In 2021, Google introduced Core Web Vitals as part of its Page Experience update to encourage better user experiences. Fast-forward to 2025, and these performance-based metrics have evolved significantly. If you’re still optimizing for LCP, FID, and CLS alone, you’re behind. Google has shifted its focus toward more real-world interactivity and user-centric performance.
In this blog, The SEO Fly, your trusted SEO partner, breaks down what’s changed in Core Web Vitals in 2025, what it means for your rankings, and how to stay ahead in this ever-evolving SEO landscape.
What Are Core Web Vitals? (Quick Refresher)
Core Web Vitals are a set of performance metrics introduced by Google to measure page speed, responsiveness, and visual stability. They influence search rankings and user satisfaction.
Originally, the three core metrics were:
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Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) – Measures load speed
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First Input Delay (FID) – Measures interactivity
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Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) – Measures visual stability
These metrics are designed to reflect the real user experience on your site.
What’s New in Core Web Vitals 2025?
Google has made several key updates in 2025 to improve how Core Web Vitals reflect modern website experiences:
1. Interaction to Next Paint (INP) Replaces FID
As of March 2024, Interaction to Next Paint (INP) officially replaced First Input Delay (FID) as the new responsiveness metric.
Why the Change?
FID only measured the first interaction. INP offers a more comprehensive view of how responsive your site is to all user interactions (like clicking, scrolling, or typing).
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Good INP: Under 200 milliseconds
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Needs Improvement: 200–500 ms
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Poor: Over 500 ms
The SEO Fly Tip: Audit your JavaScript execution and event handlers to keep INP under control.
2. LCP Thresholds Tightened
Google has updated the LCP guidelines, expecting even faster load speeds, especially for mobile users.
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Old Good Score: Under 2.5s
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New Good Score (2025): Under 2.0 seconds on both desktop and mobile.
Why? Users now expect near-instant experiences, thanks to widespread use of 5G and performance-first frameworks like Astro and Svelte.
3. CLS Expanded to Include Animation Stability
In 2025, CLS now also considers layout shifts caused by animations. If an animation moves text or buttons without proper constraints, it will negatively impact your CLS score.
This means fancy transitions or sliding carousels need stricter control.
Pro Tip from The SEO Fly: Use transform and opacity for animations instead of top, left, or height, which can trigger layout shifts.
4. New Experimental Metric: Smoothness
Google is experimenting with a Smoothness metric, focused on frame consistency and animation flow, particularly on scroll-heavy or mobile-first sites.
Though not officially part of Core Web Vitals yet, it’s likely to be included in the Page Experience Signals by late 2025.
Why Core Web Vitals Still Matter in 2025
Some SEOs believed Google would scale back the impact of Core Web Vitals. But the opposite has happened.
Ranking Impact
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Core Web Vitals remain a confirmed ranking factor, especially when other SEO signals (like backlinks or content quality) are close.
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Sites with excellent Core Web Vitals consistently show better dwell time, lower bounce rates, and higher conversions.
User Trust
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Faster and more stable pages lead to better user retention.
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In e-commerce, a 0.1s improvement in load speed can increase conversions by 8% (Google data).
How to Optimize for Core Web Vitals in 2025
1. Use Modern Tech Stacks
Switch to performance-focused frameworks like Next.js, Svelte, or Astro for better INP and LCP scores.
2. Defer or Lazy Load Non-Essential Elements
Images, third-party scripts (like chat widgets), and ads should be loaded only when needed.
3. Prioritize Critical CSS
Inline above-the-fold CSS to reduce render delay. Use tools like Critical or PageSpeed Insights for suggestions.
4. Implement a CDN
A Content Delivery Network ensures your content loads quickly from any location.
5. Use Google’s Tools Regularly
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PageSpeed Insights
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Lighthouse Reports
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Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX)
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Web Vitals Extension for Chrome
What The SEO Fly Can Do for You
At The SEO Fly, we specialize in technical SEO and performance optimization. Our Core Web Vitals audits come with:
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Full performance diagnostics
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Custom action plan to improve metrics
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Code-level recommendations for developers
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Continuous monitoring post-implementation
Whether you’re running an e-commerce store, SaaS platform, or content-heavy site, we help you rank faster, load quicker, and convert better.
Conclusion
In 2025, Core Web Vitals will be more nuanced, technical, and essential than ever. Google’s emphasis on real user metrics means that page experience is no longer optional—it’s critical.
Stay ahead of the curve by optimizing for INP, tightening your LCP, and watching out for layout shifts caused by animations. Partner with The SEO Fly to ensure your site delivers the speed and performance users expect.