Using useDeferredValue and Suspense unexpectedly shows fallback in ios/android but correctly shows stale state in web

[andrew-wang-polar]

Description

I'm following the examples from React on using useDeferredValue and Suspense to show a stale state. The correct behavior should be to show the fallback only on the first load, and then on subsequent queries (e.g. when typing in the search box or incrementing counter in the examples) show a stale state until new data is loaded (which then should replace the stale state). I've included an expo snack.

The correct behavior is observed in React Native web. However for android/ios the fallback always shows. For the snack I'm using React Native 0.76.7, which is the default version that a new expo project installs. I've also tested on 0.77.1 but get the same behavior.

In my actual project where I have ios/android folders I've tried explicitly setting newArchEnabled/isConcurrentRootEnabled like some of these older articles suggest, see here. However, the same behavior is observed with that as well.

Steps to reproduce

1. Go to the expo snack https://snack.expo.dev/@polarwang/reactnative-suspense-usedeferredvalue-bug

React Native Version

0.76.7

Affected Platforms

Other (please specify)

Output of npx @react-native-community/cli info

info Fetching system and libraries information...
System:
  OS: macOS 15.2
  CPU: (16) arm64 Apple M3 Max
  Memory: 3.03 GB / 64.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 20.9.0
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v20.9.0/bin/node
  Yarn:
    version: 1.22.22
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v20.9.0/bin/yarn
  npm:
    version: 10.1.0
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v20.9.0/bin/npm
  Watchman: Not Found
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.16.2
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 24.2
      - iOS 18.2
      - macOS 15.2
      - tvOS 18.2
      - visionOS 2.2
      - watchOS 11.2
  Android SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: 2024.2 AI-242.23339.11.2421.12700392
  Xcode:
    version: 16.2/16C5032a
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: javac 22
    path: /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-22.jdk/Contents/Home/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 2.6.10
    path: /usr/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli":
    installed: 18.0.0
    wanted: latest
  react:
    installed: 18.3.1
    wanted: 18.3.1
  react-native:
    installed: 0.76.7
    wanted: 0.76.7
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: Not found
  newArchEnabled: Not found
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: Not found
  newArchEnabled: Not found

info React Native v0.78.0 is now available (your project is running on v0.76.7).
info Changelog: https://github.com/facebook/react-native/releases/tag/v0.78.0
info Diff: https://react-native-community.github.io/upgrade-helper/?from=0.76.7&to=0.78.0
info For more info, check out "https://reactnative.dev/docs/upgrading?os=macos".

Stacktrace or Logs

There is no stacktrace but the behavior is illustrated in the snack

Reproducer

https://snack.expo.dev/@polarwang/reactnative-suspense-usedeferredvalue-bug

Screenshots and Videos

No response

[shubhamguptadream11]

@andrew-wang-polar This seems to be working with code you provided. I checked this on 0.77.0 react native version.

Simulator.Screen.Recording.-.iPhone.15.Plus.-.2025-03-18.at.16.11.51.mp4

[andrew-wang-polar]

@shubhamguptadream11 thanks for looking. In the screen recording you showed, the fallback (the loading spinner) is showing. However, the behavior I expect (and that is showing on web) is that the border color from the isQueryStale check should show. The relevant section is here:

<Suspense fallback={
  <View style={styles.loading}>
    <ActivityIndicator size="large" color="green" />
    <Text style={styles.loadingText}>Loading...</Text>
  </View>
}>
  <View style={[styles.results, { borderColor: isQueryStale ? 'red' : 'black' }]}>
    <SearchResults query={deferredQuery} />
  </View>
</Suspense>

See the attached screen recording with the expected behavior.

Screen.Recording.2025-03-18.at.8.18.33.AM.mov

[andrew-wang-polar]

I just tested this with the new versions:

"expo": "~53.0.0-preview.5"
"react": "19.0.0"
"react-native": "0.79.0"

Using npx create-expo-app@latest --template default@sdk-53 (see this article), but it still did not work.

[anidello]

Got a similar issue in my React Native application whereas a Suspense fallback is shown when refetching data even if there seem to be no throw of a promise (as on first load).
Note my issue happens with useDeferredValue as well as startTransition which seem to be suffering in RN

[grantackerman]

Any update on this issue? It's been almost 5 months.

[daannet]

@grantackerman See #42101 (comment)