We often encounter a situation: an Android app stutters when doing bulk data inserts — writing 1000 objects via Room takes 15 seconds. The client loses users due to lag. ObjectBox solves this: native C++ implementation without SQL parsing delivers up to 10x speedup on write operations. In our practice, we integrated ObjectBox into an IoT tracker that saved 500 points every 5 minutes — write time dropped from 8 to 0.7 seconds. Development time savings: up to 2 weeks per project thanks to automatic codegen and no DAOs. Additionally, the object model reduces code volume by 30–40%, directly lowering development and maintenance costs.
We configure ObjectBox end-to-end, including models, reactive queries, and synchronization. We evaluate your project in one day — contact us to get started.
Why ObjectBox is faster than SQLite?
ObjectBox is an object database, not relational. No JOINs, no GROUP BY — but for working with object graphs (entities with relations) that's not needed. Benchmarks from ObjectBox show a 10x advantage over Room/SQLite on writes. In real projects, the gap depends on patterns: bulk inserts — 3–10x win, reads by ID — roughly equal. For IoT apps, trackers, game saves, filterable catalogs, ObjectBox is ideal. Development savings: up to 40% compared to traditional solutions.
How to set up ObjectBox in 3–5 days?
The setup process includes several steps:
- Data schema analysis: identify entities and relations.
- Entity design with relations (ToOne, ToMany).
- Integration of BoxStore into the Application class.
- Implementation of reactive queries via DataObserver.
- Performance testing: measure write/read speed.
- Deployment to app stores.
Below is a typical stack and code.
Connecting and Models
// build.gradle (app) plugins { id("io.objectbox") } dependencies { implementation("io.objectbox:objectbox-kotlin:3.8.0") } @Entity data class Task( @Id var id: Long = 0, var title: String = "", var description: String = "", var priority: Int = 0, var dueDate: Long = 0, var isCompleted: Boolean = false ) { val tags: ToMany<Tag> = toMany() } @Entity data class Tag( @Id var id: Long = 0, var name: String = "", @Index var color: String = "" ) @Id is a mandatory Long for internal ObjectBox ID. This is not a UUID or your business identifier — use a separate string field for server synchronization.
Initialization and BoxStore
// Application class class MyApp : Application() { companion object { lateinit var boxStore: BoxStore private set } override fun onCreate() { super.onCreate() boxStore = MyObjectBox.builder() .androidContext(this) .name("tasks-db") .build() } } // Usage in ViewModel class TaskViewModel : ViewModel() { private val taskBox: Box<Task> = MyApp.boxStore.boxFor(Task::class.java) val tasks: LiveData<List<Task>> = liveData(Dispatchers.IO) { val query = taskBox.query(Task_.isCompleted.equal(false)) .order(Task_.priority, QueryBuilder.DESCENDING) .build() emitSource(query.subscribe().toLiveData()) } } query.subscribe().toLiveData() — ObjectBox DataObserver automatically notifies when data in the box changes. This is a reactive subscription without extra code.
Queries via QueryBuilder
ObjectBox does not use string SQL. Queries via type-safe QueryBuilder with Properties — generated metaclasses (Task_, Tag_):
// Filtering with multiple conditions val urgentTasks = taskBox.query( Task_.isCompleted.equal(false) .and(Task_.priority.greater(2)) .and(Task_.dueDate.less(System.currentTimeMillis() + 86_400_000L)) ) .order(Task_.dueDate) .build() .find() // Full-text search — requires @Index(type = IndexType.VALUE) + FTS val searchResults = taskBox.query( Task_.title.contains("meeting", StringOrder.CASE_INSENSITIVE) ) .build() .find() No JOINs — relations via ToOne/ToMany. ObjectBox loads related objects lazy by default:
// ToMany loads on first access val taskTags = task.tags // lazy load, DB access ObjectBox Sync
Note: like Realm, ObjectBox offers a commercial synchronization server — ObjectBox Sync. Bidirectional sync, conflict resolution, delta updates. This is a separate product with a licensing model. We integrate Sync into your app turnkey.
How does ObjectBox Sync work?
ObjectBox Sync uses delta synchronization: only changed objects are transmitted, not the entire database. Conflict resolution is configurable: you can choose "last writer wins", "local priority", or custom logic. To start, just set up a Sync server and specify the URL in the client.
Comparison of ObjectBox and Room
| Criteria | ObjectBox | Room/SQLite |
|---|---|---|
| Write speed (1000 objects) | ~0.5 sec | ~5–15 sec |
| Read speed by ID | ~0.1 ms | ~0.2 ms |
| Reactive queries | DataObserver | Flow/LiveData via DAO |
| Synchronization | ObjectBox Sync (commercial) | Firebase, manual |
| Typical setup time | 3–5 days | 5–10 days |
Common Issues and Solutions
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| ID not UUID | ObjectBox auto-assigns Long IDs — they are only unique locally. For server sync, add a separate string field with @Index. |
| Codegen on every build | The plugin generates MyObjectBox.java and _ classes. If schema changes but gradle cache is not cleared, the compiler complains about mismatch. ./gradlew clean solves it. |
| Only one BoxStore per app | Attempting to open a second BoxStore on the same file throws an exception. Singleton via Application class is mandatory. |
Why ObjectBox suits IoT apps?
IoT devices generate streaming time-series data: coordinates, sensor readings, logs. ObjectBox handles bulk inserts without delays, and reactive subscriptions instantly update the UI. In the tracker we built, writing 500 points per minute caused no lag — unlike Room, where GC led to freezes. ObjectBox is also available for Flutter and React Native, simplifying cross-platform development.
What's included in the work
- Object model design with relations
- BoxStore setup, codegen, index optimization
- Reactive query implementation (LiveData/Flow)
- ObjectBox Sync integration (if needed)
- Performance testing (before/after benchmarks)
- Documentation on schema and access
- 30-day support after delivery
Order ObjectBox setup for your mobile app — we guarantee results. For over 5 years we've been doing mobile development and delivered 50+ projects on ObjectBox and alternatives. Get a free estimate — write to us!