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/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..c0fd990eca9 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;
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
index 3d124539395..f6ceee2296e 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 {
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/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/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/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/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_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/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/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/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/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/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/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/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/nextion/nextion_upload_arduino.cpp b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_upload_arduino.cpp
index c79c68552ea..e0d18352ff4 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;
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/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/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/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/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/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/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/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_esp_idf.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp_idf.cpp
index 29d135ce900..82ecc80811d 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));
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..dfffd1c91f4 100644
--- a/esphome/components/zigbee/zigbee_zephyr.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/zigbee/zigbee_zephyr.cpp
@@ -190,7 +190,9 @@ 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..221081a0e40 100644
--- a/esphome/core/application.h
+++ b/esphome/core/application.h
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@
 #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 +103,19 @@ 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 +229,30 @@ 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
@@ -350,12 +377,16 @@ 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 +395,11 @@ 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);
   }
 
diff --git a/esphome/core/config.py b/esphome/core/config.py
index 131c94b7d65..14161a7c8b6 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(
                 {
diff --git a/esphome/core/defines.h b/esphome/core/defines.h
index 5a14c472311..daca55d68a0 100644
--- a/esphome/core/defines.h
+++ b/esphome/core/defines.h
@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@
 #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
@@ -198,6 +199,7 @@
 #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/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/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..b6f6149ebbb 100644
--- a/esphome/external_files.py
+++ b/esphome/external_files.py
@@ -81,7 +81,10 @@ 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()
diff --git a/esphome/git.py b/esphome/git.py
index 096ff483a71..4d6e14001a7 100644
--- a/esphome/git.py
+++ b/esphome/git.py
@@ -150,9 +150,7 @@ 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
 
diff --git a/esphome/idf_component.yml b/esphome/idf_component.yml
index 11531e6d7b4..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:
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..b35025fa04a 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
 
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..f036447542d 100755
--- a/script/determine-jobs.py
+++ b/script/determine-jobs.py
@@ -402,8 +402,11 @@ 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 +423,10 @@ 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
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/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/lvgl/lvgl-package.yaml b/tests/components/lvgl/lvgl-package.yaml
index d3565c6c59a..d6e237199ae 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
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/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/script/test_determine_jobs.py b/tests/script/test_determine_jobs.py
index de239ee0b55..2c726734fe7 100644
--- a/tests/script/test_determine_jobs.py
+++ b/tests/script/test_determine_jobs.py
@@ -1842,6 +1842,22 @@ 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..4b0826db044 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_external_files.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_external_files.py
@@ -236,3 +236,49 @@ def test_download_content_with_network_error_no_cache_fails(
 
     with pytest.raises(Invalid, match="Could not download from.*Network error"):
         external_files.download_content(url, test_file)
+
+
+@patch("esphome.external_files.requests.get")
+@patch("esphome.external_files.has_remote_file_changed")
+def test_download_content_skip_external_update_uses_cache(
+    mock_has_changed: MagicMock,
+    mock_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_changed.assert_not_called()
+    mock_get.assert_not_called()
+
+
+@patch("esphome.external_files.requests.get")
+@patch("esphome.external_files.has_remote_file_changed")
+def test_download_content_skip_external_update_downloads_when_missing(
+    mock_has_changed: MagicMock,
+    mock_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_changed.return_value = True
+    mock_response = MagicMock()
+    mock_response.content = new_content
+    mock_response.raise_for_status = MagicMock()
+    mock_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
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_git.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_git.py
index 745dfad487e..dd7d26cb714 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:
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)