Beyond the Version Bump: Lessons from Upgrading React Native 0.72.7 → 0.82

When I started investigating the React Native upgrade from 0.72.7 to 0.82, my initial goal was simple:  

Check breaking changes and library compatibility. But very quickly, I realized this upgrade was not just a version bump. It was deeply tied to React Native’s New Architecture, especially Fabric UI Engine and TurboModules.  This blog shares what I discovered, what changed internally, and why this upgrade matters in real-world apps, not just release notes. 

Why I Started Digging Deeper  

At first glance:  

• The app was already stable 
• Performance was “acceptable” 
• Most screens worked fine

Why should we even care about Fabric and TurboModules while upgrading?

The answer became clear when I compared how React Native worked internally in 0.72.7 vs 0.82. 

The Reality in React Native 0.72.7 (Old Architecture) 

In 0.72.7, even though the New Architecture existed, most apps were still ...