diff --git a/tests/playwright/streaming.spec.js b/tests/playwright/streaming.spec.js
index c013b071..6dbe2777 100644
--- a/tests/playwright/streaming.spec.js
+++ b/tests/playwright/streaming.spec.js
@@ -322,30 +322,39 @@ test.describe('Streaming sandbox', () => {
     // Verify skeletons are showing
     await expect(page.locator('[data-suspense="stream-fast"]')).toHaveCount(1);
 
-    // Phase 2: Simulate server sending resolve scripts (like chunked transfer)
-    // Use the real Sx.resolveSuspense (calls kernel's resolve-suspense SX fn)
-    await page.evaluate(() => {
+    // Phase 2: Staggered resolve — simulates chunked transfer with async IO delays.
+    // Each resolve arrives independently; other slots remain as skeletons.
 
-      // Simulate 3 resolve scripts arriving from chunked transfer
+    // Resolve "fast" first (~1s in production) — others still loading
+    await page.evaluate(() => {
       window.__sxResolve('stream-fast',
-        '(~streaming-demo/chunk :stream-label "Fast source" :stream-color "emerald" :stream-message "Resolved in 1ms" :stream-time "1ms")');
+        '(~streaming-demo/chunk :stream-label "Fast source" :stream-color "emerald" :stream-message "Resolved in ~1s (async IO)" :stream-time "~1s")');
+    });
+    await expect(page.locator('[data-suspense="stream-fast"]')).toContainText('Fast source');
+    // Medium and slow still show skeletons
+    await expect(page.locator('[data-suspense="stream-medium"]')).not.toContainText('Medium source');
+    await expect(page.locator('[data-suspense="stream-slow"]')).not.toContainText('Slow source');
+
+    // Resolve "medium" (~3s in production) — slow still loading
+    await page.evaluate(() => {
       window.__sxResolve('stream-medium',
-        '(~streaming-demo/chunk :stream-label "Medium source" :stream-color "amber" :stream-message "Resolved in 50ms" :stream-time "50ms")');
+        '(~streaming-demo/chunk :stream-label "Medium source" :stream-color "amber" :stream-message "Resolved in ~3s (async IO)" :stream-time "~3s")');
+    });
+    await expect(page.locator('[data-suspense="stream-medium"]')).toContainText('Medium source');
+    await expect(page.locator('[data-suspense="stream-slow"]')).not.toContainText('Slow source');
+
+    // Resolve "slow" (~5s in production) — all done
+    await page.evaluate(() => {
       window.__sxResolve('stream-slow',
-        '(~streaming-demo/chunk :stream-label "Slow source" :stream-color "violet" :stream-message "Resolved in 200ms" :stream-time "200ms")');
+        '(~streaming-demo/chunk :stream-label "Slow source" :stream-color "violet" :stream-message "Resolved in ~5s (async IO)" :stream-time "~5s")');
     });
 
-    // Phase 3: Verify all slots filled with actual content
+    // Phase 3: All slots filled with actual content
     await expect(page.locator('[data-suspense="stream-fast"]')).toContainText('Fast source');
-    await expect(page.locator('[data-suspense="stream-fast"]')).toContainText('1ms');
-
+    await expect(page.locator('[data-suspense="stream-fast"]')).toContainText('~1s');
     await expect(page.locator('[data-suspense="stream-medium"]')).toContainText('Medium source');
-    await expect(page.locator('[data-suspense="stream-medium"]')).toContainText('50ms');
-
+    await expect(page.locator('[data-suspense="stream-medium"]')).toContainText('~3s');
     await expect(page.locator('[data-suspense="stream-slow"]')).toContainText('Slow source');
-    await expect(page.locator('[data-suspense="stream-slow"]')).toContainText('200ms');
-
-    // Skeletons should be gone — replaced by resolved content
-    await expect(page.locator('[data-suspense="stream-fast"]')).not.toContainText('Loading');
+    await expect(page.locator('[data-suspense="stream-slow"]')).toContainText('~5s');
   });
 });