Why Performance Matters

In emerging markets, performance is one of the biggest factors determining whether a mobile app is adopted or abandoned. From banking to healthcare, education to entertainment, apps are often the primary way people connect to services. But here’s the challenge: devices are often low-cost, networks can be unstable, and storage is limited. If your React Native app isn’t tuned for performance, users will uninstall it in seconds.

A study by Google found that 53% of mobile users abandon a site or app if it takes more than 3 seconds to load, with the average load time on 3G networks being 19 seconds [1]. In regions where bandwidth is insufficient, this threshold is even lower. That’s why performance tuning isn’t optional. It directly determines whether users stay or leave.

Understanding the Context of Emerging Markets

Emerging markets refer to regions where mobile adoption is growing quickly, but devices, networks, and data access still come with constraints. Many users rely on affordable Android phones, and the mobile app is often their main way of accessing digital services. Entry-level devices dominate usage, with 2 to 3 GB of RAM and slower processors being common. Brands like Xiaomi, Realme, and Samsung continue to drive adoption of these low-cost smartphones.

Networks are often patchy, with 3G still common in parts of Africa and Southeast Asia. Storage is another constraint, apps larger than 50 MB often face resistance due to limited device space and high data costs. Developers must design with these realities in mind, ensuring apps are lightweight, responsive, and resilient.

Keeping Apps Lightweight

Large apps are a deal-breaker in emerging markets. Every extra MB increases the chance of uninstall. One effective technique is enabling the Hermes JavaScript engine, which reduces app size and improves startup time. Hermes is optimized for React Native and results in smaller app sizes, faster startup, and lower memory usage compared to JavaScriptCore .

Beyond Hermes, developers should audit dependencies regularly, removing unused libraries that bloat the bundle. Assets like images should be compressed, with formats like WebP reducing file size by 25–35% compared to JPEG or PNG. Studies show that lightweight apps achieve stronger retention in regions with expensive data costs, since smaller downloads reduce friction for adoption and ongoing use [2].

Faster Startup Times

First impressions matter. If your app takes too long to open, users won’t wait. Techniques like lazy loading ensure only essential components are loaded at startup, while non-critical modules are deferred until needed. Code splitting breaks down bundles so the app doesn’t load everything at once.

Preloading critical data also helps, caching frequently used information locally avoids network delays during startup. These strategies can reduce startup times by several seconds, which is crucial when users are on slower devices and networks.

Smooth UI and Animations

React Native aims for 60 frames per second (FPS), but poorly optimized code can drop below 30 FPS. Developers can use the native driver to offload animations to native threads, preventing the JavaScript thread from becoming a bottleneck.

Avoiding unnecessary re-renders is another key technique. Hooks like React.memo and useCallback prevent wasted renders, while batching updates minimizes redraws. These optimizations ensure smoother user experiences, especially on entry-level devices.

Network Efficiency in Weak Connections

In markets with unstable connections, network efficiency is critical. Apps should be designed to work offline whenever possible, caching data locally so users can still interact when disconnected. Lightweight APIs should be prioritized, minimizing payload sizes to reduce bandwidth consumption.

Implementing retry logic ensures failed requests are retried gracefully, instead of leaving users frustrated. This approach mirrors the success of messaging apps, which compress and retry messages until delivered, even on weak networks.

Optimizing Skapp for Speed and Responsiveness

At Rootcode, we built the Skapp mobile app using React Native, delivering one codebase that works seamlessly on both iOS and Android. Leveraging Expo’s tools, we sped up development and feature releases while keeping the app lightweight and fast. Native-like performance ensures smooth animations and responsive interfaces, even on lower-end devices common in emerging markets. Optimizations such as memoization, optimized FlatLists, lazy loading, and native modules keep the app running efficiently, while modular architecture and easy backend integration allow it to scale as needed. Real-time updates, push notifications, and robust file handling keep users engaged and the app responsive. The result is a high-performance React Native app that works reliably across devices and networks, giving every user a smooth, responsive experience.

Managing Memory and Battery

Low-end devices struggle with memory-heavy apps. Developers should profile memory usage with tools like Android Studio Profiler or LeakCanaryto detect leaks. Components not in use should be unloaded to free memory, and background tasks should be minimized to reduce battery drain.

Battery efficiency is critical in emerging markets, where users often rely on devices with smaller batteries and limited charging opportunities. Optimizing background services and batching API calls can reduce drain by up to 25–60%, making apps more usable for daily tracking and engagement.

Why This Matters

React Native powers apps used by billions worldwide, including Facebook, Instagram, and Shopify. The next wave of users is coming from emerging markets, where entry-level devices dominate shipments to India and Sub-Saharan Africa grew 12% in 2025 [3]. These phones typically have less RAM, limited storage, and often rely on metered or inconsistent data connections. App size directly affects retention: apps under 40 MB tend to perform better in these conditions. Performance tuning, in this context, isn't about chasing benchmarks. It's about making sure the app actually works when and where people need it.

Conclusion

Performance tuning for emerging markets means building React Native apps that work well on the phones people actually use. Those phones often have low capacity RAM, slower processors, and limited storage. Networks can be unreliable and data is expensive. When you focus on keeping app size small, startup time quick, interactions smooth, network calls efficient, and memory usage low, you're not just optimizing, you're making sure the app actually serves its purpose. Users notice when an app respects their time and data. That leads to better retention, stronger reviews, and more people sticking around.

In markets where millions of new users are coming online every year, performance increasingly determines which apps earn their place on the home screen. Build for speed, build for resilience, and most importantly, build for the people who depend on your app.

At Rootcode, we build applications that operate in real-world conditions, including low-end devices, unstable networks, and large user bases. If you are building React Native apps for emerging markets, we help make them fast, stable, and ready for production. Let's talk!