Performance regression with Impeller rendering compared to Skia backend #169423
Description
Steps to reproduce
-
Clone the repro project:
git clone https://github.com/mixedteam236/impeller_test.git cd impeller_test -
Ensure to be on Flutter 3.32.0 (stable) or newer:
flutter --version
-
Run the app with Impeller enabled (release mode):
flutter run --release
-
Observe the animation performance after tapping the button at bottom right.
-
Stop the app, then run with Impeller disabled (Skia default):
flutter run --release --no-enable-impeller
-
Compare the smoothness and reported FPS between both runs.
Expected behavior
With Impeller enabled, animations should be as smooth as (or smoother than) the Skia backend, maintaining a steady 60 FPS on supported devices in release mode.
Actual behavior
Impeller enabled: Frame rate drops significantly, with noticeable stuttering and frame skips.
Impeller disabled (Skia): Consistent 60 FPS, smooth animations across the board.
Code sample
Code sample
See GitHub repository: https://github.com/mixedteam236/impeller_test.git
Performance profiling on master channel
- The issue still persists on the master channel
Timeline Traces
dart_devtools_2025-05-25_00_57_25.809.zip
Video demonstration
Video demonstration
| impeller_enabled_recorded_with_camera | impeller_not_enabled_recorded_with_camera |
|---|---|
impeller_enabled_recorded_with_camera.mp4 |
impeller_not_enabled_recorded_with_camera.mp4 |
| impeller_enabled | impeller_not_enabled |
|---|---|
impeller_enabled.mp4 |
impeller_not_enabled.mp4 |
What target platforms are you seeing this bug on?
Android
OS/Browser name and version | Device information
Operating System: Android 15
Model: ASUS Zenfone 10 (AI2302)
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (SM8550-AB, 4 nm)
CPU: Octa-core (1×3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 + 2×2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 + 2×2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 + 3×2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
GPU: Adreno 740
Memory (RAM): 8 GB LPDDR5X
ABI / Architecture: arm64-v8a (64-bit)
Does the problem occur on emulator/simulator as well as on physical devices?
Unknown
Is the problem only reproducible with Impeller?
Yes
Logs
Flutter Doctor output
Doctor output
[√] Flutter (Channel stable, 3.32.0, on Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.26100.4061], locale de-DE) [638ms]
• Flutter version 3.32.0 on channel stable at c:\Progs\flutter
• Upstream repository https://github.com/flutter/flutter.git
• Framework revision be698c48a6 (5 days ago), 2025-05-19 12:59:14 -0700
• Engine revision 1881800949
• Dart version 3.8.0
• DevTools version 2.45.1
[√] Windows Version (11 Home 64-bit, 24H2, 2009) [2,9s]
[√] Android toolchain - develop for Android devices (Android SDK version 35.0.0) [3,1s]
• Android SDK at c:\Progs\AndroidSdk
• Platform android-36, build-tools 35.0.0
• ANDROID_HOME = c:\Progs\AndroidSdk
• Java binary at: C:\Users\Me\AppData\Local\Programs\Android Studio\jbr\bin\java
This is the JDK bundled with the latest Android Studio installation on this machine.
To manually set the JDK path, use: `flutter config --jdk-dir="path/to/jdk"`.
• Java version OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 21.0.6+-13368085-b895.109)
• All Android licenses accepted.
[√] Chrome - develop for the web [337ms]
• Chrome at C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
[X] Visual Studio - develop Windows apps [335ms]
X Visual Studio not installed; this is necessary to develop Windows apps.
Download at https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/.
Please install the "Desktop development with C++" workload, including all of its default components
[√] Android Studio (version 2024.3.2) [96ms]
• Android Studio at C:\Users\Me\AppData\Local\Programs\Android Studio
• Flutter plugin can be installed from:
https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/9212-flutter
• Dart plugin can be installed from:
https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/6351-dart
• Java version OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 21.0.6+-13368085-b895.109)
[√] IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition (version 2024.2) [94ms]
• IntelliJ at D:\Progs\IntelliJ
• Flutter plugin can be installed from:
https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/9212-flutter
• Dart plugin version 242.26775.15
[√] IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition (version 2025.1) [51ms]
• IntelliJ at C:\Users\Me\AppData\Local\Programs\IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
• Flutter plugin can be installed from:
https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/9212-flutter
• Dart plugin version 251.25410.28
[√] Connected device (4 available) [314ms]
• ASUS AI2302 (mobile) • RCAIB700B06699H • android-arm64 • Android 15 (API 35)
• Windows (desktop) • windows • windows-x64 • Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.26100.4061]
• Chrome (web) • chrome • web-javascript • Google Chrome 136.0.7103.114
• Edge (web) • edge • web-javascript • Microsoft Edge 135.0.3179.54
[√] Network resources [340ms]
• All expected network resources are available.
! Doctor found issues in 1 category.