React Native Radio RNR 358 - React Native for Meta Quest Part 2: Developer Friendly
Mar 31, 2026
Evan Albert, engineering manager at Meta who enables Android and React Native apps on Meta Quest, explains how familiar React Native tools now target Horizon OS. He covers Expo integration and the Expo Horizon Core plugin. He explores Quest-specific UX: resizable panels, multitasking, new input patterns, the Meta Spatial Simulator, and developer workflows for building and testing VR apps.
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Horizon OS Is Just Android Under The Hood
- Horizon OS is essentially AOSP so Android apps largely run on Meta Quest without major rewrites.
- Evan Albert explains React Native fits naturally as another target platform because developers already aim for write-once, run-anywhere workflows.
Start With Expo And The Horizon Core Plugin
- Use Expo and the Expo Horizon Core plugin to get a seamless developer experience on Quest with hot reload and remote desktop support.
- The plugin automates recommended Android build flavors and layout orientation so a single codebase can target mobile and Quest.
Design Changes Come From Panels And Pointer Input
- Major design differences are resizable panels and pointer hover input via ray casting rather than simple taps.
- The system handles ray-cast hover and pinch-to-click so adaptive React Native layouts often work out-of-the-box.