React Native 0.85 & Expo SDK 56 Beta: New Animation Backend, Metro TLS, Stable Expo UI, and Expo Router v56 Fork
Key Questions
What are the main changes in React Native 0.85?
React Native 0.85 introduces a new animation backend along with Metro TLS support. These updates are complemented by Reanimated 4.4.0, which adds an iOS CSS Core Animation engine.
What features are included in the Expo SDK 56 beta?
Expo SDK 56 beta ships with React Native 0.85, a stable Expo UI offering SwiftUI and Jetpack Compose from a single import, prebuilt XCFrameworks, and inline modules. It also includes a forked Expo Router v56 that adds streaming SSR and an Android toolbar API.
What is Observe and how does it help Expo developers?
Observe is a new performance monitoring tool that provides per-screen navigation metrics for both Expo Router and React Navigation. It addresses a gap in production observability for Expo apps.
RN 0.85 ships a new animation backend and Metro TLS support. Expo SDK 56 beta includes RN 0.85, stable Expo UI (SwiftUI/Jetpack Compose from a single import, drop-in replacements for community packages), prebuilt XCFrameworks, and inline modules. A deep-dive field engineering article on the bridge removal provides a clear timeline and practical migration advice. Developers should evaluate the animation changes and migrate to SDK 56 to leverage Expo UI stability. Additionally, Expo Router v56 has forked from React Navigation, introducing streaming SSR and an Android toolbar API — a major architectural shift. Reanimated 4.4.0 also released with an iOS CSS Core Animation engine and new Animation Backend, complementing RN 0.85's animation improvements. The App.js 2026 conference confirmed Expo's AI-era momentum, with Expo UI, Router, and Observe highlighted as key components. Expo has now released Observe, a performance monitoring tool with per-screen navigation metrics for Expo Router and React Navigation, filling a gap in production observability. Strategic priorities include feedback loops and speed improvements.