Expo SDK 54: What It Means for Your AI-Generated App
Understanding why the best mobile app builder software needs the best technology foundation — and how Expo SDK 54 delivers 10x faster builds, iOS 26 Liquid Glass design, and true native performance.
Founder, Natively
When choosing the best mobile app builder software, most people focus on features like drag-and-drop interfaces or AI capabilities. But there is a critical factor that separates professional-grade apps from mediocre ones: the underlying technology stack. Expo SDK 54, released in September 2025, represents a major leap forward in mobile development — and understanding what it offers can help you make better decisions about which AI mobile app builder to use.
Key Takeaways
- 10x faster iOS builds — precompiled XCFrameworks reduce clean build times from 120s to 10s
- iOS 26 Liquid Glass — native support for Apple's latest design language out of the box
- React Native 0.81 — Android 16 edge-to-edge, improved error handling, stable New Architecture
- Future-proof foundation — SDK 54 is the last version supporting Legacy Architecture before full transition
- Meta Quest support — Expo Go now available on Meta Quest for VR app development
Expo SDK 54 by the Numbers
Sources: Expo SDK 54 Changelog, React Native 0.81 Blog
Why Should Non-Developers Care About SDKs?
If you are using an AI mobile app builder or no-code platform, you might wonder why framework versions matter. After all, you are not writing code directly. The answer is simple: the technology your app is built on determines its performance, capabilities, and longevity.
Think of it like buying a car. You do not need to understand engine internals to drive, but you probably want to know if your car has a modern fuel-efficient engine versus a 20-year-old design. The same applies to app development frameworks.
What a Modern Tech Stack Gives You
Apps run smoother with optimized native code
Access iOS 26 and Android 16 capabilities immediately
10x build time improvements mean quicker iterations
Modern frameworks receive updates for years
What is Expo and Why Does It Matter?
Expo is an open-source platform built on top of React Native that simplifies mobile app development. While React Native (maintained by Meta) provides the core framework for building native iOS and Android apps using JavaScript, Expo adds tooling, services, and pre-configured libraries that make the development process significantly smoother.
| Feature | React Native Only | With Expo |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Setup | Complex configuration | One command |
| Native Modules | Manual linking required | Auto-linked |
| OTA Updates | DIY implementation | Built-in EAS Update |
| App Store Builds | Local Xcode/Android Studio | Cloud builds via EAS |
| Push Notifications | Third-party setup | Expo Push API |
According to the Expo SDK 54 changelog, 75% of projects built with EAS (Expo Application Services) are already using the New Architecture — demonstrating strong adoption of modern development practices.
What's New in Expo SDK 54
Released September 10, 2025, Expo SDK 54 brings significant improvements across performance, platform support, and developer experience. Here are the highlights that matter most:
Explore SDK 54 Features
Click any feature to see details
Precompiled iOS Builds
high impactReact Native ships as precompiled XCFrameworks, dramatically reducing build times.
iOS 26 Liquid Glass
high impactNative support for Apple's new translucent design language.
Android 16 / API 36
high impactFull support for Android 16 with mandatory edge-to-edge rendering.
Improved Autolinking
medium impactTransitive dependencies now autolink automatically, just like Expo modules.
React Native 0.81
high impactShips with React Native 0.81 and React 19.1 for the latest features.
Meta Quest Support
medium impactExpo Go now available on Meta Quest via Horizon Store.
expo-app-integrity
medium impactNew package to verify app legitimacy using platform attestation.
Developer Experience
medium impactMultiple improvements to debugging and development workflow.
Source: Expo SDK 54 Changelog
iOS 26 Liquid Glass Support
Apple's iOS 26 introduced Liquid Glass — a new design language featuring translucent, glass-like UI elements. Expo SDK 54 provides native support through:
- ✓expo-glass-effect — New library with GlassView and GlassContainer components
- ✓Icon Composer — Create dynamic .icon files for app icons
- ✓SwiftUI integration — Expo UI for iOS (beta) with Liquid Glass modifiers
Note: Xcode 26 is required for iOS 26 features. EAS Build defaults to Xcode 26 for SDK 54 projects.
Android 16 / API 36 Targeting
Android 16 brings mandatory changes that Expo SDK 54 handles automatically:
- ✓Edge-to-edge rendering — Now mandatory, cannot be disabled
- ✓Predictive back gesture — Available as opt-in (disabled by default)
- ✓16KB page size compliance — Required for Google Play by Nov 2025
New Packages and APIs
expo-app-integrity
Verifies app legitimacy using DeviceCheck (iOS) and Play Integrity API (Android)
expo-blob (beta)
W3C-compliant binary large object handling for files and media
expo-sqlite improvements
localStorage web API implementation; SQLite extension loading
Updates API enhancements
Runtime header customization; useUpdates hook with downloadProgress
Important Deprecation Notice
SDK 54 is the final release supporting Legacy Architecture. Starting with SDK 55, the New Architecture will be mandatory. Additionally, expo-av will be removed in SDK 55 — migrate to expo-audio and expo-video now. The built-in SafeAreaView is deprecated; use react-native-safe-area-context instead.
The 10x Build Performance Revolution
One of the most significant improvements in Expo SDK 54 is dramatically faster iOS builds. This is achieved through precompiled XCFrameworks — a collaboration between Expo and Meta that ships React Native as pre-built binaries rather than source code that needs compilation.
iOS Build Time Calculator
Estimate your build time savings with SDK 54
Before SDK 54
With SDK 54
Your Savings
Experience the fastest builds with the latest technology
Before SDK 54
- •React Native compiled from source on every build
- •Clean builds took 120+ seconds on M4 Max
- •CI/CD pipelines waited longer
- •Developer iteration cycles slower
With SDK 54
- ✓Precompiled XCFrameworks shipped alongside source
- ✓Clean builds reduced to ~10 seconds on M4 Max
- ✓Faster CI/CD pipelines, lower cloud costs
- ✓Rapid iteration during development
As noted in the React Native 0.81 release notes, while the benchmark shows a ~10x improvement for RNTester, real-world apps will see varying improvements depending on their dependency mix. Smaller projects where React Native is the primary dependency see the most dramatic gains.
Why the Technology Stack Matters for App Builders
When evaluating the best AI mobile app builder options in 2026, the underlying technology is crucial. Here is why platforms using Expo SDK 54 and React Native have a significant advantage:
True Native Performance
Apps built with React Native and Expo compile to actual native code — not webviews wrapped in a shell. This means 60fps animations, native gestures, and access to all device APIs. According to Business of Apps, native performance is a key differentiator for production apps.
Platform Feature Access
With SDK 54, you get immediate access to iOS 26 Liquid Glass design and Android 16 features. Platforms using older frameworks cannot offer these capabilities, leaving your app looking dated.
Long-term Maintainability
React Native is backed by Meta and has a thriving ecosystem. Expo is used by companies like Coinbase, Shopify, and Discord. Your app is built on technology that will be supported for years.
Code Ownership & Flexibility
Unlike proprietary platforms, apps built with React Native/Expo give you full source code ownership. You can export, modify, and deploy independently — no vendor lock-in.
Build with the Latest Technology
Natively uses Expo SDK 54 with React Native 0.81 — giving your AI-generated apps access to 10x faster builds, iOS 26 Liquid Glass, and true native performance. Start building in minutes.
How to Choose the Best Mobile App Builder Software
The AI app builder market in 2026 is more competitive than ever. Here is a framework for evaluating your options based on technology foundations:
| Criteria | What to Look For | Red Flags |
|---|---|---|
| Output Type | True native apps (React Native, Flutter) | Webviews, PWA-only, hybrid wrappers |
| Framework Version | Current versions (Expo SDK 54, RN 0.81+) | Outdated or unspecified versions |
| Code Access | Full source code ownership, GitHub export | No code access, proprietary format |
| Backend | Integrated (Supabase, Firebase) or portable | Locked to proprietary backend |
| Deployment | Direct App Store/Play Store publishing | Hosting-dependent, no store access |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Expo SDK 54?
Expo SDK 54 is the latest version of the Expo framework, released in September 2025. It includes React Native 0.81, precompiled iOS builds for up to 10x faster compilation, iOS 26 Liquid Glass design support, Android 16 edge-to-edge rendering, and improved autolinking for dependencies.
Why does the technology stack matter for app builders?
The technology stack determines your app performance, build times, access to native features, and long-term maintainability. Modern stacks like Expo SDK 54 with React Native provide true native performance, faster development cycles, and access to the latest platform features like iOS 26 Liquid Glass design.
How much faster are iOS builds with Expo SDK 54?
Expo SDK 54 introduces precompiled XCFrameworks that can reduce clean build times by up to 10x. In benchmarks, RNTester build times dropped from 120 seconds to 10 seconds on M4 Max hardware. Real-world apps see significant improvements, especially smaller projects where React Native is the primary dependency.
What is Liquid Glass design in iOS 26?
Liquid Glass is Apple iOS 26 new design language featuring translucent, glass-like UI elements with dynamic blur effects. Expo SDK 54 provides expo-glass-effect library with GlassView and GlassContainer components, plus SwiftUI support through Expo UI for iOS beta.
What is the best mobile app builder software in 2026?
The best mobile app builder software in 2026 combines AI-powered development with a modern tech stack. Key factors include: native app output (not webviews), current framework versions like Expo SDK 54, full source code ownership, and integrated backend services. Platforms using React Native and Expo deliver the best combination of performance and developer experience.