Next.js 16.3 is a free performance upgrade
Up to 90% less memory in long dev sessions, build caching on by default, and up to 22% more server-rendered requests under load.
What to do
Plan the upgrade to the 16.3 line. Its 16.3.6 release also carries the September 22 security fix.
Next.js 16.3 (August 3) is a free performance upgrade: up to 90% less memory in long dev sessions, build caching on by default, and up to 22% more server-rendered requests under load after switching to native Node.js streams.
The opt-in "Instant Navigations" work (cacheComponents plus partialPrefetching) previews where the next major is heading. An experimental Rust port of the React Compiler inside Turbopack cut time-to-ready on v0 by 34% cold and 46% warm.
Next.js 16.3 can already use TypeScript 7 for type checking in next build.