Expo SDK 53: React 19, Expo UI, EAS Caching, Maps, and SQLite on Web

Expo SDK 53 brings major updates for React Native developers, including support for React 19 and React Native 0.79. This unlocks new React features like for promises and improved suspense handling. The new architecture is now the default for new projects, improving performance and compatibility.

A highlight is the new Expo UI (XUI) library, which provides native UI components like buttons, pickers, sliders, and bottom sheets for iOS and Android. These components are fully native, maintained by Expo, and designed to replace community packages that often become outdated. I also covers EAS build caching improvements and enhanced web support for Maps and SQLite.

What's inside

Creating and upgrading projects to Expo SDK 53 with React 19
Using React 19 features like and suspense in Expo apps
New architecture enabled by default and compatibility tips
Expo UI (XUI) alpha: native buttons, pickers, sliders, and bottom sheets
Android H2 full-screen support and status bar improvements
Expo UI components on iOS and Android with native look and feel
EAS build caching enhancements for faster builds
Web support updates for Expo Maps and SQLite

Creating and upgrading projects to Expo SDK 53 with React 19

Expo SDK 53 includes React Native 0.79 and React 19. You can create a new project using the default template with SDK 53 by running:

npx create-expo-app -t with-sdk-53

This sets up a project with Expo SDK 53 and React 19 out of the box. If you have an existing project on SDK 52, upgrade by running:

npx expo install --fix

This upgrades all Expo dependencies to match SDK 53. After upgrading, run to regenerate native iOS and Android folders, then rebuild your app. React Native 0.79 brings faster Metro startup and package export support, improving development speed.

Using React 19 features like and suspense in Expo apps

With React 19 support, you can use new APIs like to handle promises directly in components. I show a demo fetching Pokémon data with and rendering it with suspense for loading states.

This means you can write components that suspend rendering until data is ready, improving UI responsiveness and simplifying async data handling. For example, wrapping a component in shows a loading indicator while fetching.

These React 19 features are now fully supported in Expo SDK 53, enabling modern React patterns in your React Native apps.

New architecture enabled by default and compatibility tips

The new React Native architecture is enabled by default for new SDK 53 projects. This architecture improves performance and native module interoperability.

If upgrading an existing app, verify that your dependencies support the new architecture. Use the React Native Directory to check compatibility. Some libraries may require updates to work properly.

This default enables you to benefit from the latest React Native improvements without manual configuration.

Expo UI (XUI) alpha: native buttons, pickers, sliders, and bottom sheets

Expo UI (XUI) is a new alpha library included in SDK 53 that provides native UI primitives for iOS and Android. It includes components like buttons, toggles, sliders, context menus, pickers, and bottom sheets.

XUI components are implemented with SwiftUI on iOS and Jetpack Compose on Android, giving a native look and feel without third-party dependencies. For example, buttons support system styles like destructive, cancel, and disabled states, and can include system icons easily.

The bottom sheet disables background buttons automatically on iOS, improving UX. Context menus appear on long press and are fully dark mode compatible.

XUI is experimental and evolving fast, but it aims to replace many community packages with a maintained, native-first solution.

Android H2 full-screen support and status bar improvements

Expo SDK 53 supports Android H2, a new full-screen mode that Google will enforce on Android 15 targeting API level 35. This mode lets apps use the entire screen, including behind the status bar.

I show an app targeting Android 14 without H2, which has an ugly status bar. Enabling H2 produces a modern blurred status bar that looks great and integrates with the app UI.

Expo includes a React Native H2 module to enable this behavior easily. Expect new projects to use H2 by default for a polished Android experience.

Expo UI components on iOS and Android with native look and feel

I demos Expo UI components on both iOS and Android. On iOS, components use SwiftUI, while on Android they use Jetpack Compose.

Pickers, date/time selectors, sliders, switches, and lists all have native implementations. For example, the date picker supports graphical and wheel modes, and the switch can behave as a checkbox or button.

Context menus and color pickers are available on iOS, with some components still iOS-only or Android-only in alpha. The components react to system dark mode automatically.

This unified API lets you write cross-platform UI with native performance and appearance.

EAS build caching enhancements for faster builds

Expo Application Services (EAS) build caching is improved in SDK 53. After upgrading, running regenerates native projects, and EAS caches dependencies better to speed up subsequent builds.

This reduces build times and helps you ship faster. I recommend creating a new build after upgrading to leverage these improvements.

Web support updates for Expo Maps and SQLite

SDK 53 improves web support for Expo Maps and SQLite. You can now use these APIs on web with better compatibility.

For example, I mention searching for and shows how to integrate maps in your Expo app for web targets. SQLite support on web is also enhanced, enabling offline data storage in web apps.

These updates make Expo SDK 53 a more complete cross-platform solution including web.

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