diff --git a/.github/workflows/android-basic.yml b/.github/workflows/android-basic.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e283655989
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/android-basic.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+name: Build Android (basic-example)
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    paths:
+      - .github/workflows/android-basic.yml
+      - .github/workflows/android-build.yml
+      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/package.json
+      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/android/**
+      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/shared/**
+      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/src/specs/**
+      - apps/basic-example/**
+      - '!apps/basic-example/ios/**'
+      - '!apps/basic-example/Gemfile*'
+      - rnrepo.config.json
+      - yarn.lock
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+concurrency:
+  group: android-basic-${{ github.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
+jobs:
+  basic-example:
+    if: github.repository == 'software-mansion/react-native-gesture-handler'
+
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/android-build.yml
+    with:
+      app: basic-example
+      artifact-name: android-apk-basic-example
+      abi: x86_64
diff --git a/.github/workflows/android-build.yml b/.github/workflows/android-build.yml
index 590dd55ad9..78b3d91c5a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/android-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/android-build.yml
@@ -1,30 +1,26 @@
-name: Test Android build
+name: Build Android app
 
+# Reusable: builds one example app in Release and uploads the APK.
 on:
-  pull_request:
-    paths:
-      - .github/workflows/android-build.yml
-      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/android/**
-      - apps/basic-example/android/**
-      - apps/basic-example/package.json
-      - rnrepo.config.json
-      - yarn.lock
-  push:
-    branches:
-      - main
-  workflow_dispatch:
+  workflow_call:
+    inputs:
+      app:
+        description: Directory under apps/ holding the example app to build.
+        required: true
+        type: string
+      artifact-name:
+        description: Name to upload the built APK under.
+        required: true
+        type: string
+      abi:
+        description: ABI to build. Must match the emulator the e2e job installs the APK on.
+        required: true
+        type: string
 
 jobs:
   build:
-    if: github.repository == 'software-mansion/react-native-gesture-handler'
-
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    strategy:
-      matrix:
-        working-directory: [apps/basic-example, apps/expo-example]
-    concurrency:
-      group: android-${{ matrix.working-directory }}-${{ github.ref }}
-      cancel-in-progress: true
+    timeout-minutes: 60
 
     steps:
       - name: checkout
@@ -43,9 +39,18 @@ jobs:
           cache: yarn
 
       - name: Install node dependencies
-        working-directory: ${{ matrix.working-directory }}
+        working-directory: apps/${{ inputs.app }}
         run: yarn install --immutable
 
-      - name: Build app
-        working-directory: ${{ matrix.working-directory }}/android
-        run: ./gradlew :app:assembleDebug --console=plain -PreactNativeArchitectures=arm64-v8a
+      - name: Build app in Release mode
+        working-directory: apps/${{ inputs.app }}/android
+        run: ./gradlew :app:assembleRelease --console=plain -PreactNativeArchitectures=${{ inputs.abi }}
+
+      - name: Upload APK artifact
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: ${{ inputs.artifact-name }}
+          path: apps/${{ inputs.app }}/android/app/build/outputs/apk/release/*.apk
+          if-no-files-found: error
+          compression-level: 0
+          retention-days: 3
diff --git a/.github/workflows/android.yml b/.github/workflows/android.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6ad16bb9b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/android.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+name: Build Android (expo-example)
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    paths:
+      - .github/workflows/android.yml
+      - .github/workflows/android-build.yml
+      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/package.json
+      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/android/**
+      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/shared/**
+      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/src/**
+      - apps/expo-example/**
+      - apps/common-app/**
+      - rnrepo.config.json
+      - yarn.lock
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+concurrency:
+  group: android-${{ github.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
+jobs:
+  expo-example:
+    if: github.repository == 'software-mansion/react-native-gesture-handler'
+
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/android-build.yml
+    with:
+      app: expo-example
+      artifact-name: android-apk-expo-example
+      abi: x86_64
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ios-basic.yml b/.github/workflows/ios-basic.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c05c6e6f43
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/ios-basic.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+name: Build iOS (basic-example)
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    paths:
+      - .github/workflows/ios-basic.yml
+      - .github/workflows/ios-build.yml
+      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/package.json
+      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/RNGestureHandler.podspec
+      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/apple/**
+      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/shared/**
+      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/src/specs/**
+      - apps/basic-example/**
+      - '!apps/basic-example/android/**'
+      - rnrepo.config.json
+      - yarn.lock
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+concurrency:
+  group: ios-basic-${{ github.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
+jobs:
+  basic-example:
+    if: github.repository == 'software-mansion/react-native-gesture-handler'
+
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/ios-build.yml
+    with:
+      app: basic-example
+      scheme: BasicExample
+      artifact-name: ios-app-basic-example
+      xcode-version: '26.4.1'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ios-build.yml b/.github/workflows/ios-build.yml
index 30076035ac..ad22f873fb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ios-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ios-build.yml
@@ -1,40 +1,49 @@
-name: Test iOS build
+name: Build iOS app
 
+# Reusable: builds one example app for the simulator in Release and uploads the
+# .app bundle.
 on:
-  pull_request:
-    paths:
-      - .github/workflows/ios-build.yml
-      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/RNGestureHandler.podspec
-      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/apple/**
-      - apps/basic-example/ios/**
-      - apps/basic-example/package.json
-      - rnrepo.config.json
-      - yarn.lock
-  push:
-    branches:
-      - main
-  workflow_dispatch:
+  workflow_call:
+    inputs:
+      app:
+        description: Directory under apps/ holding the example app to build.
+        required: true
+        type: string
+      scheme:
+        description: Xcode scheme of the app (also the workspace name).
+        required: true
+        type: string
+      artifact-name:
+        description: Name to upload the packaged .app bundle under.
+        required: true
+        type: string
+      xcode-version:
+        description: Xcode version to build with.
+        required: true
+        type: string
 
 jobs:
   build:
-    if: github.repository == 'software-mansion/react-native-gesture-handler'
-
     runs-on: macos-26
-    strategy:
-      matrix:
-        working-directory: [apps/basic-example, apps/expo-example]
-    concurrency:
-      group: ios-${{ matrix.working-directory }}-${{ github.ref }}
-      cancel-in-progress: true
+    timeout-minutes: 60
 
     steps:
       - name: checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: Use latest stable Xcode
-        uses: maxim-lobanov/setup-xcode@v1
-        with:
-          xcode-version: '26.4.1'
+      - name: Select Xcode
+        env:
+          XCODE_VERSION: ${{ inputs.xcode-version }}
+        run: |
+          XCODE_APP="/Applications/Xcode_${XCODE_VERSION}.app"
+          if [ ! -d "$XCODE_APP" ]; then
+            echo "Xcode ${XCODE_VERSION} is not installed on this runner. Available:" >&2
+            ls -d /Applications/Xcode*.app >&2
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          echo "Using $XCODE_APP"
+          echo "DEVELOPER_DIR=$XCODE_APP/Contents/Developer" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+          DEVELOPER_DIR="$XCODE_APP/Contents/Developer" xcodebuild -version
 
       - name: Use Node.js 24
         uses: actions/setup-node@v6
@@ -43,14 +52,48 @@ jobs:
           cache: yarn
 
       - name: Install node dependencies
-        working-directory: ${{ matrix.working-directory }}
+        working-directory: apps/${{ inputs.app }}
         run: yarn install --immutable
 
+      # expo-example runs `expo prebuild` on postinstall, which installs its pods.
       - name: Install pods
-        if: ${{ matrix.working-directory == 'apps/basic-example' }}
-        working-directory: ${{ matrix.working-directory }}/ios
+        if: ${{ inputs.app == 'basic-example' }}
+        working-directory: apps/${{ inputs.app }}/ios
         run: bundle install && NO_FLIPPER=1 bundle exec pod install
 
-      - name: Build app
-        working-directory: ${{ matrix.working-directory }}
-        run: npx react-native run-ios
+      - name: Build app in Release mode
+        working-directory: apps/${{ inputs.app }}/ios
+        run: |
+          xcodebuild \
+            -workspace ${{ inputs.scheme }}.xcworkspace \
+            -scheme ${{ inputs.scheme }} \
+            -configuration Release \
+            -sdk iphonesimulator \
+            -destination 'generic/platform=iOS Simulator' \
+            -derivedDataPath build \
+            CODE_SIGNING_ALLOWED=NO \
+            build
+
+      # Artifact zips drop POSIX permissions and symlinks, which would leave the
+      # .app with a non-executable binary — tar the bundle to keep it installable.
+      - name: Package app bundle
+        working-directory: apps/${{ inputs.app }}/ios
+        run: |
+          APP_PATH=$(find build/Build/Products/Release-iphonesimulator -maxdepth 1 -name '*.app' -type d | head -1)
+          if [ -z "$APP_PATH" ]; then
+            echo "Could not find built .app" >&2
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          echo "Packaging $APP_PATH"
+          mkdir -p "$RUNNER_TEMP/artifact"
+          tar -czf "$RUNNER_TEMP/artifact/app.tar.gz" \
+            -C "$(dirname "$APP_PATH")" "$(basename "$APP_PATH")"
+
+      - name: Upload app artifact
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: ${{ inputs.artifact-name }}
+          path: ${{ runner.temp }}/artifact/app.tar.gz
+          if-no-files-found: error
+          compression-level: 0
+          retention-days: 3
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ios.yml b/.github/workflows/ios.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a40c21d9ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/ios.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+name: Build iOS (expo-example)
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    paths:
+      - .github/workflows/ios.yml
+      - .github/workflows/ios-build.yml
+      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/package.json
+      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/RNGestureHandler.podspec
+      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/apple/**
+      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/shared/**
+      - packages/react-native-gesture-handler/src/**
+      - apps/expo-example/**
+      - apps/common-app/**
+      - rnrepo.config.json
+      - yarn.lock
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+concurrency:
+  group: ios-${{ github.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
+jobs:
+  expo-example:
+    if: github.repository == 'software-mansion/react-native-gesture-handler'
+
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/ios-build.yml
+    with:
+      app: expo-example
+      scheme: ExpoExample
+      artifact-name: ios-app-expo-example
+      xcode-version: '26.4.1'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/static-example-apps-checks.yml b/.github/workflows/static-example-apps-checks.yml
index a454c914cc..92e4d572a4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/static-example-apps-checks.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/static-example-apps-checks.yml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ name: Test TypeScript and Lint
 on:
   pull_request:
     paths:
-      - apps/basic-example/**'
+      - apps/basic-example/**
       - apps/common-app/**
   push:
     branches: