Launching a High-Performance React Native app on Samsung TV

The client’s previous native Samsung TV (Tizen) app had been unmaintained for years and was lagging behind other platforms in both features and performance. An earlier attempt by a third-party team to rebuild it using React Native Web failed—resulting in unstable navigation, broken features (like the program Guide), and poor performance (e.g. >20s load time).

Key challenges included:

• Tech debt and broken functionality from the previous rewrite
• Lack of cross-platform abstractions for Tizen-specific focus, accessibility, and native modules
• No keyboard integration for testing search
• High risk of regressions due to architectural inconsistencies
• Poor animation and UX performance

‍

The client asked us to bring their Samsung Tizen TV app up to par with the rest of their smart TV platforms—all using React Native. Given the complexity of the platform and the failure of a previous rewrite, we first had to prove that this approach was technically viable.

We started with performance-focused proof-of-concepts (PoCs) to confirm React Native could meet the required KPIs on Tizen devices. Once we validated feasibility, we moved into full implementation—structuring the work to reduce risk and enable efficient delivery.

Key steps included:

• Setting up performance benchmarks and identifying bottlenecks in the previous implementation
• Reverse-engineering undocumented behavior from the legacy native app to preserve expected functionality
• Mapping gaps in device support and implementation layers, such as keyboard input, focus management, and platform-specific modules
• Organizing work into parallel development epics (e.g., Guide, Navigation, Accessibility) to accelerate delivery
• Building a custom FocusManager library for consistent, cross-platform focus handling—including full Tizen support
• Extending the existing shared React Native codebase (used for tvOS and Android TV) to include Tizen
• Expanding QA coverage and safeguards around areas at high risk for regression

Because we had already worked on the client’s smart TV stack for years, we could move fast and make architecture decisions with full context.

Launching the Samsung TV app re-established parity across all platforms, without the need for new hires or platform-specific teams. The improved code structure now enables faster development and easier onboarding of future web-based platforms like Vizio or WebOS.

• 1 new platform launched without expanding the team
• Feature parity restored across TV platforms
• Lower cost of expansion to other smart TVs through reusable architecture
• Extended shared codebase to support 5+ smart TV platforms
• Improved DORA metrics, including reduced change lead time and faster recovery from deployment issues
• Faster, modern UX, setting the stage for improved engagement