diff --git a/.github/workflows/sample-application.yml b/.github/workflows/sample-application.yml
index 603cafa619..3bfa290fe3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sample-application.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/sample-application.yml
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ jobs:
           path: ${{ env.REACT_NATIVE_SAMPLE_PATH }}/${{ matrix.platform }}/*.log
 
   test:
-    name: Test ${{ matrix.platform }} ${{ matrix.build-type }}
+    name: ${{ matrix.job-name }}
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.runs-on }}
     needs: [diff_check, build]
     if: ${{ needs.diff_check.outputs.skip_ci != 'true' }}
@@ -195,16 +195,28 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         include:
-          - platform: ios
+          - job-name: 'Test iOS Release Auto Init'
+            platform: ios
             runs-on: macos-15
             rn-architecture: 'new'
             ios-use-frameworks: 'no-frameworks'
             build-type: 'production'
+            test-command: 'yarn test-ios-auto' # tests native auto init from JS
 
-          - platform: android
+          - job-name: 'Test iOS Release Manual Init'
+            platform: ios
+            runs-on: macos-15
+            rn-architecture: 'new'
+            ios-use-frameworks: 'no-frameworks'
+            build-type: 'production'
+            test-command: 'yarn test-ios'
+
+          - job-name: 'Test Android Release Manual Init'
+            platform: android
             runs-on: ubuntu-latest
             rn-architecture: 'new'
             build-type: 'production'
+            test-command: 'yarn test-android'
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -277,7 +289,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Run Detox iOS Tests
         if: ${{ matrix.platform == 'ios' }}
         working-directory: ${{ env.REACT_NATIVE_SAMPLE_PATH }}
-        run: yarn test-ios
+        run: ${{ matrix.test-command }}
 
       - name: Run tests on Android
         if: ${{ matrix.platform == 'android' }}
@@ -303,4 +315,4 @@ jobs:
             -camera-front none
             -timezone US/Pacific
           working-directory: ${{ env.REACT_NATIVE_SAMPLE_PATH }}
-          script: yarn test-android
+          script: ${{ matrix.test-command }}
diff --git a/samples/react-native/package.json b/samples/react-native/package.json
index fb1ddbcd67..a5b36afd9d 100644
--- a/samples/react-native/package.json
+++ b/samples/react-native/package.json
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
     "set-test-dsn-ios": "scripts/set-dsn-ios.mjs",
     "test-android": "scripts/test-android.sh",
     "test-ios": "scripts/test-ios.sh",
+    "test-ios-auto": "scripts/test-ios-auto.sh",
     "lint": "npx eslint . --ext .js,.jsx,.ts,.tsx",
     "fix": "eslint . --ext .js,.jsx,.ts,.tsx --fix",
     "pod-install-debug-static": "scripts/pod-install-debug-static.sh",
diff --git a/samples/react-native/scripts/detect-ios-sim.sh b/samples/react-native/scripts/detect-ios-sim.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..1ba6d3b98c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/samples/react-native/scripts/detect-ios-sim.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# Exit on error and print commands
+set -xe
+
+if [ -z "$IOS_DEVICE" ]; then
+  # Get the first booted simulator device type and version
+  BOOTED_DEVICE=$(xcrun simctl list devices | grep "Booted" | head -n 1)
+
+  if [ -z "$BOOTED_DEVICE" ]; then
+    echo "No booted iOS simulator found"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  # Extract device type from booted device
+  export IOS_DEVICE=$(echo "$BOOTED_DEVICE" | cut -d "(" -f1 | xargs)
+  echo "Using booted iOS simulator: $IOS_DEVICE"
+fi
diff --git a/samples/react-native/scripts/test-ios-auto.sh b/samples/react-native/scripts/test-ios-auto.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..5798457ec2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/samples/react-native/scripts/test-ios-auto.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# Exit on error and print commands
+set -xe
+
+thisFilePath=$(dirname "$0")
+
+cd "${thisFilePath}/.."
+
+"${thisFilePath}/detect-ios-sim.sh"
+
+detox test --configuration ci.sim --app-launch-args="--sentry-disable-native-start"
diff --git a/samples/react-native/scripts/test-ios.sh b/samples/react-native/scripts/test-ios.sh
index ee9b1bb83f..3e8d8c64a3 100755
--- a/samples/react-native/scripts/test-ios.sh
+++ b/samples/react-native/scripts/test-ios.sh
@@ -7,18 +7,6 @@ thisFilePath=$(dirname "$0")
 
 cd "${thisFilePath}/.."
 
-if [ -z "$IOS_DEVICE" ]; then
-  # Get the first booted simulator device type and version
-  BOOTED_DEVICE=$(xcrun simctl list devices | grep "Booted" | head -n 1)
-
-  if [ -z "$BOOTED_DEVICE" ]; then
-    echo "No booted iOS simulator found"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-
-  # Extract device type from booted device
-  export IOS_DEVICE=$(echo "$BOOTED_DEVICE" | cut -d "(" -f1 | xargs)
-  echo "Using booted iOS simulator: $IOS_DEVICE"
-fi
+"${thisFilePath}/detect-ios-sim.sh"
 
 detox test --configuration ci.sim