diff --git a/apps/flipcash/core-ui/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/core/ui/NavigationBar.kt b/apps/flipcash/core-ui/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/core/ui/NavigationBar.kt
index e55d15636..656f6e47c 100644
--- a/apps/flipcash/core-ui/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/core/ui/NavigationBar.kt
+++ b/apps/flipcash/core-ui/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/core/ui/NavigationBar.kt
@@ -159,6 +159,9 @@ fun NavigationBar(
         Row(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth()) {
             order.fastForEach { button ->
                 val selected = button == state.selectedTab
+                // Only the photo slot dims when unselected. Glyphs and labels stay white in both
+                // states, as the iOS 27 tab bar paints them: the outline-vs-filled glyph and the
+                // indicator pill carry the selection.
                 val iconAlpha by animateFloatAsState(
                     targetValue = if (selected) 1f else 0.5f,
                     label = "navBarIconAlpha",
@@ -221,9 +224,7 @@ fun NavigationBar(
                             }
                         } else {
                             Image(
-                                modifier = Modifier
-                                    .size(iconSize)
-                                    .graphicsLayer { alpha = iconAlpha },
+                                modifier = Modifier.size(iconSize),
                                 painter = button.icon(selected),
                                 colorFilter = ColorFilter.tint(Color.White),
                                 contentDescription = null,
@@ -253,7 +254,6 @@ fun NavigationBar(
                         color = Color.White,
                         textAlign = TextAlign.Center,
                         maxLines = 1,
-                        modifier = Modifier.graphicsLayer { alpha = iconAlpha },
                     )
                 }
             }
@@ -285,9 +285,8 @@ private val NavBarButton.label: Int
 
 /**
  * The glyph for [this] tab at the weight its selection calls for (node 10000:111297). Every tab is
- * drawn as an outline until it is selected, where it fills in; the dimming on top of that is the
- * caller's alpha. The unsuffixed drawable is the outline, so `ic_nav_tipcard` is also the outline
- * the tutorial card reuses.
+ * drawn as an outline until it is selected, where it fills in, white in both states. The unsuffixed
+ * drawable is the outline, so `ic_nav_tipcard` is also the outline the tutorial card reuses.
  *
  * The scanner tab carries the tip card glyph because scanning one is what that tab is for. The You
  * tab draws the user's own photo when there is one (see the avatar branch above) and falls back to
diff --git a/apps/flipcash/features/messenger/src/test/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/messenger/internal/ChatTypingGateTest.kt b/apps/flipcash/features/messenger/src/test/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/messenger/internal/ChatTypingGateTest.kt
index b697912ee..7af68648a 100644
--- a/apps/flipcash/features/messenger/src/test/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/messenger/internal/ChatTypingGateTest.kt
+++ b/apps/flipcash/features/messenger/src/test/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/messenger/internal/ChatTypingGateTest.kt
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import io.mockk.coEvery
 import io.mockk.every
 import io.mockk.mockk
 import kotlinx.coroutines.ExperimentalCoroutinesApi
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableSharedFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.flowOf
 import kotlin.test.assertFalse
@@ -57,6 +58,8 @@ class ChatTypingGateTest {
 
     private val chatCoordinator = mockk<ChatCoordinator>(relaxed = true) {
         every { observeMediaSendProgress() } returns kotlinx.coroutines.flow.emptyFlow()
+        // No load ever lands; a relaxed Flow completes empty and fails the open's first { }.
+        every { newestPageLoads() } returns MutableSharedFlow()
     }
     private val tipPaymentDelegate = mockk<TipPaymentDelegate>(relaxed = true)
     private val transactionController = mockk<TransactionController>(relaxed = true)