Are Core Web Vitals still relevant?
Let’s be honest—you may have never heard the term “Core Web Vitals” in your life. And if you have, there’s a good chance it sounded like something Scotty or Geordi would shout during a red alert:
If we don’t purge the Core Web Vitals now, the whole SEO core could destabilize!
It’s one of those phrases that sounds made-up—until you find out it’s part of how Google evaluates your website.
So, what are Core Web Vitals, why do they matter, and are they still relevant in 2025?
Let’s break it down—without needing a Starfleet engineering degree.
What are Core Web Vitals?
Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics that Google uses to measure real-world user experience on a webpage. Specifically, they focus on three things:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) – How quickly the main content of the page loads
- First Input Delay (FID) – How fast the site responds when a user tries to interact with it
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) – How stable the layout is as it loads (i.e., no jumping buttons or shifting text)
These metrics are part of Google’s broader Page Experience signals, including mobile friendliness, HTTPS, and the absence of annoying pop-ups.
Are Core Web Vitals still relevant in 2025?
Yes. In fact, they’ve only grown in importance. Google continues to emphasize technical performance as a ranking factor—especially as user expectations around speed and usability go up.
They’re not just a passing trend. They’re baked into how Google evaluates the quality of a page from a user’s perspective.
But let’s not overreact. Because…
Good content still beats perfect technical SEO
You could have a lightning-fast site with flawless Web Vitals and still rank below a competitor with slightly messy code but better content that more effectively answers the searcher’s question.
Search engines are still designed to serve people, not perfection. And people care more about helpful, relevant content than whether your layout shifted by 0.02 seconds on load.
In other words, content gets you in the game. But Core Web Vitals help you play better.
Core Web Vitals are like Tony Stark’s suit
When it comes to technical SEO, Core Web Vitals are a big deal. They’re not nice-to-have—they’re part of how Google evaluates and ranks your site. And that importance has only increased over time.
Think of it this way: your content is Tony Stark. Smart, sharp, persuasive.
But he’s not fighting alongside the other Avengers without a properly functioning suit—no stabilization, no repulsors, no flight. He’s just standing there cracking jokes while the rest of the team handles the mission.
Or, in Tony’s own words, he might be a “genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist”, but without the suit, he’s not fighting alongside the other Avengers.
Core Web Vitals are the suit. They don’t make your content great, but they ensure it loads fast, stays stable, and responds when someone tries to engage with it. And without that, even great content might not get the chance to do its job.
So, what should you do?
A balanced approach wins:
- Start with content. Ensure you answer real questions, use a clear structure, and build trust.
- Then improve technical performance. Check your Core Web Vitals using Google Search Console or PageSpeed Insights, and fix the major issues.
- Don’t stress over a perfect score. Focus on progress, not perfection. If your site loads quickly, stays stable, and responds well, especially on mobile, you’re in a solid place.
You’re on the right track if you’re doing solid, content-driven SEO and gradually improving technical performance.
So are Core Web Vitals still relevant?
Absolutely.
They’re a core part of your site’s technical health—and an essential ranking factor in Google’s eyes.
But they’re not the whole story. Great SEO is still built on great content. Core Web Vitals just makes sure your site can deliver that content the way your visitors—and search engines—expect.
Not sure if your site is zippy enough for Google, or just mildly annoying to real humans? Let’s talk about fixing your technical SEO.