React 19 brings a revolutionary update with auto-optimized performance and built-in hooks for faster, cleaner, and more powerful development.
Key Features of React 19 include a new React Compiler removing the need for manual memoization, Actions API for simpler data handling with built-in loading states, and Built-in Asset Loading.
Top 5 Packages for React 19 include Vite for blazing-fast builds, TanStack Query v5 for smarter data fetching, Zod for type-safe forms, Framer Motion for buttery animations, and Next.js 15 with full React 19 support.
Watch out for breaking changes like updated forwardRef behavior and the removal of the Legacy Context API, and consider upgrading if you are starting a new project or using Next.js/Vite for free performance gains.