diff --git a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-cross-usage/src/index.tsx b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-cross-usage/src/index.tsx
index fe7c390d792a..6dd70edf6622 100644
--- a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-cross-usage/src/index.tsx
+++ b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-cross-usage/src/index.tsx
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import Index from './pages/Index';
 const replay = Sentry.replayIntegration();
 
 Sentry.init({
-  traceLifecycle: 'static',
   environment: 'qa', // dynamic sampling bias to keep transactions
   dsn: process.env.REACT_APP_E2E_TEST_DSN,
   integrations: [
diff --git a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-cross-usage/tests/spans.test.ts b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-cross-usage/tests/spans.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..139ee1bb2c08
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-cross-usage/tests/spans.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
+import { getSpanOp, waitForStreamedSpan } from '@sentry-internal/test-utils';
+
+test('sends a pageload span with a parameterized URL', async ({ page }) => {
+  const spanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-7-cross-usage', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'pageload' && span.is_segment;
+  });
+
+  await page.goto(`/projects/123/views/234/567`);
+
+  const span = await spanPromise;
+
+  expect((await page.innerHTML('#root')).includes('Details')).toBe(true);
+  expect(span.name).toBe('/projects/:projectId/views/:viewId/:detailId');
+  expect(span.attributes).toMatchObject({
+    'sentry.op': { value: 'pageload', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.origin': { value: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.segment.name.source': { value: 'route', type: 'string' },
+    'url.template': { value: '/projects/:projectId/views/:viewId/:detailId', type: 'string' },
+    'url.path': { value: '/projects/123/views/234/567', type: 'string' },
+    'url.full': {
+      value: expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/projects\/123\/views\/234\/567$/),
+      type: 'string',
+    },
+  });
+});
+
+test('sends a pageload span with a parameterized URL - alternative route', async ({ page }) => {
+  const spanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-7-cross-usage', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'pageload' && span.is_segment;
+  });
+
+  await page.goto(`/projects/234/old-views/234/567`);
+
+  const span = await spanPromise;
+
+  expect((await page.innerHTML('#root')).includes('Details')).toBe(true);
+  expect(span.name).toBe('/projects/:projectId/old-views/:viewId/:detailId');
+  expect(span.attributes).toMatchObject({
+    'sentry.op': { value: 'pageload', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.origin': { value: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.segment.name.source': { value: 'route', type: 'string' },
+    'url.template': { value: '/projects/:projectId/old-views/:viewId/:detailId', type: 'string' },
+    'url.path': { value: '/projects/234/old-views/234/567', type: 'string' },
+    'url.full': {
+      value: expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/projects\/234\/old-views\/234\/567$/),
+      type: 'string',
+    },
+  });
+});
+
+test('sends a navigation span with a parameterized URL', async ({ page }) => {
+  const pageloadSpanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-7-cross-usage', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'pageload' && span.is_segment;
+  });
+
+  const navigationSpanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-7-cross-usage', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'navigation' && span.is_segment;
+  });
+
+  await page.goto(`/`);
+  const pageloadSpan = await pageloadSpanPromise;
+
+  expect(pageloadSpan.name).toBe('/');
+  expect(pageloadSpan.attributes).toMatchObject({
+    'sentry.op': { value: 'pageload', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.origin': { value: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.segment.name.source': { value: 'route', type: 'string' },
+    'url.template': { value: '/', type: 'string' },
+    'url.path': { value: '/', type: 'string' },
+    'url.full': { value: expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/$/), type: 'string' },
+  });
+
+  const linkElement = page.locator('id=navigation');
+
+  const [_, navigationSpan] = await Promise.all([linkElement.click(), navigationSpanPromise]);
+
+  expect((await page.innerHTML('#root')).includes('Details')).toBe(true);
+  expect(navigationSpan.name).toBe('/projects/:projectId/views/:viewId/:detailId');
+  expect(navigationSpan.attributes).toMatchObject({
+    'sentry.op': { value: 'navigation', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.origin': { value: 'auto.navigation.react.reactrouter', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.segment.name.source': { value: 'route', type: 'string' },
+    'url.template': { value: '/projects/:projectId/views/:viewId/:detailId', type: 'string' },
+    'url.path': { value: '/projects/123/views/456/789', type: 'string' },
+    'url.full': {
+      value: expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/projects\/123\/views\/456\/789$/),
+      type: 'string',
+    },
+  });
+});
+
+test('sends a navigation span with a parameterized URL - alternative route', async ({ page }) => {
+  const pageloadSpanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-7-cross-usage', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'pageload' && span.is_segment;
+  });
+
+  const navigationSpanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-7-cross-usage', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'navigation' && span.is_segment;
+  });
+
+  await page.goto(`/`);
+  const pageloadSpan = await pageloadSpanPromise;
+
+  expect(pageloadSpan.name).toBe('/');
+  expect(pageloadSpan.attributes).toMatchObject({
+    'sentry.op': { value: 'pageload', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.origin': { value: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.segment.name.source': { value: 'route', type: 'string' },
+    'url.template': { value: '/', type: 'string' },
+    'url.path': { value: '/', type: 'string' },
+    'url.full': { value: expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/$/), type: 'string' },
+  });
+
+  const linkElement = page.locator('id=old-navigation');
+
+  const [_, navigationSpan] = await Promise.all([linkElement.click(), navigationSpanPromise]);
+
+  expect((await page.innerHTML('#root')).includes('Details')).toBe(true);
+  expect(navigationSpan.name).toBe('/projects/:projectId/old-views/:viewId/:detailId');
+  expect(navigationSpan.attributes).toMatchObject({
+    'sentry.op': { value: 'navigation', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.origin': { value: 'auto.navigation.react.reactrouter', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.segment.name.source': { value: 'route', type: 'string' },
+    'url.template': { value: '/projects/:projectId/old-views/:viewId/:detailId', type: 'string' },
+    'url.path': { value: '/projects/123/old-views/345/654', type: 'string' },
+    'url.full': {
+      value: expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/projects\/123\/old-views\/345\/654$/),
+      type: 'string',
+    },
+  });
+});
diff --git a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-cross-usage/tests/transactions.test.ts b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-cross-usage/tests/transactions.test.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index b9365417ce69..000000000000
--- a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-cross-usage/tests/transactions.test.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,174 +0,0 @@
-import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
-import { waitForTransaction } from '@sentry-internal/test-utils';
-
-test('sends a pageload transaction with a parameterized URL', async ({ page }) => {
-  const transactionPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-7-cross-usage', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'pageload';
-  });
-
-  await page.goto(`/projects/123/views/234/567`);
-
-  const rootSpan = await transactionPromise;
-
-  expect((await page.innerHTML('#root')).includes('Details')).toBe(true);
-  expect(rootSpan).toMatchObject({
-    contexts: {
-      trace: {
-        op: 'pageload',
-        origin: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter',
-        data: {
-          'sentry.segment.name.source': 'route',
-          'url.template': '/projects/:projectId/views/:viewId/:detailId',
-          'url.path': '/projects/123/views/234/567',
-          'url.full': expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/projects\/123\/views\/234\/567$/),
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    transaction: '/projects/:projectId/views/:viewId/:detailId',
-    transaction_info: {
-      source: 'route',
-    },
-  });
-});
-
-test('sends a pageload transaction with a parameterized URL - alternative route', async ({ page }) => {
-  const transactionPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-7-cross-usage', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'pageload';
-  });
-
-  await page.goto(`/projects/234/old-views/234/567`);
-
-  const rootSpan = await transactionPromise;
-
-  expect((await page.innerHTML('#root')).includes('Details')).toBe(true);
-  expect(rootSpan).toMatchObject({
-    contexts: {
-      trace: {
-        op: 'pageload',
-        origin: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter',
-        data: {
-          'sentry.segment.name.source': 'route',
-          'url.template': '/projects/:projectId/old-views/:viewId/:detailId',
-          'url.path': '/projects/234/old-views/234/567',
-          'url.full': expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/projects\/234\/old-views\/234\/567$/),
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    transaction: '/projects/:projectId/old-views/:viewId/:detailId',
-    transaction_info: {
-      source: 'route',
-    },
-  });
-});
-
-test('sends a navigation transaction with a parameterized URL', async ({ page }) => {
-  const pageloadTxnPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-7-cross-usage', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'pageload';
-  });
-
-  const navigationTxnPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-7-cross-usage', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'navigation';
-  });
-
-  await page.goto(`/`);
-  const pageloadTxn = await pageloadTxnPromise;
-
-  expect(pageloadTxn).toMatchObject({
-    contexts: {
-      trace: {
-        op: 'pageload',
-        origin: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter',
-        data: {
-          'sentry.segment.name.source': 'route',
-          'url.template': '/',
-          'url.path': '/',
-          'url.full': expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/$/),
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    transaction: '/',
-    transaction_info: {
-      source: 'route',
-    },
-  });
-
-  const linkElement = page.locator('id=navigation');
-
-  const [_, navigationTxn] = await Promise.all([linkElement.click(), navigationTxnPromise]);
-
-  expect((await page.innerHTML('#root')).includes('Details')).toBe(true);
-  expect(navigationTxn).toMatchObject({
-    contexts: {
-      trace: {
-        op: 'navigation',
-        origin: 'auto.navigation.react.reactrouter',
-        data: {
-          'sentry.segment.name.source': 'route',
-          'url.template': '/projects/:projectId/views/:viewId/:detailId',
-          'url.path': '/projects/123/views/456/789',
-          'url.full': expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/projects\/123\/views\/456\/789$/),
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    transaction: '/projects/:projectId/views/:viewId/:detailId',
-    transaction_info: {
-      source: 'route',
-    },
-  });
-});
-
-test('sends a navigation transaction with a parameterized URL - alternative route', async ({ page }) => {
-  const pageloadTxnPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-7-cross-usage', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'pageload';
-  });
-
-  const navigationTxnPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-7-cross-usage', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'navigation';
-  });
-
-  await page.goto(`/`);
-  const pageloadTxn = await pageloadTxnPromise;
-
-  expect(pageloadTxn).toMatchObject({
-    contexts: {
-      trace: {
-        op: 'pageload',
-        origin: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter',
-        data: {
-          'sentry.segment.name.source': 'route',
-          'url.template': '/',
-          'url.path': '/',
-          'url.full': expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/$/),
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    transaction: '/',
-    transaction_info: {
-      source: 'route',
-    },
-  });
-
-  const linkElement = page.locator('id=old-navigation');
-
-  const [_, navigationTxn] = await Promise.all([linkElement.click(), navigationTxnPromise]);
-
-  expect((await page.innerHTML('#root')).includes('Details')).toBe(true);
-  expect(navigationTxn).toMatchObject({
-    contexts: {
-      trace: {
-        op: 'navigation',
-        origin: 'auto.navigation.react.reactrouter',
-        data: {
-          'sentry.segment.name.source': 'route',
-          'url.template': '/projects/:projectId/old-views/:viewId/:detailId',
-          'url.path': '/projects/123/old-views/345/654',
-          'url.full': expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/projects\/123\/old-views\/345\/654$/),
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    transaction: '/projects/:projectId/old-views/:viewId/:detailId',
-    transaction_info: {
-      source: 'route',
-    },
-  });
-});
diff --git a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-spa/src/main.tsx b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-spa/src/main.tsx
index eb0b44122b62..87131036ce76 100644
--- a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-spa/src/main.tsx
+++ b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-spa/src/main.tsx
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import User from './pages/User';
 const replay = Sentry.replayIntegration();
 
 Sentry.init({
-  traceLifecycle: 'static',
   environment: 'qa', // dynamic sampling bias to keep transactions
   dsn: import.meta.env.PUBLIC_E2E_TEST_DSN,
   integrations: [
diff --git a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-spa/tests/errors.test.ts b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-spa/tests/errors.test.ts
index e31d3c4066d4..7736abdbad64 100644
--- a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-spa/tests/errors.test.ts
+++ b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-spa/tests/errors.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
-import { waitForError, waitForTransaction } from '@sentry-internal/test-utils';
+import { getSpanOp, waitForError, waitForStreamedSpan } from '@sentry-internal/test-utils';
 
 test('Sends correct error event', async ({ page, baseURL }) => {
   const errorEventPromise = waitForError('react-router-7-spa', event => {
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ test('Sends correct error event', async ({ page, baseURL }) => {
 });
 
 test('Sets correct transactionName', async ({ page }) => {
-  const transactionPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-7-spa', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'pageload';
+  const pageloadSpanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-7-spa', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'pageload' && span.is_segment;
   });
 
   const errorEventPromise = waitForError('react-router-7-spa', event => {
@@ -39,9 +39,9 @@ test('Sets correct transactionName', async ({ page }) => {
   });
 
   await page.goto('/');
-  const transactionEvent = await transactionPromise;
+  const pageloadSpan = await pageloadSpanPromise;
 
-  // Only capture error once transaction was sent
+  // Only capture error once the pageload span was sent
   const exceptionButton = page.locator('id=exception-button');
   await exceptionButton.click();
 
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ test('Sets correct transactionName', async ({ page }) => {
   expect(errorEvent.transaction).toEqual('/');
 
   expect(errorEvent.contexts?.trace).toEqual({
-    trace_id: transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.trace_id,
-    span_id: expect.not.stringContaining(transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.span_id || ''),
+    trace_id: pageloadSpan.trace_id,
+    span_id: expect.not.stringContaining(pageloadSpan.span_id),
   });
 });
diff --git a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-spa/tests/navigation-trace-propagation.test.ts b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-spa/tests/navigation-trace-propagation.test.ts
index e9867237903a..da621a5729e9 100644
--- a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-spa/tests/navigation-trace-propagation.test.ts
+++ b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-spa/tests/navigation-trace-propagation.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
-import { waitForTransaction } from '@sentry-internal/test-utils';
+import { getSpanOp, waitForStreamedSpan } from '@sentry-internal/test-utils';
 
 test('propagates the navigation trace (not the stale pageload trace) for a fetch in a route mount effect', async ({
   page,
@@ -15,22 +15,22 @@ test('propagates the navigation trace (not the stale pageload trace) for a fetch
     });
   });
 
-  const pageloadTxnPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-7-spa', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'pageload';
+  const pageloadSpanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-7-spa', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'pageload' && span.is_segment;
   });
 
-  const navigationTxnPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-7-spa', async transactionEvent => {
-    return transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'navigation' && transactionEvent.transaction === '/products';
+  const navigationSpanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-7-spa', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'navigation' && span.is_segment && span.name === '/products';
   });
 
   await page.goto('/');
-  const pageloadTxn = await pageloadTxnPromise;
+  const pageloadSpan = await pageloadSpanPromise;
 
   await page.locator('id=navigation-products').click();
-  const navigationTxn = await navigationTxnPromise;
+  const navigationSpan = await navigationSpanPromise;
 
-  const pageloadTraceId = pageloadTxn.contexts?.trace?.trace_id;
-  const navigationTraceId = navigationTxn.contexts?.trace?.trace_id;
+  const pageloadTraceId = pageloadSpan.trace_id;
+  const navigationTraceId = navigationSpan.trace_id;
   const propagatedTraceId = productsRequestSentryTrace?.split('-')[0];
 
   expect(pageloadTraceId).toBeDefined();
diff --git a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-spa/tests/transactions.test.ts b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-spa/tests/spans.test.ts
similarity index 57%
rename from dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-spa/tests/transactions.test.ts
rename to dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-spa/tests/spans.test.ts
index 81dc4d25d274..ed4a0832515e 100644
--- a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-spa/tests/transactions.test.ts
+++ b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-7-spa/tests/spans.test.ts
@@ -1,69 +1,51 @@
 import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
-import { getSpanOp, waitForStreamedSpan, waitForTransaction } from '@sentry-internal/test-utils';
+import { getSpanOp, waitForStreamedSpan } from '@sentry-internal/test-utils';
 
-test('sends a pageload transaction with a parameterized URL', async ({ page }) => {
-  const transactionPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-7-spa', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'pageload';
+test('sends a pageload span with a parameterized URL', async ({ page }) => {
+  const spanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-7-spa', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'pageload' && span.is_segment;
   });
 
   await page.goto(`/`);
 
-  const rootSpan = await transactionPromise;
-
-  expect(rootSpan).toMatchObject({
-    contexts: {
-      trace: {
-        op: 'pageload',
-        origin: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter',
-        data: {
-          'sentry.segment.name.source': 'route',
-          'url.template': '/',
-          'url.path': '/',
-          'url.full': expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/$/),
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    transaction: '/',
-    transaction_info: {
-      source: 'route',
-    },
+  const span = await spanPromise;
+
+  expect(span.name).toBe('/');
+  expect(span.attributes).toMatchObject({
+    'sentry.op': { value: 'pageload', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.origin': { value: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.segment.name.source': { value: 'route', type: 'string' },
+    'url.template': { value: '/', type: 'string' },
+    'url.path': { value: '/', type: 'string' },
+    'url.full': { value: expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/$/), type: 'string' },
   });
 });
 
-test('sends a navigation transaction with a parameterized URL', async ({ page }) => {
+test('sends a navigation span with a parameterized URL', async ({ page }) => {
   page.on('console', msg => console.log(msg.text()));
-  const pageloadTxnPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-7-spa', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'pageload';
+  const pageloadSpanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-7-spa', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'pageload' && span.is_segment;
   });
 
-  const navigationTxnPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-7-spa', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'navigation';
+  const navigationSpanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-7-spa', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'navigation' && span.is_segment;
   });
 
   await page.goto(`/`);
-  await pageloadTxnPromise;
+  await pageloadSpanPromise;
 
   const linkElement = page.locator('id=navigation');
 
-  const [_, navigationTxn] = await Promise.all([linkElement.click(), navigationTxnPromise]);
-
-  expect(navigationTxn).toMatchObject({
-    contexts: {
-      trace: {
-        op: 'navigation',
-        origin: 'auto.navigation.react.reactrouter',
-        data: {
-          'sentry.segment.name.source': 'route',
-          'url.template': '/user/:id',
-          'url.path': '/user/5',
-          'url.full': expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/user\/5$/),
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    transaction: '/user/:id',
-    transaction_info: {
-      source: 'route',
-    },
+  const [_, navigationSpan] = await Promise.all([linkElement.click(), navigationSpanPromise]);
+
+  expect(navigationSpan.name).toBe('/user/:id');
+  expect(navigationSpan.attributes).toMatchObject({
+    'sentry.op': { value: 'navigation', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.origin': { value: 'auto.navigation.react.reactrouter', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.segment.name.source': { value: 'route', type: 'string' },
+    'url.template': { value: '/user/:id', type: 'string' },
+    'url.path': { value: '/user/5', type: 'string' },
+    'url.full': { value: expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/user\/5$/), type: 'string' },
   });
 });
 
diff --git a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cloudflare/app/entry.client.tsx b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cloudflare/app/entry.client.tsx
index 8fc9f5510160..0d928d68760a 100644
--- a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cloudflare/app/entry.client.tsx
+++ b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cloudflare/app/entry.client.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import { hydrateRoot } from 'react-dom/client';
 import { HydratedRouter } from 'react-router/dom';
 
 Sentry.init({
-  traceLifecycle: 'static',
   environment: 'qa', // dynamic sampling bias to keep transactions
   dsn: 'https://username@domain/123',
   tunnel: `http://localhost:3031/`, // proxy server
diff --git a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cloudflare/tests/db.test.ts b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cloudflare/tests/db.test.ts
index 345ae42d0629..ebef990b9bfc 100644
--- a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cloudflare/tests/db.test.ts
+++ b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cloudflare/tests/db.test.ts
@@ -1,43 +1,50 @@
 import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
-import { waitForTransaction } from '@sentry-internal/test-utils';
+import { collectStreamedSpans, getSpanOp } from '@sentry-internal/test-utils';
 
+// Under span streaming the mysql span name is the query summary, so both queries here are named
+// `SELECT`. `db.query.text` is what tells them apart.
 test('a real mysql query emits a db span with orchestrion-channel attributes', async ({ request }) => {
-  const transactionPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-8-cloudflare', transactionEvent => {
-    return (
-      transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'http.server' &&
-      (transactionEvent.spans?.some(span => span.op === 'db') ?? false)
-    );
-  });
+  const spansPromise = collectStreamedSpans(
+    'react-router-8-cloudflare',
+    spansOfTrace =>
+      spansOfTrace.some(span => getSpanOp(span) === 'http.server' && span.is_segment) &&
+      spansOfTrace.some(span => getSpanOp(span) === 'db'),
+  );
 
   const res = await request.get('/performance/db-mysql');
   expect(res.status()).toBe(200);
 
-  const transactionEvent = await transactionPromise;
-  const dbSpans = transactionEvent.spans!.filter(span => span.op === 'db');
+  const spans = await spansPromise;
+  const dbSpans = spans.filter(span => getSpanOp(span) === 'db');
 
-  const firstQuery = dbSpans.find(span => span.description === 'SELECT 1 + 1 AS solution');
+  const firstQuery = dbSpans.find(span => span.attributes['db.query.text']?.value === 'SELECT 1 + 1 AS solution');
   expect(firstQuery).toBeDefined();
-  expect(firstQuery!.data?.['sentry.origin']).toBe('auto.db.mysql');
-  expect(firstQuery!.data?.['db.system.name']).toBe('mysql');
-  expect(firstQuery!.data?.['db.query.text']).toBe('SELECT 1 + 1 AS solution');
-  expect(firstQuery!.data?.['server.address']).toBe('127.0.0.1');
-  expect(firstQuery!.data?.['server.port']).toBe(3306);
-  expect(firstQuery!.data?.['db.user']).toBe('root');
+  expect(firstQuery!.name).toBe('SELECT');
+  expect(firstQuery!.attributes['sentry.origin']?.value).toBe('auto.db.mysql');
+  expect(firstQuery!.attributes['db.system.name']?.value).toBe('mysql');
+  expect(firstQuery!.attributes['server.address']?.value).toBe('127.0.0.1');
+  expect(firstQuery!.attributes['server.port']?.value).toBe(3306);
+  expect(firstQuery!.attributes['db.user']?.value).toBe('root');
 });
 
-test('a nested query lands on the same transaction (async context restored)', async ({ request }) => {
-  const transactionPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-8-cloudflare', transactionEvent => {
-    return (
-      transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'http.server' &&
-      (transactionEvent.spans?.filter(span => span.op === 'db').length ?? 0) >= 2
-    );
-  });
+test('a nested query lands on the same segment (async context restored)', async ({ request }) => {
+  const spansPromise = collectStreamedSpans(
+    'react-router-8-cloudflare',
+    spansOfTrace =>
+      spansOfTrace.some(span => getSpanOp(span) === 'http.server' && span.is_segment) &&
+      spansOfTrace.filter(span => getSpanOp(span) === 'db').length >= 2,
+  );
 
   const res = await request.get('/performance/db-mysql');
   expect(res.status()).toBe(200);
 
-  const transactionEvent = await transactionPromise;
-  const descriptions = transactionEvent.spans!.filter(span => span.op === 'db').map(span => span.description);
-  expect(descriptions).toContain('SELECT 1 + 1 AS solution');
-  expect(descriptions).toContain('SELECT NOW()');
+  const spans = await spansPromise;
+
+  // These are scoped to the http.server segment's trace, so both queries landing here is what proves
+  // the nested one kept the async context.
+  const queryTexts = spans
+    .filter(span => getSpanOp(span) === 'db')
+    .map(span => span.attributes['db.query.text']?.value);
+  expect(queryTexts).toContain('SELECT 1 + 1 AS solution');
+  expect(queryTexts).toContain('SELECT NOW()');
 });
diff --git a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cloudflare/workers/app.ts b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cloudflare/workers/app.ts
index d80e3741947c..d9a6c5451d72 100644
--- a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cloudflare/workers/app.ts
+++ b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cloudflare/workers/app.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ interface Env {
 // `diagnostics_channel` publishers would fire with nobody subscribed.
 export default Sentry.withSentry(
   (env: Env) => ({
-    traceLifecycle: 'static',
     dsn: env.E2E_TEST_DSN,
     tunnel: 'http://localhost:3031/',
     tracesSampleRate: 1.0,
diff --git a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cross-usage/src/index.tsx b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cross-usage/src/index.tsx
index dd76f1229e98..8bc0a6023c55 100644
--- a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cross-usage/src/index.tsx
+++ b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cross-usage/src/index.tsx
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import Index from './pages/Index';
 const replay = Sentry.replayIntegration();
 
 Sentry.init({
-  traceLifecycle: 'static',
   environment: 'qa', // dynamic sampling bias to keep transactions
   dsn: process.env.REACT_APP_E2E_TEST_DSN,
   integrations: [
diff --git a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cross-usage/tests/spans.test.ts b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cross-usage/tests/spans.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..04a164b1736f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cross-usage/tests/spans.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
+import { getSpanOp, waitForStreamedSpan } from '@sentry-internal/test-utils';
+
+test('sends a pageload span with a parameterized URL', async ({ page }) => {
+  const spanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-8-cross-usage', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'pageload' && span.is_segment;
+  });
+
+  await page.goto(`/projects/123/views/234/567`);
+
+  const span = await spanPromise;
+
+  expect((await page.innerHTML('#root')).includes('Details')).toBe(true);
+  expect(span.name).toBe('/projects/:projectId/views/:viewId/:detailId');
+  expect(span.attributes).toMatchObject({
+    'sentry.op': { value: 'pageload', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.origin': { value: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.segment.name.source': { value: 'route', type: 'string' },
+    'url.template': { value: '/projects/:projectId/views/:viewId/:detailId', type: 'string' },
+    'url.path': { value: '/projects/123/views/234/567', type: 'string' },
+    'url.full': {
+      value: expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/projects\/123\/views\/234\/567$/),
+      type: 'string',
+    },
+  });
+});
+
+test('sends a pageload span with a parameterized URL - alternative route', async ({ page }) => {
+  const spanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-8-cross-usage', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'pageload' && span.is_segment;
+  });
+
+  await page.goto(`/projects/234/old-views/234/567`);
+
+  const span = await spanPromise;
+
+  expect((await page.innerHTML('#root')).includes('Details')).toBe(true);
+  expect(span.name).toBe('/projects/:projectId/old-views/:viewId/:detailId');
+  expect(span.attributes).toMatchObject({
+    'sentry.op': { value: 'pageload', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.origin': { value: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.segment.name.source': { value: 'route', type: 'string' },
+    'url.template': { value: '/projects/:projectId/old-views/:viewId/:detailId', type: 'string' },
+    'url.path': { value: '/projects/234/old-views/234/567', type: 'string' },
+    'url.full': {
+      value: expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/projects\/234\/old-views\/234\/567$/),
+      type: 'string',
+    },
+  });
+});
+
+test('sends a navigation span with a parameterized URL', async ({ page }) => {
+  const pageloadSpanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-8-cross-usage', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'pageload' && span.is_segment;
+  });
+
+  const navigationSpanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-8-cross-usage', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'navigation' && span.is_segment;
+  });
+
+  await page.goto(`/`);
+  const pageloadSpan = await pageloadSpanPromise;
+
+  expect(pageloadSpan.name).toBe('/');
+  expect(pageloadSpan.attributes).toMatchObject({
+    'sentry.op': { value: 'pageload', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.origin': { value: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.segment.name.source': { value: 'route', type: 'string' },
+    'url.template': { value: '/', type: 'string' },
+    'url.path': { value: '/', type: 'string' },
+    'url.full': { value: expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/$/), type: 'string' },
+  });
+
+  const linkElement = page.locator('id=navigation');
+
+  const [_, navigationSpan] = await Promise.all([linkElement.click(), navigationSpanPromise]);
+
+  expect((await page.innerHTML('#root')).includes('Details')).toBe(true);
+  expect(navigationSpan.name).toBe('/projects/:projectId/views/:viewId/:detailId');
+  expect(navigationSpan.attributes).toMatchObject({
+    'sentry.op': { value: 'navigation', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.origin': { value: 'auto.navigation.react.reactrouter', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.segment.name.source': { value: 'route', type: 'string' },
+    'url.template': { value: '/projects/:projectId/views/:viewId/:detailId', type: 'string' },
+    'url.path': { value: '/projects/123/views/456/789', type: 'string' },
+    'url.full': {
+      value: expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/projects\/123\/views\/456\/789$/),
+      type: 'string',
+    },
+  });
+});
+
+test('sends a navigation span with a parameterized URL - alternative route', async ({ page }) => {
+  const pageloadSpanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-8-cross-usage', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'pageload' && span.is_segment;
+  });
+
+  const navigationSpanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-8-cross-usage', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'navigation' && span.is_segment;
+  });
+
+  await page.goto(`/`);
+  const pageloadSpan = await pageloadSpanPromise;
+
+  expect(pageloadSpan.name).toBe('/');
+  expect(pageloadSpan.attributes).toMatchObject({
+    'sentry.op': { value: 'pageload', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.origin': { value: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.segment.name.source': { value: 'route', type: 'string' },
+    'url.template': { value: '/', type: 'string' },
+    'url.path': { value: '/', type: 'string' },
+    'url.full': { value: expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/$/), type: 'string' },
+  });
+
+  const linkElement = page.locator('id=old-navigation');
+
+  const [_, navigationSpan] = await Promise.all([linkElement.click(), navigationSpanPromise]);
+
+  expect((await page.innerHTML('#root')).includes('Details')).toBe(true);
+  expect(navigationSpan.name).toBe('/projects/:projectId/old-views/:viewId/:detailId');
+  expect(navigationSpan.attributes).toMatchObject({
+    'sentry.op': { value: 'navigation', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.origin': { value: 'auto.navigation.react.reactrouter', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.segment.name.source': { value: 'route', type: 'string' },
+    'url.template': { value: '/projects/:projectId/old-views/:viewId/:detailId', type: 'string' },
+    'url.path': { value: '/projects/123/old-views/345/654', type: 'string' },
+    'url.full': {
+      value: expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/projects\/123\/old-views\/345\/654$/),
+      type: 'string',
+    },
+  });
+});
diff --git a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cross-usage/tests/transactions.test.ts b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cross-usage/tests/transactions.test.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 1865b8ca16c5..000000000000
--- a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-cross-usage/tests/transactions.test.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,174 +0,0 @@
-import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
-import { waitForTransaction } from '@sentry-internal/test-utils';
-
-test('sends a pageload transaction with a parameterized URL', async ({ page }) => {
-  const transactionPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-8-cross-usage', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'pageload';
-  });
-
-  await page.goto(`/projects/123/views/234/567`);
-
-  const rootSpan = await transactionPromise;
-
-  expect((await page.innerHTML('#root')).includes('Details')).toBe(true);
-  expect(rootSpan).toMatchObject({
-    contexts: {
-      trace: {
-        op: 'pageload',
-        origin: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter',
-        data: {
-          'sentry.segment.name.source': 'route',
-          'url.template': '/projects/:projectId/views/:viewId/:detailId',
-          'url.path': '/projects/123/views/234/567',
-          'url.full': expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/projects\/123\/views\/234\/567$/),
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    transaction: '/projects/:projectId/views/:viewId/:detailId',
-    transaction_info: {
-      source: 'route',
-    },
-  });
-});
-
-test('sends a pageload transaction with a parameterized URL - alternative route', async ({ page }) => {
-  const transactionPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-8-cross-usage', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'pageload';
-  });
-
-  await page.goto(`/projects/234/old-views/234/567`);
-
-  const rootSpan = await transactionPromise;
-
-  expect((await page.innerHTML('#root')).includes('Details')).toBe(true);
-  expect(rootSpan).toMatchObject({
-    contexts: {
-      trace: {
-        op: 'pageload',
-        origin: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter',
-        data: {
-          'sentry.segment.name.source': 'route',
-          'url.template': '/projects/:projectId/old-views/:viewId/:detailId',
-          'url.path': '/projects/234/old-views/234/567',
-          'url.full': expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/projects\/234\/old-views\/234\/567$/),
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    transaction: '/projects/:projectId/old-views/:viewId/:detailId',
-    transaction_info: {
-      source: 'route',
-    },
-  });
-});
-
-test('sends a navigation transaction with a parameterized URL', async ({ page }) => {
-  const pageloadTxnPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-8-cross-usage', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'pageload';
-  });
-
-  const navigationTxnPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-8-cross-usage', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'navigation';
-  });
-
-  await page.goto(`/`);
-  const pageloadTxn = await pageloadTxnPromise;
-
-  expect(pageloadTxn).toMatchObject({
-    contexts: {
-      trace: {
-        op: 'pageload',
-        origin: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter',
-        data: {
-          'sentry.segment.name.source': 'route',
-          'url.template': '/',
-          'url.path': '/',
-          'url.full': expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/$/),
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    transaction: '/',
-    transaction_info: {
-      source: 'route',
-    },
-  });
-
-  const linkElement = page.locator('id=navigation');
-
-  const [_, navigationTxn] = await Promise.all([linkElement.click(), navigationTxnPromise]);
-
-  expect((await page.innerHTML('#root')).includes('Details')).toBe(true);
-  expect(navigationTxn).toMatchObject({
-    contexts: {
-      trace: {
-        op: 'navigation',
-        origin: 'auto.navigation.react.reactrouter',
-        data: {
-          'sentry.segment.name.source': 'route',
-          'url.template': '/projects/:projectId/views/:viewId/:detailId',
-          'url.path': '/projects/123/views/456/789',
-          'url.full': expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/projects\/123\/views\/456\/789$/),
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    transaction: '/projects/:projectId/views/:viewId/:detailId',
-    transaction_info: {
-      source: 'route',
-    },
-  });
-});
-
-test('sends a navigation transaction with a parameterized URL - alternative route', async ({ page }) => {
-  const pageloadTxnPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-8-cross-usage', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'pageload';
-  });
-
-  const navigationTxnPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-8-cross-usage', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'navigation';
-  });
-
-  await page.goto(`/`);
-  const pageloadTxn = await pageloadTxnPromise;
-
-  expect(pageloadTxn).toMatchObject({
-    contexts: {
-      trace: {
-        op: 'pageload',
-        origin: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter',
-        data: {
-          'sentry.segment.name.source': 'route',
-          'url.template': '/',
-          'url.path': '/',
-          'url.full': expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/$/),
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    transaction: '/',
-    transaction_info: {
-      source: 'route',
-    },
-  });
-
-  const linkElement = page.locator('id=old-navigation');
-
-  const [_, navigationTxn] = await Promise.all([linkElement.click(), navigationTxnPromise]);
-
-  expect((await page.innerHTML('#root')).includes('Details')).toBe(true);
-  expect(navigationTxn).toMatchObject({
-    contexts: {
-      trace: {
-        op: 'navigation',
-        origin: 'auto.navigation.react.reactrouter',
-        data: {
-          'sentry.segment.name.source': 'route',
-          'url.template': '/projects/:projectId/old-views/:viewId/:detailId',
-          'url.path': '/projects/123/old-views/345/654',
-          'url.full': expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/projects\/123\/old-views\/345\/654$/),
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    transaction: '/projects/:projectId/old-views/:viewId/:detailId',
-    transaction_info: {
-      source: 'route',
-    },
-  });
-});
diff --git a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-spa/src/main.tsx b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-spa/src/main.tsx
index eb0b44122b62..87131036ce76 100644
--- a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-spa/src/main.tsx
+++ b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-spa/src/main.tsx
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import User from './pages/User';
 const replay = Sentry.replayIntegration();
 
 Sentry.init({
-  traceLifecycle: 'static',
   environment: 'qa', // dynamic sampling bias to keep transactions
   dsn: import.meta.env.PUBLIC_E2E_TEST_DSN,
   integrations: [
diff --git a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-spa/tests/errors.test.ts b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-spa/tests/errors.test.ts
index 97a147f065e0..32b1f1e0a5fb 100644
--- a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-spa/tests/errors.test.ts
+++ b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-spa/tests/errors.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
-import { waitForError, waitForTransaction } from '@sentry-internal/test-utils';
+import { getSpanOp, waitForError, waitForStreamedSpan } from '@sentry-internal/test-utils';
 
 test('Sends correct error event', async ({ page, baseURL }) => {
   const errorEventPromise = waitForError('react-router-8-spa', event => {
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ test('Sends correct error event', async ({ page, baseURL }) => {
 });
 
 test('Sets correct transactionName', async ({ page }) => {
-  const transactionPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-8-spa', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'pageload';
+  const pageloadSpanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-8-spa', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'pageload' && span.is_segment;
   });
 
   const errorEventPromise = waitForError('react-router-8-spa', event => {
@@ -39,9 +39,9 @@ test('Sets correct transactionName', async ({ page }) => {
   });
 
   await page.goto('/');
-  const transactionEvent = await transactionPromise;
+  const pageloadSpan = await pageloadSpanPromise;
 
-  // Only capture error once transaction was sent
+  // Only capture error once the pageload span was sent
   const exceptionButton = page.locator('id=exception-button');
   await exceptionButton.click();
 
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ test('Sets correct transactionName', async ({ page }) => {
   expect(errorEvent.transaction).toEqual('/');
 
   expect(errorEvent.contexts?.trace).toEqual({
-    trace_id: transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.trace_id,
-    span_id: expect.not.stringContaining(transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.span_id || ''),
+    trace_id: pageloadSpan.trace_id,
+    span_id: expect.not.stringContaining(pageloadSpan.span_id),
   });
 });
diff --git a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-spa/tests/navigation-trace-propagation.test.ts b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-spa/tests/navigation-trace-propagation.test.ts
index 921c20dee117..a20c67db4438 100644
--- a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-spa/tests/navigation-trace-propagation.test.ts
+++ b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-spa/tests/navigation-trace-propagation.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
-import { waitForTransaction } from '@sentry-internal/test-utils';
+import { getSpanOp, waitForStreamedSpan } from '@sentry-internal/test-utils';
 
 test('propagates the navigation trace (not the stale pageload trace) for a fetch in a route mount effect', async ({
   page,
@@ -15,22 +15,22 @@ test('propagates the navigation trace (not the stale pageload trace) for a fetch
     });
   });
 
-  const pageloadTxnPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-8-spa', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'pageload';
+  const pageloadSpanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-8-spa', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'pageload' && span.is_segment;
   });
 
-  const navigationTxnPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-8-spa', async transactionEvent => {
-    return transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'navigation' && transactionEvent.transaction === '/products';
+  const navigationSpanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-8-spa', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'navigation' && span.is_segment && span.name === '/products';
   });
 
   await page.goto('/');
-  const pageloadTxn = await pageloadTxnPromise;
+  const pageloadSpan = await pageloadSpanPromise;
 
   await page.locator('id=navigation-products').click();
-  const navigationTxn = await navigationTxnPromise;
+  const navigationSpan = await navigationSpanPromise;
 
-  const pageloadTraceId = pageloadTxn.contexts?.trace?.trace_id;
-  const navigationTraceId = navigationTxn.contexts?.trace?.trace_id;
+  const pageloadTraceId = pageloadSpan.trace_id;
+  const navigationTraceId = navigationSpan.trace_id;
   const propagatedTraceId = productsRequestSentryTrace?.split('-')[0];
 
   expect(pageloadTraceId).toBeDefined();
diff --git a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-spa/tests/transactions.test.ts b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-spa/tests/spans.test.ts
similarity index 57%
rename from dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-spa/tests/transactions.test.ts
rename to dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-spa/tests/spans.test.ts
index d4f229597f6e..bf401e9f9ac2 100644
--- a/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-spa/tests/transactions.test.ts
+++ b/dev-packages/e2e-tests/test-applications/react-router-8-spa/tests/spans.test.ts
@@ -1,69 +1,51 @@
 import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
-import { getSpanOp, waitForStreamedSpan, waitForTransaction } from '@sentry-internal/test-utils';
+import { getSpanOp, waitForStreamedSpan } from '@sentry-internal/test-utils';
 
-test('sends a pageload transaction with a parameterized URL', async ({ page }) => {
-  const transactionPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-8-spa', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'pageload';
+test('sends a pageload span with a parameterized URL', async ({ page }) => {
+  const spanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-8-spa', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'pageload' && span.is_segment;
   });
 
   await page.goto(`/`);
 
-  const rootSpan = await transactionPromise;
-
-  expect(rootSpan).toMatchObject({
-    contexts: {
-      trace: {
-        op: 'pageload',
-        origin: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter',
-        data: {
-          'sentry.segment.name.source': 'route',
-          'url.template': '/',
-          'url.path': '/',
-          'url.full': expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/$/),
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    transaction: '/',
-    transaction_info: {
-      source: 'route',
-    },
+  const span = await spanPromise;
+
+  expect(span.name).toBe('/');
+  expect(span.attributes).toMatchObject({
+    'sentry.op': { value: 'pageload', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.origin': { value: 'auto.pageload.react.reactrouter', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.segment.name.source': { value: 'route', type: 'string' },
+    'url.template': { value: '/', type: 'string' },
+    'url.path': { value: '/', type: 'string' },
+    'url.full': { value: expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/$/), type: 'string' },
   });
 });
 
-test('sends a navigation transaction with a parameterized URL', async ({ page }) => {
+test('sends a navigation span with a parameterized URL', async ({ page }) => {
   page.on('console', msg => console.log(msg.text()));
-  const pageloadTxnPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-8-spa', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'pageload';
+  const pageloadSpanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-8-spa', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'pageload' && span.is_segment;
   });
 
-  const navigationTxnPromise = waitForTransaction('react-router-8-spa', async transactionEvent => {
-    return !!transactionEvent?.transaction && transactionEvent.contexts?.trace?.op === 'navigation';
+  const navigationSpanPromise = waitForStreamedSpan('react-router-8-spa', span => {
+    return getSpanOp(span) === 'navigation' && span.is_segment;
   });
 
   await page.goto(`/`);
-  await pageloadTxnPromise;
+  await pageloadSpanPromise;
 
   const linkElement = page.locator('id=navigation');
 
-  const [_, navigationTxn] = await Promise.all([linkElement.click(), navigationTxnPromise]);
-
-  expect(navigationTxn).toMatchObject({
-    contexts: {
-      trace: {
-        op: 'navigation',
-        origin: 'auto.navigation.react.reactrouter',
-        data: {
-          'sentry.segment.name.source': 'route',
-          'url.template': '/user/:id',
-          'url.path': '/user/5',
-          'url.full': expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/user\/5$/),
-        },
-      },
-    },
-    transaction: '/user/:id',
-    transaction_info: {
-      source: 'route',
-    },
+  const [_, navigationSpan] = await Promise.all([linkElement.click(), navigationSpanPromise]);
+
+  expect(navigationSpan.name).toBe('/user/:id');
+  expect(navigationSpan.attributes).toMatchObject({
+    'sentry.op': { value: 'navigation', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.origin': { value: 'auto.navigation.react.reactrouter', type: 'string' },
+    'sentry.segment.name.source': { value: 'route', type: 'string' },
+    'url.template': { value: '/user/:id', type: 'string' },
+    'url.path': { value: '/user/5', type: 'string' },
+    'url.full': { value: expect.stringMatching(/^https?:\/\/localhost:\d+\/user\/5$/), type: 'string' },
   });
 });