diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e064492a..d6a81b2e 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
     "link:aliases": "node build/scripts/link-aliases.mjs",
     "size": "node .github/scripts/bundle-size.js | node .github/scripts/bundle-size-report.js",
     "test": "turbo run test",
+    "test:packages": "turbo run test --filter='./packages/*'",
     "format:astro": "prettier --write 'site/src/**/*.astro'",
     "typecheck": "tsc --build",
     "changelog": "git-cliff --config cliff.toml --output CHANGELOG.md"
diff --git a/packages/core/src/core/media/delegate.ts b/packages/core/src/core/media/delegate.ts
index e3a5d913..2ed2e9a0 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/core/media/delegate.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/core/media/delegate.ts
@@ -18,8 +18,10 @@ type SettableKeys<T> = {
   [K in WritableKeys<T>]: T[K] extends (...args: any[]) => any ? never : K;
 }[WritableKeys<T>];
 
+type ExcludeInternal<K> = K extends `_${string}` ? never : K;
+
 export type InferDelegateProps<D extends abstract new (...args: any[]) => any> = Partial<
-  Pick<InstanceType<D>, SettableKeys<InstanceType<D>>>
+  Pick<InstanceType<D>, ExcludeInternal<SettableKeys<InstanceType<D>>>>
 >;
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/core/src/core/utils/define-class-prop-hooks.ts b/packages/core/src/core/utils/define-class-prop-hooks.ts
index a4bf81ab..0556b85b 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/core/utils/define-class-prop-hooks.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/core/utils/define-class-prop-hooks.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import type { Constructor } from '@videojs/utils/types';
 
 export function defineClassPropHooks<T extends Constructor<any>>(Class: T, BaseClassProto: PropertyDescriptorMap) {
   for (const prop of Object.getOwnPropertyNames(BaseClassProto)) {
-    if (prop in Class.prototype) continue;
+    if (prop in Class.prototype || prop.startsWith('_')) continue;
 
     const descriptor = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(BaseClassProto, prop);
     if (!descriptor) continue;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/dom/media/dash/index.ts b/packages/core/src/dom/media/dash/index.ts
index 7da7984c..eeedaceb 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/dom/media/dash/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/dom/media/dash/index.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 import * as dashjs from 'dashjs';
 
-import { type Delegate, DelegateMixin } from '../../../core/media/delegate';
+import { DelegateMixin } from '../../../core/media/delegate';
 import { CustomVideoElement } from '../custom-media-element';
 import { VideoProxy } from '../proxy';
 
-export class DashMediaDelegate implements Delegate {
+export class DashMediaDelegate {
   #engine: dashjs.MediaPlayerClass;
+  #src: string = '';
 
   constructor() {
     this.#engine = dashjs.MediaPlayer().create();
@@ -30,11 +31,12 @@ export class DashMediaDelegate implements Delegate {
   }
 
   set src(src: string) {
+    this.#src = src;
     this.#engine.attachSource(src);
   }
 
   get src(): string {
-    return (this.#engine.getSource() as string) ?? '';
+    return this.#src;
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/dom/media/hls/hlsjs.ts b/packages/core/src/dom/media/hls/hlsjs.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eb9cacc5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/dom/media/hls/hlsjs.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import Hls, { type HlsConfig } from 'hls.js';
+import { HlsMediaPreloadMixin } from './preload';
+import { HlsMediaTextTracksMixin } from './text-tracks';
+
+export const defaultHlsConfig: Partial<HlsConfig> = {
+  backBufferLength: 30,
+  renderTextTracksNatively: false,
+  liveDurationInfinity: true,
+  capLevelToPlayerSize: true,
+  capLevelOnFPSDrop: true,
+  autoStartLoad: false,
+};
+
+class HlsJsMediaDelegateBase {
+  #engine: Hls | null = null;
+
+  constructor(params: { config: Partial<HlsConfig> }) {
+    this.#engine = new Hls({
+      ...defaultHlsConfig,
+      ...params.config,
+    });
+  }
+
+  get target() {
+    return this.#engine?.media ?? null;
+  }
+
+  get engine() {
+    return this.#engine;
+  }
+
+  get src() {
+    return this.#engine?.url ?? '';
+  }
+
+  set src(src: string) {
+    this.#engine?.loadSource(src);
+  }
+
+  attach(target: HTMLMediaElement) {
+    this.#engine?.attachMedia(target);
+  }
+
+  detach() {
+    this.#engine?.detachMedia();
+  }
+
+  destroy() {
+    this.#engine?.destroy();
+    this.#engine = null;
+  }
+}
+
+export class HlsJsMediaDelegate extends HlsMediaPreloadMixin(HlsMediaTextTracksMixin(HlsJsMediaDelegateBase)) {}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/dom/media/hls/index.ts b/packages/core/src/dom/media/hls/index.ts
index 057498b4..906a8f66 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/dom/media/hls/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/dom/media/hls/index.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
+import { shallowEqual } from '@videojs/utils/object';
 import Hls from 'hls.js';
-import { type Delegate, DelegateMixin } from '../../../core/media/delegate';
+import { DelegateMixin } from '../../../core/media/delegate';
 import { CustomVideoElement } from '../custom-media-element';
+import { NativeHlsMediaDelegate } from '../native-hls';
 import { VideoProxy } from '../proxy';
-import { HlsMediaPreloadMixin } from './preload';
-import { HlsMediaTextTracksMixin } from './text-tracks';
+import { HlsJsMediaDelegate } from './hlsjs';
+
+export type PreloadType = '' | 'none' | 'metadata' | 'auto';
 
 export { Hls };
 
@@ -20,108 +23,123 @@ export const SourceTypes = {
   MP4: 'video/mp4',
 };
 
-const defaultConfig = {
-  backBufferLength: 30,
-  renderTextTracksNatively: false,
-  liveDurationInfinity: true,
-  capLevelToPlayerSize: true,
-  capLevelOnFPSDrop: true,
-  // Disable auto quality level/fragment loading (preload).
-  autoStartLoad: false,
-};
-
-export class HlsMediaDelegateBase implements Delegate {
+export class HlsMediaDelegate {
   #target: HTMLMediaElement | null = null;
-  #engine: Hls | null = null;
-  #loadRequested?: Promise<void> | null;
+  #delegate: HlsJsMediaDelegate | NativeHlsMediaDelegate | null = null;
   #src: string = '';
-  #debug: boolean = false;
   #type: SourceType | undefined;
   #preferPlayback: PlaybackType | undefined = 'mse';
+  #config: Record<string, any> = {};
+  #debug: boolean = false;
+  #preload: PreloadType = 'metadata';
+  #loadRequested?: Promise<void> | null;
+  #prevEngineProps?: Record<string, any> | null;
 
-  constructor() {
-    this.initEngine();
+  get target() {
+    return this.#target;
   }
 
-  destroyEngine(): void {
-    this.#engine?.destroy();
-    this.#engine = null;
+  get engine() {
+    return this.#delegate?.engine ?? null;
   }
 
-  initEngine(): void {
-    if (this.#engine) this.destroyEngine();
-
-    if (!Hls.isSupported() || this.type !== SourceTypes.M3U8 || this.#preferPlayback === PlaybackTypes.NATIVE) {
-      if (this.#src) this.#requestLoad();
-      return;
-    }
-
-    this.#engine = new Hls({
-      ...defaultConfig,
-      debug: this.#debug,
-    });
-
-    if (this.#target) {
-      this.#engine.attachMedia(this.#target as HTMLMediaElement);
-    }
-
-    if (this.#src) this.#requestLoad();
+  get src() {
+    return this.#src;
   }
 
-  /** The target element, or `null` when not attached. */
-  get target(): EventTarget | null | undefined {
-    return this.#target ?? null;
-  }
-
-  /** The underlying hls.js instance, or `null` when using native playback. */
-  get engine(): Hls | null {
-    return this.#engine;
-  }
-
-  /** Explicit source type. When unset, inferred from the source URL extension. */
-  get type(): SourceType | undefined {
-    return this.#type ?? inferSourceType(this.#src);
-  }
-
-  set type(value: SourceType | undefined) {
-    if (this.#type === value) return;
-    this.#type = value;
-    this.initEngine();
-  }
-
-  /** Enable hls.js debug logging. Re-initializes the engine when changed. */
-  get debug(): boolean {
-    return this.#debug;
-  }
-
-  set debug(value: boolean) {
-    if (this.#debug === value) return;
-    this.#debug = value;
-    this.initEngine();
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Whether to prefer `'mse'` (hls.js) or `'native'` (browser-built-in) HLS
-   * playback. Changing this re-initializes the engine.
-   */
-  get preferPlayback(): PlaybackType | undefined {
-    return this.#preferPlayback;
-  }
-
-  set preferPlayback(value: PlaybackType | undefined) {
-    if (this.#preferPlayback === value) return;
-    this.#preferPlayback = value;
-    this.initEngine();
-  }
-
-  /** The HLS source URL to load. */
   set src(src: string) {
     this.#src = src;
     this.#requestLoad();
   }
 
-  get src(): string {
-    return this.#src;
+  /** Explicit source type. When unset, inferred from the source URL extension. */
+  get type(): SourceType | undefined {
+    return this.#type ?? inferSourceType(this.src);
+  }
+
+  set type(value: SourceType | undefined) {
+    this.#type = value;
+    this.#requestLoad();
+  }
+
+  /** Whether to prefer `'mse'` (hls.js) or `'native'` (browser-built-in) HLS. */
+  get preferPlayback(): PlaybackType | undefined {
+    return this.#preferPlayback;
+  }
+
+  set preferPlayback(value: PlaybackType | undefined) {
+    this.#preferPlayback = value;
+    this.#requestLoad();
+  }
+
+  get config() {
+    return this.#config;
+  }
+
+  set config(config: Record<string, any>) {
+    this.#config = config;
+    this.#requestLoad();
+  }
+
+  get debug() {
+    return this.#debug;
+  }
+
+  set debug(debug: boolean) {
+    this.#debug = debug;
+    this.#requestLoad();
+  }
+
+  get preload() {
+    return this.#preload;
+  }
+
+  set preload(value: PreloadType) {
+    this.#preload = value;
+    if (this.#delegate) {
+      this.#delegate.preload = value;
+    }
+  }
+
+  attach(target: HTMLMediaElement) {
+    this.#target = target;
+    this.#delegate?.attach(target);
+  }
+
+  detach() {
+    this.#target = null;
+    this.#delegate?.detach();
+  }
+
+  destroy() {
+    this.#engineDestroy();
+    this.detach();
+  }
+
+  load() {
+    this.#loadRequested = null;
+
+    if (this.#shouldEngineUpdate(this.#engineProps())) {
+      this.#engineDestroy();
+      this.#prevEngineProps = this.#engineProps();
+
+      const useMse =
+        Hls.isSupported() && this.type === SourceTypes.M3U8 && this.preferPlayback !== PlaybackTypes.NATIVE;
+
+      this.#delegate = useMse
+        ? new HlsJsMediaDelegate({ config: { ...this.config, debug: this.debug } })
+        : new NativeHlsMediaDelegate();
+
+      if (this.target) {
+        this.#delegate.attach(this.target);
+      }
+
+      this.#delegate.preload = this.preload;
+    }
+
+    if (this.#delegate) {
+      this.#delegate.src = this.#src;
+    }
   }
 
   async #requestLoad() {
@@ -131,27 +149,24 @@ export class HlsMediaDelegateBase implements Delegate {
     this.load();
   }
 
-  load(): void {
-    if (this.#engine) {
-      this.#engine.loadSource(this.#src);
-    } else if (this.#target) {
-      (this.#target as HTMLMediaElement).src = this.#src;
-    }
+  #shouldEngineUpdate(nextEngineProps: Record<string, any>) {
+    return !shallowEqual(this.#prevEngineProps, nextEngineProps);
   }
 
-  attach(target: HTMLMediaElement): void {
-    this.#target = target;
-    this.#engine?.attachMedia(target);
+  #engineProps() {
+    return {
+      config: this.config,
+      debug: this.debug,
+      preferPlayback: this.preferPlayback,
+      type: this.type,
+    };
   }
 
-  detach(): void {
-    this.#engine?.detachMedia();
-    this.#target = null;
-  }
-
-  destroy(): void {
-    this.destroyEngine();
-    this.#target = null;
+  #engineDestroy(): void {
+    this.#delegate?.destroy();
+    this.#delegate = null;
+    this.#prevEngineProps = null;
+    this.#loadRequested = null;
   }
 }
 
@@ -161,10 +176,6 @@ function inferSourceType(src: string): SourceType {
   return SourceTypes.M3U8;
 }
 
-export const HlsMediaDelegate = HlsMediaTextTracksMixin(HlsMediaPreloadMixin(HlsMediaDelegateBase));
-
-// This is used by the web component because it needs to extend HTMLElement!
 export class HlsCustomMedia extends DelegateMixin(CustomVideoElement, HlsMediaDelegate) {}
 
-// This is used by the React component.
 export class HlsMedia extends DelegateMixin(VideoProxy, HlsMediaDelegate) {}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/dom/media/hls/preload.ts b/packages/core/src/dom/media/hls/preload.ts
index d8d959c9..ebb59eb4 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/dom/media/hls/preload.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/dom/media/hls/preload.ts
@@ -1,18 +1,13 @@
 import type { Constructor } from '@videojs/utils/types';
-import type Hls from 'hls.js';
+import Hls from 'hls.js';
+
+export interface HlsEngineHost {
+  readonly engine: Hls | null;
+  readonly target: HTMLMediaElement | null;
+}
 
 export type PreloadType = '' | 'none' | 'metadata' | 'auto';
 
-interface HlsPreloadHost {
-  readonly engine: Hls | null;
-  readonly target: EventTarget | null | undefined;
-  load?(): void;
-  attach?(target: EventTarget): void;
-  detach?(): void;
-  destroy?(): void;
-  destroyEngine?(): void;
-}
-
 /**
  * Manages HLS preload behavior by mapping the media element's `preload`
  * attribute to hls.js `startLoad` / buffer-limit configuration.
@@ -21,49 +16,49 @@ interface HlsPreloadHost {
  * - `'metadata'` → minimal buffer (1 byte / 1 second), deferred full load on play.
  * - `'none'` / `''` → no start, deferred full load on play.
  */
-export function HlsMediaPreloadMixin<Base extends Constructor<HlsPreloadHost>>(BaseClass: Base) {
-  class HlsMediaPreload extends (BaseClass as Constructor<HlsPreloadHost>) {
-    #preloadAbort?: AbortController;
+export function HlsMediaPreloadMixin<Base extends Constructor<HlsEngineHost>>(BaseClass: Base) {
+  class HlsMediaPreload extends (BaseClass as Constructor<HlsEngineHost>) {
+    #preloadAbort: AbortController | null = null;
+    #preload: PreloadType = 'metadata';
     #defaultMaxBufferLength: number | undefined;
     #defaultMaxBufferSize: number | undefined;
 
+    constructor(...args: any[]) {
+      super(...args);
+
+      this.engine?.on(Hls.Events.MANIFEST_LOADING, () => this.#init());
+      this.engine?.on(Hls.Events.MEDIA_ATTACHED, () => this.#init());
+      this.engine?.on(Hls.Events.MEDIA_DETACHED, () => this.#destroy());
+      this.engine?.on(Hls.Events.DESTROYING, () => this.#destroy());
+    }
+
     get preload(): PreloadType {
-      return (this.target as HTMLMediaElement | null)?.preload || 'metadata';
+      return this.#preload;
     }
 
     set preload(value: PreloadType) {
-      const target = this.target as HTMLMediaElement | null;
-      if (!target || target.preload === value) return;
-      target.preload = value;
-      this.#updatePreload();
+      this.#preload = value;
+      this.#init();
     }
 
-    load(): void {
-      super.load?.();
-      this.#updatePreload();
-    }
-
-    attach(target: EventTarget): void {
-      super.attach?.(target);
-      this.#updatePreload();
-    }
-
-    destroyEngine(): void {
+    #destroy(): void {
       this.#preloadAbort?.abort();
-      super.destroyEngine?.();
+      this.#preloadAbort = null;
     }
 
-    detach(): void {
-      this.#preloadAbort?.abort();
-      super.detach?.();
-    }
-
-    #updatePreload(): void {
+    #init(): void {
       this.#preloadAbort?.abort();
 
       const target = this.target as HTMLMediaElement | null;
+      if (!target) return;
+
+      // Sync stored preload to the native element (may have been set before attach)
+      if (target.preload !== this.preload) {
+        target.preload = this.preload;
+      }
+
       const { engine } = this;
-      if (!target || !engine) return;
+      if (!engine) return;
 
       this.#defaultMaxBufferLength ??= engine.config.maxBufferLength;
       this.#defaultMaxBufferSize ??= engine.config.maxBufferSize;
@@ -96,5 +91,5 @@ export function HlsMediaPreloadMixin<Base extends Constructor<HlsPreloadHost>>(B
     }
   }
 
-  return HlsMediaPreload as unknown as Base;
+  return HlsMediaPreload as unknown as Base & Constructor<{ preload: PreloadType }>;
 }
diff --git a/packages/core/src/dom/media/hls/tests/preload.test.ts b/packages/core/src/dom/media/hls/tests/preload.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cd9bf602
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/dom/media/hls/tests/preload.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,159 @@
+import Hls from 'hls.js';
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+
+import { type HlsEngineHost, HlsMediaPreloadMixin } from '../preload';
+
+function createEngine(): Hls {
+  const listeners = new Map<string, Set<(...args: any[]) => void>>();
+  return {
+    config: {
+      maxBufferLength: 30,
+      maxBufferSize: 60_000_000,
+    },
+    on(event: string, fn: (...args: any[]) => void) {
+      if (!listeners.has(event)) listeners.set(event, new Set());
+      listeners.get(event)!.add(fn);
+    },
+    off(event: string, fn: (...args: any[]) => void) {
+      listeners.get(event)?.delete(fn);
+    },
+    emit(event: string, ...args: any[]) {
+      for (const fn of listeners.get(event) ?? []) fn(event, ...args);
+    },
+    startLoad: vi.fn(),
+    media: null,
+  } as unknown as Hls;
+}
+
+class FakeHost implements HlsEngineHost {
+  engine: Hls | null;
+  target: HTMLMediaElement | null = null;
+
+  constructor(engine: Hls | null = null) {
+    this.engine = engine;
+  }
+}
+
+const PreloadHost = HlsMediaPreloadMixin(FakeHost);
+
+describe('HlsMediaPreloadMixin', () => {
+  it('defaults preload to metadata', () => {
+    const host = new PreloadHost(null);
+    expect(host.preload).toBe('metadata');
+  });
+
+  it('stores preload value even when target is null', () => {
+    const engine = createEngine();
+    const host = new PreloadHost(engine);
+
+    host.preload = 'none';
+
+    expect(host.preload).toBe('none');
+    expect(host.target).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('syncs stored preload to native element on MEDIA_ATTACHED', () => {
+    const engine = createEngine();
+    const host = new PreloadHost(engine);
+
+    host.preload = 'none';
+    expect(host.target).toBeNull();
+
+    const video = document.createElement('video');
+    host.target = video;
+    (engine as any).emit(Hls.Events.MEDIA_ATTACHED);
+
+    expect(video.preload).toBe('none');
+  });
+
+  it('applies preload set before attach when MEDIA_ATTACHED fires', () => {
+    const engine = createEngine();
+    const host = new PreloadHost(engine);
+
+    host.preload = 'auto';
+
+    const video = document.createElement('video');
+    host.target = video;
+    (engine as any).emit(Hls.Events.MEDIA_ATTACHED);
+
+    expect(engine.startLoad).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(video.preload).toBe('auto');
+  });
+
+  it('uses stored preload (not native default) for loading strategy on MEDIA_ATTACHED', () => {
+    const engine = createEngine();
+    const host = new PreloadHost(engine);
+
+    host.preload = 'none';
+
+    const video = document.createElement('video');
+    host.target = video;
+    (engine as any).emit(Hls.Events.MEDIA_ATTACHED);
+
+    expect(engine.startLoad).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('starts metadata-level load for preload=metadata', () => {
+    const engine = createEngine();
+    const host = new PreloadHost(engine);
+
+    host.preload = 'metadata';
+
+    const video = document.createElement('video');
+    host.target = video;
+    (engine as any).emit(Hls.Events.MEDIA_ATTACHED);
+
+    expect(engine.startLoad).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(engine.config.maxBufferLength).toBe(1);
+    expect(engine.config.maxBufferSize).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  it('defers full load to play event when preload=metadata', () => {
+    const engine = createEngine();
+    const host = new PreloadHost(engine);
+
+    host.preload = 'metadata';
+
+    const video = document.createElement('video');
+    host.target = video;
+    (engine as any).emit(Hls.Events.MEDIA_ATTACHED);
+
+    (engine.startLoad as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockClear();
+
+    video.dispatchEvent(new Event('play'));
+
+    expect(engine.startLoad).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(engine.config.maxBufferLength).toBe(30);
+    expect(engine.config.maxBufferSize).toBe(60_000_000);
+  });
+
+  it('applies preload to native element immediately when target exists', () => {
+    const engine = createEngine();
+    const host = new PreloadHost(engine);
+
+    const video = document.createElement('video');
+    host.target = video;
+
+    host.preload = 'auto';
+
+    expect(video.preload).toBe('auto');
+  });
+
+  it('cleans up on MEDIA_DETACHED', () => {
+    const engine = createEngine();
+    const host = new PreloadHost(engine);
+
+    host.preload = 'metadata';
+
+    const video = document.createElement('video');
+    host.target = video;
+    (engine as any).emit(Hls.Events.MEDIA_ATTACHED);
+
+    (engine.startLoad as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockClear();
+
+    (engine as any).emit(Hls.Events.MEDIA_DETACHED);
+
+    video.dispatchEvent(new Event('play'));
+    expect(engine.startLoad).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/core/src/dom/media/hls/text-tracks.ts b/packages/core/src/dom/media/hls/text-tracks.ts
index 16b357c2..112e5bec 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/dom/media/hls/text-tracks.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/dom/media/hls/text-tracks.ts
@@ -5,8 +5,7 @@ import Hls from 'hls.js';
 
 interface HlsEngineHost {
   readonly engine: Hls | null;
-  attach?(target: EventTarget): void;
-  detach?(): void;
+  readonly target: HTMLMediaElement | null;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -22,30 +21,30 @@ interface HlsEngineHost {
 export function HlsMediaTextTracksMixin<Base extends Constructor<HlsEngineHost>>(BaseClass: Base) {
   class HlsMediaTextTracks extends (BaseClass as Constructor<HlsEngineHost>) {
     #disconnect: AbortController | null = null;
-    #target: HTMLMediaElement | null = null;
 
-    attach(target: EventTarget): void {
-      super.attach?.(target);
-      this.#target = target as HTMLMediaElement;
-      this.#connect();
+    constructor(...args: any[]) {
+      super(...args);
+
+      this.engine?.on(Hls.Events.MANIFEST_LOADING, () => this.#init());
+      this.engine?.on(Hls.Events.MEDIA_ATTACHED, () => this.#init());
+      this.engine?.on(Hls.Events.MEDIA_DETACHED, () => this.#destroy());
+      this.engine?.on(Hls.Events.DESTROYING, () => this.#destroy());
     }
 
-    detach(): void {
+    #destroy(): void {
       this.#disconnect?.abort();
       this.#disconnect = null;
-      this.#target = null;
-      super.detach?.();
     }
 
-    #connect(): void {
+    #init(): void {
       this.#disconnect?.abort();
       this.#disconnect = new AbortController();
 
       const { signal } = this.#disconnect;
       const { engine } = this;
-      if (!engine) return;
+      if (!engine || !this.target) return;
 
-      const media = this.#target!;
+      const media = this.target;
 
       const onTracksFound = (_event: string, data: NonNativeTextTracksData) => {
         this.#clearTracks();
@@ -141,7 +140,7 @@ export function HlsMediaTextTracksMixin<Base extends Constructor<HlsEngineHost>>
     }
 
     #clearTracks(): void {
-      const trackEls = this.#target!.querySelectorAll('track[data-removeondestroy]');
+      const trackEls = this.target?.querySelectorAll?.('track[data-removeondestroy]') ?? [];
       trackEls.forEach((trackEl) => trackEl.remove());
     }
   }
diff --git a/packages/core/src/dom/media/mux/index.ts b/packages/core/src/dom/media/mux/index.ts
index a028e99c..a39cf298 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/dom/media/mux/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/dom/media/mux/index.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import Mux from 'mux-embed';
 
-import { type Delegate, DelegateMixin } from '../../../core/media/delegate';
+import { DelegateMixin } from '../../../core/media/delegate';
 import { CustomVideoElement } from '../custom-media-element';
 import { Hls, HlsMediaDelegate } from '../hls';
 import { VideoProxy } from '../proxy';
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import type { MuxDataSdk } from './types';
 
 const MUX_VIDEO_DOMAIN = 'mux.com';
 
-export class MuxMediaDelegate extends HlsMediaDelegate implements Delegate {
+export class MuxMediaDelegate extends HlsMediaDelegate {
   static PLAYER_SOFTWARE_NAME = '';
 
   #playbackId: string | null = null;
@@ -108,15 +108,22 @@ export class MuxMediaDelegate extends HlsMediaDelegate implements Delegate {
     this.#metadata = value;
   }
 
-  detach(): void {
-    this.#MuxDataSdk?.destroyMonitor(this.target as HTMLMediaElement);
+  attach(target: HTMLMediaElement): void {
+    super.attach(target);
+    this.#initializeMuxDataSdk();
+  }
 
+  detach(): void {
+    if (this.target?.mux) {
+      this.target.mux.destroy();
+      delete this.target.mux;
+    }
     super.detach();
   }
 
   load(): void {
-    this.#initializeMuxDataSdk();
     super.load();
+    this.#initializeMuxDataSdk();
   }
 
   #syncSrc(): void {
@@ -125,7 +132,7 @@ export class MuxMediaDelegate extends HlsMediaDelegate implements Delegate {
 
   #initializeMuxDataSdk(): void {
     const target = this.target as HTMLMediaElement;
-    if (!this.#MuxDataSdk || !target || target.mux) return;
+    if (!this.#MuxDataSdk || !target || (target.mux && !target.mux.deleted)) return;
 
     const {
       debug,
@@ -144,7 +151,7 @@ export class MuxMediaDelegate extends HlsMediaDelegate implements Delegate {
     metadata.view_session_id = view_session_id;
     metadata.video_id = video_id;
 
-    this.#MuxDataSdk?.monitor(this.target as HTMLMediaElement, {
+    this.#MuxDataSdk?.monitor(target, {
       debug,
       ...(beaconCollectionDomain ? { beaconCollectionDomain } : {}),
       ...(disableCookies ? { disableCookies } : {}),
diff --git a/packages/core/src/dom/media/native-hls/index.ts b/packages/core/src/dom/media/native-hls/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..51801159
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/dom/media/native-hls/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import { DelegateMixin } from '../../../core/media/delegate';
+import { CustomVideoElement } from '../custom-media-element';
+import { VideoProxy } from '../proxy';
+
+export type PreloadType = '' | 'none' | 'metadata' | 'auto';
+
+export class NativeHlsMediaDelegate {
+  #target: HTMLMediaElement | null = null;
+  #src: string = '';
+  #preload: PreloadType = 'metadata';
+
+  get target() {
+    return this.#target;
+  }
+
+  get engine() {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  get src() {
+    return this.#src;
+  }
+
+  set src(src: string) {
+    this.#src = src;
+
+    if (this.#target) {
+      this.#target.src = src;
+    }
+  }
+
+  get preload() {
+    return this.#preload ?? 'metadata';
+  }
+
+  set preload(value: PreloadType) {
+    this.#preload = value;
+
+    if (this.#target) {
+      this.#target.preload = value;
+    }
+  }
+
+  attach(target: HTMLMediaElement) {
+    this.#target = target;
+    this.#target.src = this.src;
+    this.#target.preload = this.preload;
+  }
+
+  detach() {
+    this.#target = null;
+  }
+
+  destroy() {
+    this.#target = null;
+  }
+}
+
+export class NativeHlsCustomMedia extends DelegateMixin(CustomVideoElement, NativeHlsMediaDelegate) {}
+
+export class NativeHlsMedia extends DelegateMixin(VideoProxy, NativeHlsMediaDelegate) {}
diff --git a/packages/core/tsdown.config.ts b/packages/core/tsdown.config.ts
index 70161f9a..e5fd07a3 100644
--- a/packages/core/tsdown.config.ts
+++ b/packages/core/tsdown.config.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ const createConfig = (mode: BuildMode): UserConfig => ({
     'dom/media/hls/index': './src/dom/media/hls/index.ts',
     'dom/media/custom-media-element/index': './src/dom/media/custom-media-element/index.ts',
     'dom/media/mux/index': './src/dom/media/mux/index.ts',
+    'dom/media/native-hls/index': './src/dom/media/native-hls/index.ts',
     'dom/media/simple-hls/index': './src/dom/media/simple-hls/index.ts',
   },
   platform: 'neutral',
diff --git a/packages/html/src/define/media/native-hls-video.ts b/packages/html/src/define/media/native-hls-video.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7d51f9d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/html/src/define/media/native-hls-video.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import { NativeHlsVideo } from '../../media/native-hls-video';
+import { safeDefine } from '../safe-define';
+
+export class NativeHlsVideoElement extends NativeHlsVideo {
+  static readonly tagName = 'native-hls-video';
+}
+
+safeDefine(NativeHlsVideoElement);
+
+declare global {
+  interface HTMLElementTagNameMap {
+    [NativeHlsVideoElement.tagName]: NativeHlsVideoElement;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/html/src/index.ts b/packages/html/src/index.ts
index c3991b0b..d993b635 100644
--- a/packages/html/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/html/src/index.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 // Core
-export type { Delegate } from '@videojs/core';
 export { DelegateMixin } from '@videojs/core';
 export * from '@videojs/core/dom';
 
diff --git a/packages/html/src/media/native-hls-video/index.ts b/packages/html/src/media/native-hls-video/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a732f7f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/html/src/media/native-hls-video/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import { NativeHlsCustomMedia, NativeHlsMediaDelegate } from '@videojs/core/dom/media/native-hls';
+import { MediaAttachMixin } from '../../store/media-attach-mixin';
+import { MediaPropsMixin } from '../../utils/media-props-mixin';
+
+export class NativeHlsVideo extends MediaPropsMixin(MediaAttachMixin(NativeHlsCustomMedia), NativeHlsMediaDelegate) {
+  constructor() {
+    super();
+    this.attach(this.target);
+  }
+
+  disconnectedCallback(): void {
+    super.disconnectedCallback?.();
+
+    if (!this.hasAttribute('keep-alive')) {
+      this.destroy();
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/html/src/utils/media-props-mixin.ts b/packages/html/src/utils/media-props-mixin.ts
index 0815c5be..97ad7cd6 100644
--- a/packages/html/src/utils/media-props-mixin.ts
+++ b/packages/html/src/utils/media-props-mixin.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ function buildAttrPropMap(DelegateClass: AnyClass): Map<string, string> {
   const map = new Map<string, string>();
   for (let proto = DelegateClass.prototype; proto && proto !== Object.prototype; proto = Object.getPrototypeOf(proto)) {
     for (const key of Object.getOwnPropertyNames(proto)) {
+      if (key.startsWith('_')) continue;
       const desc = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(proto, key);
       if (desc?.set) map.set(camelToKebab(key), key);
     }
diff --git a/packages/react/src/index.ts b/packages/react/src/index.ts
index f951885a..93f29c53 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/react/src/index.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 'use client';
 
 // Core
-export type { Delegate } from '@videojs/core';
 export { DelegateMixin } from '@videojs/core';
 export * from '@videojs/core/dom';
 
diff --git a/packages/react/src/media/native-hls-video/index.tsx b/packages/react/src/media/native-hls-video/index.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2dad3af8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/react/src/media/native-hls-video/index.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+import type { InferDelegateProps } from '@videojs/core';
+import { NativeHlsMedia, NativeHlsMediaDelegate } from '@videojs/core/dom/media/native-hls';
+import type { PropsWithChildren, VideoHTMLAttributes } from 'react';
+import { forwardRef } from 'react';
+import { attachMediaElement } from '../../utils/attach-media-element';
+import { mediaProps } from '../../utils/media-props';
+import { useComposedRefs } from '../../utils/use-composed-refs';
+import { useMediaInstance } from '../../utils/use-media-instance';
+
+export type NativeHlsVideoProps = PropsWithChildren<VideoHTMLAttributes<HTMLVideoElement>> &
+  InferDelegateProps<typeof NativeHlsMediaDelegate>;
+
+export const NativeHlsVideo = forwardRef<HTMLVideoElement, NativeHlsVideoProps>(({ children, ...props }, ref) => {
+  const mediaApi = useMediaInstance(NativeHlsMedia);
+
+  const composedRef = useComposedRefs(attachMediaElement(mediaApi), ref);
+
+  return (
+    <video ref={composedRef} {...mediaProps(mediaApi, NativeHlsMediaDelegate, props)}>
+      {children}
+    </video>
+  );
+});
+
+export default NativeHlsVideo;
diff --git a/packages/sandbox/app/constants.ts b/packages/sandbox/app/constants.ts
index 59f1fd3d..514e79f0 100644
--- a/packages/sandbox/app/constants.ts
+++ b/packages/sandbox/app/constants.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ export const STYLINGS = ['css', 'tailwind'] as const;
 export const PRESETS = [
   'video',
   'hls-video',
+  'native-hls-video',
   'mux-video',
   'simple-hls-video',
   'dash-video',
diff --git a/packages/sandbox/app/shell/navbar.tsx b/packages/sandbox/app/shell/navbar.tsx
index f3f82c74..db2c626a 100644
--- a/packages/sandbox/app/shell/navbar.tsx
+++ b/packages/sandbox/app/shell/navbar.tsx
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ const PLATFORM_LABELS: Record<Platform, string> = {
 const PRESET_LABELS: Record<Preset, string> = {
   video: 'Video',
   'hls-video': 'HLS Video',
+  'native-hls-video': 'Native HLS Video',
   'mux-video': 'Mux Video',
   'simple-hls-video': 'Simple HLS Video',
   'dash-video': 'DASH Video',
diff --git a/packages/store/src/core/shallow-equal.ts b/packages/store/src/core/shallow-equal.ts
index b22ee0c1..5cc04fe8 100644
--- a/packages/store/src/core/shallow-equal.ts
+++ b/packages/store/src/core/shallow-equal.ts
@@ -1,29 +1,8 @@
+export { shallowEqual } from '@videojs/utils/object';
+
 export interface Selector<State, Result> {
   (state: State): Result;
   displayName?: string | undefined;
 }
 
 export type Comparator<T> = (a: T, b: T) => boolean;
-
-const hasOwn = Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;
-
-export function shallowEqual<T>(a: T, b: T): boolean {
-  if (Object.is(a, b)) return true;
-
-  if (typeof a !== 'object' || a === null || typeof b !== 'object' || b === null) {
-    return false;
-  }
-
-  const keysA = Object.keys(a);
-  const keysB = Object.keys(b);
-
-  if (keysA.length !== keysB.length) return false;
-
-  for (const key of keysA) {
-    if (!hasOwn.call(b, key) || !Object.is((a as Record<string, unknown>)[key], (b as Record<string, unknown>)[key])) {
-      return false;
-    }
-  }
-
-  return true;
-}
diff --git a/packages/utils/src/object/index.ts b/packages/utils/src/object/index.ts
index 594335fc..fd84498e 100644
--- a/packages/utils/src/object/index.ts
+++ b/packages/utils/src/object/index.ts
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 export { defaults } from './defaults';
 export { pick } from './pick';
+export { shallowEqual } from './shallow-equal';
diff --git a/packages/utils/src/object/shallow-equal.ts b/packages/utils/src/object/shallow-equal.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f248d2bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/utils/src/object/shallow-equal.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+const hasOwn = Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;
+
+export function shallowEqual<T>(a: T, b: T): boolean {
+  if (Object.is(a, b)) return true;
+
+  if (typeof a !== 'object' || a === null || typeof b !== 'object' || b === null) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  const keysA = Object.keys(a);
+  const keysB = Object.keys(b);
+
+  if (keysA.length !== keysB.length) return false;
+
+  for (const key of keysA) {
+    if (!hasOwn.call(b, key) || !Object.is((a as Record<string, unknown>)[key], (b as Record<string, unknown>)[key])) {
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return true;
+}
diff --git a/packages/store/src/core/tests/shallow-equal.test.ts b/packages/utils/src/object/tests/shallow-equal.test.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/store/src/core/tests/shallow-equal.test.ts
rename to packages/utils/src/object/tests/shallow-equal.test.ts