watchOS companion app UX issues

**iOS device model, version and app version**

Model Name: iPhone 16 Pro & Apple Watch Series 8
Software Version: iOS 27.0 beta & watchOS 26.5
App version: 2026.8.0 (2026.2691)

**Home Assistant Core Version**

2026.7.4

**Describe the bug**

The watchOS app has some UX issues that are especially more prominent with the beta version (new areas section). These UX issues are:

* The app doesn't support back swipe gestures (other apps like the settings app do support this).
* The back button doesn't always seem to work... I swear I'm not going crazy, it genuinely doesn't always work. Other apps like the Watch settings don't have this issue. I mainly see this with folders and the area navigation "tree" back buttons. The Watch companion settings close button, main view buttons (edit and settings), assist view buttons, and all seem to respond properly.
* The app hides the status bar which means you lose the quick "go to top of list" action when you click on the time. This is especially annoying since there's no back gesture like mentioned earlier and the back button stays at the top of the list (folders and areas).

**To Reproduce**

1. Be on the beta companion app to best see the issues (areas).
2. Try navigating the companion vs. system apps such as the settings to see the differences
1. Back swipe gestures are supported
2. Back buttons are responsive
3. The time in status bar allows jumping back to the top of the view
4. The back button stays pinned to the navigation bar (along side the title but that's less important)

**Expected behavior**

Described above. I just expect it to behave more like a native watchOS app.

**Screenshots**

**Additional context**

I love that the watch app is getting some love finally and we're not losing existing functionality. With the bugs ironed out, it will be a solid app for quick home controls!

Start by reproducing the reported flows in the watchOS companion app on the beta environment and compare them with the system Settings app. Check folder and area navigation, back buttons, swipe-back behavior, and the status bar. Done means these navigation controls respond consistently, back-swipe is supported, and the time can jump to the top of the view.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.