diff --git a/app/CMakeLists.txt b/app/CMakeLists.txt
index 1de3d7b7e..22c817f0c 100644
--- a/app/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/app/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright (c) 2019-2024, Arm Limited and Contributors
+# Copyright (c) 2019-2025, Arm Limited and Contributors
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 #
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ if(IOS)
                 XCODE_EMBED_FRAMEWORKS_CODE_SIGN_ON_COPY		"YES"
         )
     endif ()
-    # No need to search for Vulkan package or MoltenVK library, Vulkan cache variables already defined on Apple platforms by global_options.cmake
+    # Vulkan cache variables already defined by main project CMakeLists and updated on Apple platforms by global_options.cmake
     if(Vulkan_LIBRARY AND ${Vulkan_VERSION} VERSION_GREATER_EQUAL 1.3.278)
         target_sources(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE
                 ${Vulkan_Target_SDK}/iOS/share/vulkan
@@ -163,17 +163,24 @@ if(IOS)
     set(FRAMEWORKS_TO_EMBED)
 	if(Vulkan_MoltenVK_LIBRARY)
 		list(APPEND FRAMEWORKS_TO_EMBED "${Vulkan_MoltenVK_LIBRARY};")
+		message(STATUS "Embedding Vulkan driver: ${Vulkan_MoltenVK_LIBRARY}")
+	# add support for potentially other iOS Vulkan drivers here...
+	#elseif(OTHER_IOS_VULKAN_DRIVER)
+		#list(APPEND FRAMEWORKS_TO_EMBED "${OTHER_IOS_VULKAN_DRIVER};")
+		#message(STATUS "Embedding Vulkan driver: ${OTHER_IOS_VULKAN_DRIVER}")
 	else()
-		message(FATAL_ERROR "Can't find MoltenVK library. Please install the Vulkan SDK or MoltenVK project and set VULKAN_SDK.")
+		message(FATAL_ERROR "Can't find Vulkan driver for iOS. Please install the Vulkan SDK and run: 'source <MY_SDK_PATH>/iOS/setup-env.sh'")
 	endif()
 	if(Vulkan_LIBRARY)
 		list(APPEND FRAMEWORKS_TO_EMBED "${Vulkan_LIBRARY};")
+		message(STATUS "Embedding Vulkan loader: ${Vulkan_LIBRARY}")
 	endif()
 	if(Vulkan_Layer_VALIDATION)
 		# trouble is can't turn this on/off if XCode decides to build debug and we're configured for release.  Need to revist
 		# note the Vulkan validation layer must be present and enabled even in release mode for the shader_debugprintf sample
 		#if(("${VKB_DEBUG}" STREQUAL "ON") OR ("${VKB_VALIDATION_LAYERS}" STREQUAL "ON"))
 			list(APPEND FRAMEWORKS_TO_EMBED "${Vulkan_Layer_VALIDATION}")
+			message(STATUS "Embedding Vulkan Validation Layer: ${Vulkan_Layer_VALIDATION}")
 		#endif()
     endif()
     set_target_properties(${PROJECT_NAME} PROPERTIES
diff --git a/bldsys/cmake/global_options.cmake b/bldsys/cmake/global_options.cmake
index a25d77110..a47ffbada 100644
--- a/bldsys/cmake/global_options.cmake
+++ b/bldsys/cmake/global_options.cmake
@@ -33,11 +33,13 @@ endif()
 
 if(APPLE)
     cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.24)
-    set(VKB_ENABLE_PORTABILITY ON CACHE BOOL "Enable portability enumeration and subset features in the framework.  This is required to be set when running on Apple platforms." FORCE)
+    option(VKB_ENABLE_PORTABILITY "Enable portability enumeration and subset features in the framework. This is default ON for Apple platforms." ON)
 
+	# the following assumes MoltenVK is used for these cases: a) standalone deployment on macOS (i.e. set USE_MoltenVK=ON), and b) for iOS deployment
+	# if this assumption changes (e.g. KosmicKrisp adds standalone or iOS support), then this section will require modification to handle optionality
 	find_package(Vulkan QUIET OPTIONAL_COMPONENTS MoltenVK)
 	if(USE_MoltenVK OR (IOS AND (NOT Vulkan_MoltenVK_FOUND OR ${CMAKE_OSX_SYSROOT} STREQUAL "iphonesimulator")))
-		# if using MoltenVK, or MoltenVK for iOS was not found, or using iOS Simulator, look for MoltenVK in the Vulkan SDK and MoltenVK project locations
+		# if using MoltenVK standalone, or MoltenVK for iOS not found or using iOS Simulator, look for MoltenVK in Vulkan SDK and MoltenVK project paths
 		if(NOT Vulkan_MoltenVK_LIBRARY)
 			# since both are available in the Vulkan SDK and MoltenVK github project, make sure we look for MoltenVK framework on iOS and dylib on macOS
 			set(_saved_cmake_find_framework ${CMAKE_FIND_FRAMEWORK})
@@ -58,7 +60,8 @@ if(APPLE)
 			# on iOS we can control Vulkan library loading priority by selecting which libraries are embedded in the iOS application bundle
 			if(IOS)
 				add_compile_definitions(_HPP_VULKAN_LIBRARY="MoltenVK.framework/MoltenVK")
-				# unset FindVulkan.cmake cache variables so Vulkan loader, Validation Layer, and icd/layer json files are not embedded on iOS
+				# unset FindVulkan.cmake cache variables so Vulkan loader and Validation Layer libraries are not embedded on iOS Simulator
+				# the iOS Simulator supports arm64 & x86_64 hosts, but the Vulkan loader and Validation Layer are compiled for arm64 only
 				unset(Vulkan_LIBRARY CACHE)
 				unset(Vulkan_Layer_VALIDATION CACHE)
 
@@ -69,15 +72,18 @@ if(APPLE)
 				add_compile_definitions(_GLFW_VULKAN_LIBRARY="libMoltenVK.dylib")
 				set(ENV{DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH} "${MoltenVK_LIBRARY_PATH}:$ENV{DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH}")
 			else()
-				message(FATAL_ERROR "Vulkan library found in MoltenVK search path. Please set VULKAN_SDK to the MoltenVK project install location.")
+				message(FATAL_ERROR "Vulkan loader found in MoltenVK search path. Please set VULKAN_SDK to the MoltenVK project install location.")
 			endif()
-			message(STATUS "Using MoltenVK: ${Vulkan_MoltenVK_LIBRARY}")
+			message(STATUS "Using MoltenVK standalone: ${Vulkan_MoltenVK_LIBRARY}")
 		else()
 			message(FATAL_ERROR "Can't find MoltenVK library. Please install the Vulkan SDK or MoltenVK project and set VULKAN_SDK.")
 		endif()
-	elseif(IOS)
-		# if not using MoltenVK on iOS, set up global Vulkan Library define for iOS Vulkan loader
-		add_compile_definitions(_HPP_VULKAN_LIBRARY="vulkan.framework/vulkan")
+	#elseif(OTHER_VULKAN_DRIVER)
+		# handle any special processing here for other Vulkan driver (e.g. KosmicKrisp) for standalone usage on macOS or deployment to iOS
+		# would likely require extensions to CMake find_package() OPTIONAL_COMPONENTS and library variables to identify & use other driver
+	#else()
+		# if not using standalone driver, retain find_package() results for Vulkan driver, Vulkan loader, and Validation Layer library variables
+		# no need to override with _HPP_VULKAN_LIBRARY in this case since Vulkan DynamicLoader will find/load Vulkan library on macOS & iOS
 	endif()
 
 	if(CMAKE_GENERATOR MATCHES "Xcode")
@@ -103,6 +109,8 @@ if(APPLE)
 			set(CMAKE_SUPPRESS_REGENERATION ON)
 		endif()
 	endif()
+else()
+    option(VKB_ENABLE_PORTABILITY "Enable portability enumeration and subset features in the framework. This is default OFF for non-Apple platforms." OFF)
 endif()
 
 set(VKB_WARNINGS_AS_ERRORS ON CACHE BOOL "Enable Warnings as Errors")
diff --git a/framework/core/instance.h b/framework/core/instance.h
index 4f4781f57..5d8c89428 100644
--- a/framework/core/instance.h
+++ b/framework/core/instance.h
@@ -251,9 +251,19 @@ inline bool enable_layer_setting(vk::LayerSettingEXT const        &requested_lay
 	// Vulkan does not provide a reflection API for layer settings. Layer settings are described in each layer JSON manifest.
 	bool is_available = std::ranges::any_of(
 	    enabled_layers, [&requested_layer_setting](auto const &available_layer) { return strcmp(available_layer, requested_layer_setting.pLayerName) == 0; });
+
 #if defined(PLATFORM__MACOS)
-	// On Apple platforms the MoltenVK layer is implicitly enabled and available, and cannot be explicitly added or checked via enabled_layers.
-	is_available = is_available || strcmp(requested_layer_setting.pLayerName, "MoltenVK") == 0;
+	// On Apple the MoltenVK driver configuration layer is implicitly enabled and available, and cannot be explicitly added or checked via enabled_layers.
+	if (!is_available && strcmp(requested_layer_setting.pLayerName, "MoltenVK") == 0)
+	{
+		// Check for VK_EXT_layer_settings extension in the driver which indicates MoltenVK vs. KosmicKrisp (note: VK_MVK_moltenvk extension is deprecated).
+		std::vector<vk::ExtensionProperties> available_instance_extensions = vk::enumerateInstanceExtensionProperties();
+		if (std::ranges::any_of(available_instance_extensions,
+		                        [](vk::ExtensionProperties const &extension) { return strcmp(extension.extensionName, VK_EXT_LAYER_SETTINGS_EXTENSION_NAME) == 0; }))
+		{
+			is_available = true;
+		}
+	}
 #endif
 
 	if (!is_available)
diff --git a/framework/vulkan_sample.h b/framework/vulkan_sample.h
index 6dda756c7..6c1c4d94b 100644
--- a/framework/vulkan_sample.h
+++ b/framework/vulkan_sample.h
@@ -1115,7 +1115,7 @@ inline bool VulkanSample<bindingType>::prepare(const ApplicationOptions &options
 	}
 
 #ifdef VKB_ENABLE_PORTABILITY
-	// VK_KHR_portability_subset must be enabled if present in the implementation (e.g on macOS/iOS with beta extensions enabled)
+	// VK_KHR_portability_subset must be enabled if present in the implementation (e.g on macOS/iOS using MoltenVK with beta extensions enabled)
 	add_device_extension(VK_KHR_PORTABILITY_SUBSET_EXTENSION_NAME, /*optional=*/true);
 #endif
 
diff --git a/samples/api/hello_triangle/hello_triangle.cpp b/samples/api/hello_triangle/hello_triangle.cpp
index 75e1d1839..e10954a1c 100644
--- a/samples/api/hello_triangle/hello_triangle.cpp
+++ b/samples/api/hello_triangle/hello_triangle.cpp
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ void HelloTriangle::init_device()
 	}
 
 #if (defined(VKB_ENABLE_PORTABILITY))
-	// VK_KHR_portability_subset must be enabled if present in the implementation (e.g on macOS/iOS with beta extensions enabled)
+	// VK_KHR_portability_subset must be enabled if present in the implementation (e.g on macOS/iOS using MoltenVK with beta extensions enabled)
 	if (std::ranges::any_of(device_extensions,
 	                        [](VkExtensionProperties const &extension) { return strcmp(extension.extensionName, VK_KHR_PORTABILITY_SUBSET_EXTENSION_NAME) == 0; }))
 	{
@@ -997,7 +997,10 @@ HelloTriangle::~HelloTriangle()
 {
 	// When destroying the application, we need to make sure the GPU is no longer accessing any resources
 	// This is done by doing a device wait idle, which blocks until the GPU signals
-	vkDeviceWaitIdle(context.device);
+	if (context.device != VK_NULL_HANDLE)
+	{
+		vkDeviceWaitIdle(context.device);
+	}
 
 	for (auto &framebuffer : context.swapchain_framebuffers)
 	{
diff --git a/samples/api/hello_triangle_1_3/hello_triangle_1_3.cpp b/samples/api/hello_triangle_1_3/hello_triangle_1_3.cpp
index 84d37f3d3..f0d23fe11 100644
--- a/samples/api/hello_triangle_1_3/hello_triangle_1_3.cpp
+++ b/samples/api/hello_triangle_1_3/hello_triangle_1_3.cpp
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ void HelloTriangleV13::init_device()
 	}
 
 #if (defined(VKB_ENABLE_PORTABILITY))
-	// VK_KHR_portability_subset must be enabled if present in the implementation (e.g on macOS/iOS with beta extensions enabled)
+	// VK_KHR_portability_subset must be enabled if present in the implementation (e.g on macOS/iOS using MoltenVK with beta extensions enabled)
 	if (std::ranges::any_of(device_extensions,
 	                        [](VkExtensionProperties const &extension) { return strcmp(extension.extensionName, VK_KHR_PORTABILITY_SUBSET_EXTENSION_NAME) == 0; }))
 	{
diff --git a/samples/api/hpp_hello_triangle/hpp_hello_triangle.cpp b/samples/api/hpp_hello_triangle/hpp_hello_triangle.cpp
index b1727a372..a8ccf3a63 100644
--- a/samples/api/hpp_hello_triangle/hpp_hello_triangle.cpp
+++ b/samples/api/hpp_hello_triangle/hpp_hello_triangle.cpp
@@ -76,7 +76,10 @@ HPPHelloTriangle::HPPHelloTriangle()
 HPPHelloTriangle::~HPPHelloTriangle()
 {
 	// Don't release anything until the GPU is completely idle.
-	device.waitIdle();
+	if (device)
+	{
+		device.waitIdle();
+	}
 
 	teardown_framebuffers();
 
@@ -142,7 +145,10 @@ HPPHelloTriangle::~HPPHelloTriangle()
 		instance.destroyDebugUtilsMessengerEXT(debug_utils_messenger);
 	}
 
-	instance.destroy();
+	if (instance)
+	{
+		instance.destroy();
+	}
 }
 
 bool HPPHelloTriangle::prepare(const vkb::ApplicationOptions &options)
@@ -325,7 +331,7 @@ vk::Device HPPHelloTriangle::create_device(const std::vector<const char *> &requ
 	std::vector<const char *> active_device_extensions(required_device_extensions);
 
 #if (defined(VKB_ENABLE_PORTABILITY))
-	// VK_KHR_portability_subset must be enabled if present in the implementation (e.g on macOS/iOS with beta extensions enabled)
+	// VK_KHR_portability_subset must be enabled if present in the implementation (e.g on macOS/iOS using MoltenVK with beta extensions enabled)
 	if (std::ranges::any_of(device_extensions,
 	                        [](vk::ExtensionProperties const &extension) { return strcmp(extension.extensionName, VK_KHR_PORTABILITY_SUBSET_EXTENSION_NAME) == 0; }))
 	{
@@ -915,7 +921,10 @@ void HPPHelloTriangle::select_physical_device_and_surface()
 void HPPHelloTriangle::teardown_framebuffers()
 {
 	// Wait until device is idle before teardown.
-	queue.waitIdle();
+	if (queue)
+	{
+		queue.waitIdle();
+	}
 
 	for (auto &framebuffer : swapchain_data.framebuffers)
 	{
diff --git a/samples/api/hpp_hello_triangle_1_3/hpp_hello_triangle_1_3.cpp b/samples/api/hpp_hello_triangle_1_3/hpp_hello_triangle_1_3.cpp
index e54a304ce..ce5c5a2c9 100644
--- a/samples/api/hpp_hello_triangle_1_3/hpp_hello_triangle_1_3.cpp
+++ b/samples/api/hpp_hello_triangle_1_3/hpp_hello_triangle_1_3.cpp
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ void HPPHelloTriangleV13::init_device()
 	}
 
 #if (defined(VKB_ENABLE_PORTABILITY))
-	// VK_KHR_portability_subset must be enabled if present in the implementation (e.g on macOS/iOS with beta extensions enabled)
+	// VK_KHR_portability_subset must be enabled if present in the implementation (e.g on macOS/iOS using MoltenVK with beta extensions enabled)
 	if (std::ranges::any_of(device_extensions,
 	                        [](vk::ExtensionProperties const &extension) { return strcmp(extension.extensionName, VK_KHR_PORTABILITY_SUBSET_EXTENSION_NAME) == 0; }))
 	{
diff --git a/samples/extensions/descriptor_indexing/descriptor_indexing.cpp b/samples/extensions/descriptor_indexing/descriptor_indexing.cpp
index 7f853d0e7..178021faf 100644
--- a/samples/extensions/descriptor_indexing/descriptor_indexing.cpp
+++ b/samples/extensions/descriptor_indexing/descriptor_indexing.cpp
@@ -31,23 +31,6 @@ DescriptorIndexing::DescriptorIndexing()
 	// Works around a validation layer bug with descriptor pool allocation with VARIABLE_COUNT.
 	// See: https://github.com/KhronosGroup/Vulkan-ValidationLayers/issues/2350.
 	add_device_extension(VK_KHR_MAINTENANCE1_EXTENSION_NAME);
-
-#if defined(PLATFORM__MACOS)
-	// On Apple use layer setting to enable MoltenVK's Metal argument buffers - needed for descriptor indexing/scaling
-	add_instance_extension(VK_EXT_LAYER_SETTINGS_EXTENSION_NAME, /*optional*/ true);
-
-	VkLayerSettingEXT layerSetting;
-	layerSetting.pLayerName   = "MoltenVK";
-	layerSetting.pSettingName = "MVK_CONFIG_USE_METAL_ARGUMENT_BUFFERS";
-	layerSetting.type         = VK_LAYER_SETTING_TYPE_INT32_EXT;
-	layerSetting.valueCount   = 1;
-
-	// Make this static so layer setting reference remains valid after leaving constructor scope
-	static const int32_t useMetalArgumentBuffers = 1;
-	layerSetting.pValues                         = &useMetalArgumentBuffers;
-
-	add_layer_setting(layerSetting);
-#endif
 }
 
 DescriptorIndexing::~DescriptorIndexing()
@@ -212,14 +195,6 @@ void DescriptorIndexing::create_bindless_descriptors()
 {
 	uint32_t descriptorCount = descriptor_indexing_properties.maxDescriptorSetUpdateAfterBindSampledImages;
 
-#if defined(PLATFORM__MACOS)
-	// On Apple Vulkan API <= 1.2.283 variable descriptor counts don't work, use max expected count instead. Fixed in later versions.
-	if (get_device().get_gpu().get_properties().apiVersion <= VK_MAKE_API_VERSION(0, 1, 2, 283))
-	{
-		descriptorCount = std::max(NumDescriptorsStreaming, NumDescriptorsNonUniform);
-	}
-#endif
-
 	VkDescriptorSetLayoutBinding    binding                = vkb::initializers::descriptor_set_layout_binding(VK_DESCRIPTOR_TYPE_SAMPLED_IMAGE, VK_SHADER_STAGE_FRAGMENT_BIT, 0, descriptorCount);
 	VkDescriptorSetLayoutCreateInfo set_layout_create_info = vkb::initializers::descriptor_set_layout_create_info(&binding, 1);
 
@@ -262,14 +237,6 @@ void DescriptorIndexing::create_bindless_descriptors()
 	// For the non-uniform indexing part, we allocate few descriptors, and for the streaming case, we allocate a fairly large ring buffer of descriptors we can play around with.
 	uint32_t poolCount = NumDescriptorsStreaming + NumDescriptorsNonUniform;
 
-#if defined(PLATFORM__MACOS)
-	// On Apple Vulkan API <= 1.2.283 variable descriptor counts don't work, use pool size of max expected count x 2 (for 2 allocations). Fixed in later versions.
-	if (get_device().get_gpu().get_properties().apiVersion <= VK_MAKE_API_VERSION(0, 1, 2, 283))
-	{
-		poolCount = std::max(NumDescriptorsStreaming, NumDescriptorsNonUniform) * 2;
-	}
-#endif
-
 	VkDescriptorPoolSize       pool_size = vkb::initializers::descriptor_pool_size(VK_DESCRIPTOR_TYPE_SAMPLED_IMAGE, poolCount);
 	VkDescriptorPoolCreateInfo pool      = vkb::initializers::descriptor_pool_create_info(1, &pool_size, 2);
 
diff --git a/samples/extensions/portability/portability.cpp b/samples/extensions/portability/portability.cpp
index a600960e7..9078a3fb0 100644
--- a/samples/extensions/portability/portability.cpp
+++ b/samples/extensions/portability/portability.cpp
@@ -33,10 +33,12 @@ Portability::Portability() :
     filter_pass()
 {
 	title = "Portability";
-	// Portability is a Vulkan 1.3 extension
-	set_api_version(VK_API_VERSION_1_3);
-	add_instance_extension(VK_KHR_GET_PHYSICAL_DEVICE_PROPERTIES_2_EXTENSION_NAME);
-	add_instance_extension(VK_KHR_PORTABILITY_ENUMERATION_EXTENSION_NAME, /*optional*/ true);
+	// These instance extensions are conditionally added by the sample framework when VKB_ENABLE_PORTABILITY is enabled
+	// add_instance_extension(VK_KHR_GET_PHYSICAL_DEVICE_PROPERTIES_2_EXTENSION_NAME);
+	// add_instance_extension(VK_KHR_PORTABILITY_ENUMERATION_EXTENSION_NAME, /*optional=*/true);
+
+	// VK_KHR_portability_subset depends on VK_KHR_get_physical_device_properties2 or Vulkan 1.1 (default for project)
+	// This device extension is conditionally added by the sample framework when VKB_ENABLE_PORTABILITY is enabled
 }
 
 Portability::~Portability()
@@ -868,41 +870,48 @@ void Portability::render(float delta_time)
 void Portability::on_update_ui_overlay(vkb::Drawer &drawer)
 {
 #ifdef VKB_ENABLE_PORTABILITY
-	std::string portability_support_list;
-	if (portability_features.constantAlphaColorBlendFactors)
-		portability_support_list += "constantAlphaColorBlendFactors\n";
-	if (portability_features.events)
-		portability_support_list += "events\n";
-	if (portability_features.imageView2DOn3DImage)
-		portability_support_list += "imageView2DOn3dImage\n";
-	if (portability_features.imageViewFormatReinterpretation)
-		portability_support_list += "imageViewFormatReinterpretation\n";
-	if (portability_features.imageViewFormatSwizzle)
-		portability_support_list += "imageViewFormatSwizzle\n";
-	if (portability_features.multisampleArrayImage)
-		portability_support_list += "multisampleArrayImage\n";
-	if (portability_features.mutableComparisonSamplers)
-		portability_support_list += "mutableComparisonSamplers\n";
-	if (portability_features.pointPolygons)
-		portability_support_list += "pointPolygons\n";
-	if (portability_features.samplerMipLodBias)
-		portability_support_list += "samplerMipLodBias\n";
-	if (portability_features.separateStencilMaskRef)
-		portability_support_list += "separateStencilMaskRef\n";
-	if (portability_features.shaderSampleRateInterpolationFunctions)
-		portability_support_list += "shaderSampleRateInterpolationFunctions\n";
-	if (portability_features.tessellationIsolines)
-		portability_support_list += "tessellationIsolines\n";
-	if (portability_features.tessellationPointMode)
-		portability_support_list += "tessellationPointMode\n";
-	if (portability_features.triangleFans)
-		portability_support_list += "triangleFans\n";
-	if (portability_features.vertexAttributeAccessBeyondStride)
-		portability_support_list += "vertexAttributeAccessBeyondStride\n";
-	drawer.text("Device Portability feature support list:\n%s", portability_support_list.c_str());
-#else
-	drawer.text("VKB_ENABLE_PORTABILITY not enabled can't list portability feature set");
+	// VK_KHR_portability_subset extension must be available in the implementation to list device portability feature set
+	if (get_device().get_gpu().is_extension_supported(VK_KHR_PORTABILITY_SUBSET_EXTENSION_NAME))
+	{
+		std::string portability_support_list;
+		if (portability_features.constantAlphaColorBlendFactors)
+			portability_support_list += "constantAlphaColorBlendFactors\n";
+		if (portability_features.events)
+			portability_support_list += "events\n";
+		if (portability_features.imageView2DOn3DImage)
+			portability_support_list += "imageView2DOn3dImage\n";
+		if (portability_features.imageViewFormatReinterpretation)
+			portability_support_list += "imageViewFormatReinterpretation\n";
+		if (portability_features.imageViewFormatSwizzle)
+			portability_support_list += "imageViewFormatSwizzle\n";
+		if (portability_features.multisampleArrayImage)
+			portability_support_list += "multisampleArrayImage\n";
+		if (portability_features.mutableComparisonSamplers)
+			portability_support_list += "mutableComparisonSamplers\n";
+		if (portability_features.pointPolygons)
+			portability_support_list += "pointPolygons\n";
+		if (portability_features.samplerMipLodBias)
+			portability_support_list += "samplerMipLodBias\n";
+		if (portability_features.separateStencilMaskRef)
+			portability_support_list += "separateStencilMaskRef\n";
+		if (portability_features.shaderSampleRateInterpolationFunctions)
+			portability_support_list += "shaderSampleRateInterpolationFunctions\n";
+		if (portability_features.tessellationIsolines)
+			portability_support_list += "tessellationIsolines\n";
+		if (portability_features.tessellationPointMode)
+			portability_support_list += "tessellationPointMode\n";
+		if (portability_features.triangleFans)
+			portability_support_list += "triangleFans\n";
+		if (portability_features.vertexAttributeAccessBeyondStride)
+			portability_support_list += "vertexAttributeAccessBeyondStride\n";
+		drawer.text("Device Portability feature support list:\n%s", portability_support_list.c_str());
+	}
+	else
 #endif
+	{
+		drawer.text("VK_KHR_portability_subset not available can't list portability feature set");
+	}
+
 	if (drawer.header("Settings"))
 	{
 		if (drawer.checkbox("Bloom", &bloom))
diff --git a/samples/extensions/shader_debugprintf/shader_debugprintf.cpp b/samples/extensions/shader_debugprintf/shader_debugprintf.cpp
index 29f2ef96e..f851dcf81 100644
--- a/samples/extensions/shader_debugprintf/shader_debugprintf.cpp
+++ b/samples/extensions/shader_debugprintf/shader_debugprintf.cpp
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ std::unique_ptr<vkb::core::InstanceC> ShaderDebugPrintf::create_instance()
 	std::vector<VkExtensionProperties> available_instance_extensions(available_extension_count);
 	VK_CHECK(vkEnumerateInstanceExtensionProperties(nullptr, &available_extension_count, available_instance_extensions.data()));
 
-	// If VK_KHR_portability_enumeration is available in the portability implementation, then we must enable the extension
+	// If VK_KHR_portability_enumeration is available in the implementation, then we must enable the extension
 	bool portability_enumeration_available = false;
 	if (std::ranges::any_of(available_instance_extensions,
 	                        [](VkExtensionProperties const &extension) { return strcmp(extension.extensionName, VK_KHR_PORTABILITY_ENUMERATION_EXTENSION_NAME) == 0; }))
diff --git a/samples/performance/async_compute/async_compute.cpp b/samples/performance/async_compute/async_compute.cpp
index c87597a86..c39d2315f 100644
--- a/samples/performance/async_compute/async_compute.cpp
+++ b/samples/performance/async_compute/async_compute.cpp
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ void AsyncComputeSample::request_gpu_features(vkb::core::PhysicalDeviceC &gpu)
 {
 #ifdef VKB_ENABLE_PORTABILITY
 	// Since sampler_info.compareEnable = VK_TRUE, must enable the mutableComparisonSamplers feature of VK_KHR_portability_subset
-	REQUEST_REQUIRED_FEATURE(gpu, VkPhysicalDevicePortabilitySubsetFeaturesKHR, mutableComparisonSamplers);
+	REQUEST_OPTIONAL_FEATURE(gpu, VkPhysicalDevicePortabilitySubsetFeaturesKHR, mutableComparisonSamplers);
 #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/samples/performance/layout_transitions/layout_transitions.cpp b/samples/performance/layout_transitions/layout_transitions.cpp
index 7667f4809..e050cbf35 100644
--- a/samples/performance/layout_transitions/layout_transitions.cpp
+++ b/samples/performance/layout_transitions/layout_transitions.cpp
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ LayoutTransitions::LayoutTransitions()
 
 #if defined(PLATFORM__MACOS) && TARGET_OS_IOS && TARGET_OS_SIMULATOR
 	// On iOS Simulator use layer setting to disable MoltenVK's Metal argument buffers - otherwise blank display
-	add_instance_extension(VK_EXT_LAYER_SETTINGS_EXTENSION_NAME, /*optional*/ true);
+	add_instance_extension(VK_EXT_LAYER_SETTINGS_EXTENSION_NAME, /*optional=*/true);
 
 	VkLayerSettingEXT layerSetting;
 	layerSetting.pLayerName   = "MoltenVK";
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ LayoutTransitions::LayoutTransitions()
 	layerSetting.valueCount   = 1;
 
 	// Make this static so layer setting reference remains valid after leaving constructor scope
-	static const int32_t useMetalArgumentBuffers = 0;
-	layerSetting.pValues                         = &useMetalArgumentBuffers;
+	static const int32_t disableMetalArgumentBuffers = 0;
+	layerSetting.pValues                             = &disableMetalArgumentBuffers;
 
 	add_layer_setting(layerSetting);
 #endif
diff --git a/samples/performance/multithreading_render_passes/multithreading_render_passes.cpp b/samples/performance/multithreading_render_passes/multithreading_render_passes.cpp
index ce7704b6f..e8d85f9bf 100644
--- a/samples/performance/multithreading_render_passes/multithreading_render_passes.cpp
+++ b/samples/performance/multithreading_render_passes/multithreading_render_passes.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ void MultithreadingRenderPasses::request_gpu_features(vkb::core::PhysicalDeviceC
 {
 #ifdef VKB_ENABLE_PORTABILITY
 	// Since shadowmap_sampler_create_info.compareEnable = VK_TRUE, must enable the mutableComparisonSamplers feature of VK_KHR_portability_subset
-	REQUEST_REQUIRED_FEATURE(gpu, VkPhysicalDevicePortabilitySubsetFeaturesKHR, mutableComparisonSamplers);
+	REQUEST_OPTIONAL_FEATURE(gpu, VkPhysicalDevicePortabilitySubsetFeaturesKHR, mutableComparisonSamplers);
 #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/samples/performance/pipeline_barriers/pipeline_barriers.cpp b/samples/performance/pipeline_barriers/pipeline_barriers.cpp
index 1f8272427..717cd36ce 100644
--- a/samples/performance/pipeline_barriers/pipeline_barriers.cpp
+++ b/samples/performance/pipeline_barriers/pipeline_barriers.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ PipelineBarriers::PipelineBarriers()
 
 #if defined(PLATFORM__MACOS) && TARGET_OS_IOS && TARGET_OS_SIMULATOR
 	// On iOS Simulator use layer setting to disable MoltenVK's Metal argument buffers - otherwise blank display
-	add_instance_extension(VK_EXT_LAYER_SETTINGS_EXTENSION_NAME, /*optional*/ true);
+	add_instance_extension(VK_EXT_LAYER_SETTINGS_EXTENSION_NAME, /*optional=*/true);
 
 	VkLayerSettingEXT layerSetting;
 	layerSetting.pLayerName   = "MoltenVK";
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ PipelineBarriers::PipelineBarriers()
 	layerSetting.valueCount   = 1;
 
 	// Make this static so layer setting reference remains valid after leaving constructor scope
-	static const int32_t useMetalArgumentBuffers = 0;
-	layerSetting.pValues                         = &useMetalArgumentBuffers;
+	static const int32_t disableMetalArgumentBuffers = 0;
+	layerSetting.pValues                             = &disableMetalArgumentBuffers;
 
 	add_layer_setting(layerSetting);
 #endif
diff --git a/samples/performance/subpasses/subpasses.cpp b/samples/performance/subpasses/subpasses.cpp
index 42a66f78c..2872f0069 100644
--- a/samples/performance/subpasses/subpasses.cpp
+++ b/samples/performance/subpasses/subpasses.cpp
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ Subpasses::Subpasses()
 
 #if defined(PLATFORM__MACOS) && TARGET_OS_IOS && TARGET_OS_SIMULATOR
 	// On iOS Simulator use layer setting to disable MoltenVK's Metal argument buffers - otherwise blank display
-	add_instance_extension(VK_EXT_LAYER_SETTINGS_EXTENSION_NAME, /*optional*/ true);
+	add_instance_extension(VK_EXT_LAYER_SETTINGS_EXTENSION_NAME, /*optional=*/true);
 
 	VkLayerSettingEXT layerSetting;
 	layerSetting.pLayerName   = "MoltenVK";
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ Subpasses::Subpasses()
 	layerSetting.valueCount   = 1;
 
 	// Make this static so layer setting reference remains valid after leaving constructor scope
-	static const int32_t useMetalArgumentBuffers = 0;
-	layerSetting.pValues                         = &useMetalArgumentBuffers;
+	static const int32_t disableMetalArgumentBuffers = 0;
+	layerSetting.pValues                             = &disableMetalArgumentBuffers;
 
 	add_layer_setting(layerSetting);
 #endif
diff --git a/samples/tooling/profiles/profiles.cpp b/samples/tooling/profiles/profiles.cpp
index 040df2096..35e4601f7 100644
--- a/samples/tooling/profiles/profiles.cpp
+++ b/samples/tooling/profiles/profiles.cpp
@@ -47,13 +47,18 @@ Profiles::~Profiles()
 		// Clean up used Vulkan resources
 		// Note : Inherited destructor cleans up resources stored in base class
 		for (auto &tex : textures)
+		{
+			vkDestroyImageView(get_device().get_handle(), tex.image_view, nullptr);
+			vkDestroyImage(get_device().get_handle(), tex.image, nullptr);
 			vkFreeMemory(get_device().get_handle(), tex.memory, nullptr);
+		}
 
 		vkDestroyPipeline(get_device().get_handle(), pipeline, nullptr);
 
 		vkDestroyPipelineLayout(get_device().get_handle(), pipeline_layout, nullptr);
 		vkDestroyDescriptorSetLayout(get_device().get_handle(), base_descriptor_set_layout, nullptr);
 		vkDestroyDescriptorSetLayout(get_device().get_handle(), sampler_descriptor_set_layout, nullptr);
+		vkDestroySampler(get_device().get_handle(), sampler, nullptr);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -92,6 +97,14 @@ std::unique_ptr<vkb::core::DeviceC> Profiles::create_device(vkb::core::PhysicalD
 	std::vector<const char *> enabled_extensions;
 	enabled_extensions.push_back(VK_KHR_SWAPCHAIN_EXTENSION_NAME);
 
+#if (defined(VKB_ENABLE_PORTABILITY))
+	// VK_KHR_portability_subset must be enabled if present in the implementation (e.g on macOS/iOS using MoltenVK with beta extensions enabled)
+	if (gpu.is_extension_supported(VK_KHR_PORTABILITY_SUBSET_EXTENSION_NAME))
+	{
+		enabled_extensions.push_back(VK_KHR_PORTABILITY_SUBSET_EXTENSION_NAME);
+	}
+#endif
+
 	VkDeviceCreateInfo create_info{VK_STRUCTURE_TYPE_DEVICE_CREATE_INFO};
 	create_info.pNext                   = gpu.get_extension_feature_chain();
 	create_info.pQueueCreateInfos       = &queue_create_info;
@@ -153,12 +166,15 @@ std::unique_ptr<vkb::core::InstanceC> Profiles::create_instance()
 	VkInstanceCreateInfo create_info{};
 
 #if (defined(VKB_ENABLE_PORTABILITY))
+	enabled_extensions.push_back(VK_KHR_GET_PHYSICAL_DEVICE_PROPERTIES_2_EXTENSION_NAME);
+
+	// Enumerate all instance extensions for the loader + driver to determine if VK_KHR_portability_enumeration is available
 	uint32_t instance_extension_count;
 	VK_CHECK(vkEnumerateInstanceExtensionProperties(nullptr, &instance_extension_count, nullptr));
 	std::vector<VkExtensionProperties> available_instance_extensions(instance_extension_count);
 	VK_CHECK(vkEnumerateInstanceExtensionProperties(nullptr, &instance_extension_count, available_instance_extensions.data()));
 
-	// If VK_KHR_portability_enumeration is available at runtime, enable the extension and flag for instance creation
+	// If VK_KHR_portability_enumeration is available in the implementation, then we must enable the extension
 	if (std::ranges::any_of(available_instance_extensions,
 	                        [](VkExtensionProperties const &extension) { return strcmp(extension.extensionName, VK_KHR_PORTABILITY_ENUMERATION_EXTENSION_NAME) == 0; }))
 	{
@@ -167,27 +183,6 @@ std::unique_ptr<vkb::core::InstanceC> Profiles::create_instance()
 	}
 #endif
 
-#if defined(PLATFORM__MACOS)
-	// On Apple use layer setting to enable MoltenVK's Metal argument buffers - needed for descriptor indexing/scaling
-	enabled_extensions.push_back(VK_EXT_LAYER_SETTINGS_EXTENSION_NAME);
-
-	VkLayerSettingEXT layerSetting{};
-	layerSetting.pLayerName   = "MoltenVK";
-	layerSetting.pSettingName = "MVK_CONFIG_USE_METAL_ARGUMENT_BUFFERS";
-	layerSetting.type         = VK_LAYER_SETTING_TYPE_INT32_EXT;
-	layerSetting.valueCount   = 1;
-
-	const int32_t useMetalArgumentBuffers = 1;
-	layerSetting.pValues                  = &useMetalArgumentBuffers;
-
-	VkLayerSettingsCreateInfoEXT layerSettingsCreateInfo{};
-	layerSettingsCreateInfo.sType        = VK_STRUCTURE_TYPE_LAYER_SETTINGS_CREATE_INFO_EXT;
-	layerSettingsCreateInfo.settingCount = 1;
-	layerSettingsCreateInfo.pSettings    = &layerSetting;
-
-	create_info.pNext = &layerSettingsCreateInfo;
-#endif
-
 	create_info.sType                   = VK_STRUCTURE_TYPE_INSTANCE_CREATE_INFO;
 	create_info.ppEnabledExtensionNames = enabled_extensions.data();
 	create_info.enabledExtensionCount   = static_cast<uint32_t>(enabled_extensions.size());
@@ -464,6 +459,7 @@ void Profiles::setup_descriptor_pool()
 	        static_cast<uint32_t>(pool_sizes.size()),
 	        pool_sizes.data(),
 	        3);
+	descriptor_pool_create_info.flags = VK_DESCRIPTOR_POOL_CREATE_UPDATE_AFTER_BIND_BIT_EXT;
 	VK_CHECK(vkCreateDescriptorPool(get_device().get_handle(), &descriptor_pool_create_info, nullptr, &descriptor_pool));
 }
 
@@ -501,6 +497,7 @@ void Profiles::setup_descriptor_set_layout()
 	        static_cast<uint32_t>(textures.size()))};
 	descriptor_layout_create_info.bindingCount = static_cast<uint32_t>(set_layout_bindings.size());
 	descriptor_layout_create_info.pBindings    = set_layout_bindings.data();
+	descriptor_layout_create_info.flags        = VK_DESCRIPTOR_SET_LAYOUT_CREATE_UPDATE_AFTER_BIND_POOL_BIT_EXT;
 	VK_CHECK(vkCreateDescriptorSetLayout(get_device().get_handle(), &descriptor_layout_create_info, nullptr, &base_descriptor_set_layout));
 
 	// Set layout for the samplers
@@ -513,6 +510,7 @@ void Profiles::setup_descriptor_set_layout()
 	        static_cast<uint32_t>(textures.size()))};
 	descriptor_layout_create_info.bindingCount = static_cast<uint32_t>(set_layout_bindings.size());
 	descriptor_layout_create_info.pBindings    = set_layout_bindings.data();
+	descriptor_layout_create_info.pNext        = nullptr;
 	VK_CHECK(vkCreateDescriptorSetLayout(get_device().get_handle(), &descriptor_layout_create_info, nullptr, &sampler_descriptor_set_layout));
 
 	// Pipeline layout
diff --git a/samples/tooling/profiles/vulkan_profiles.hpp b/samples/tooling/profiles/vulkan_profiles.hpp
index aab81bcfe..499c121a6 100644
--- a/samples/tooling/profiles/vulkan_profiles.hpp
+++ b/samples/tooling/profiles/vulkan_profiles.hpp
@@ -33648,25 +33648,6 @@ VPAPI_ATTR VkResult vpCreateInstance(
 		}
 	}
 
-#ifdef __APPLE__
-	bool has_portability_ext = false;
-	for (std::size_t ext_index = 0, ext_count = extensions.size(); ext_index < ext_count; ++ext_index)
-	{
-		if (strcmp(extensions[ext_index], VK_KHR_PORTABILITY_ENUMERATION_EXTENSION_NAME) == 0)
-		{
-			has_portability_ext = true;
-			break;
-		}
-	}
-
-	if (!has_portability_ext)
-	{
-		extensions.push_back(VK_KHR_PORTABILITY_ENUMERATION_EXTENSION_NAME);
-	}
-
-	createInfo.flags |= VK_INSTANCE_CREATE_ENUMERATE_PORTABILITY_BIT_KHR;
-#endif
-
 	if (!extensions.empty())
 	{
 		createInfo.enabledExtensionCount   = static_cast<uint32_t>(extensions.size());