diff --git a/example/android/gradle.properties b/example/android/gradle.properties
index fbee1d8cd..195a4efd6 100644
--- a/example/android/gradle.properties
+++ b/example/android/gradle.properties
@@ -1,2 +1,4 @@
 org.gradle.jvmargs=-Xmx8G -XX:MaxMetaspaceSize=4G -XX:ReservedCodeCacheSize=512m -XX:+HeapDumpOnOutOfMemoryError
 android.useAndroidX=true
+android.builtInKotlin=false
+android.newDsl=false
diff --git a/lib/src/layer/tile_layer/tile_image.dart b/lib/src/layer/tile_layer/tile_image.dart
index 71fe06a54..34d9556a7 100644
--- a/lib/src/layer/tile_layer/tile_image.dart
+++ b/lib/src/layer/tile_layer/tile_image.dart
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ class TileImage extends ChangeNotifier {
   ImageStream? _imageStream;
   late ImageStreamListener _listener;
 
+  Timer? _loadDelayTimer;
+
   /// Create a new object for a tile image.
   TileImage({
     required this.vsync,
@@ -132,28 +134,33 @@ class TileImage extends ChangeNotifier {
   }
 
   /// Initiate loading of the image.
-  void load() {
-    if (cancelLoading.isCompleted) return;
+  Future<void> load({Duration delay = Duration.zero}) async {
+    void startLoad() {
+      if (cancelLoading.isCompleted) return;
 
-    loadStarted = DateTime.now();
+      loadStarted = DateTime.now();
 
-    try {
-      final oldImageStream = _imageStream;
-      _imageStream = imageProvider.resolve(ImageConfiguration.empty);
+      try {
+        final oldImageStream = _imageStream;
+        _imageStream = imageProvider.resolve(ImageConfiguration.empty);
 
-      if (_imageStream!.key != oldImageStream?.key) {
-        oldImageStream?.removeListener(_listener);
+        if (_imageStream!.key != oldImageStream?.key) {
+          oldImageStream?.removeListener(_listener);
 
-        _listener = ImageStreamListener(
-          _onImageLoadSuccess,
-          onError: _onImageLoadError,
-        );
-        _imageStream!.addListener(_listener);
+          _listener = ImageStreamListener(
+            _onImageLoadSuccess,
+            onError: _onImageLoadError,
+          );
+          _imageStream!.addListener(_listener);
+        }
+      } catch (e, s) {
+        // Make sure all exceptions are handled - #444 / #536
+        _onImageLoadError(e, s);
       }
-    } catch (e, s) {
-      // Make sure all exceptions are handled - #444 / #536
-      _onImageLoadError(e, s);
     }
+
+    if (delay <= Duration.zero) return startLoad();
+    _loadDelayTimer = Timer(delay, startLoad);
   }
 
   void _onImageLoadSuccess(ImageInfo imageInfo, bool synchronousCall) {
@@ -233,6 +240,7 @@ class TileImage extends ChangeNotifier {
       }
     }
 
+    _loadDelayTimer?.cancel();
     cancelLoading.complete();
 
     _readyToDisplay = false;
diff --git a/lib/src/layer/tile_layer/tile_image_manager.dart b/lib/src/layer/tile_layer/tile_image_manager.dart
index a581b3992..fbc373ad9 100644
--- a/lib/src/layer/tile_layer/tile_image_manager.dart
+++ b/lib/src/layer/tile_layer/tile_image_manager.dart
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ class TileImageManager {
               tileBounds.atZoom(tile.coordinates.z).wrap(tile.coordinates),
               layer,
             );
-      tile.load();
+      tile.load(delay: layer.tileLoadDelay);
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/lib/src/layer/tile_layer/tile_layer.dart b/lib/src/layer/tile_layer/tile_layer.dart
index c6100c40a..32ea4a4f3 100644
--- a/lib/src/layer/tile_layer/tile_layer.dart
+++ b/lib/src/layer/tile_layer/tile_layer.dart
@@ -227,6 +227,24 @@ class TileLayer extends StatefulWidget {
   /// the [key].
   final TileUpdateTransformer tileUpdateTransformer;
 
+  /// Duration between a tile becoming 'alive' (built/viewed) and it beginning
+  /// to load its resource image.
+  ///
+  /// This allows tiles which are visible only very briefly (for example, during
+  /// fast gestures) to be destroyed (unviewed) without wasting resources (such
+  /// as network usage and metered tile loads) trying to load its image. This
+  /// may speed up loading of other images.
+  ///
+  /// Note that destroyed tiles always stop loading if they are - but this
+  /// prevents even the start of their loading.
+  ///
+  /// To change how map events and gestures influence how tiles load, such as
+  /// to delay all tile loading until a gesture has paused, see
+  /// [tileUpdateTransformer].
+  ///
+  /// Defaults to 30ms. Set to `Duration.zero` to disable delay.
+  final Duration tileLoadDelay;
+
   /// Create a new [TileLayer] for the [FlutterMap] widget.
   TileLayer({
     super.key,
@@ -261,6 +279,7 @@ class TileLayer extends StatefulWidget {
     this.reset,
     this.tileBounds,
     TileUpdateTransformer? tileUpdateTransformer,
+    this.tileLoadDelay = const Duration(milliseconds: 30),
     String userAgentPackageName = 'unknown',
   })  : assert(
           tileDisplay.when(
@@ -712,7 +731,7 @@ class _TileLayerState extends State<TileLayer> with TickerProviderStateMixin {
 
     // Create the new Tiles.
     for (final tile in tilesToLoad) {
-      tile.load();
+      tile.load(delay: widget.tileLoadDelay);
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/lib/src/layer/tile_layer/tile_update_transformer.dart b/lib/src/layer/tile_layer/tile_update_transformer.dart
index 2b1fb565e..c1a290a7e 100644
--- a/lib/src/layer/tile_layer/tile_update_transformer.dart
+++ b/lib/src/layer/tile_layer/tile_update_transformer.dart
@@ -104,9 +104,9 @@ abstract class TileUpdateTransformers {
   /// This may improve performance, and reduce the number of tile requests, but
   /// at the expense of UX: new tiles will not be loaded until [duration] after
   /// the final tile load event in a series. For example, a fling gesture will
-  /// not load new tiles during its animation, only at the end. Best used in
-  /// combination with the cancellable tile provider, for even more fine-tuned
-  /// optimization.
+  /// not load new tiles during its animation, only at the end.
+  ///
+  /// A more balanced tradeoff is the setting of [TileLayer.tileLoadDelay].
   ///
   /// Implementation follows that in
   /// ['package:stream_transform'](https://pub.dev/documentation/stream_transform/latest/stream_transform/RateLimit/debounce.html).
diff --git a/test/flutter_map_test.dart b/test/flutter_map_test.dart
index 6d9599380..eb80388eb 100644
--- a/test/flutter_map_test.dart
+++ b/test/flutter_map_test.dart
@@ -28,6 +28,11 @@ void main() {
     expect(find.byType(RawImage), findsWidgets);
     expect(find.byType(MarkerLayer), findsWidgets);
     expect(find.byType(FlutterLogo), findsOneWidget);
+    await tester.pumpAndSettle(
+      const Duration(milliseconds: 30),
+      EnginePhase.build,
+      const Duration(minutes: 1),
+    );
   });
 
   testWidgets(
diff --git a/test/layer/circle_layer_test.dart b/test/layer/circle_layer_test.dart
index a8cdb5cf7..038971227 100644
--- a/test/layer/circle_layer_test.dart
+++ b/test/layer/circle_layer_test.dart
@@ -30,5 +30,11 @@ void main() {
         find.descendant(
             of: find.byType(CircleLayer), matching: find.byType(CustomPaint)),
         findsOneWidget);
+
+    await tester.pumpAndSettle(
+      const Duration(milliseconds: 30),
+      EnginePhase.build,
+      const Duration(minutes: 1),
+    );
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/layer/marker_layer_test.dart b/test/layer/marker_layer_test.dart
index 8834c41f5..dc53f695f 100644
--- a/test/layer/marker_layer_test.dart
+++ b/test/layer/marker_layer_test.dart
@@ -23,5 +23,10 @@ void main() {
     expect(find.byType(FlutterMap), findsOneWidget);
     expect(find.byType(MarkerLayer), findsWidgets);
     expect(find.byKey(key), findsOneWidget);
+    await tester.pumpAndSettle(
+      const Duration(milliseconds: 30),
+      EnginePhase.build,
+      const Duration(minutes: 1),
+    );
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/layer/polygon_layer_test.dart b/test/layer/polygon_layer_test.dart
index e87e01f9a..cb48d44fc 100644
--- a/test/layer/polygon_layer_test.dart
+++ b/test/layer/polygon_layer_test.dart
@@ -32,6 +32,12 @@ void main() {
         find.descendant(
             of: find.byType(PolygonLayer), matching: find.byType(CustomPaint)),
         findsOneWidget);
+
+    await tester.pumpAndSettle(
+      const Duration(milliseconds: 30),
+      EnginePhase.build,
+      const Duration(minutes: 1),
+    );
   });
 
   test('polygon normal/rotation', () {
diff --git a/test/layer/polyline_layer_test.dart b/test/layer/polyline_layer_test.dart
index 9fdf43f44..49d4445e5 100644
--- a/test/layer/polyline_layer_test.dart
+++ b/test/layer/polyline_layer_test.dart
@@ -30,5 +30,11 @@ void main() {
         find.descendant(
             of: find.byType(PolylineLayer), matching: find.byType(CustomPaint)),
         findsOneWidget);
+
+    await tester.pumpAndSettle(
+      const Duration(milliseconds: 30),
+      EnginePhase.build,
+      const Duration(minutes: 1),
+    );
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/map/map_controller_test.dart b/test/map/map_controller_test.dart
index fb6d649b7..6cd0a51d0 100644
--- a/test/map/map_controller_test.dart
+++ b/test/map/map_controller_test.dart
@@ -91,6 +91,12 @@ void main() {
       expect(camera.center, equals(expectedCenter));
       expect(camera.zoom, equals(expectedZoom));
     }
+
+    await tester.pumpAndSettle(
+      const Duration(milliseconds: 30),
+      EnginePhase.build,
+      const Duration(minutes: 1),
+    );
   });
 
   testWidgets('test fit bounds methods with rotation', (tester) async {
@@ -620,6 +626,12 @@ void main() {
       expectedCenter: const LatLng(1.2239447514276816, 31.954672909718134),
       expectedZoom: 5.368867444131886,
     );
+
+    await tester.pumpAndSettle(
+      const Duration(milliseconds: 30),
+      EnginePhase.build,
+      const Duration(minutes: 1),
+    );
   });
 
   testWidgets('test fit coordinates methods', (tester) async {
@@ -818,6 +830,12 @@ void main() {
       expectedCenter: const LatLng(1.223944751427707, 31.954672909718177),
       expectedZoom: 5.368867444131889,
     );
+
+    await tester.pumpAndSettle(
+      const Duration(milliseconds: 30),
+      EnginePhase.build,
+      const Duration(minutes: 1),
+    );
   });
 
   testWidgets('test fit inside bounds with rotation', (tester) async {
@@ -1373,5 +1391,11 @@ void main() {
       expectedCenter: const LatLng(1.2682880092901039, 31.90701622809375),
       expectedZoom: 5.728195363812886,
     );
+
+    await tester.pumpAndSettle(
+      const Duration(milliseconds: 30),
+      EnginePhase.build,
+      const Duration(minutes: 1),
+    );
   });
 }