diff --git a/src/aria/private/utils/collection.spec.ts b/src/aria/private/utils/collection.spec.ts
index 0745e1e3e0d2..f3fb312e2c75 100644
--- a/src/aria/private/utils/collection.spec.ts
+++ b/src/aria/private/utils/collection.spec.ts
@@ -74,6 +74,16 @@ describe('SortedCollection with real directives', () => {
     expect(orderedItems[0].value).toBe('C');
     expect(orderedItems[2].value).toBe('A');
   });
+
+  it('should not update collection if the DOM changes but the items have not moved', async () => {
+    const collection = collectionDirective._collection;
+    const previousItems = collection.orderedItems();
+
+    collectionDirective.element.appendChild(document.createElement('div'));
+    await waitForMicrotasks();
+
+    expect(collection.orderedItems()).toBe(previousItems);
+  });
 });
 
 @Component({
@@ -97,9 +107,7 @@ class TestCollectionComponent implements HasElement, OnDestroy {
 
 @Component({
   selector: 'testItem',
-  template: `
-    <div>{{value}}</div>
-  `,
+  template: `<div>{{value}}</div>`,
 })
 class TestItemComponent implements HasElement, OnDestroy {
   readonly element = inject(ElementRef).nativeElement as HTMLElement;
diff --git a/src/aria/private/utils/collection.ts b/src/aria/private/utils/collection.ts
index 0cabc6343401..94639250844b 100644
--- a/src/aria/private/utils/collection.ts
+++ b/src/aria/private/utils/collection.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.dev/license
  */
 
-import {signal, computed, Signal} from '@angular/core';
+import {signal, Signal} from '@angular/core';
 import {sortDirectives, HasElement} from './element';
 
 /**
@@ -17,49 +17,53 @@ import {sortDirectives, HasElement} from './element';
  * TODO(ok7sai): replace Mutation Observer with internal API.
  */
 export class SortedCollection<T extends HasElement> {
-  private readonly _items = signal<Set<T>>(new Set());
-  private readonly _version = signal(0);
+  private readonly _items = new Set<T>();
+  private readonly _sortedItems = signal<T[]>([]);
   private _observer?: MutationObserver;
 
-  readonly orderedItems: Signal<T[]> = computed(() => {
-    this._version(); // Track DOM changes
-    const itemsArray = Array.from(this._items());
-    return itemsArray.sort(sortDirectives);
-  });
+  readonly orderedItems: Signal<T[]> = this._sortedItems.asReadonly();
 
   register(item: T) {
-    this._items.update(set => {
-      const newSet = new Set(set);
-      newSet.add(item);
-      return newSet;
-    });
+    if (!this._items.has(item)) {
+      this._items.add(item);
+      this._sortedItems.set(this._getSortedItems());
+    }
   }
 
   unregister(item: T) {
-    this._items.update(set => {
-      const newSet = new Set(set);
-      newSet.delete(item);
-      return newSet;
-    });
+    if (this._items.has(item)) {
+      this._items.delete(item);
+      this._sortedItems.set(this._getSortedItems());
+    }
   }
 
   startObserving(element: HTMLElement) {
-    if (this._observer) {
-      this._observer.disconnect();
-    }
-
+    this.stopObserving();
     this._observer = new MutationObserver(mutations => {
       const hasStructuralChange = mutations.some(m => m.addedNodes.length || m.removedNodes.length);
+
       if (hasStructuralChange) {
-        this._version.update(v => v + 1);
+        const newItems = this._getSortedItems();
+        const currentItems = this._sortedItems();
+        const hasChanged =
+          newItems.length !== currentItems.length ||
+          newItems.some((item, index) => currentItems[index] !== item);
+
+        if (hasChanged) {
+          this._sortedItems.set(newItems);
+        }
       }
     });
 
-    this._observer.observe(element, {childList: true, subtree: true});
+    this._observer.observe(element, {childList: true, subtree: true, attributes: false});
   }
 
   stopObserving() {
     this._observer?.disconnect();
     this._observer = undefined;
   }
+
+  private _getSortedItems() {
+    return Array.from(this._items).sort(sortDirectives);
+  }
 }