diff --git a/src/tunnel_client.rs b/src/tunnel_client.rs
index f539aa24..be671b4e 100644
--- a/src/tunnel_client.rs
+++ b/src/tunnel_client.rs
@@ -1431,6 +1431,7 @@ async fn tunnel_loop(
     let inflight_cap = INFLIGHT_ACTIVE;
     let mut max_inflight = INFLIGHT_OPTIMIST.min(inflight_cap);
     let mut consecutive_empty = 0u32;
+    let mut idle_tier = 0u32;
     let mut consecutive_data: u32 = 0;
     let mut is_elevated = false;
     let mut total_download_bytes: u64 = 0;
@@ -1615,14 +1616,19 @@ async fn tunnel_loop(
         if inflight.is_empty() && !eof_seen {
             let all_legacy = mux.all_servers_legacy();
 
-            // If all servers are legacy and we've had many consecutive
-            // empties, wait for client data before sending.
-            if all_legacy && consecutive_empty > 3 && !client_closed {
+            // If every deployment is legacy and the session has gone
+            // idle, stop polling and just wait for client data. Apps
+            // maintain their own heartbeats (MQTT PINGREQ, FCM keepalive,
+            // etc.) which trigger client writes that send data ops — those
+            // act as natural polls. Mixed fleets must keep polling so
+            // round-robin can still land on a long-poll-capable peer.
+            if all_legacy && (idle_tier > 1 || consecutive_empty > 3) && !client_closed {
                 read_buf.reserve(65536);
                 match reader.read_buf(&mut read_buf).await {
                     Ok(0) => break,
                     Ok(n) => {
                         consecutive_empty = 0;
+                        idle_tier = 0;
                         let data = extract_bytes(&mut read_buf, n);
                         let (meta, reply_rx) = send_data_op(sid, data, &mut next_send_seq, &mut next_data_write_seq, mux);
                         inflight.push(wrap_reply(meta, reply_rx));
@@ -1632,17 +1638,14 @@ async fn tunnel_loop(
                 }
             }
 
-            // Escalating backoff: avoid flooding empty polls on idle
-            // sessions. Mirrors the pre-pipelining cadence.
-            let keepalive_delay = match consecutive_empty {
+            // Early backoff: first few empties still poll with delay.
+            let keepalive_delay = match idle_tier {
                 0 => Duration::from_millis(20),
                 1 => Duration::from_millis(80),
-                2 => Duration::from_millis(200),
-                3 => Duration::from_millis(500),
-                _ => Duration::from_secs(2),
+                2 => Duration::from_secs(4),
+                _ => Duration::from_secs(10),
             };
-            if consecutive_empty > 0 {
-                // Wait for either the backoff timer or client data.
+            if idle_tier > 0 {
                 if !client_closed {
                     read_buf.reserve(65536);
                     tokio::select! {
@@ -1652,6 +1655,7 @@ async fn tunnel_loop(
                                 Ok(0) => break,
                                 Ok(n) => {
                                     consecutive_empty = 0;
+                                    idle_tier = 0;
                                     let data = extract_bytes(&mut read_buf, n);
                                     let (meta, reply_rx) = send_data_op(sid, data, &mut next_send_seq, &mut next_data_write_seq, mux);
                                     inflight.push(wrap_reply(meta, reply_rx));
@@ -1744,9 +1748,15 @@ async fn tunnel_loop(
                             };
                             next_write_seq += 1;
                             if got_data {
-                                consecutive_empty = 0;
-                                consecutive_data = consecutive_data.saturating_add(1);
                                 let bytes = resp.d.as_ref().map(|d| d.len() as u64 * 3 / 4).unwrap_or(0);
+                                if bytes >= 1024 {
+                                    consecutive_empty = 0;
+                                    idle_tier = idle_tier / 2;
+                                } else {
+                                    // Small response (heartbeat ACK) — don't reset idle state.
+                                    idle_tier = idle_tier.saturating_sub(1);
+                                }
+                                consecutive_data = consecutive_data.saturating_add(1);
                                 total_download_bytes += bytes;
                             } else if meta.was_empty_poll && consecutive_data > 0 {
                                 // Stale empty-poll reply during an active data
@@ -1755,6 +1765,7 @@ async fn tunnel_loop(
                                 // empty result is expected.
                             } else {
                                 consecutive_empty = consecutive_empty.saturating_add(1);
+                                idle_tier = idle_tier.saturating_add(1);
                                 consecutive_data = 0;
                             }
                             if is_eof {
@@ -1768,7 +1779,13 @@ async fn tunnel_loop(
                                 let buf_eof = buffered_resp.eof.unwrap_or(false);
                                 match write_tunnel_response(&mut writer, &buffered_resp).await? {
                                     WriteOutcome::Wrote => {
-                                        consecutive_empty = 0;
+                                        let buf_bytes = buffered_resp.d.as_ref().map(|d| d.len() as u64 * 3 / 4).unwrap_or(0);
+                                        if buf_bytes >= 1024 {
+                                            consecutive_empty = 0;
+                                            idle_tier = idle_tier / 2;
+                                        } else {
+                                            idle_tier = idle_tier.saturating_sub(1);
+                                        }
                                         consecutive_data = consecutive_data.saturating_add(1);
                                         let bytes = buffered_resp.d.as_ref().map(|d| d.len() as u64 * 3 / 4).unwrap_or(0);
                                         total_download_bytes += bytes;
@@ -1778,6 +1795,7 @@ async fn tunnel_loop(
                                             // Stale empty poll — don't break data streak.
                                         } else {
                                             consecutive_empty = consecutive_empty.saturating_add(1);
+                                            idle_tier = idle_tier.saturating_add(1);
                                             consecutive_data = 0;
                                         }
                                     }
@@ -1881,6 +1899,7 @@ async fn tunnel_loop(
                             meta.seq,
                         );
                         consecutive_empty = consecutive_empty.saturating_add(1);
+                        idle_tier = idle_tier.saturating_add(1);
                     }
                     ReplyOutcome::Dropped => {
                         break;