diff --git a/app/routes/api.py b/app/routes/api.py
index ad4a229..b6aeda3 100644
--- a/app/routes/api.py
+++ b/app/routes/api.py
@@ -696,6 +696,7 @@ def get_cached_contacts():
     Query params:
         ?format=names  - Return just name strings for @mentions (default)
         ?format=full   - Return full cache entries with public_key, timestamps, etc.
+        ?format=count  - Return only the count (lightweight)
     """
     try:
         fmt = request.args.get('format', 'names')
@@ -704,7 +705,12 @@ def get_cached_contacts():
         db = _get_db()
         if db:
             db_contacts = db.get_contacts()
-            if fmt == 'full':
+            if fmt == 'count':
+                return jsonify({
+                    'success': True,
+                    'count': len(db_contacts)
+                }), 200
+            elif fmt == 'full':
                 ignored_keys = db.get_ignored_keys()
                 blocked_keys = db.get_blocked_keys()
                 contacts = []
@@ -745,7 +751,13 @@ def get_cached_contacts():
                 }), 200
         else:
             # Fallback to contacts_cache
-            if fmt == 'full':
+            if fmt == 'count':
+                contacts = get_all_contacts()
+                return jsonify({
+                    'success': True,
+                    'count': len(contacts)
+                }), 200
+            elif fmt == 'full':
                 contacts = get_all_contacts()
                 for c in contacts:
                     c['public_key_prefix'] = c.get('public_key', '')[:12]
diff --git a/app/static/js/contacts.js b/app/static/js/contacts.js
index e91f375..dafb33f 100644
--- a/app/static/js/contacts.js
+++ b/app/static/js/contacts.js
@@ -263,15 +263,20 @@ async function loadContactCounts() {
             pendingBadge.classList.remove('spinner-border', 'spinner-border-sm');
         }
 
-        // Fetch existing count
-        const existingResp = await fetch('/api/contacts/detailed');
+        // Fetch existing count (device + cached in parallel)
+        const [existingResp, cachedResp] = await Promise.all([
+            fetch('/api/contacts/detailed'),
+            fetch('/api/contacts/cached?format=count')
+        ]);
         const existingData = await existingResp.json();
+        const cachedData = await cachedResp.json();
 
         const existingBadge = document.getElementById('existingBadge');
         if (existingBadge && existingData.success) {
             const count = existingData.count || 0;
             const limit = existingData.limit || 350;
-            existingBadge.textContent = `${count} / ${limit}`;
+            const totalKnown = cachedData.success ? (cachedData.count || 0) : count;
+            existingBadge.innerHTML = `${totalKnown} (<i class="bi bi-cpu"></i> ${count}/${limit})`;
             existingBadge.classList.remove('spinner-border', 'spinner-border-sm');
 
             // Apply counter color coding
@@ -1872,11 +1877,8 @@ function updateCounter(count, limit, totalKnown) {
     const counterEl = document.getElementById('contactsCounter');
     if (!counterEl) return;
 
-    let text = `${count} / ${limit}`;
-    if (totalKnown && totalKnown > count) {
-        text += ` (${totalKnown} cached)`;
-    }
-    counterEl.textContent = text;
+    const total = totalKnown || count;
+    counterEl.innerHTML = `${total} (<i class="bi bi-cpu"></i> ${count}/${limit})`;
     counterEl.style.display = 'inline-block';
 
     // Remove all counter classes