Next.js performance optimization

In this article I’ll walk through the techniques that helped reduce page load time from 3 seconds down to 1.2s in a real Next.js project.

The problem

Initially the app was loading in 3+ seconds, which is critical for conversion. We needed to improve performance without rewriting everything.

Solutions

1. Code splitting

Use dynamic imports to split heavy components:

2. Image optimization

The Next.js Image component optimizes images out of the box:

3. SSR vs SSG

Use SSG for static content with incremental revalidation:

Results

• LCP: 1.2s (was 3.2s)
• FID: 50ms (was 200ms)
• CLS: 0.05 (was 0.15)
• PageSpeed Score: 96/100

Takeaways

TL;DR: measure, prioritize bottlenecks, iterate.

• establish a performance baseline (LCP/FID/CLS);
• apply code splitting + optimized images for quick wins;
• choose SSR/SSG per use case to keep latency predictable.

Performance optimization is an iterative process. Start with measuring, then focus on the most critical bottlenecks.