Stale / ghosted frames not cleared on TCL Android TV (PowerVR B-Series BXE-4-32) — OpenGLES backend renders correctly #189767

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I searched existing issues — this GPU (PowerVR B-Series BXE-4-32) on the
  Vulkan backend is not covered.

Summary

On a TCL G10 Android TV (Imagination PowerVR B-Series BXE-4-32), Impeller
defaults to the Vulkan backend and produces stale / ghosted frames — the
previous frame is not cleared, so old UI stays composited over the new UI while
navigating. Forcing Impeller onto the OpenGLES backend on the same device
renders correctly. So this is Vulkan-backend-specific on this GPU, not a
general Impeller problem.

Backend confirmation

Backend lines captured by attaching with flutter run --verbose-system-logs
(same in debug and release):

Default (Vulkan) — BUG:

I/flutter: [IMPORTANT:flutter/shell/platform/android/android_context_vk_impeller.cc(62)] Using the Impeller rendering backend (Vulkan).

Forced OpenGLES — CORRECT:

I/flutter: [IMPORTANT:flutter/shell/platform/android/android_context_gl_impeller.cc(104)] Using the Impeller rendering backend (OpenGLES).

OpenGLES was forced via manifest meta-data (mirrors engine switch
impeller-backend=opengles):

<meta-data android:name="io.flutter.embedding.android.ImpellerBackend"
           android:value="opengles" />

Steps to reproduce

Minimal standalone reproduction: https://github.com/Ali1Ammar/impeller_tv_repro
(pure flutter/material, no assets, no network, no third-party packages).

1. Run the app with Impeller enabled (the default → Vulkan) on a TCL G10 Android TV:

   flutter run --release -d <tv-device>

2. Using the D-pad remote, move down through the vertical list of collections.
3. Move left/right across the horizontal carousels within a row.
4. Watch the screen while navigating (Live TV playback is affected too).

Expected results

Each frame fully replaces the previous one — smooth navigation, no residual
imagery. This is exactly what happens on the OpenGLES backend and with
Impeller disabled (Skia).

Actual results (Vulkan backend)

Previous frames are not cleared — old UI stays ghosted/floating above the
new UI:

• Navigating down, the upper collections repeatedly reappear/redraw, so the
  list looks like it loops and it's hard to reach the target section.
• A headerless orphan row is composited below the current row with its own
  focus highlight — two focus borders visible at once (see screenshot). The
  section header jumps e.g. "Collection 3" → "Collection 6" with 4 & 5 overdrawn.
• The stale layer stays frozen, then disappears later; the UI visibly shakes /
  stutters; animations are choppy.

Workarounds (both verified on-device)

1. Force the OpenGLES backend (keeps Impeller) — renders correctly:

   <meta-data android:name="io.flutter.embedding.android.ImpellerBackend"
              android:value="opengles" />

2. Disable Impeller (Skia): io.flutter.embedding.android.EnableImpeller=false
   / flutter run --no-enable-impeller.

Request

either denylist the Vulkan backend for PowerVR B-Series BXE-4-32 so
the engine falls back to the working OpenGLES path automatically, or fix the
Vulkan render-pass clear / damage-region handling on this GPU.

Affected device

Flutter Doctor output

[✓] Flutter (Channel stable, 3.44.2, on macOS 26.5.2 25F84 darwin-arm64, locale en-IQ)
    • Flutter version 3.44.2 on channel stable at /opt/homebrew/share/flutter
    • Upstream repository https://github.com/flutter/flutter.git
    • Framework revision c9a6c48423 (2026-06-10), Engine revision 77e2e94772
    • Dart version 3.12.2
    • DevTools version 2.57.0

[✓] Android toolchain - develop for Android devices (Android SDK version 37.0.0)
    • Platform android-37.0, build-tools 37.0.0
    • Java version OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 21.0.10)
    • All Android licenses accepted.

[✓] Xcode - develop for iOS and macOS (Xcode 26.2)
[✓] Chrome - develop for the web
[✓] Connected device (3 available)
    • Smart TV (mobile) • 10.223.233.198:5555 • android-arm • Android 12 (API 31)
[✓] Network resources

• No issues found!