To cut down complexity and time spent on upgrading the app on new releases of React Native and in light of the RFC on React Native Frameworks (proposing to deprecate the template app as we know it), we should consider migrating our test app to react-native-test-app. The MS team has been hard at work improving the DX.

See https://youtu.be/DAEnPV78rQc?t=860 with a demo of how to upgrade RN.