High memory usage for `Text` component on iOS

[mdjastrzebski]

Description

When working on memory optimisation of a complex RN app, I found that Text components on iOS can consume relatively large amounts of memory. When I've checked that with Xcode Instruments, it seems that each RCTParagraphTextView is accompanied by a backing CALayer which consumes memory proportional to its rendered size, more precisely width x height x 4 bytes (RGBA channels).

While individual Text instances are small, complex UI, esp. using stacked screens & virtualized lists can add up to quite large number (tens of MB), especially if the app uses large font sizes in such lists.

For example, each of the following Text components consumes about 112-140 KB of memory, due to the backing raster.

This can be observed using Allocations Xcode Instrument by marking memory before and after adding text views.

I've created a small app for easily measuring various components' memory usage: https://github.com/mdjastrzebski/rn-memory-footprint

Note:

• on Android, this issue does not seem to happen, as all Text have similar size, regardless of used font size
• on iOS, when using native UILabel, these are much smaller, and do not have CALayers attached

Steps to reproduce

1. Download the reproducer app
2. yarn install & yarn ios:release OR yarn android:release
3. Run the app on a simulator or a device
4. Attach Allocation Xcode Instrument, mark generation A
5. Pick "Text (Large Font)" from the component dropdown
6. Press "Create Views"
7. Wait a couple of seconds, mark generation B in instruments
8. Compare memory usage. You should see a lot of RCTParagraphTextView (CALayer) entries, each taking 120-140 KBs.

React Native Version

0.82.1

Affected Platforms

Runtime - iOS

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

System:
  OS: macOS 26.1
  CPU: (11) arm64 Apple M3 Pro
  Memory: 102.75 MB / 36.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 22.17.1
    path: /Users/mdj/.nvm/versions/node/v22.17.1/bin/node
  Yarn:
    version: 4.12.0
    path: /Users/mdj/.nvm/versions/node/v22.17.1/bin/yarn
  npm:
    version: 10.9.2
    path: /Users/mdj/.nvm/versions/node/v22.17.1/bin/npm
  Watchman:
    version: 2025.07.28.00
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.16.2
    path: /Users/mdj/.rbenv/shims/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 25.0
      - iOS 26.0
      - macOS 26.0
      - tvOS 26.0
      - visionOS 26.0
      - watchOS 26.0
  Android SDK:
    API Levels:
      - "35"
      - "36"
    Build Tools:
      - 35.0.0
      - 36.0.0
    System Images:
      - android-35 | Google Play ARM 64 v8a
      - android-36 | Google Play ARM 64 v8a
    Android NDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: 2025.2 AI-252.25557.131.2521.14432022
  Xcode:
    version: 26.0.1/17A400
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 17.0.16
    path: /usr/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 3.4.5
    path: /Users/mdj/.rbenv/shims/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli":
    installed: 20.0.0
    wanted: 20.0.0
  react:
    installed: 19.1.1
    wanted: 19.1.1
  react-native:
    installed: 0.82.1
    wanted: 0.82.1
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true

Stacktrace or Logs

n/a

MANDATORY Reproducer

https://github.com/mdjastrzebski/rn-memory-footprint

Screenshots and Videos

Added above