diff --git a/core/src/components/modal/modal.tsx b/core/src/components/modal/modal.tsx
index bf57c36f07..c41ade9c72 100644
--- a/core/src/components/modal/modal.tsx
+++ b/core/src/components/modal/modal.tsx
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ export class Modal implements ComponentInterface, OverlayInterface {
   @State() private isSheetModal = false;
   private currentBreakpoint?: number;
   private wrapperEl?: HTMLElement;
+  private shadowEl?: HTMLElement;
   private backdropEl?: HTMLIonBackdropElement;
   private dragHandleEl?: HTMLButtonElement;
   private sortedBreakpoints?: number[];
@@ -914,13 +915,9 @@ export class Modal implements ComponentInterface, OverlayInterface {
       return;
     }
 
-    // Phone-sized fullscreen modals inherit safe areas and use wrapper padding
-    if (!isTablet) {
-      this.applyFullscreenSafeArea();
-      return;
-    }
-
-    // Check if tablet modal is fullscreen via CSS custom properties
+    // Check if modal is fullscreen via CSS custom properties
+    // This applies to both phone and tablet sizes - custom modals may have
+    // non-fullscreen dimensions even on phones (e.g., --height: 70%)
     const computedStyle = getComputedStyle(this.el);
     const width = computedStyle.getPropertyValue('--width').trim();
     const height = computedStyle.getPropertyValue('--height').trim();
@@ -928,9 +925,12 @@ export class Modal implements ComponentInterface, OverlayInterface {
 
     if (isFullscreen) {
       this.applyFullscreenSafeArea();
-    } else {
-      // Centered dialog doesn't touch edges
+    } else if (isTablet) {
+      // Centered dialog on tablet doesn't touch edges
       this.zeroAllSafeAreas();
+    } else {
+      // Non-fullscreen modal on phone - use coordinate-based detection
+      // to determine which edges it touches (e.g., bottom-aligned custom modals)
     }
   }
 
@@ -953,19 +953,27 @@ export class Modal implements ComponentInterface, OverlayInterface {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Updates wrapper padding based on footer presence.
+   * Updates wrapper and shadow padding based on footer presence.
    * Called initially and when footer is dynamically added/removed.
+   * Both elements must be styled identically to prevent visual mismatches.
    */
   private updateFooterPadding() {
     if (!this.wrapperEl) return;
 
     const hasFooter = this.el.querySelector('ion-footer') !== null;
+    // Apply to both wrapper and shadow to keep them in sync
+    const elements = [this.wrapperEl, this.shadowEl].filter(Boolean) as HTMLElement[];
+
     if (hasFooter) {
-      this.wrapperEl.style.removeProperty('padding-bottom');
-      this.wrapperEl.style.removeProperty('box-sizing');
+      elements.forEach((el) => {
+        el.style.removeProperty('padding-bottom');
+        el.style.removeProperty('box-sizing');
+      });
     } else {
-      this.wrapperEl.style.setProperty('padding-bottom', 'var(--ion-safe-area-bottom, 0px)');
-      this.wrapperEl.style.setProperty('box-sizing', 'border-box');
+      elements.forEach((el) => {
+        el.style.setProperty('padding-bottom', 'var(--ion-safe-area-bottom, 0px)');
+        el.style.setProperty('box-sizing', 'border-box');
+      });
     }
   }
 
@@ -993,11 +1001,13 @@ export class Modal implements ComponentInterface, OverlayInterface {
     this.footerObserver?.disconnect();
     this.footerObserver = undefined;
 
-    // Clear wrapper styles that may have been set for safe-area handling
-    if (this.wrapperEl) {
-      this.wrapperEl.style.removeProperty('padding-bottom');
-      this.wrapperEl.style.removeProperty('box-sizing');
-    }
+    // Clear wrapper and shadow styles that may have been set for safe-area handling
+    [this.wrapperEl, this.shadowEl].forEach((el) => {
+      if (el) {
+        el.style.removeProperty('padding-bottom');
+        el.style.removeProperty('box-sizing');
+      }
+    });
 
     // Clear safe-area CSS variable overrides
     const style = this.el.style;
@@ -1613,7 +1623,7 @@ export class Modal implements ComponentInterface, OverlayInterface {
           part="backdrop"
         />
 
-        {mode === 'ios' && <div class="modal-shadow"></div>}
+        {mode === 'ios' && <div class="modal-shadow" ref={(el) => (this.shadowEl = el)}></div>}
 
         <div
           /*
diff --git a/core/src/components/modal/test/safe-area/index.html b/core/src/components/modal/test/safe-area/index.html
index fee7e96d07..376b7cfdc6 100644
--- a/core/src/components/modal/test/safe-area/index.html
+++ b/core/src/components/modal/test/safe-area/index.html
@@ -15,23 +15,66 @@
     <style>
       /**
        * Simulate safe-area insets for testing.
-       * These values represent typical iPad safe areas.
+       * Values represent combined scenarios: top/bottom from portrait devices,
+       * left/right from landscape orientation or devices with side notches.
        */
       :root {
         --ion-safe-area-top: 44px;
         --ion-safe-area-bottom: 34px;
-        --ion-safe-area-left: 0px;
-        --ion-safe-area-right: 0px;
+        --ion-safe-area-left: 44px;
+        --ion-safe-area-right: 44px;
       }
 
       .fullscreen-modal {
         --width: 100%;
         --height: 100%;
       }
+
+      /* Visual indicators for safe areas */
+      .safe-area-indicator {
+        position: fixed;
+        background: rgba(255, 0, 0, 0.2);
+        pointer-events: none;
+        z-index: 99999;
+      }
+
+      .safe-area-top {
+        top: 0;
+        left: 0;
+        right: 0;
+        height: var(--ion-safe-area-top);
+      }
+
+      .safe-area-bottom {
+        bottom: 0;
+        left: 0;
+        right: 0;
+        height: var(--ion-safe-area-bottom);
+      }
+
+      .safe-area-left {
+        top: 0;
+        bottom: 0;
+        left: 0;
+        width: var(--ion-safe-area-left);
+      }
+
+      .safe-area-right {
+        top: 0;
+        bottom: 0;
+        right: 0;
+        width: var(--ion-safe-area-right);
+      }
     </style>
   </head>
 
   <body>
+    <!-- Visual indicators for safe areas (red overlay) -->
+    <div class="safe-area-indicator safe-area-top"></div>
+    <div class="safe-area-indicator safe-area-bottom"></div>
+    <div class="safe-area-indicator safe-area-left"></div>
+    <div class="safe-area-indicator safe-area-right"></div>
+
     <ion-app>
       <div class="ion-page" id="main-page">
         <ion-header>
@@ -41,7 +84,11 @@
         </ion-header>
 
         <ion-content class="ion-padding">
-          <p>Test safe-area handling in modals.</p>
+          <p>Test safe-area handling in modals. Red overlays indicate safe areas (top, bottom, left, right).</p>
+          <p>
+            <strong>Landscape simulation:</strong> Left and right safe areas are set to 44px to test devices with side
+            notches.
+          </p>
 
           <ion-list>
             <ion-item-group>
diff --git a/core/src/components/popover/test/safe-area/index.html b/core/src/components/popover/test/safe-area/index.html
index 271d5fa02c..cb65329f5f 100644
--- a/core/src/components/popover/test/safe-area/index.html
+++ b/core/src/components/popover/test/safe-area/index.html
@@ -16,12 +16,13 @@
       /**
        * Simulate safe-area insets for testing.
        * These values represent typical Android edge-to-edge safe areas.
+       * Left/right values simulate landscape orientation or devices with side notches.
        */
       :root {
         --ion-safe-area-top: 44px;
         --ion-safe-area-bottom: 34px;
-        --ion-safe-area-left: 0px;
-        --ion-safe-area-right: 0px;
+        --ion-safe-area-left: 44px;
+        --ion-safe-area-right: 44px;
       }
 
       /* Visual indicator for safe areas */
@@ -46,6 +47,20 @@
         height: var(--ion-safe-area-bottom);
       }
 
+      .safe-area-left {
+        top: 0;
+        bottom: 0;
+        left: 0;
+        width: var(--ion-safe-area-left);
+      }
+
+      .safe-area-right {
+        top: 0;
+        bottom: 0;
+        right: 0;
+        width: var(--ion-safe-area-right);
+      }
+
       /* Position triggers at different locations */
       .bottom-trigger {
         position: fixed;
@@ -67,6 +82,8 @@
       <!-- Visual indicators for safe areas -->
       <div class="safe-area-indicator safe-area-top"></div>
       <div class="safe-area-indicator safe-area-bottom"></div>
+      <div class="safe-area-indicator safe-area-left"></div>
+      <div class="safe-area-indicator safe-area-right"></div>
 
       <div class="ion-page" id="main-page">
         <ion-header>
@@ -77,7 +94,11 @@
 
         <ion-content class="ion-padding">
           <p>Test that popovers are <strong>positioned away from</strong> unsafe areas (shown in red).</p>
-          <p>The popover should be moved up/down to avoid overlapping the safe-area zones.</p>
+          <p>The popover should be moved up/down/left/right to avoid overlapping the safe-area zones.</p>
+          <p>
+            <strong>Landscape simulation:</strong> Left and right safe areas are set to 44px to test devices with side
+            notches.
+          </p>
 
           <ion-list>
             <ion-item>