_info_data_cpp(
+        0x12345678, 1700000000, "2023-11-14 22:13:20 +0000", "Test comment"
+    )
+
+    assert '#include "esphome/core/build_info_data.h"' in result
+    assert "const uint32_t ESPHOME_CONFIG_HASH = 0x12345678U;" in result
+    assert "const time_t ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME = 1700000000;" in result
+    assert "const size_t ESPHOME_COMMENT_SIZE = 13;" in result
+    assert 'ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME_STR[] = "2023-11-14 22:13:20 +0000"' in result
+    assert 'ESPHOME_COMMENT_STR[] = "Test comment"' in result
+
+
+def test_generate_build_info_data_cpp_esp8266_progmem() -> None:
+    """Test generate_build_info_data_cpp includes PROGMEM definitions."""
+    result = generate_build_info_data_cpp(0xABCDEF01, 1700000000, "test", "comment")
+
+    assert "#ifdef USE_ESP8266" in result
     assert 'ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME_STR[] PROGMEM = "test"' in result
     assert 'ESPHOME_COMMENT_STR[] PROGMEM = "comment"' in result
 
 
-def test_generate_build_info_data_h_hash_formatting() -> None:
-    """Test generate_build_info_data_h formats hash with leading zeros."""
+def test_generate_build_info_data_cpp_hash_formatting() -> None:
+    """Test generate_build_info_data_cpp formats hash with leading zeros."""
     # Test with small hash value that needs leading zeros
-    result = generate_build_info_data_h(0x00000001, 0, "test", "")
-    assert "#define ESPHOME_CONFIG_HASH 0x00000001U" in result
+    result = generate_build_info_data_cpp(0x00000001, 0, "test", "")
+    assert "const uint32_t ESPHOME_CONFIG_HASH = 0x00000001U;" in result
 
     # Test with larger hash value
-    result = generate_build_info_data_h(0xFFFFFFFF, 0, "test", "")
-    assert "#define ESPHOME_CONFIG_HASH 0xffffffffU" in result
+    result = generate_build_info_data_cpp(0xFFFFFFFF, 0, "test", "")
+    assert "const uint32_t ESPHOME_CONFIG_HASH = 0xffffffffU;" in result
 
 
-def test_generate_build_info_data_h_comment_escaping() -> None:
-    r"""Test generate_build_info_data_h properly escapes special characters in comment.
+def test_generate_build_info_data_cpp_comment_escaping() -> None:
+    r"""Test generate_build_info_data_cpp properly escapes special characters in comment.
 
     Uses cpp_string_escape which outputs octal escapes for special characters:
     - backslash (ASCII 92) -> \134
@@ -1665,26 +1680,52 @@ def test_generate_build_info_data_h_comment_escaping() -> None:
     - newline (ASCII 10) -> \012
     """
     # Test backslash escaping (ASCII 92 = octal 134)
-    result = generate_build_info_data_h(0, 0, "test", "backslash\\here")
+    result = generate_build_info_data_cpp(0, 0, "test", "backslash\\here")
     assert 'ESPHOME_COMMENT_STR[] = "backslash\\134here"' in result
 
     # Test quote escaping (ASCII 34 = octal 042)
-    result = generate_build_info_data_h(0, 0, "test", 'has "quotes"')
+    result = generate_build_info_data_cpp(0, 0, "test", 'has "quotes"')
     assert 'ESPHOME_COMMENT_STR[] = "has \\042quotes\\042"' in result
 
     # Test newline escaping (ASCII 10 = octal 012)
-    result = generate_build_info_data_h(0, 0, "test", "line1\nline2")
+    result = generate_build_info_data_cpp(0, 0, "test", "line1\nline2")
     assert 'ESPHOME_COMMENT_STR[] = "line1\\012line2"' in result
 
 
-def test_generate_build_info_data_h_empty_comment() -> None:
-    """Test generate_build_info_data_h handles empty comment."""
-    result = generate_build_info_data_h(0, 0, "test", "")
+def test_generate_build_info_data_cpp_empty_comment() -> None:
+    """Test generate_build_info_data_cpp handles empty comment."""
+    result = generate_build_info_data_cpp(0, 0, "test", "")
 
-    assert "#define ESPHOME_COMMENT_SIZE 1" in result  # Just null terminator
+    assert "const size_t ESPHOME_COMMENT_SIZE = 1;" in result  # Just null terminator
     assert 'ESPHOME_COMMENT_STR[] = ""' in result
 
 
+def test_generate_build_info_data_cpp_comment_size_counts_utf8_bytes() -> None:
+    """Comment size is in encoded UTF-8 bytes, not characters."""
+    # "héllo" = 6 UTF-8 bytes + NUL.
+    result = generate_build_info_data_cpp(0, 0, "test", "héllo")
+    assert "const size_t ESPHOME_COMMENT_SIZE = 7;" in result
+
+
+def test_generate_build_info_data_cpp_comment_clamped_to_buffer() -> None:
+    """Generator clamps at byte level and never truncates mid-codepoint."""
+    # 100 thermometer-with-VS-16 sequences = 700 bytes, past the 256 buffer.
+    result = generate_build_info_data_cpp(0, 0, "test", "🌡️" * 100)
+
+    match = re.search(r"ESPHOME_COMMENT_SIZE = (\d+);", result)
+    assert match is not None
+    size = int(match.group(1))
+    assert 1 < size <= 256
+
+    lit_match = re.search(r'ESPHOME_COMMENT_STR\[\] = "([^"]*)"', result)
+    assert lit_match is not None
+    raw = re.sub(
+        r"\\([0-7]{3})", lambda m: chr(int(m.group(1), 8)), lit_match.group(1)
+    ).encode("latin-1")
+    raw.decode("utf-8")  # raises if truncation left a partial UTF-8 sequence
+    assert len(raw) == size - 1
+
+
 @patch("esphome.writer.CORE")
 @patch("esphome.writer.iter_components")
 @patch("esphome.writer.walk_files")
@@ -1758,15 +1799,21 @@ def test_copy_src_tree_writes_build_info_files(
     ):
         copy_src_tree()
 
-    # Verify build_info_data.h was written
+    # Verify build_info_data.h declarations and build_info_data.cpp values were written
     build_info_h_path = esphome_core_path / "build_info_data.h"
     assert build_info_h_path.exists()
     build_info_h_content = build_info_h_path.read_text()
-    assert "#define ESPHOME_CONFIG_HASH 0xdeadbeefU" in build_info_h_content
-    assert "#define ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME" in build_info_h_content
+    assert "extern const uint32_t ESPHOME_CONFIG_HASH;" in build_info_h_content
     assert "ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME_STR" in build_info_h_content
-    assert "#define ESPHOME_COMMENT_SIZE" in build_info_h_content
+    assert "extern const size_t ESPHOME_COMMENT_SIZE;" in build_info_h_content
     assert "ESPHOME_COMMENT_STR" in build_info_h_content
+    build_info_cpp_path = esphome_core_path / "build_info_data.cpp"
+    assert build_info_cpp_path.exists()
+    build_info_cpp_content = build_info_cpp_path.read_text()
+    assert "const uint32_t ESPHOME_CONFIG_HASH = 0xdeadbeefU;" in build_info_cpp_content
+    assert "const time_t ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME" in build_info_cpp_content
+    assert "const size_t ESPHOME_COMMENT_SIZE" in build_info_cpp_content
+    assert "ESPHOME_COMMENT_STR" in build_info_cpp_content
 
     # Verify build_info.json was written
     build_info_json_path = build_path / "build_info.json"
@@ -1833,7 +1880,9 @@ def test_copy_src_tree_detects_config_hash_change(
 
     # Verify build_info files were updated due to config_hash change
     assert build_info_h_path.exists()
-    new_content = build_info_h_path.read_text()
+    build_info_cpp_path = esphome_core_path / "build_info_data.cpp"
+    assert build_info_cpp_path.exists()
+    new_content = build_info_cpp_path.read_text()
     assert "0xdeadbeef" in new_content.lower()
 
     new_json = json.loads(build_info_json_path.read_text())
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_yaml_util.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_yaml_util.py
index e3aa2a16f56..3815ac1d752 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_yaml_util.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_yaml_util.py
@@ -11,7 +11,13 @@ from esphome.config_helpers import Extend, Remove
 import esphome.config_validation as cv
 from esphome.core import DocumentLocation, DocumentRange, EsphomeError
 from esphome.util import OrderedDict
-from esphome.yaml_util import ESPHomeDataBase, format_path, make_data_base
+from esphome.yaml_util import (
+    ESPHomeDataBase,
+    ESPLiteralValue,
+    format_path,
+    make_data_base,
+    make_literal,
+)
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
@@ -891,3 +897,57 @@ def test_format_path_empty_path_with_located_current_obj():
     obj = _located("${var}", "main.yaml", 0, 0)
     result = format_path([], obj)
     assert result == "In:  in main.yaml 1:1"
+
+
+def test_make_literal_wraps_dict() -> None:
+    """A dict is wrapped so it becomes an ESPLiteralValue instance."""
+    value = {"key": "${var}"}
+    result = make_literal(value)
+    assert isinstance(result, ESPLiteralValue)
+    assert isinstance(result, dict)
+    assert result == {"key": "${var}"}
+
+
+def test_make_literal_wraps_list() -> None:
+    """A list is wrapped so it becomes an ESPLiteralValue instance."""
+    value = ["${var}", "plain"]
+    result = make_literal(value)
+    assert isinstance(result, ESPLiteralValue)
+    assert isinstance(result, list)
+    assert result == ["${var}", "plain"]
+
+
+def test_make_literal_wraps_string() -> None:
+    """A string is wrapped so it becomes an ESPLiteralValue instance."""
+    result = make_literal("${var}")
+    assert isinstance(result, ESPLiteralValue)
+    assert result == "${var}"
+
+
+def test_make_literal_returns_already_wrapped_value_unchanged() -> None:
+    """Wrapping a value that is already an ESPLiteralValue returns it as-is."""
+    value = make_literal({"key": "value"})
+    assert isinstance(value, ESPLiteralValue)
+    result = make_literal(value)
+    assert result is value
+
+
+def test_make_literal_returns_none_unchanged() -> None:
+    """Values whose class cannot be augmented (e.g. ``None``) are returned as-is."""
+    result = make_literal(None)
+    assert result is None
+
+
+def test_make_literal_blocks_substitution() -> None:
+    """A value wrapped with make_literal is skipped by the substitution pass."""
+    value = make_literal({"pin": "${PIN}"})
+    result = substitutions.substitute(
+        value,
+        path=[],
+        parent_context=substitutions.ContextVars(),
+        strict_undefined=False,
+    )
+    # The literal block must remain untouched, even though the variable is
+    # undefined in the context.
+    assert result == {"pin": "${PIN}"}
+    assert isinstance(result, ESPLiteralValue)