diff --git a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
index 552be225..17626351 100644
--- a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
+++ b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
@@ -523,9 +523,27 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
             console.log('✅ Queue frozen (default) - existing submissions unchanged');
         }
       } else {
-        // Normal fetch: Load all items and reset pending
-        console.log('🔄 Manual refresh - replacing entire queue');
-        setItems(moderationItems);
+        // Manual refresh: Use smart comparison even for non-silent refreshes
+        console.log('🔄 Manual refresh - checking for changes');
+        
+        const mergeResult = smartMergeArray(itemsRef.current, moderationItems, {
+          compareFields: ['status', 'content', 'reviewed_at', 'reviewed_by', 'reviewer_notes', 'assigned_to', 'locked_until'],
+          preserveOrder: false,
+          addToTop: false,
+        });
+        
+        if (mergeResult.hasChanges) {
+          setItems(mergeResult.items);
+          console.log('🔄 Queue updated (manual refresh):', {
+            added: mergeResult.changes.added.length,
+            removed: mergeResult.changes.removed.length,
+            updated: mergeResult.changes.updated.length,
+          });
+        } else {
+          console.log('✅ Queue unchanged (manual refresh) - data identical, no re-render');
+        }
+        
+        // Always reset pending items on manual refresh
         setPendingNewItems([]);
         setNewItemsCount(0);