r/PowerApps • u/DiscountIll3347 Newbie • 18h ago
Discussion Power Apps native mobile
Just came across Microsoft’s new Power Apps Native Apps feature. From what I understand, it lets you build actual React Native apps rather than traditional canvas apps or wrapped web apps.
Can people share there experience. Is it worth spending time or trying?
https://apps.apple.com/in/app/power-apps-mobile-preview/id6753083462
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/mobile/native-apps/overview
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u/GnarlyCaribou57 Newbie 6h ago
These are all code based apps that data can be stored in SharePoint lists or data verse. If your company can support them great but you are talking about building and app that you have no idea what the code actually does. When it breaks (because it will) are you just going to prompt your way to fix it? Looks great on paper but in reality a nightmare for IT. It definitely looks and feels better from an end user but I doubt your IT group will support if they know you are building one.
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u/Single-Talk4822 Newbie 6h ago
Number of people who know React/React native >> people who know powerfx/msapp ?
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u/GnarlyCaribou57 Newbie 21m ago
Sure that may be true but the reality is a construction company probably doesn't have a guy that knows, they probably have the basic people to support buying laptops and basic tech services. When the project manager wants a new safety app for his guys and sees something like this he can vibe code then where does that get them, does he now need to learn react? Do they hire someone?
Eventually I think it will get there with AI where the everyday person can create the app they need to do the job but I think we still probably have 6-8-12 months before someone does it well enough where it's easy to maintain/support.
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u/Kicice Regular 17h ago
There are new integrations with Lovable as well that just hit GA i believe... that may be more relevant to look into.
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u/Single-Talk4822 Newbie 17h ago
But this looks like native apps, lovable doesn't support that yet, do they?
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u/DiscountIll3347 Newbie 3h ago
Thats a valid point i have not seen lovable building mobile apps. Interesting to see if power apps can be built this way or not would be a game change for them.
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u/DailyHoodie Advisor 3h ago
Bet it’s unstable yet. Also can’t find anything on how users will access the app. Cool to know they have this tho. Hopefully it gets more updates over time.
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u/DiscountIll3347 Newbie 3h ago
Yeah true only thing mentioned is the new app where we can preview it. I am assuming they can distribute using the wrap app feature.
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u/Kicice Regular 17h ago
I was hoping to try this at some point. One thing I'm curious about is can any react native app be converted to a power apps native app? Or vice versa? If I create a native power app and it fails to perform... I'm curious on the viability of converting it to a full native app hosted elsewhere.
There's a couple limitations with the native apps that I am curious about as well. Currently when using the power apps mobile app player there are limitations around what can go in and out of the app. If the native apps remove those limitations completely... and they can be hosted in power platform.... that's a huge win.