diff --git a/src/HingeObserver.ts b/src/HingeObserver.ts
index d06ab08..a3f4587 100644
--- a/src/HingeObserver.ts
+++ b/src/HingeObserver.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ export function mapHinges(hinges: readonly NativeHinge[]): readonly Hinge[] {
 
 /**
  * Creates an observer for an existing React root tag (available from RootTagContext).
- * Creation reads the native cache once; subscribe to keep the snapshot current.
+ * Creation reads the native cache once as a seed; further updates arrive with the
+ * onHingesChange event, and subscribing triggers a native replay of the current snapshot.
  * Multiple observers for the same root share native observation. No provider is needed.
  */
 export function createHingeObserver(root: number | RootTag): HingeObserver {
@@ -56,11 +57,6 @@ export function createHingeObserver(root: number | RootTag): HingeObserver {
     return true;
   };
   update(NativeHinges.getSnapshot(rootTag).hinges);
-  const refresh = () => {
-    if (update(NativeHinges.getSnapshot(rootTag).hinges)) {
-      for (const callback of listeners) callback();
-    }
-  };
   return {
     get: () => snapshot,
     subscribe: (listener) => {
@@ -69,10 +65,11 @@ export function createHingeObserver(root: number | RootTag): HingeObserver {
       if (listeners.size === 1) {
         subscription = NativeHinges.onHingesChange((event) => {
           if (event.rootTag !== rootTag) return;
-          refresh();
+          if (update(event.hinges)) {
+            for (const callback of listeners) callback();
+          }
         });
         NativeHinges.startObserving(rootTag);
-        refresh();
       }
       return () => {
         if (!listeners.delete(notify)) return;
diff --git a/src/__tests__/index.test.tsx b/src/__tests__/index.test.tsx
index 7ad29a7..0de8ee4 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/index.test.tsx
+++ b/src/__tests__/index.test.tsx
@@ -18,7 +18,13 @@ jest.mock('../HingesModule', () => ({
   __esModule: true,
   default: {
     getSnapshot: jest.fn((root: number) => ({ hinges: mockSnapshots.get(root) ?? [] })),
-    startObserving: jest.fn(),
+    // Native replays the current snapshot asynchronously after startObserving.
+    startObserving: jest.fn((rootTag: number) => {
+      queueMicrotask(() => {
+        const hinges = mockSnapshots.get(rootTag) ?? [];
+        for (const listener of mockListeners) listener({ rootTag, hinges });
+      });
+    }),
     stopObserving: jest.fn(),
     onHingesChange: jest.fn((listener: (event: HingesChangeEvent) => void) => {
       mockListeners.add(listener);
@@ -72,13 +78,13 @@ it('isolates roots, shares one observation across subscriptions, and releases on
   expect(mockListeners.size).toBe(0);
 });
 
-it('does not replace a newer cached snapshot with a queued older event', () => {
+it('applies event payloads directly without re-reading the native snapshot', () => {
   const observer = createHingeObserver(1);
   const off = observer.subscribe(jest.fn());
+  expect(NativeHinges.getSnapshot).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   emit(1, native);
-  const snapshot = observer.get();
-  for (const listener of mockListeners) listener({ rootTag: 1, hinges: [] });
-  expect(observer.get()).toBe(snapshot);
+  expect(observer.get()).toEqual([{ status: 'partiallyOpen', angle: Math.PI / 2 }]);
+  expect(NativeHinges.getSnapshot).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   off();
 });
 
@@ -149,12 +155,16 @@ it('throws a clear error when useHinges renders without a RootTagContext provide
   }
 });
 
-it('refreshes state that changed between observer creation and subscription', () => {
+it('delivers state that changed between observer creation and subscription via the startObserving replay', async () => {
   const observer = createHingeObserver(1);
   expect(observer.get()).toEqual([]);
   mockSnapshots.set(1, native);
   const listener = jest.fn();
   const off = observer.subscribe(listener);
+  expect(observer.get()).toEqual([]);
+  expect(listener).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  await Promise.resolve();
+  expect(NativeHinges.getSnapshot).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   expect(observer.get()).toEqual([{ status: 'partiallyOpen', angle: Math.PI / 2 }]);
   expect(listener).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   off();
diff --git a/website/docs/api.md b/website/docs/api.md
index b27705f..017b47f 100644
--- a/website/docs/api.md
+++ b/website/docs/api.md
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ Subscribe callbacks receive no arguments. Read `get()` to obtain the latest snap
 function createHingeObserver(rootTag: number | RootTag): HingeObserver;
 ```
 
-Creates an observer for an existing React root. Obtain its tag from React Native's `RootTagContext` or a native host integration. Creation reads the native cache once; `get()` returns the latest observed snapshot and subscriptions keep it current. The last native subscriber releases observation and the cache. See [observer usage](./observers.md).
+Creates an observer for an existing React root. Obtain its tag from React Native's `RootTagContext` or a native host integration. Creation reads the native cache once as a seed; `get()` returns the latest observed snapshot, and subscribing triggers a native replay of the current snapshot, with later updates arriving as native change events. The last native subscriber releases observation and the cache. See [observer usage](./observers.md).
 
 ## AnimatedHingesProvider
 
diff --git a/website/docs/observers.md b/website/docs/observers.md
index ace0b46..47ef9b4 100644
--- a/website/docs/observers.md
+++ b/website/docs/observers.md
@@ -19,6 +19,6 @@ unsubscribe();
 
 Creation seeds the snapshot from the native cache; `get()` synchronously reads the JS-owned snapshot. Returned arrays and entries are immutable, and equivalent snapshots retain their identity. Before a native reading is available it returns `[]`.
 
-`subscribe()` starts observation for the selected root. Callbacks receive no arguments; read `get()` for the current value. Multiple subscriptions on this observer share one native subscription; separate observers and animated hooks are reference-counted natively. Unsubscribing the final consumer releases native observation and clears its native cache. The observer retains its last delivered snapshot until a later subscription refreshes it.
+`subscribe()` starts observation for the selected root, which triggers a native replay of the current snapshot as an event; later updates also arrive with the native change event. Callbacks receive no arguments; read `get()` for the current value. Multiple subscriptions on this observer share one native subscription; separate observers are reference-counted natively. Unsubscribing the final consumer releases native observation and clears its native cache. The observer keeps its last delivered snapshot after unsubscribing.
 
 Creating an observer or calling `get()` alone does not start native observation. Subscribe when readings must remain current. No process-wide root is selected implicitly.