diff --git a/esphome/components/mipi_spi/display.py b/esphome/components/mipi_spi/display.py
index abb7eaa458..d613d0a1ab 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mipi_spi/display.py
+++ b/esphome/components/mipi_spi/display.py
@@ -172,13 +172,19 @@ def model_schema(config):
     if bus_mode == TYPE_SINGLE:
         other_options.append(CONF_SPI_16)
     # Calculate default SPI mode. Mode3 for octal bus or single bus with no cs pin, mode0 otherwise.
-    spi_mode = model.get_default(CONF_SPI_MODE)
+    spi_mode = (
+        cv.UNDEFINED if CONF_SPI_MODE in config else model.get_default(CONF_SPI_MODE)
+    )
     if not spi_mode:
         if bus_mode == TYPE_OCTAL or (
             bus_mode == TYPE_SINGLE
-            and not config.get(CONF_CS_PIN, model.get_default(CONF_CS_PIN))
+            and config.get(CONF_CS_PIN, model.get_default(CONF_CS_PIN)) is False
         ):
             spi_mode = "MODE3"
+            if bus_mode == TYPE_SINGLE:
+                LOGGER.warning(
+                    "No SPI mode specified, defaulting to MODE3 due to lack of CS pin. If you experience issues, try setting SPI mode explicitly to MODE0 or MODE3."
+                )
         else:
             spi_mode = "MODE0"
 
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/mipi_spi/test_init.py b/tests/component_tests/mipi_spi/test_init.py
index d681908027..dbd8e15702 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/mipi_spi/test_init.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/mipi_spi/test_init.py
@@ -306,6 +306,50 @@ def test_all_predefined_models(
         run_schema_validation(config)
 
 
+def test_single_bus_no_cs_no_mode_warns(
+    set_core_config: SetCoreConfigCallable,
+    caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture,
+) -> None:
+    """A single-bus display with no CS pin and no explicit SPI mode warns about MODE3 default."""
+    set_core_config(
+        PlatformFramework.ESP32_IDF,
+        platform_data={KEY_BOARD: "esp32dev", KEY_VARIANT: VARIANT_ESP32},
+    )
+
+    run_schema_validation({"model": "ili9488", "dc_pin": 14})
+
+    assert "defaulting to MODE3 due to lack of CS pin" in caplog.text
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "config",
+    [
+        pytest.param(
+            {"model": "ili9488", "dc_pin": 14, "cs_pin": 0},
+            id="cs_pin_provided",
+        ),
+        pytest.param(
+            {"model": "ili9488", "dc_pin": 14, "spi_mode": "mode0"},
+            id="spi_mode_provided",
+        ),
+    ],
+)
+def test_single_bus_no_mode_warning_suppressed(
+    config: ConfigType,
+    set_core_config: SetCoreConfigCallable,
+    caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture,
+) -> None:
+    """No MODE3 warning when a CS pin or an explicit SPI mode is provided."""
+    set_core_config(
+        PlatformFramework.ESP32_IDF,
+        platform_data={KEY_BOARD: "esp32dev", KEY_VARIANT: VARIANT_ESP32},
+    )
+
+    run_schema_validation(config)
+
+    assert "defaulting to MODE3 due to lack of CS pin" not in caplog.text
+
+
 def test_native_generation(
     generate_main: Callable[[str | Path], str],
     component_fixture_path: Callable[[str], Path],