Building Smart TV Apps with Next.js: Why It’s More Efficient Than React.js

Introduction

Smart TVs are now capable platforms for streaming OTT, VOD, and live content, not just screens for watching cable. Similar to mobile ecosystems, well-known companies like Samsung (Tizen OS), LG (webOS), and Hisense (Vidaa) offer app stores where developers can release apps.

Selecting the appropriate framework is essential for developers. Because of its component-driven methodology, React.js has been the standard for many years; however, in Smart TV environments with constrained resources, efficiency and performance are far more important. This is where the React-based framework Next.js comes in as a valuable solution.

In this blog, we’ll explore how Next.js enhances Smart TV app development and why it is more efficient than using plain React.js.

Understanding Smart TV App Development

Smart TVs have hardware limitations, such as lower RAM, less processing power, and lighter browsers, in contrast to desktops or mobile devices. This implies:

• Apps need to launch quickly (users hate waiting on blank screens).
• Navigation should be smooth with remote controls.
• Video playback (OTT, DRM, live streams) must run without lags.
• Content-heavy apps (VOD libraries, EPG guides) must load efficiently.

Framework choice directly impacts these areas, making optimization essential.

Why React.js Became Popular for Smart TV Apps

React.js became a favorite among Smart TV developers because:

• Component-based UI: Easy to reuse code across screens.
• Large ecosystem: Libraries for video players (HLS.js, Shaka, Video.js).
• Cross-platform adoption: Many OTT apps started with React.js on the web, then extended to TV.

But Smart TVs revealed some limitations of React.js:

• Client-side rendering (CSR): The app loads blank, then builds UI—slower on TVs.
• Heavy bundles: Larger JavaScript files = slower app startup.
• Memory usage: TVs struggle with big apps, causing crashes or lag.

How Next.js Improves Smart TV Development

Next.js addresses many of React’s challenges in Smart TV environments with its built-in optimizations:

• Server-Side Rendering (SSR): Pages are rendered before delivery, so TVs display UI instantly without heavy computation.
• Static Site Generation (SSG): Pre-renders screens like “Home” or “VOD catalog” for lightning-fast navigation.
• Code splitting: Only loads what’s needed per screen, reducing memory pressure.
• API routes: Lightweight backend support inside Next.js for menus, recommendations, or EPG data.
• Image optimization: Ideal for streaming platforms where thumbnails/posters are crucial.
• Hybrid approach: Developers can use CSR where needed, but default to faster SSR/SSG.

In short, Next.js gives React’s flexibility with far better performance—exactly what Smart TVs need.

Architecture Diagram: CSR vs SSR/SSG

React.js (CSR Only):

TV Loads App → Blank Screen → JS Bundles Download → UI Rendered

Next.js (SSR/SSG)

TV Loads App → Pre-rendered HTML (Instant UI) → JS Enhances Interactivity

CSR Vs SSR

Performance Benefits on Smart TVs

Let’s break down the advantages more concretely:

• Faster startup time: React.js apps often show a blank screen until JavaScript loads. Next.js apps, with SSR/SSG, show UI immediately.
• Reduced memory usage: Code splitting and smaller bundles mean TVs handle apps more smoothly.
• Seamless remote navigation: With prefetching and SSG, moving from “Home” to “Details” or “Player” feels instant.
• Optimized content updates: Using ISR (Incremental Static Regeneration), Smart TV apps can update VOD catalogs or EPGs without re-deploying the entire app.

Example: A Netflix-like catalog with thousands of titles loads much faster with Next.js because most UI is pre-rendered.

Development & Maintenance Advantages

Apart from performance, Next.js simplifies the development workflow:

• Single codebase for web + Smart TV apps → One app can serve both TV and browser users.
• File-based routing → Easier than setting up custom React Router configurations.
• Built-in API routes → No need to set up a separate Node backend for small APIs.
• SEO-ready by default → Useful when the same app also targets web users.
• Developer productivity → Faster builds, better debugging tools, and less boilerplate compared to pure React setups.

Real-World Example Use Cases

• Samsung Smart TV (Tizen OS): Faster app boot thanks to pre-rendered Next.js UI.
• LG webOS TV: Catalog pages generated with SSG load instantly, making remote navigation smoother.
• Hisense Vidaa TV: Next.js API routes simplify fetching and caching VOD/Live content metadata.

Imagine an OTT platform like Disney+ or Prime Video—switching between Home, Details, and Player needs to feel seamless on TVs. Next.js makes this possible with prefetching and optimized rendering.

When to Use React.js vs Next.js

React.js is good when:

• You’re building small prototypes.
• Apps don’t need pre-rendering (e.g., utility apps).
• Startup performance isn’t critical.

Next.js is better when:

• Building OTT/VOD apps with huge content libraries.
• Targeting multiple TV platforms (Samsung, LG, Vidaa).
• You need fast startup & lightweight performance.

Uses

Conclusion

Smart TVs push developers to think differently about performance. While React.js has been the default for many projects, Next.js offers a more efficient, production-ready solution—especially for content-heavy apps.

With features like SSR, SSG, ISR, and built-in optimizations, Next.js ensures faster load times, smoother navigation, and better resource usage on Smart TVs like Samsung, LG, and Vidaa.

If you’re planning your next Smart TV app, Next.js is the smarter choice over plain React.js.