diff --git a/packages/core/src/js/sdk.tsx b/packages/core/src/js/sdk.tsx
index 8d26f0268e..98febeecfd 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/js/sdk.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/js/sdk.tsx
@@ -140,9 +140,11 @@ export function init(passedOptions: ReactNativeOptions): void {
     initialScope: safeFactory(userOptions.initialScope, { loggerMessage: 'The initialScope threw an error' }),
   };
 
-  if (!('autoInitializeNativeSdk' in userOptions) && RN_GLOBAL_OBJ.__SENTRY_OPTIONS__) {
-    // Options file is present, native SDK is expected to be initialized
+  if (!('autoInitializeNativeSdk' in userOptions) && RN_GLOBAL_OBJ.__SENTRY_OPTIONS__ && !__DEV__) {
+    // Options file is present in a release build, native SDK is expected to be initialized
     // before JS from the native app entry point (e.g. AppDelegate, MainApplication).
+    // In dev builds, we always re-initialize from JS to set up the native log bridge
+    // and provide runtime values (devServerUrl, defaultSidecarUrl, etc.).
     // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
     console.info('[Sentry] Using options file. Native SDK is expected to be initialized before JS, skipping automatic native initialization from JS.');
     options.autoInitializeNativeSdk = false;
diff --git a/packages/core/test/sdk.test.ts b/packages/core/test/sdk.test.ts
index 66cf4a927b..6b56df4cb4 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/sdk.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/sdk.test.ts
@@ -135,10 +135,34 @@ describe('Tests the SDK functionality', () => {
         expect(usedOptions()?.dsn).toBe('https://key@example.io/code');
       });
 
-      it('initializing with __SENTRY_OPTIONS__ disabled native auto initialization', () => {
-        RN_GLOBAL_OBJ.__SENTRY_OPTIONS__ = {};
-        init({});
-        expect(usedOptions()?.autoInitializeNativeSdk).toBe(false);
+      it('does not disable native auto initialization in dev builds even with __SENTRY_OPTIONS__', () => {
+        // @ts-expect-error __DEV__ is a global
+        const originalDev = globalThis.__DEV__;
+        // @ts-expect-error __DEV__ is a global
+        globalThis.__DEV__ = true;
+        try {
+          RN_GLOBAL_OBJ.__SENTRY_OPTIONS__ = {};
+          init({});
+          expect(usedOptions()?.autoInitializeNativeSdk).toBe(true);
+        } finally {
+          // @ts-expect-error __DEV__ is a global
+          globalThis.__DEV__ = originalDev;
+        }
+      });
+
+      it('disables native auto initialization in release builds with __SENTRY_OPTIONS__', () => {
+        // @ts-expect-error __DEV__ is a global
+        const originalDev = globalThis.__DEV__;
+        // @ts-expect-error __DEV__ is a global
+        globalThis.__DEV__ = false;
+        try {
+          RN_GLOBAL_OBJ.__SENTRY_OPTIONS__ = {};
+          init({});
+          expect(usedOptions()?.autoInitializeNativeSdk).toBe(false);
+        } finally {
+          // @ts-expect-error __DEV__ is a global
+          globalThis.__DEV__ = originalDev;
+        }
       });
 
       it('initializing without __SENTRY_OPTIONS__ enables native auto initialization', () => {
@@ -155,7 +179,7 @@ describe('Tests the SDK functionality', () => {
         expect(usedOptions()?.autoInitializeNativeSdk).toBe(true);
       });
 
-      it('initializing with __SENTRY_OPTIONS__ keeps native auto initialization false if set', () => {
+      it('respects explicit autoInitializeNativeSdk false even with __SENTRY_OPTIONS__', () => {
         RN_GLOBAL_OBJ.__SENTRY_OPTIONS__ = {};
         init({
           autoInitializeNativeSdk: false,