Building the iOS 18 Photos app with React Native and Reanimated

The latest beta release of iOS 18 has introduced a range of exciting features and enhancements to Apple's Photos app. With innovations that improve the way we interact with and organize our photo libraries, iOS 18 promises a more intuitive and visually appealing user experience.

If you're into building mobile apps or just love tech, recreating your own version of the iOS 18 Photos app can teach you a lot about cutting-edge technologies like React Native and Reanimated, and how to use them to design an app that not only works well but also looks and feels amazing.

What’s New in iOS 18 Photos?

Just so you get an idea of what’s new in this update and understand what’s possible now with Apple's iOS 18 Photos app, here are the key highlight features that make it more powerful than ever:

• Enhanced Photo Search: iOS 18 uses advanced machine learning to offer more precise and contextual photo searches, making it easier to find specific memories in large photo libraries.
• New Editing Tools: The Photos app now includes a variety of new editing tools and improvements, allowing users to fine-tune their images with even better precision and creativity.
• Interactive Albums: Apple has introduced interactive photo albums, allowing users to customize the display and organization of their photos dynamically.
• Advanced Privacy Features: With privacy being a major focus, iOS 18 introduces new settings to better manage photo permissions and data sharing.

These features make the Photos app not only a functional tool but also a showcase of Apple's commitment to privacy and user experience. Recreating this app allows developers to explore these features and understand how to implement similar functionality in their own projects.

Rebuild the iOS 18 Photos App in React Native

I got the inspiration to build this app from a tweet by Kavsoft, which showcased the beautiful animations in the iOS 18 Photos app. You can check out the tweet here.

The animations caught my attention and I thought of the idea of recreating these smooth transitions and interactions using React Native and Reanimated. So if you’re interesting in learning about these kind of animations, follow along with this tutorial to build your own version of the app.

Asset Bundle

Before getting started, I prepared for you an Asset bundle that contains everything you will need during the project: images, fonts, dummy data, step-by-step guide (PDF), that will help us move along faster and stay focused on building the iOS 18 Photos app.

Download Asset Bundle

What You Will Learn

• React Native Basics: Start by setting up your environment and getting familiar with the core concepts of React Native.
• Expo Integration: Learn how to use Expo's powerful features to speed up development and manage your app easily.
• Reanimated for Animations: Dive into creating smooth and interactive animations using the Reanimated library and Gesture Handler.
• State Management: Understand how to manage your app's state effectively using React Hooks and Context API.
• UI Design and Development: Explore modern UI design patterns and practices to create a visually appealing app interface.

Why Choose React Native?

React Native is an excellent choice for building mobile applications because it allows developers to write cross-platform code that runs on both iOS and Android devices. This allows for a broader reach and faster development times without compromising on performance or user experience. Additionally, React Native's thriving ecosystem and active community support make it easier to find resources and troubleshoot issues as you build.

Conclusion

Rebuilding the iOS 18 Photos app is notJust about replicating a feature-rich application; it's about improving your skills and understanding of mobile app development, especially on the animations side. This project is perfect for you if you’re looking to expand your knowledge of modern development practices, animations, and state management. Plus, you’ll have a functional app that you can customize and enhance as you grow your skills.

Ready to build your own iOS 18 Photos app? Open up the tutorial in a new tab, follow along with the video and start building!

Join the Community

If you enjoyed this tutorial, consider subscribing to our YouTube channel and join the notJust Development community where we regularly post new live tutorials, building real-world applications with a hands-on approach.

For those seeking an extra edge, check out notJust.dev PRO community. It's a membership program offering exclusive benefits like monthly pro calls with me, personalized mentorship, a supportive community, and resources designed to accelerate your journey in the tech industry.

Thank you for reading and see you soon 🙌

---