diff --git a/esphome/__main__.py b/esphome/__main__.py
index b8e1055b703..5a58abcc781 100644
--- a/esphome/__main__.py
+++ b/esphome/__main__.py
@@ -519,43 +519,43 @@ def compile_program(args: ArgsProtocol, config: ConfigType) -> int:
     if rc != 0:
         return rc
 
-    # Check if firmware was rebuilt and emit buildinfo + create manifest
-    _check_and_emit_buildinfo()
+    # Check if firmware was rebuilt and emit build_info + create manifest
+    _check_and_emit_build_info()
 
     idedata = platformio_api.get_idedata(config)
     return 0 if idedata is not None else 1
 
 
-def _check_and_emit_buildinfo() -> None:
-    """Check if firmware was rebuilt and emit buildinfo."""
+def _check_and_emit_build_info() -> None:
+    """Check if firmware was rebuilt and emit build_info."""
     import json
 
     firmware_path = CORE.firmware_bin
-    buildinfo_json_path = CORE.relative_build_path("buildinfo.json")
+    build_info_json_path = CORE.relative_build_path("build_info.json")
 
     # Check if both files exist
-    if not firmware_path.exists() or not buildinfo_json_path.exists():
+    if not firmware_path.exists() or not build_info_json_path.exists():
         return
 
-    # Check if firmware is newer than buildinfo (indicating a relink occurred)
-    if firmware_path.stat().st_mtime <= buildinfo_json_path.stat().st_mtime:
+    # Check if firmware is newer than build_info (indicating a relink occurred)
+    if firmware_path.stat().st_mtime <= build_info_json_path.stat().st_mtime:
         return
 
-    # Read buildinfo from JSON
+    # Read build_info from JSON
     try:
-        with open(buildinfo_json_path, encoding="utf-8") as f:
-            buildinfo = json.load(f)
+        with open(build_info_json_path, encoding="utf-8") as f:
+            build_info = json.load(f)
     except (OSError, json.JSONDecodeError) as e:
-        _LOGGER.debug("Failed to read buildinfo: %s", e)
+        _LOGGER.debug("Failed to read build_info: %s", e)
         return
 
-    config_hash = buildinfo.get("config_hash")
-    build_time = buildinfo.get("build_time")
+    config_hash = build_info.get("config_hash")
+    build_time = build_info.get("build_time")
 
     if config_hash is None or build_time is None:
         return
 
-    # Emit buildinfo
+    # Emit build_info
     _LOGGER.info(
         "Build Info: config_hash=0x%08x build_time=%s", config_hash, build_time
     )
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index 5186e5afdab..992cae028c7 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #endif
 #include "esphome/components/network/util.h"
 #include "esphome/core/application.h"
+#include "esphome/core/build_info.h"
 #include "esphome/core/entity_base.h"
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
@@ -1472,7 +1473,10 @@ bool APIConnection::send_device_info_response(const DeviceInfoRequest &msg) {
 
   resp.set_esphome_version(ESPHOME_VERSION_REF);
 
-  resp.set_compilation_time(App.get_compilation_time_ref());
+  // Stack buffer for build time string
+  char build_time_str[BUILD_TIME_STR_SIZE];
+  get_build_time_string(build_time_str);
+  resp.set_compilation_time(StringRef(build_time_str));
 
   // Manufacturer string - define once, handle ESP8266 PROGMEM separately
 #if defined(USE_ESP8266) || defined(USE_ESP32)
diff --git a/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_component.cpp b/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_component.cpp
index 5d2bedae790..f06013fb7e8 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_component.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 #ifdef USE_MQTT
 
-#include "esphome/core/application.h"
+#include "esphome/core/build_info.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
 #include "esphome/core/version.h"
@@ -154,7 +154,9 @@ bool MQTTComponent::send_discovery_() {
         device_info[MQTT_DEVICE_MANUFACTURER] =
             model == nullptr ? ESPHOME_PROJECT_NAME : std::string(ESPHOME_PROJECT_NAME, model - ESPHOME_PROJECT_NAME);
 #else
-        device_info[MQTT_DEVICE_SW_VERSION] = ESPHOME_VERSION " (" + App.get_compilation_time_ref() + ")";
+        char build_time_str[BUILD_TIME_STR_SIZE];
+        get_build_time_string(build_time_str);
+        device_info[MQTT_DEVICE_SW_VERSION] = str_sprintf(ESPHOME_VERSION " (%s)", build_time_str);
         device_info[MQTT_DEVICE_MODEL] = ESPHOME_BOARD;
 #if defined(USE_ESP8266) || defined(USE_ESP32)
         device_info[MQTT_DEVICE_MANUFACTURER] = "Espressif";
diff --git a/esphome/components/sen5x/sen5x.cpp b/esphome/components/sen5x/sen5x.cpp
index ffb9e2bc020..01e7b761019 100644
--- a/esphome/components/sen5x/sen5x.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/sen5x/sen5x.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "sen5x.h"
+#include "esphome/core/build_info.h"
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
@@ -154,10 +155,10 @@ void SEN5XComponent::setup() {
       if (this->voc_sensor_ && this->store_baseline_) {
         uint32_t combined_serial =
             encode_uint24(this->serial_number_[0], this->serial_number_[1], this->serial_number_[2]);
-        // Hash with compilation time and serial number
+        // Hash with build time and serial number
         // This ensures the baseline storage is cleared after OTA
         // Serial numbers are unique to each sensor, so mulitple sensors can be used without conflict
-        uint32_t hash = fnv1_hash(App.get_compilation_time_ref() + std::to_string(combined_serial));
+        uint32_t hash = static_cast<uint32_t>(get_build_time()) ^ combined_serial;
         this->pref_ = global_preferences->make_preference<Sen5xBaselines>(hash, true);
 
         if (this->pref_.load(&this->voc_baselines_storage_)) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/sgp30/sgp30.cpp b/esphome/components/sgp30/sgp30.cpp
index fa548ce94eb..5174281ad52 100644
--- a/esphome/components/sgp30/sgp30.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/sgp30/sgp30.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #include "sgp30.h"
-#include "esphome/core/application.h"
+#include "esphome/core/build_info.h"
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
@@ -72,10 +72,10 @@ void SGP30Component::setup() {
     return;
   }
 
-  // Hash with compilation time and serial number
+  // Hash with build time and serial number
   // This ensures the baseline storage is cleared after OTA
   // Serial numbers are unique to each sensor, so mulitple sensors can be used without conflict
-  uint32_t hash = fnv1_hash(App.get_compilation_time_ref() + std::to_string(this->serial_number_));
+  uint32_t hash = static_cast<uint32_t>(get_build_time()) ^ static_cast<uint32_t>(this->serial_number_);
   this->pref_ = global_preferences->make_preference<SGP30Baselines>(hash, true);
 
   if (this->store_baseline_ && this->pref_.load(&this->baselines_storage_)) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/sgp4x/sgp4x.cpp b/esphome/components/sgp4x/sgp4x.cpp
index a0c957d608e..ec54e6d8f68 100644
--- a/esphome/components/sgp4x/sgp4x.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/sgp4x/sgp4x.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "sgp4x.h"
+#include "esphome/core/build_info.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
 #include <cinttypes>
@@ -56,10 +57,10 @@ void SGP4xComponent::setup() {
   ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Version 0x%0X", featureset);
 
   if (this->store_baseline_) {
-    // Hash with compilation time and serial number
+    // Hash with build time and serial number
     // This ensures the baseline storage is cleared after OTA
     // Serial numbers are unique to each sensor, so mulitple sensors can be used without conflict
-    uint32_t hash = fnv1_hash(App.get_compilation_time_ref() + std::to_string(this->serial_number_));
+    uint32_t hash = static_cast<uint32_t>(get_build_time()) ^ static_cast<uint32_t>(this->serial_number_);
     this->pref_ = global_preferences->make_preference<SGP4xBaselines>(hash, true);
 
     if (this->pref_.load(&this->voc_baselines_storage_)) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/version/version_text_sensor.cpp b/esphome/components/version/version_text_sensor.cpp
index 78d0fb501ba..1b9bde7f81c 100644
--- a/esphome/components/version/version_text_sensor.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/version/version_text_sensor.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #include "version_text_sensor.h"
+#include "esphome/core/build_info.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
-#include "esphome/core/application.h"
 #include "esphome/core/version.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@ void VersionTextSensor::setup() {
   if (this->hide_timestamp_) {
     this->publish_state(ESPHOME_VERSION);
   } else {
-    this->publish_state(str_sprintf(ESPHOME_VERSION " %s", App.get_compilation_time_ref().c_str()));
+    char build_time_str[BUILD_TIME_STR_SIZE];
+    get_build_time_string(build_time_str);
+    this->publish_state(str_sprintf(ESPHOME_VERSION " %s", build_time_str));
   }
 }
 float VersionTextSensor::get_setup_priority() const { return setup_priority::DATA; }
diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
index d46916bfd93..fbc5fefb00d 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #ifdef USE_WIFI
 #include <cassert>
 #include <cinttypes>
+#include "esphome/core/build_info.h"
 
 #ifdef USE_ESP32
 #if (ESP_IDF_VERSION_MAJOR >= 5 && ESP_IDF_VERSION_MINOR >= 1)
@@ -360,7 +361,7 @@ void WiFiComponent::start() {
                 get_mac_address_pretty_into_buffer(mac_s));
   this->last_connected_ = millis();
 
-  uint32_t hash = this->has_sta() ? fnv1_hash(App.get_compilation_time_ref().c_str()) : 88491487UL;
+  uint32_t hash = this->has_sta() ? static_cast<uint32_t>(get_build_time()) : 88491487UL;
 
   this->pref_ = global_preferences->make_preference<wifi::SavedWifiSettings>(hash, true);
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_FAST_CONNECT
diff --git a/esphome/core/application.cpp b/esphome/core/application.cpp
index a85d671a070..2fee5a6fe85 100644
--- a/esphome/core/application.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/application.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "esphome/core/application.h"
+#include "esphome/core/build_info.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
 #include "esphome/core/version.h"
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
@@ -191,7 +192,9 @@ void Application::loop() {
 
   if (this->dump_config_at_ < this->components_.size()) {
     if (this->dump_config_at_ == 0) {
-      ESP_LOGI(TAG, "ESPHome version " ESPHOME_VERSION " compiled on %s", this->compilation_time_);
+      char build_time_str[BUILD_TIME_STR_SIZE];
+      get_build_time_string(build_time_str);
+      ESP_LOGI(TAG, "ESPHome version " ESPHOME_VERSION " compiled on %s", build_time_str);
 #ifdef ESPHOME_PROJECT_NAME
       ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Project " ESPHOME_PROJECT_NAME " version " ESPHOME_PROJECT_VERSION);
 #endif
diff --git a/esphome/core/application.h b/esphome/core/application.h
index 8e2035b7c5e..09cd7e5bbc0 100644
--- a/esphome/core/application.h
+++ b/esphome/core/application.h
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ static const uint32_t TEARDOWN_TIMEOUT_REBOOT_MS = 1000;  // 1 second for quick
 class Application {
  public:
   void pre_setup(const std::string &name, const std::string &friendly_name, const char *comment,
-                 const char *compilation_time, bool name_add_mac_suffix) {
+                 bool name_add_mac_suffix) {
     arch_init();
     this->name_add_mac_suffix_ = name_add_mac_suffix;
     if (name_add_mac_suffix) {
@@ -121,7 +121,6 @@ class Application {
       this->friendly_name_ = friendly_name;
     }
     this->comment_ = comment;
-    this->compilation_time_ = compilation_time;
   }
 
 #ifdef USE_DEVICES
@@ -261,10 +260,6 @@ class Application {
 
   bool is_name_add_mac_suffix_enabled() const { return this->name_add_mac_suffix_; }
 
-  std::string get_compilation_time() const { return this->compilation_time_; }
-  /// Get the compilation time as StringRef (for API usage)
-  StringRef get_compilation_time_ref() const { return StringRef(this->compilation_time_); }
-
   /// Get the cached time in milliseconds from when the current component started its loop execution
   inline uint32_t IRAM_ATTR HOT get_loop_component_start_time() const { return this->loop_component_start_time_; }
 
@@ -478,7 +473,6 @@ class Application {
   // Pointer-sized members first
   Component *current_component_{nullptr};
   const char *comment_{nullptr};
-  const char *compilation_time_{nullptr};
 
   // std::vector (3 pointers each: begin, end, capacity)
   // Partitioned vector design for looping components
diff --git a/esphome/core/build_info.cpp b/esphome/core/build_info.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..85d07ce0203
--- /dev/null
+++ b/esphome/core/build_info.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#include "build_info.h"
+#include "build_info_data.h"
+#include <cstring>
+
+#ifdef USE_ESP8266
+#include <pgmspace.h>
+#endif
+
+namespace esphome {
+
+uint32_t get_config_hash() { return ESPHOME_CONFIG_HASH; }
+
+time_t get_build_time() { return ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME; }
+
+void get_build_time_string(std::span<char, BUILD_TIME_STR_SIZE> buffer) {
+#ifdef USE_ESP8266
+  strncpy_P(buffer.data(), ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME_STR, buffer.size());
+#else
+  strncpy(buffer.data(), ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME_STR, buffer.size());
+#endif
+  buffer[buffer.size() - 1] = '\0';
+}
+
+}  // namespace esphome
diff --git a/esphome/core/build_info.h b/esphome/core/build_info.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6a427ea5116
--- /dev/null
+++ b/esphome/core/build_info.h
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#pragma once
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <ctime>
+#include <span>
+
+namespace esphome {
+
+/// Size of buffer required for build time string (including null terminator)
+static constexpr size_t BUILD_TIME_STR_SIZE = 24;
+
+/// Get the config hash as a 32-bit integer
+uint32_t get_config_hash();
+
+/// Get the build time as a Unix timestamp
+time_t get_build_time();
+
+/// Copy the build time string into the provided buffer
+/// Buffer must be BUILD_TIME_STR_SIZE bytes (compile-time enforced)
+void get_build_time_string(std::span<char, BUILD_TIME_STR_SIZE> buffer);
+
+}  // namespace esphome
diff --git a/esphome/core/build_info_data.h b/esphome/core/build_info_data.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e81645a3da2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/esphome/core/build_info_data.h
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#pragma once
+
+// This file is not used by the runtime, instead, a version is generated during
+// compilation with the actual build info values.
+//
+// This file is only used by static analyzers and IDEs.
+
+#define ESPHOME_CONFIG_HASH 0x12345678U
+#define ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME 1700000000
+static const char ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME_STR[] = "Jan 01 2024, 00:00:00";
diff --git a/esphome/core/buildinfo.cpp b/esphome/core/buildinfo.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index edfff44b187..00000000000
--- a/esphome/core/buildinfo.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,82 +0,0 @@
-#include <cstdint>
-
-// Build information is passed in via symbols defined in a linker script
-// as that is the simplest way to include build timestamps without the
-// changed timestamp itself causing a rebuild through dependencies, as
-// it would if it were in a header file like version.h.
-//
-// It's passed in in *string* form so that it can go directly into the
-// flash as .rodata instead of using precious RAM to build a date string
-// from a time_t at runtime.
-//
-// Determining the target endianness and word size from the generation
-// side is problematic, so it emits *four* sets of symbols into the
-// linker script, for each of little-endian and big-endiand, 32-bit and
-// 64-bit targets.
-//
-// The LINKERSYM macro gymnastics select the correct symbol for the
-// target, named e.g. 'ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME_STR_32LE_0'.
-
-// Not all targets have <endian.h> (e.g. LibreTiny on BK72xx).
-// Use the compiler built-in macros but defensively default to
-// little-endian and 32-bit.
-#if !defined(__BYTE_ORDER__) || __BYTE_ORDER__ == __ORDER_LITTLE_ENDIAN__
-#define BO LE
-#else
-#define BO BE
-#endif
-
-#if defined(__SIZEOF_POINTER__) && __SIZEOF_POINTER__ == 8
-#define WS 64  // NOLINT
-#else
-#define WS 32  // NOLINT
-#define USE_32BIT
-#endif
-
-// If you have to ask, you don't want to know...
-#define LINKERSYM2(name, ws, bo, us, num) ESPHOME_##name##_##ws##bo##us##num
-#define LINKERSYM1(name, ws, bo, us, num) LINKERSYM2(name, ws, bo, us, num)
-#define LINKERSYM(name, num) LINKERSYM1(name, WS, BO, _, num)
-
-extern "C" {
-extern const char ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME[];
-extern const char LINKERSYM(CONFIG_HASH_STR, 0)[];
-extern const char LINKERSYM(CONFIG_HASH_STR, 1)[];
-extern const char LINKERSYM(BUILD_TIME_STR, 0)[];
-extern const char LINKERSYM(BUILD_TIME_STR, 1)[];
-extern const char LINKERSYM(BUILD_TIME_STR, 2)[];
-extern const char LINKERSYM(BUILD_TIME_STR, 3)[];
-extern const char LINKERSYM(BUILD_TIME_STR, 4)[];
-extern const char LINKERSYM(BUILD_TIME_STR, 5)[];
-}
-
-namespace esphome::buildinfo {
-
-// An 8-byte string plus terminating NUL.
-struct ConfigHashStruct {
-  uintptr_t data0;
-#ifdef USE_32BIT
-  uintptr_t data1;
-#endif
-  char nul;
-} __attribute__((packed));
-
-extern const ConfigHashStruct CONFIG_HASH_STR = {(uintptr_t) &LINKERSYM(CONFIG_HASH_STR, 0),
-#ifdef USE_32BIT
-                                                 (uintptr_t) &LINKERSYM(CONFIG_HASH_STR, 1),
-#endif
-                                                 0};
-
-// A 21-byte string plus terminating NUL, in 24 bytes
-extern const uintptr_t BUILD_TIME_STR[] = {
-    (uintptr_t) &LINKERSYM(BUILD_TIME_STR, 0), (uintptr_t) &LINKERSYM(BUILD_TIME_STR, 1),
-    (uintptr_t) &LINKERSYM(BUILD_TIME_STR, 2),
-#ifdef USE_32BIT
-    (uintptr_t) &LINKERSYM(BUILD_TIME_STR, 3), (uintptr_t) &LINKERSYM(BUILD_TIME_STR, 4),
-    (uintptr_t) &LINKERSYM(BUILD_TIME_STR, 5),
-#endif
-};
-
-extern const uintptr_t BUILD_TIME = (uintptr_t) &ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME;
-
-}  // namespace esphome::buildinfo
diff --git a/esphome/core/buildinfo.h b/esphome/core/buildinfo.h
deleted file mode 100644
index d86b2af0673..00000000000
--- a/esphome/core/buildinfo.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-#pragma once
-#include <cstdint>
-#include <ctime>
-
-// Build information functions that provide config hash and build time.
-// The actual values are provided by linker-defined symbols to avoid
-// unnecessary rebuilds when only the build time changes.
-// This is kept in its own file so that only files that need build-specific
-// information have to include it explicitly.
-
-namespace esphome::buildinfo {
-
-extern const char CONFIG_HASH_STR[];
-extern const char BUILD_TIME_STR[];
-extern const uintptr_t BUILD_TIME;
-
-static inline const char *get_config_hash() { return CONFIG_HASH_STR; }
-
-static inline time_t get_build_time() { return (time_t) BUILD_TIME; }
-
-static inline const char *get_build_time_string() { return BUILD_TIME_STR; }
-
-}  // namespace esphome::buildinfo
diff --git a/esphome/core/buildinfo.py.script b/esphome/core/buildinfo.py.script
deleted file mode 100644
index 9a4da86537e..00000000000
--- a/esphome/core/buildinfo.py.script
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-Import("env")  # noqa: F821
-env.Append(LINKFLAGS=["buildinfo.ld"])  # noqa: F821
diff --git a/esphome/core/config.py b/esphome/core/config.py
index f7a53051442..97157b6f929 100644
--- a/esphome/core/config.py
+++ b/esphome/core/config.py
@@ -501,7 +501,6 @@ async def to_code(config: ConfigType) -> None:
             config[CONF_NAME],
             config[CONF_FRIENDLY_NAME],
             config.get(CONF_COMMENT, ""),
-            cg.RawExpression("esphome::buildinfo::get_build_time_string()"),
             config[CONF_NAME_ADD_MAC_SUFFIX],
         )
     )
diff --git a/esphome/writer.py b/esphome/writer.py
index 96dcbf3860a..5960dc0af52 100644
--- a/esphome/writer.py
+++ b/esphome/writer.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ from pathlib import Path
 import re
 import shutil
 import stat
-import struct
 import time
 from types import TracebackType
 
@@ -250,21 +249,16 @@ def copy_src_tree():
     write_file_if_changed(
         CORE.relative_src_path("esphome", "core", "version.h"), generate_version_h()
     )
-    # Write buildinfo linker script, JSON metadata, and copy the PlatformIO script
-    config_hash, build_time, build_time_str = get_buildinfo()
-    write_file(
-        CORE.relative_build_path("buildinfo.ld"),
-        generate_buildinfo_ld(config_hash, build_time, build_time_str),
+    # Write build_info header and JSON metadata
+    config_hash, build_time, build_time_str = get_build_info()
+    write_file_if_changed(
+        CORE.relative_src_path("esphome", "core", "build_info_data.h"),
+        generate_build_info_data_h(config_hash, build_time, build_time_str),
     )
     write_file(
-        CORE.relative_build_path("buildinfo.json"),
+        CORE.relative_build_path("build_info.json"),
         json.dumps({"config_hash": config_hash, "build_time": build_time}),
     )
-    copy_file_if_changed(
-        Path(__file__).parent / "core" / "buildinfo.py.script",
-        CORE.relative_build_path("buildinfo.py"),
-    )
-    CORE.add_platformio_option("extra_scripts", ["pre:buildinfo.py"])
 
     platform = "esphome.components." + CORE.target_platform
     try:
@@ -290,33 +284,8 @@ def generate_version_h():
     )
 
 
-def _encode_string_symbols(
-    text: str, prefix: str, bits: int, bit_suffix: str, endian: str, endian_suffix: str
-) -> list[str]:
-    """Encode a string as linker symbols for given word size and endianness."""
-    symbols: list[str] = []
-    # Pad to word boundary with NUL (build time strings need trailing NUL)
-    padded = text if prefix == "CONFIG_HASH_STR" else text + "\0"
-    while len(padded) % bits != 0:
-        padded += "\0"
-
-    for i in range(0, len(padded), bits):
-        chunk = padded[i : i + bits].encode("utf-8")
-        if bits == 8:
-            value = struct.unpack(endian + "Q", chunk)[0]
-            symbols.append(
-                f"ESPHOME_{prefix}_{bit_suffix}{endian_suffix}_{i // bits} = 0x{value:016x};"
-            )
-        else:
-            value = struct.unpack(endian + "I", chunk)[0]
-            symbols.append(
-                f"ESPHOME_{prefix}_{bit_suffix}{endian_suffix}_{i // bits} = 0x{value:08x};"
-            )
-    return symbols
-
-
-def get_buildinfo() -> tuple[int, int, str]:
-    """Calculate buildinfo values from current config.
+def get_build_info() -> tuple[int, int, str]:
+    """Calculate build_info values from current config.
 
     Returns:
         Tuple of (config_hash, build_time, build_time_str)
@@ -331,42 +300,20 @@ def get_buildinfo() -> tuple[int, int, str]:
     return config_hash, build_time, build_time_str
 
 
-def generate_buildinfo_ld(
+def generate_build_info_data_h(
     config_hash: int, build_time: int, build_time_str: str
 ) -> str:
-    """Generate buildinfo linker script with config hash and build time."""
-    config_hash_str = f"{config_hash:08x}"
-
-    # Generate symbols for all 4 variants: 32LE, 32BE, 64LE, 64BE
-    all_variants: list[str] = []
-
-    for bits, bit_suffix in [(4, "32"), (8, "64")]:
-        for endian, endian_suffix in [("<", "LE"), (">", "BE")]:
-            all_variants.extend(
-                _encode_string_symbols(
-                    config_hash_str,
-                    "CONFIG_HASH_STR",
-                    bits,
-                    bit_suffix,
-                    endian,
-                    endian_suffix,
-                )
-            )
-            all_variants.extend(
-                _encode_string_symbols(
-                    build_time_str,
-                    "BUILD_TIME_STR",
-                    bits,
-                    bit_suffix,
-                    endian,
-                    endian_suffix,
-                )
-            )
-
-    return f"""/* Auto-generated buildinfo symbols */
-ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME = {build_time};
-ESPHOME_CONFIG_HASH = 0x{config_hash:08x};
-{chr(10).join(all_variants)}
+    """Generate build_info_data.h header with config hash and build time."""
+    return f"""#pragma once
+// Auto-generated build_info data
+#define ESPHOME_CONFIG_HASH 0x{config_hash:08x}U
+#define ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME {build_time}
+#ifdef USE_ESP8266
+#include <pgmspace.h>
+static const char ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME_STR[] PROGMEM = "{build_time_str}";
+#else
+static const char ESPHOME_BUILD_TIME_STR[] = "{build_time_str}";
+#endif
 """