Performance degradation in android AAB release: App runs slower when installed from Playstore vs APK

[shrutijasoliya]

Environment

info Fetching system and libraries information...
System:
OS: macOS 14.5
CPU: (8) arm64 Apple M2
Memory: 92.45 MB / 16.00 GB
Shell:
version: "5.9"
path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
Node:
version: 20.16.0
path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v20.16.0/bin/node
Yarn:
version: 1.22.22
path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v20.16.0/bin/yarn
npm:
version: 10.8.1
path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v20.16.0/bin/npm
Watchman:
version: 2024.09.09.00
path: /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
CocoaPods:
version: 1.15.2
path: /opt/homebrew/bin/pod
SDKs:
iOS SDK:
Platforms:
- DriverKit 23.5
- iOS 17.5
- macOS 14.5
- tvOS 17.5
- visionOS 1.2
- watchOS 10.5
Android SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
Android Studio: 2024.1 AI-241.18034.62.2411.12071903
Xcode:
version: 15.4/15F31d
path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
Java:
version: 17.0.11
path: /usr/bin/javac
Ruby:
version: 2.6.10
path: /usr/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
"@react-native-community/cli": Not Found
react:
installed: 18.2.0
wanted: 18.2.0
react-native:
installed: 0.72.7
wanted: 0.72.7
react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
"react-native": Not Found
Android:
hermesEnabled: true
newArchEnabled: false
iOS:
hermesEnabled: false
newArchEnabled: false

Description

I am experiencing significant performance issues with my React Native app when distributed as an Android App Bundle (AAB) through the Google Play Store. The app works fine when tested locally on the Android simulator or installed directly via APK, but becomes noticeably slower and less responsive after being installed from the Play Store. This issue is exclusive to Android, with no noticeable performance impact on iOS.

Reproducible Demo

Due to the private nature of my company's project, I cannot share the source code, but I have recorded screencasts demonstrating the performance difference between the APK (installed directly) and the AAB (installed via the Play Store). Please refer to the following video links for a visual representation of the issue:

• APK installed directly: Link
• AAB from Play Store: Link

These screencasts show identical user flows on the same device, highlighting the noticeable difference in performance between the two versions.

Actual Behavior: The app performs significantly slower when installed from the Play Store (via AAB), affecting user experience.

Expected Behavior : The app should perform just as smoothly as it does when running in the Android simulator or when installing the APK directly.

Package.json

  "dependencies": {
    "@aws-amplify/react-native": "^1.0.4",
    "@fawazahmed/react-native-read-more": "^3.0.3",
    "@gorhom/bottom-sheet": "^4.5.1",
    "@react-native-async-storage/async-storage": "^1.19.6",
    "@react-native-clipboard/clipboard": "^1.13.1",
    "@react-native-community/netinfo": "^11.1.0",
    "@react-native-firebase/analytics": "^18.7.3",
    "@react-native-firebase/app": "^18.7.3",
    "@react-native-masked-view/masked-view": "^0.3.0",
    "@react-navigation/bottom-tabs": "^6.5.11",
    "@react-navigation/drawer": "^6.6.6",
    "@react-navigation/native": "^6.1.9",
    "@react-navigation/native-stack": "^6.9.17",
    "@reduxjs/toolkit": "^1.9.7",
    "@sentry/react-native": "^5.19.2",
    "@wow-star/utils": "^1.0.0-cms-beta.8",
    "aws-amplify": "^6.0.4",
    "axios": "^1.6.8",
    "crypto-js": "^4.2.0",
    "moment": "^2.29.4",
    "react": "18.2.0",
    "react-native": "0.72.7",
    "react-native-code-push": "^8.2.1",
    "react-native-confirmation-code-field": "^7.3.2",
    "react-native-device-info": "^10.13.1",
    "react-native-dotenv": "^3.4.9",
    "react-native-dropdown-picker": "^5.4.6",
    "react-native-fast-image": "^8.6.3",
    "react-native-fbsdk-next": "^12.1.4",
    "react-native-flash-message": "^0.4.2",
    "react-native-gesture-handler": "^2.13.4",
    "react-native-get-random-values": "^1.10.0",
    "react-native-image-picker": "^7.1.0",
    "react-native-image-viewing": "^0.2.2",
    "react-native-in-app-review": "^4.3.3",
    "react-native-keyboard-aware-scroll-view": "^0.9.5",
    "react-native-linear-gradient": "^2.8.3",
    "react-native-modal": "^13.0.1",
    "react-native-moengage": "^9.1.0",
    "react-native-moengage-cards": "^2.1.0",
    "react-native-moengage-geofence": "^4.1.0",
    "react-native-moengage-inbox": "^3.1.0",
    "react-native-otp-verify": "^1.1.8",
    "react-native-popover-view": "^5.1.8",
    "react-native-progress": "^5.0.1",
    "react-native-razorpay": "^2.3.0",
    "react-native-reanimated": "^3.5.4",
    "react-native-reanimated-carousel": "^3.5.1",
    "react-native-render-html": "^6.3.4",
    "react-native-safe-area-context": "^4.7.4",
    "react-native-screens": "^3.27.0",
    "react-native-share": "^10.0.2",
    "react-native-skeleton-placeholder": "^5.2.4",
    "react-native-splash-screen": "^3.3.0",
    "react-native-star-rating-widget": "^1.7.3",
    "react-native-svg": "^14.0.0",
    "react-native-tracking-transparency": "^0.1.2",
    "react-native-vector-icons": "^10.0.2",
    "react-native-version-check": "^3.4.7",
    "react-native-video": "^5.2.1",
    "react-native-webview": "^13.7.0",
    "react-redux": "^8.1.3",
    "redux": "^4.2.1",
    "redux-persist": "^6.0.0",
    "redux-saga": "^1.2.3",
    "sp-react-native-in-app-updates": "^1.4.0",
    "uuid": "^10.0.0"
  },
  "devDependencies": {
    "@babel/core": "^7.20.0",
    "@babel/preset-env": "^7.20.0",
    "@babel/runtime": "^7.20.0",
    "@react-native/eslint-config": "^0.72.2",
    "@react-native/metro-config": "^0.72.11",
    "@tsconfig/react-native": "^3.0.0",
    "@types/react": "^18.0.24",
    "@types/react-native-razorpay": "^2.2.4",
    "@types/react-native-version-check": "^3.4.8",
    "@types/react-native-video": "^5.0.20",
    "@types/react-test-renderer": "^18.0.0",
    "@typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin": "^6.15.0",
    "@typescript-eslint/parser": "^6.15.0",
    "babel-jest": "^29.2.1",
    "eslint": "^8.19.0",
    "eslint-plugin-react": "^7.33.2",
    "jest": "^29.2.1",
    "metro-react-native-babel-preset": "0.76.8",
    "prettier": "^2.4.1",
    "react-test-renderer": "18.2.0",
    "typescript": "4.8.4"
  }

[szymonrybczak]

Hey, this kind of issues should be reported in React Native Core. I understand that you cannot share source code of your project, but maybe you can try creating a reproducible example that will show the difference 🙏