The metric names change. The physics don't. Here's the shortlist of interventions that actually move Core Web Vitals scores in 2026.
LCP — still the boss
- Serve the hero image from the CDN as AVIF with priority=true.
- Preload the hero font. Serve it as a WOFF2 subset.
- Kill above-the-fold client JS. Server components help here.
INP — the new honest one
INP replaced FID and is unforgiving of janky handlers. Debounce anything on-input, and audit your React re-render cost during typing. React Compiler is a real win here.
CLS — table stakes
There is no excuse for CLS > 0.1 in 2026. Always size images, reserve font-metrics slots, and don't inject cookie banners without a placeholder.
#performance
#SEO
#Next.js