React Native 0.80: Major Features, Performance & Deprecations

The React Native ecosystem just witnessed one of its most significant releases to date. React Native 0.80.0 was published just 4 days ago, and it's packed with features that will fundamentally change how developers build cross-platform mobile applications. This isn't just another incremental update – it's a strategic pivot that sets the foundation for React Native's future.

What Makes React Native 0.80 a Watershed Moment?

While many releases focus on bug fixes and minor improvements, React Native 0.80 represents a bold step forward. It introduces React 19.1.0 update that introduces native radial gradients, faster iOS builds, smaller Android APKs, frozen legacy architecture, deprecation warnings for deep imports, opt-in strict TypeScript API, and official JSC support ending. But the real story lies in what these changes mean for the developer experience and app performance.

The React 19.1.0 Integration: More Than Just a Version Bump

The inclusion of React 19.1.0 brings "owner stacks" – a debugging feature that revolutionizes error tracking. When your app crashes, you'll now see exactly which component caused the issue, making debugging exponentially faster. This addresses one of the most frustrating aspects of React Native development: mysterious crashes that take hours to trace.

However, there's a caveat: if you're using the @babel/plugin-transform-function-name plugin, you might encounter bugs. The React Native team is aware of this issue, so check your Babel configuration before upgrading.

The Death of Deep Imports: A Cleaner API Surface

One of the most significant changes is the deprecation of deep imports. Those familiar patterns like import {Alert} from 'react-native/Libraries/Alert/Alert' are now officially deprecated. While this might seem like a minor change, it represents a fundamental shift in how React Native exposes its API.

// ❌ Old way - Deep import (now deprecated)
import {Alert} from 'react-native/Libraries/Alert/Alert';

// ✅ New way - Root import
import {Alert} from 'react-native';

This change serves a dual purpose: it reduces the API surface area and prepares for a more streamlined architecture. Some APIs that aren't available at the root level will eventually disappear entirely, forcing developers to use only the officially supported interfaces.

TypeScript Gets Stricter (But Smarter)

The new opt-in strict TypeScript API is a game-changer for large codebases. These types are generated directly from the source code, making them more accurate and reliable. They're also restricted to React Native's public API, which means better IntelliSense and fewer runtime surprises.

The beauty of this approach is that it's opt-in. If you're using standard APIs, you probably won't need to change anything immediately. But for teams building complex applications, the improved type safety will catch bugs before they reach production.

Legacy Architecture: The End of an Era

Perhaps the most significant architectural change is the official freezing of the Legacy Architecture. Starting with version 0.76, the New Architecture became the standard implementation, while the Legacy Architecture is no longer being developed. This means:

• No new bug fixes or features for the Legacy Architecture
• No testing on the Legacy Architecture during development
• Warning messages in DevTools for APIs that won't work with the New Architecture

This isn't just a technical decision – it's a strategic one. By freezing the Legacy Architecture, the React Native team can focus entirely on optimizing the New Architecture, leading to faster development cycles and better performance.

Performance Improvements That Actually Matter

iOS Build Speed: 12% Faster Out of the Box

The experimental prebuilt dependencies feature can reduce initial iOS build times by approximately 12%. To enable it, simply run:

RCT_USE_RN_DEP=1 bundle exec pod install

Or add it to your Podfile:

ENV['RCT_USE_RN_DEP'] = '1'

This might seem like a small improvement, but for large teams running multiple builds per day, it translates to significant time savings.

Android APKs: Smaller by Default

Thanks to Interprocedural Optimization (IPO) enabled for both React Native and Hermes, Android APKs are now approximately 1MB smaller. This improvement requires no configuration changes – it's automatic when you upgrade to 0.80.

In an era where app size directly impacts download rates and user retention, every megabyte matters. A 1MB reduction might seem minor, but it can significantly impact user acquisition in bandwidth-constrained markets.

Visual Enhancements: Native Radial Gradients Finally Arrive

After years of waiting, React Native finally supports native radial gradients. This eliminates the need for third-party libraries or complex workarounds. The implementation is native on both platforms, ensuring consistent performance and appearance.

// Native radial gradient support
<View style={{
  background: 'radial-gradient(circle, #ff0000 0%, #0000ff 100%)'
}} />

Enhanced Color Support: Modern CSS Standards

React Native 0.80 introduces support for:

• hwb() color notation
• Alpha channels in rgb() format like rgb(R G B / A)

These additions bring React Native closer to modern CSS standards, making it easier for web developers to transition to mobile development.

Accessibility Improvements: Inclusive by Design

The new accessibility features show React Native's commitment to inclusive design:

• accessibilityOrder prop for both Android and iOS
• screenReaderFocusable for Android
• accessibilityRespondsToUserInteraction for iOS

These additions make it easier to build apps that work for everyone, not just users without disabilities.

The End of Official JavaScriptCore Support

React Native 0.80 marks the last version with official JavaScriptCore (JSC) support. Future versions will rely on the community package @react-native-community/javascriptcore. This shift reflects the broader industry move toward Hermes as the preferred JavaScript engine for React Native.

If you're still using JSC, now is the time to plan your migration to Hermes or prepare to maintain JSC support through community packages.

Breaking Changes: What You Need to Know

JavaScript Changes

• ESLint Plugin React Hooks updated from v4.6.0 to v5.2.0, which may generate new lint errors
• Component names can no longer start with _ (underscore)

Android Changes

• StandardCharsets was removed (use java.nio.charset.StandardCharsets instead)
• Several classes converted from Java to Kotlin
• Multiple classes marked as internal and should not be accessed directly

iOS Changes

• RCTFloorPixelValue removed from RCTUtils.h
• BridgeModuleBatchDidComplete configuration helpers deleted

How to Upgrade: A Strategic Approach

Use the React Native Upgrade Helper to see the exact changes between your current version and 0.80. This tool provides a diff view of all the files that need updating, making the upgrade process much more manageable.

For Expo users, React Native 0.80 support is available in canary versions of the Expo SDK, with stable support coming soon.

The Developer Experience Revolution

Beyond the technical improvements, React Native 0.80 represents a fundamental shift in the developer experience. The new app screen has been redesigned and moved to its own package, reducing initial boilerplate and improving the experience on larger screens.

The Pressable component now exposes the onPressMove prop, giving developers more control over touch interactions. This seemingly small addition opens up new possibilities for creating responsive, interactive interfaces.

What This Means for Your Next Project

If you're starting a new React Native project, version 0.80 should be your default choice. The performance improvements, enhanced debugging capabilities, and modern API design make it the most developer-friendly version yet.

For existing projects, the upgrade path depends on your current architecture. If you're already using the New Architecture, the transition should be relatively smooth. If you're still on the Legacy Architecture, now is the time to plan your migration.

Looking Forward: The Future of React Native

React Native 0.80 isn't just about what it includes – it's about what it enables. By freezing the Legacy Architecture and standardizing the API surface, the React Native team has created a foundation for more aggressive improvements in future releases.

The focus on performance, developer experience, and modern web standards suggests that React Native is positioning itself not just as a cross-platform solution, but as the cross-platform solution for the next decade.

The Bottom Line

React Native 0.80 represents more than just another release – it's a strategic repositioning that addresses the framework's most significant pain points while laying the groundwork for future innovations. The combination of performance improvements, enhanced debugging capabilities, and modern API design makes this a must-have upgrade for serious React Native developers.

The message is clear: the React Native team isn't just maintaining the framework – they're actively pushing it forward. For developers who want to build the next generation of mobile applications, React Native 0.80 provides the tools and foundation to do exactly that.

Ready to upgrade to React Native 0.80? Start with the React Native Upgrade Helper and follow the official documentation for a smooth transition. The future of cross-platform development is here – and it's more powerful than ever.