🤯 Switching from React to React Native — Here’s What Surprised Me

By Saif Ali – June 1, 2025

I’ve been building with React for a while. Functional components, props, hooks—you name it. I thought React Native would be just another extension of what I already knew.

But the moment I started… it hit me.
React Native isn’t just React. It’s a whole different world.

 

 1. You Can’t Use <div> Anymore

In React, I live inside <div>, <section>, and <span>. In React Native?

Say hello to <View>, <Text>, and <ScrollView>.

It feels weird at first. You try to style a <div> and nothing works—because it doesn’t exist here.

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 2. No CSS Files? Use StyleSheet

Forget about importing CSS or SCSS files. In React Native, styling is handled like this:

jsCopyEditconst styles = StyleSheet.create({
  title: {
    fontSize: 20,
    color: 'blue',
  }
});

It’s JavaScript-based. It’s powerful. But yeah—it’s different.

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 3. Everything Is Mobile-First

React devs usually test in Chrome. React Native devs? We’re testing on Android emulators and iPhones.

No hover effects. No media queries like @media (min-width: 768px). It’s touch-first UI thinking.

And guess what?

You start noticing how real apps behave—smooth scrolling, swipe gestures, and native transitions.

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 4. Navigation Isn’t React Router

Say goodbye to react-router-dom. In React Native, you use:

• • react-navigation

• • Stack, Drawer, Bottom Tabs

It’s not harder. Just new. Once I understood the navigator containers and screen stacks, things started to make sense.

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 5. Hot Reload is 🔥 but Not Always Friendly

Hot Reload is cool in React. In React Native, it can sometimes break the emulator or fail to update unless you reload manually.

So yes—“shake device > reload” becomes your daily reflex.

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 Final Thoughts: React Native is React’s Cousin, Not Its Twin

If you’re a React dev and you’re scared of React Native—don’t be. The concepts are similar. The muscle memory will help. But be ready to:

• • Relearn layout (Flexbox is everything)

• • Embrace mobile-first thinking

• • Use JavaScript to style everything

• • Build UI from native building blocks

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So… Should You Learn React Native?

Absolutely. If you already know React, you’re 60% there.

The other 40%? Just build stuff. Clone an app. Break things. Try again. That’s how I’m learning—and loving it.

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👋 Drop your React Native questions below. I’ll share what I’ve learned, mistake by mistake.