Everything new in Expo SDK 56 | Code with Beto

Expo SDK 56 brings major updates that improve developer experience and app performance. I cover the new Expo UI production readiness, native primitives, inline modules, and faster builds with precompiled packages. It’s a must-watch if you want to stay current with Expo’s evolving ecosystem.

I also demo how Expo UI components work across platforms and explain the new native state hook for better input performance. Plus, I show how Expo SDK 56 simplifies native module development with inline modules. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced React Native developer, these updates will impact your workflow.

What's inside

Expo Go and SDK 56 compatibility challenges and solutions
Expo UI is now production-ready and included in the default template
Universal Expo UI components and real app examples
New useNativeState hook for better input performance
Drop-in replacements for popular community packages
Faster builds with precompiled Expo packages
Inline modules for easier native code integration
Deep dive into Expo UI’s native primitives and tooling

Expo Go and SDK 56 compatibility challenges and solutions

Expo Go from the App Store currently does not support SDK 55 or 56 due to Apple’s stricter rules on apps executing dynamic code. Expo is upgrading Expo Go to comply with these rules, aiming for SDK 56 support soon. Meanwhile, you can download Expo Go APKs directly from expo.dev/go for Android or join the iOS TestFlight beta.

I personally recommend using Expo development builds instead of Expo Go for SDK 56 projects. If you’re new to development builds or Expo Go, check out my free Expo UI course section that covers these basics.

Expo UI is now production-ready and included in the default template

With SDK 56, Expo UI’s Jetpack Compose (Android) and SwiftUI (iOS) APIs are stable and ready for production. Expo UI is now part of the default create-expo-app template, marking a big shift in how Expo apps are built.

This means you can start your projects with Expo UI components out of the box, which unlocks new possibilities for building native-feeling apps with less effort. This is a significant milestone that many React Native developers might overlook but will shape the future of Expo development.

Universal Expo UI components and real app examples

Expo UI provides universal components like bottom sheet, button, checkbox, column, flex group, icon, row, scroll view, slider, spacer, switch, text, and text inputs. Not all components are fully flexible yet, but core ones like bottom sheets work well on web and Android.

I showed demos of Expo UI running on web and Android emulators, including a native SwiftUI settings screen that integrates React Native views seamlessly. I also highlighted Platano, my template using Expo UI, which powers real apps like Adorn AI, a hairstyle try-on app with payments and App Store deployment.

New useNativeState hook for better input performance

Expo UI introduces a new hook called that lets you manage input and form state natively instead of through React state. This avoids blocking the JavaScript thread during fast typing or input changes, resulting in smoother performance.

I show how controlling inputs with React state causes lag, while keeps inputs responsive by syncing state directly on the native side. This is a game changer for forms and inputs in React Native apps.

Drop-in replacements for popular community packages

SDK 56 adds drop-in replacements for several common React Native community packages, including daytime picker, segment control, native picker, slider, masked view, and bottom sheet. This reduces dependencies on third-party libraries that may be poorly maintained.

Using Expo UI’s replacements simplifies upgrades and reduces the risk of breaking changes. It also means you can trust Expo to maintain and improve these components long term.

Faster builds with precompiled Expo packages

Expo SDK 56 precompiles some of the most popular packages by default, speeding up your app’s build times. If you want to disable this, you can set to 0.

This optimization is automatic but can be controlled if needed. Faster builds mean less waiting and more productivity during development.

Inline modules for easier native code integration

One of the most exciting features is inline modules, which let you write native code directly inside your project structure alongside JavaScript and TypeScript files. You just enable the experiment in and create Kotlin or Swift files in your app folder.

This removes the need for complex native module setup, boilerplate, and linking. You can create native modules quickly and use them with . This lowers the barrier to adding native functionality in Expo projects.

Deep dive into Expo UI’s native primitives and tooling

Expo UI focuses on native primitives that overlap with popular community libraries, making migration easier and reducing fragmentation. The web APIs are still experimental and may change, but Android and iOS support is stable.

I also previews my upcoming Expo UI course section, where I’ll teach everything about Expo UI, native primitives, and how to build performant apps using these new tools.

Resources

CourseReact Native course

Fundamentals through shipping: the concepts behind the prompts, with lifetime access.

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