Should I remove Framer Motion from my Next.js site?

If it's just fades, hovers, simple scrolls – yes. Swap to CSS + Observer. Save 20-30% bundle, skyrocket mobile scores.

How do fade-in animations work without Framer Motion?

IntersectionObserver watches scroll, toggles CSS classes. GPU-accelerated transitions handle the rest. Zero runtime JS.

Is Framer Motion worth the bundle size?

For complex layouts, drags, exits – absolutely. Business landing pages? Hard pass.

Evicted Framer Motion, Slashed Bundle 27% – And the Site's Faster Than Ever

Framer Motion? Gorgeous for complex stuff. But for basic fades and hovers on client sites? It's bloat city. One agency evicted it – bundle down 27%, mobile perf soaring.

theAIcatchup Apr 10, 2026 3 min read

Bundle analyzer screenshot: Framer Motion evicted, size down 27%, mobile Lighthouse score up to 89

⚡ Key Takeaways

Evict Framer Motion for basic animations: use CSS transitions + IntersectionObserver for 27% bundle cuts and TBT wins. 𝕏
Framer excels in complex UIs but bloats simple business sites – trade springs for speed. 𝕏
Mobile Lighthouse jumps from 72 to 89; visuals identical, perf transformed. 𝕏

Published by

theAIcatchup

Ship faster. Build smarter.

#CSS animations #Framer Motion #Lighthouse optimization #Lighthouse score #Next.js optimization #Next.js performance #bundle optimization #web performance

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Originally reported by dev.to

⚡ Key Takeaways

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