diff --git a/apps/mobile/modules/t3-native-controls/ios/T3LayoutMetricsView.swift b/apps/mobile/modules/t3-native-controls/ios/T3LayoutMetricsView.swift
index 4e0fcf6d2206b5feb1060e1bd3281f8a56343c6d..1cde09d65f61fa01929daa4d1f4db470865581cd 100644
--- a/apps/mobile/modules/t3-native-controls/ios/T3LayoutMetricsView.swift
+++ b/apps/mobile/modules/t3-native-controls/ios/T3LayoutMetricsView.swift
@@ -35,9 +35,21 @@ final class T3LayoutMetricsView: ExpoView {
   override func didMoveToWindow() {
     super.didMoveToWindow()
     lastMetrics = nil
+    assumeNoHingeIfSilent()
     publishMetrics()
   }
 
+  /// UIKit only sends hinge updates on devices that have a hinge. Without this,
+  /// an ordinary iPhone never publishes and the navigator never attaches.
+  private func assumeNoHingeIfSilent() {
+    guard window != nil, hasHinge == nil else { return }
+    DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + 0.25) { [weak self] in
+      guard let self, self.window != nil, self.hasHinge == nil else { return }
+      self.hasHinge = false
+      self.publishMetrics()
+    }
+  }
+
   override func layoutSubviews() {
     super.layoutSubviews()
     publishMetrics()
diff --git a/apps/mobile/src/native/NativeWorkspaceColumns.ios.tsx b/apps/mobile/src/native/NativeWorkspaceColumns.ios.tsx
index 9aee432ed28d140aca82d156d2d04f3842365d94..0f25bead0ae195b71efd74148812ac8ae528f2b9 100644
--- a/apps/mobile/src/native/NativeWorkspaceColumns.ios.tsx
+++ b/apps/mobile/src/native/NativeWorkspaceColumns.ios.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { requireOptionalNativeModule } from "expo";
+import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
 import { Platform } from "react-native";
 import { useNativeLayoutMetrics } from "./native-layout-metrics";
 
@@ -9,15 +10,27 @@ const nativeControls = requireOptionalNativeModule<{
 export const NATIVE_WORKSPACE_COLUMNS_SUPPORTED =
   Platform.OS === "ios" && Platform.isPad && nativeControls?.supportsWorkspaceColumns === true;
 
+// Binaries without the native no-hinge fallback never report metrics on ordinary
+// iPhones running iOS 27.1 or later. Use the compact navigator rather than staying blank.
+const NATIVE_METRICS_TIMEOUT_MS = 1000;
+
 export function useNativeWorkspaceColumnsReady() {
   const metrics = useNativeLayoutMetrics();
+  const [timedOut, setTimedOut] = useState(false);
   // Choose the phone's native host before attaching any screens. Older clients
   // without the observer can immediately use the compact navigator.
-  return (
-    (Platform.OS === "ios" && Platform.isPad) ||
-    !nativeControls?.ViewPrototypes?.T3NativeControls_LayoutMetrics ||
-    metrics !== null
-  );
+  const waiting =
+    !(Platform.OS === "ios" && Platform.isPad) &&
+    !!nativeControls?.ViewPrototypes?.T3NativeControls_LayoutMetrics &&
+    metrics === null;
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!waiting) return;
+    const timeout = setTimeout(() => setTimedOut(true), NATIVE_METRICS_TIMEOUT_MS);
+    return () => clearTimeout(timeout);
+  }, [waiting]);
+
+  return !waiting || timedOut;
 }
 
 export function useNativeWorkspaceColumnsSupported() {