React Native 0.88: release date and what’s new
Short answer: React Native 0.88 is not stable yet. It is in release candidates, and the newest is 0.88.0-rc.3, published on September 28, 2026. On npm the latest tag is still 0.87.1, and 0.88 sits under next. The team has not announced a date. React Native has shipped a stable release about every two months in 2026, and 0.87 went from its first release candidate to stable in about five weeks. At that pace, 0.88 would land around mid-October 2026, but this is our reading of the pattern, not a promise. The rc.2 notes call 0.88 a non-breaking release.
React Native 0.88 release candidates
From the facebook/react-native GitHub releases and npm, read 5 October 2026.
| Version | Published | Notable in this build |
|---|---|---|
| 0.88.0-rc.0 | September 8, 2026 | first candidate: fontVariationSettings, DevTools screenshots, SceneDelegate support, Metro 0.87 |
| 0.88.0-rc.1 | September 16, 2026 | React 19.3.0 synced, Hermes bump, SwiftPM fixes |
| 0.88.0-rc.2 | September 22, 2026 | ArrayBuffer TurboModule changes reverted to keep 0.88 non-breaking, Metro 0.87.1 minimum |
| 0.88.0-rc.3 | September 28, 2026 | Hermes fix for lazy compilation, SwiftPM autolinking fix |
| 0.87.1 | August 26, 2026 | current stable, npm latest |
When will React Native 0.88 be released?
There is no announced date. Stable releases in 2026 came on February 11 (0.84), April 7 (0.85), June 11 (0.86) and August 11 (0.87). For 0.87, the first release candidate appeared on July 8 and stable followed on August 11 after rc.4. The first 0.88 candidate appeared on September 8, and rc.3 followed on September 28. Watch the
latest tag on npm or the React Native blog: the release post is the moment 0.88 becomes the default for new projects.What’s new in 0.88
React 19.3.0 is synced into React Native.
<Text> and TextInput get fontVariationSettings, with an object syntax, for variable fonts. React Native DevTools can capture app screenshots through Page.captureScreenshot, and inspecting WebSocket events in the Network panel arrives in the canary channel. On iOS there is SceneDelegate lifecycle support, images use the asset catalog, and the opt-in npx react-native spm tooling generates Swift Package Manager packages while CocoaPods stays supported. On Android, network requests send the app name and version as the default User-Agent, matching iOS, and Java TurboModules can take an ArrayBuffer. The experimental_ prefix is gone from backgroundSize, backgroundPosition and backgroundRepeat.What to check before you upgrade
The team calls 0.88 non-breaking, but a few changes can still touch your code. The undocumented
Touchable root export is removed, so use ViewProps if you extended it as a type. react-native/Libraries/Core/InitializeCore is deprecated in favour of react-native/setup-env. In the Babel preset, inlining Platform.OS and Platform.select now needs the inlinePlatform option as well as platform. Setting a role other than none or presentation now sets accessible for you. InputAccessoryView is deprecated, and Metro 0.87.1 is the minimum. The opt-out from the Strict TypeScript API through react-native-legacy-deep-imports still works in 0.88, as explained in our React Native 0.87 guide.Expo and React Native 0.88
Expo ships React Native versions through its SDKs, and SDK 58 follows React Native 0.88. For where SDK 58 stands and how to try it today, see Expo SDK 58 release date.
Where Censuus fits
A current framework keeps your app easy to ship; being found brings people to it. Censuus ranks apps by the visits they draw, and adding your app is free through the List my app form. Placement comes from traffic and sponsorship: apps climb on the visits they draw, and a sponsor can pay to rise higher.
Frequently asked questions
Is React Native 0.88 released?
Not as stable yet. The newest build is 0.88.0-rc.3 from September 28, 2026, and npm’s latest tag is still 0.87.1.
What is the latest stable version of React Native?
React Native 0.87.1, published on August 26, 2026.
Is React Native 0.88 a breaking release?
The team describes it as non-breaking and reverted two ArrayBuffer changes in rc.2 to keep it that way. Check the removed Touchable root export and the Babel inlinePlatform option.
Which React version does React Native 0.88 use?
React 19.3.0, synced into React Native in 0.88.0-rc.1.
How do I try React Native 0.88 now?
Install the release candidate from npm’s next tag, for example react-native@next, and use the React Native Upgrade Helper to compare your project with the 0.88 template.
Guides for app developers
- How to market an app: a stage-by-stage plan
- Submit your app for free
- How to get your app to show up in Google search
- How to get your app recommended by AI assistants
- Free app promotion sites, checked for dofollow
- App store optimization checklist: what Apple and Google actually say
- App launch checklist: iOS and Android, step by step
- How to find beta testers for your app
- How to get more app reviews without breaking the store rules
- How to get your app featured on the App Store and Google Play
- App Store and Google Play screenshot sizes: what you must upload
- How to promote an app on Google Play with Play Console’s own tools
- How to promote an iOS app with App Store Connect’s own tools
- App Store keywords: how to fill the 100-character field
- How to market a fitness app: what Apple and Google let you claim
- How to market a kids app: the store rules that shape it
- How to market a finance app: the store rules to know first
- How to market a dating app: the store rules that shape it
- How to market a subscription app: what the stores require of your offer
- How to market a mobile game: the store rules that shape it
- Apple Ads MCP: connect an AI assistant to your campaigns
- How to promote an app on TikTok with creators
- How to promote an app on YouTube with creators
- How to market a VPN app: the store rules to know first
- How to market an AI app: the store rules that shape it
- How to market an education app: schools, parents and learners
- How to localize your App Store and Google Play listing
- Android vitals and Google Play visibility: the thresholds that hide apps
- App Store and Google Play age ratings: what drives them
- App Store privacy labels and Google Play Data safety: what to declare
- Common App Store rejection reasons and how to avoid them
- How to get the first users for your app
- App preview video specs: App Store sizes, length and rules, and the Google Play video
- App Store custom product pages, and the Google Play version
- App icon size for the App Store and Google Play
- App Store phased release and Google Play staged rollouts
- App Store subtitle and promotional text: limits and how to use them
- Google Play feature graphic: size, placement and rules
- TestFlight public link: set it up, limit it, and fix it when it does not work
- App Store promo codes and offer codes: how they work and their limits
- App Store A/B testing: product page optimization and Google Play experiments
- App Store in-app events: limits, badges and media sizes
- App Store Connect analytics: what each metric means
- Google Play store listing reports: clicks, CTR and the 2026 changes
- Google Play target API level requirements for 2026
- Android developer verification: what changed on September 30, 2026
- App Store and Google Play fees in 2026
- Google Play’s 12 testers for 14 days rule, explained
- How to transfer an app to another developer account
- How to remove an app from the App Store and Google Play
- The app account deletion requirement on the App Store and Google Play
- Google Play 16 KB page size requirement: dates, checks and fixes
- Declared Age Range and Play Age Signals: age assurance APIs for app developers
- Xcode 26 and the iOS 26 SDK requirement for App Store Connect
- The iOS privacy manifest: what to declare and how
- Accessibility Nutrition Labels: what to declare on your App Store page
- Google Play’s photo and video permissions policy, explained
- Google Play Billing Library version requirement: what you need to ship now
- App Tracking Transparency: when to ask and how
- App Store Connect API key: create it, store it, use it
- How to submit an In-App Purchase for review
- The Play Integrity API: what it checks and how to use it
- How long app review takes on the App Store and Google Play
- Google Play policy updates in 2026, with the deadlines
- Rosetta 2 end of support: what Mac developers need to do
- Monthly subscriptions with a 12-month commitment on the App Store
- Subscription Bundles, Suites and multiseat purchases on the App Store
- Sign in with Apple private relay email and the new private.icloud.com domain
- App Store Server Notifications V2: switching from V1 and handling every event
- Migrating to StoreKit 2: what is deprecated and what replaces it
- App Store creative assets: headers and search result visuals in iOS 27
- On-Demand Resources is deprecated: moving to Background Assets
- Time Allowances in iOS 27: how your app gets its category
- Android Contact Picker and the new READ_CONTACTS rules
- The Android 17 location button and Google Play’s precise location rules
- Phone verification without READ_CALL_LOG: what replaces call-based checks
- Apple’s EU business terms from October 1, 2026
- Android 17 app memory limits: detect, test and stay under them
- The Android 17 local network permission
- Android 17 background audio hardening
- Cleartext HTTP and certificate transparency on Android 17
- Android 17: lock-free MessageQueue and static final fields
- Android 17 ignores orientation lock and resizability on large screens
- Android 17 behavior changes: a checklist for target SDK 37
- Preparing your app for iPhone Duo
- Google Play subscription grace period and account hold
- Getting your Android app ready for Googlebook
- The Android 17 Handoff API
- ADB Wi-Fi 2.0 wireless debugging
- Android AppFunctions: your app as on-device tools for AI agents
- Android Live Updates: how to qualify for a promoted notification
- App Store Connect webhooks
- Apple Foundation Models: on-device vs Private Cloud Compute
- Using Claude, Codex and other agents in Android Studio
- Gemini Nano for Android developers
- Firebase AI Logic: the App Check deadline and Gemini 2.5 shutdowns
- Swift 6.4: what’s new for app developers
- The Swift SDK for Android
- Publishing your game on Android Auto and Android Automotive OS
- Liquid Glass in a Compose Multiplatform app
- Expo SDK 58: when it ships and what changes
- Device Hub in Xcode 27
- Using the Xcode MCP server with Claude Code, Codex and other agents
- Xcode 27: release, requirements and point releases
- Gemma 4 and Android skills in Android Studio
- The UIScene life cycle is required in iOS 27
- Migrating to Android Gradle plugin 9
- Navigation 3 for Jetpack Compose
- Kotlin 2.4, 2.4.20 and the road to 2.5
- Upgrading your app build to Gradle 9
- The latest Compose BOM and Compose 1.12
- Compose Multiplatform 1.12 and the Hot Reload MCP server
- Opting out of Liquid Glass with UIDesignRequiresCompatibility
- Flutter 3.47 and the latest stable version
- React Native 0.87 and the latest version
- Android Studio latest version: Rabbit 1, Quail 4 and what comes next
- CocoaPods goes read-only: what changes and when
- Fixing YouTube Error 153 in embedded players
- Fixing “APNS token has not been set yet” in Firebase Messaging
- Older iOS Simulator runtimes and Rosetta destinations in Xcode
- Fixing the fmt consteval error in React Native on Xcode 26.4
Put your app in the ranking
Censuus ranks apps by the visits they draw and by sponsorship, no bots. Listing is free; sponsorship raises placement.