React Native 0.80: Is It Time to Make the Switch?

React Native 0.80 Release Highlights

React Native 0.80 delivers performance improvements, cleaner APIs, and updated dependencies. Here is a summary of the main changes:

1. React and Dependency Upgrades

1. React 19.1.0 Integration: React Native 0.80 aligns with React 19.1.0, offering enhanced owner stacks for debugging and other development improvements.
2. Hermes Optimizations: Interprocedural Optimization (IPO) is now enabled by default for Android builds using Hermes, reducing APK sizes by approximately 1MB.

2. Updated Packages:

1. eslint-plugin-react-hooks upgraded from v4.6.0 to v5.2.0

2. Kotlin upgraded to v2.1.20 for Android projects

3. The Push Toward the New Architecture

1. Legacy Architecture Frozen: No new features or bug fixes will be provided for the legacy system.

2. New Architecture Encouraged: DevTools now show warnings for deprecated APIs that will not work in the new system.

3. Fabric and TurboModules: Both remain fundamental in the New Architecture, although no additional changes were introduced in this release.

4. Breaking Changes to Watch For

1. Deep Import Deprecation: Deep JavaScript imports, such as react-native/Libraries/Alert/Alert, are now deprecated. Apps should switch to root-level imports.

2. "exports" Field Added: React Native’s package.json now includes an exports field. This is backward-compatible in 0.80 but affects Metro bundler platform-specific expansions and Jest mocks.

3. Hook Linting Changes: Upgrading to eslint-plugin-react-hooks@5.2.0 may trigger new rule violations.

4. Android-Specific Changes: Removal of StandardCharsets and migration of certain classes to Kotlin.

5. iOS-Specific Changes: RCTFloorPixelValue has been removed from RCTUtils.h.

New Features and Enhancements

1. Strict TypeScript API (Opt-In)

React Native 0.80 introduces an experimental strict TypeScript mode, which generates type definitions directly from the source code. This change aligns with the deprecation of deep imports and provides a more accurate developer experience for public APIs.

2. Experimental iOS Prebuilt Dependencies

The release includes a new .xcframework prebuild with dependencies like Folly and GLog, which reduces iOS build times by roughly 12% on M4 chips and resolves several common build issues.

3. Redesigned New App Screen

The default app template, used with the Community CLI, now features a cleaner design extracted into its own package.

Performance and Tooling Improvements

1. APK Size Reduction: Android builds using Hermes benefit from IPO optimizations that remove redundant code and reduce app size.

2. Improved DevTools Warnings: Warnings are now more precise, making it easier to identify deprecated APIs, architecture misconfigurations, or outdated project setups.

3. React 19.1 Owner Stack Debugging: Provides improved component-level tracing, although some issues remain due to @babel/plugin-transform-function-name.

Migration Support

1. Use the React Native upgrade helper to compare your current version with 0.80 and see required file changes.

2. Expo users can try 0.80 through a canary SDK release.

3. Developers can temporarily opt out of the New Architecture during migration to reduce risk of regressions.

Known Issues and Regressions

1. Owner Stack Debugging Issue: @babel/plugin-transform-function-name interferes with owner stacks. A fix is expected in a future release.

2. iOS Prebuilds Are Experimental: Prebuilt dependencies may cause unexpected issues and are opt-in.

3. "exports" Field Side Effects: Module resolution and Jest mocks may behave differently depending on configuration.

TL;DR: Key Features of React Native 0.80

React Native 0.80 Migration Guide: How to Upgrade Safely

1. Review the Upgrade Helper: Use the React Native upgrade helper to compare versions and track changes in package.json, Gradle, Podfile, and other files.

2. Back Up Your Project: Commit code or create a backup branch to allow rollback if needed.

3. Upgrade Dependencies: Run:

   npm install react-native@0.80.0 react@19.1.0

# or with Yarn

yarn add react-native@0.80.0 react@19.1.0

Update supporting libraries and check compatibility with 0.80.

Clean and Reinstall Dependencies: Remove old builds and caches, then reinstall:

rm -rf node_modules ios/Pods android/build

npm cache clean --force

npm install

cd ios && pod install && cd ..

This is also a good time to review modern UI libraries for full 0.80 support.

Align With the New Architecture: Optional but recommended:

4. Android: gradle.properties → newArchEnabled=true

5. iOS: Enable Fabric and TurboModules

Handle Deprecated APIs: Address warnings for removed methods or configurations.

Monitor JSC Usage: Switch to Hermes or migrate to the community JSC package if your app depends on JavaScriptCore.

For guidance on debugging workflows, see our debugging process article.

Should You Upgrade to React Native 0.80?

Upgrading depends on your app’s current state. For new projects or major feature work, React Native 0.80 is a strong choice.

Benefits include:

1. Clearer debugging with React 19.1

2. Compatibility with the New Architecture

3. Metro bundler improvements

4. Stricter TypeScript support

If your existing app is stable but behind on dependencies or performance, 0.80 provides a safe upgrade path. Following best practices for scalable React Native apps ensures maintainability and faster iteration cycles.

Our React Native development team can help build new apps or assist in migrating to 0.80 safely.