diff --git a/docs/RunningOnDevice.md b/docs/RunningOnDevice.md
index c3fda2446..331886f90 100644
--- a/docs/RunningOnDevice.md
+++ b/docs/RunningOnDevice.md
@@ -148,6 +148,10 @@ $ react-native run-android
 
 > If you get a "bridge configuration isn't available" error, see [Using adb reverse](#using-adb-reverse).
 
+> Hint
+>
+> You can also use the `React Native CLI` to generate and run a `Release` build (e.g. `react-native run-android --configuration Release`).
+
 <block class="mac windows linux android ios" />
 
 ## Connecting to the development server
diff --git a/local-cli/runAndroid/runAndroid.js b/local-cli/runAndroid/runAndroid.js
index b64bfcd17..90be361f4 100644
--- a/local-cli/runAndroid/runAndroid.js
+++ b/local-cli/runAndroid/runAndroid.js
@@ -77,14 +77,9 @@ function tryRunAdbReverse(device) {
 
 // Builds the app and runs it on a connected emulator / device.
 function buildAndRun(args) {
-  process.chdir(path.join(args.root, 'android'));
   try {
     adb.getDevices().map((device) => tryRunAdbReverse(device));
 
-    const cmd = process.platform.startsWith('win')
-      ? 'gradlew.bat'
-      : './gradlew';
-
     const gradleArgs = [];
     if (args.variant) {
       gradleArgs.push('install' +
@@ -98,13 +93,33 @@ function buildAndRun(args) {
         args.flavor[0].toUpperCase() + args.flavor.slice(1)
       );
     } else {
-      gradleArgs.push('installDebug');
+      gradleArgs.push('install');
     }
 
-    if (args.installDebug) {
-      gradleArgs.push(args.installDebug);
+    // Append the build type to the current gradle install configuration. By default it will generate `installDebug`.
+    gradleArgs[0] = gradleArgs[0] + args.configuration[0].toUpperCase() + args.configuration.slice(1);
+
+    // Get the Android project directory.
+    const androidProjectDir = path.join(args.root, 'android');
+
+    if (args.configuration.toUpperCase() === 'RELEASE') {
+      console.log(chalk.bold(
+        `Generating the bundle for the release build...`
+      ));
+
+      child_process.execSync(`react-native bundle --platform android --dev false --entry-file index.android.js --bundle-output ${androidProjectDir}/app/src/main/assets/index.android.bundle --assets-dest ${androidProjectDir}/app/src/main/res/`, {
+        stdio: [process.stdin, process.stdout, process.stderr]
+      });
     }
 
+    // Change to the Android directory.
+    process.chdir(androidProjectDir);
+
+    // Get the gradle binary for the current platform.
+    const cmd = process.platform.startsWith('win')
+      ? 'gradlew.bat'
+      : './gradlew';
+
     console.log(chalk.bold(
       `Building and installing the app on the device (cd android && ${cmd} ${gradleArgs.join(' ')}...`
     ));
@@ -116,9 +131,8 @@ function buildAndRun(args) {
     console.log(chalk.red(
       'Could not install the app on the device, read the error above for details.\n' +
       'Make sure you have an Android emulator running or a device connected and have\n' +
-      'set up your Android development environment.\n' +
-      'Go to https://facebook.github.io/react-native/docs/getting-started.html\n' +
-      'and check the Android tab for setup instructions.'
+      'set up your Android development environment:\n' +
+      'https://facebook.github.io/react-native/docs/android-setup.html'
     ));
     // stderr is automatically piped from the gradle process, so the user
     // should see the error already, there is no need to do
@@ -206,14 +220,16 @@ module.exports = {
   description: 'builds your app and starts it on a connected Android emulator or device',
   func: runAndroid,
   options: [{
-    command: '--install-debug',
-  }, {
     command: '--root [string]',
     description: 'Override the root directory for the android build (which contains the android directory)',
     default: '',
   }, {
     command: '--flavor [string]',
     description: '--flavor has been deprecated. Use --variant instead',
+  }, {
+    command: '--configuration [string]',
+    description: 'You can use `Release` or `Debug`. This creates a build based on the selected configuration. If you want to use the `Release` configuration make sure you have the `signingConfig` configured at `app/build.gradle`.',
+    default: 'Debug'
   }, {
     command: '--variant [string]',
   }],