What version of React Native are you using? And which phone are you using?
If you run React Native on Android Emulator, it will be pretty slow. Also, if you have chrome debugging enabled, it slows down the application using LOT.
I use the fairly simple React Native app on my Samsung Galaxy s4 device and it works pretty fast (the animation works pretty smoothly).
some sample code that I run (third-party and main view with animation):
_renderCancel: function(){ if (this.state.showView) { return ( this.props.view ); } else { return ; } }, render: function() { var menu = <Menu closeDrawer={this.closeDrawer} navigator={this.props.navigator} modifyOnClose={this.modifyOnClose} />; return ( <Drawer ref="drawer" onClose={this.onClose} type={this.state.drawerType} animation={this.state.animation} openDrawerOffset={this.state.openDrawerOffset} closedDrawerOffset={this.state.closedDrawerOffset} panOpenMask={this.state.panOpenMask} panCloseMask={this.state.panCloseMask} relativeDrag={this.state.relativeDrag} panStartCompensation={this.state.panStartCompensation} openDrawerThreshold={this.state.openDrawerThreshold} content={menu} styles={drawerStyles} disabled={this.state.disabled} tweenHandler={this.tweenHandler} tweenDuration={this.state.tweenDuration} tweenEasing={this.state.tweenEasing} acceptDoubleTap={this.state.acceptDoubleTap} acceptTap={this.state.acceptTap} acceptPan={this.state.acceptPan} changeVal={this.state.changeVal} negotiatePan={false} side={this.state.rightSide ? 'right' : 'left'} > <View> <CustomToolBar onPress={this.openDrawer}/> {this._renderCancel()} </View> </Drawer> ); },
This is pretty fast on my device.
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