Chat apps look simple—but they are one of the most demanding UI problems in modern mobile development. In 2026, React Native has matured significantly, yet building a production-grade chat still pushes its limits across lists, real-time updates, keyboard handling, gestures, and animations. This talk provides a practical, experience-based breakdown of what actually works, what still requires native solutions, and where tools like Skia and modern databases fit in. If you're deciding between React Native and fully native apps, this session will help you understand the real cost, trade-offs, and whether React Native is the right choice for your next chat product.