Best laptops for Microsoft Flight Simulator in 2023

Welcome to the ultimate guide for finding the best laptop for Microsoft Flight Simulator. As an avid aviation enthusiast and laptop expert, I understand the unique challenges and requirements that come with running this highly demanding simulation on a portable machine. For a seamless and immersive flying experience, it is essential to have a laptop that can handle the complex graphics and intricate details that Microsoft Flight Simulator offers.

My selection process for the best laptop for this flight simulation game involved reviewing an extensive spreadsheet of recent laptop releases, comparing specs, and analyzing both professional and user-generated reviews. To ensure an optimal gaming experience, I've focused on laptops that can handle high-quality settings and maintain steady frame rates, making your virtual piloting adventures as realistic and enjoyable as possible.

As a Microsoft Flight Simulator enthusiast, you'll appreciate the importance of a powerful GPU, a high-resolution display, and ample storage for the ever-expanding scenery and aircraft add-ons. In this guide, we'll explore the top laptops that meet these requirements while also considering factors like portability, build quality, and price ranges. By the end of this guide, you'll have a clear understanding of which laptop is the perfect co-pilot for your Microsoft Flight Simulator journey.

Choosing the right processor for Microsoft Flight Simulator

We're talking about the second most important component in your gaming rig. Second only to your graphics card, but often overlooked by gamers looking for an excellent performance. To put it bluntly, if you want to take full advantage of your computer's capabilities, the processor is what you need to pay attention to.

Requirements

Microsoft Flight Simulator can be quite CPU-intensive – so I recommend at least a Intel i3-1005G1 or an Intel Core i5-10300H. The game will not work well on low-end processors. I'd also suggest upgrading to Intel i5-10500H for smoother gameplay and higher FPS in multiplayer mode.

Recommendations

That's not enough information! I hear you, reader. Let me list my suggestions for choosing the best laptop processors for playing Microsoft Flight Simulator:

Intel i3-1005G1 – minimum required CPU
i5-10300H – perfect mid-range CPU for gaming; reasonably priced; no additional considerations needed;
Intel i5-10500H – high-end CPU

The right graphics card

Choosing the best graphics card for playing Microsoft Flight Simulator is an easy task. That's because all you need is a decent integrated graphics chip, or better yet, a dedicated GPU in the form of GTX 1660 Ti. It doesn't matter what the price bracket is.

Minimum graphics (under $1000)

I can't think of any sensible scenario in which integrated graphics would be good enough for playing Microsoft Flight Simulator. Maybe that's just me? If you're working with $1000 or less, I advise you to go for a GTX 1650 and pray for the best.

Recommended graphics ($1600 – $2500)

If you're in this price range, my suggestion is to go for GTX 1660 Ti or RX 5600M. Both cards should be able to provide enough horsepower to handle Microsoft Flight Simulator on high settings without breaking a sweat. Just keep in mind that if your budget goes over $2000, there are better alternatives out there like RTX 2070 Super.

Best graphics ($2500 and up)

To get the best possible experience with Microsoft Flight Simulator, I recommend RTX 2070 Super or one of its slightly more expensive brothers – RTX 3070 and RTX 3080. You'll have no problem reaching 50 FPS on high settings.

TL;DR

integrated graphics are not good enough for playing Microsoft Flight Simulator
GTX 1650 is the minimum for $1000 or less
GTX 1660 Ti or RX 5600M are the recommended GPUs for $1600 – $2500
RTX 2070 Super or one of its slightly more expensive brothers are the best GPUs for $2500 and up

Choosing the right memory for Microsoft Flight Simulator

For Flight Simulator, there are two specific scenarios in which the minimum amount of RAM will suffice. One is if you are using it as a supplement to an offline simulator and have no intention of connecting to the Internet. The other is if you want to use Flight Simulator solely for its photo-realistic scenery, since the game itself is not demanding on the system.

Minimum (8 GB)

If you are just looking for an offline simulator, then 8GB should be enough. There are two situations in which this will be enough. One is if you only plan on using it for its scenery, which doesn't demand much of your system. The other is if you plan on using it as a supplement to another offline simulator and don't intend to connect to the Internet. If you plan on doing anything else with it, or plan on playing online multiplayer, then 16GB should be your bare minimum.

Recommended (16 GB)

I would recommend 16GB RAM for all games that require more than just scenery, like Microsoft Flight Simulator. These games will not only demand more from your system, but also use more RAM for their own purposes. You can also play these games online with other people, so they'll need even more RAM than single player games do. I would recommend at least 16GB so that you don't have any issues with getting stuttering or other lagging during gameplay sessions or multiplayer sessions with friends.

Best (32 GB)

You might also want to consider 32GB RAM for your computer if you're looking for something that will last through multiple generations of Flight Simulator updates and will still be able to handle modern demands for graphics cards and CPUs by 2020 or 2030. The more memory your computer has available now, the less likely it will need upgrades in the future.

TL;DR

Flight Simulator is not demanding on system resources
you can play it offline with 8 GB RAM
you can play it online with 16 GB RAM
you can play it online with 32 GB RAM

The best storage for Microsoft Flight Simulator in 2021

Playing Microsoft Flight Simulator? It's not like we're playing, like, anything else. But you know, this ain't easy and we can't be messing around with storage space – we need plenty of it. We don't want to make the wrong decision and regret it later. I'm here to help.

Is HDD an option?

I'll be frank with you – HDDs are out of the question. You might want to consider buying a laptop with an HDD if you're on a tight budget, but that's just about it. We can do without HDDs in our high-end gaming laptops – SSDs are a lot more expensive but a much better choice in terms of performance and longevity. That's why I recommend you to stay away from them if you have a higher budget, and only buy one as a backup measure for less pricey laptops where other specs are crucial.

Picking an SSD

I'll get straight to the point – get yourself a laptop with an NVMe PCI-e SSD over one with SATA connection. If you've got some cash left after that, get one with a lot of RAM for smoother gameplay and less stuttering when loading larger textures. That's pretty much it for choosing your laptop storage capacity for playing Microsoft Flight Simulator!

TL;DR

get an NVMe PCI-e SSD over a SATA connection
get a laptop with a lot of RAM for smoother gameplay and less stuttering when loading larger textures

What's the best display for playing Microsoft Flight Simulator?

A gamer's display needs are as diverse as their interests. A few parameters that need to be addressed: resolution, refresh rate, and panel type. It's best to ask yourself what is most important to you.

Resolution

If you're not an avid player – 1080p should suffice. I would go with 1440p if you're looking for a richer color palette. And 4k if you want an immersive, gorgeous experience. For competitive gamers – 1080p or 1440p should do nicely, but for casual players or flight simmers – 4k is overkill.

Refresh rate

For flight simmers, I wouldn't worry about it too much. But I'll say this: IPS displays typically offer higher refresh rates than TN panels. And, of course, they come with many other benefits too. If you want the best experience in Microsoft Flight Simulator – IPS is your best bet for a display type.

Panel and image quality

As always, there are three panel types in modern laptops: TN, IPS, and OLED/AMOLED. TN panels are the cheapest option, but have lower quality displays with slower response times and poorer color accuracy than IPS panels. TN screens are primarily used in budget laptops because they cost less to manufacture – so while it might be tempting to go for a cheaper laptop – I'd recommend against it if your intention is to play flight sims on the highest setting possible without compromising the graphics' fidelity at all costs (e.g., low framerate). TN panels will do just fine if that's not your goal though; it's more about preference than performance in this case (TN panels provide lower input latency).

TL;DR

go with 1080p if you're not an avid gamer or flight simmer
1440p is ideal for color fidelity and richness in flight sims
4k is only necessary for competitive players and people who are really into flight sims
TN panels are fine for casual players and people who are not into flight sims

Flight Simulator FAQs

What laptop do I need for Microsoft Flight Simulator?

You should choose a laptop based on your budget, performance needs, and other factors. It's important to consider the processor, memory, graphics card, display, and storage when selecting a laptop for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The table above provides our recommended minimum, medium, and maximum requirements for running the game. For more information, please see our guide on choosing a laptop for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

What specs do I need for Microsoft Flight Simulator?

To run Microsoft Flight Simulator at its best, you'll need at least a Full HD (FHD) display, an Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, an Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti graphics card, and a 512GB SSD storage. For more details, please see the table of recommendations above.

What laptop is best for Microsoft Flight Simulator?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer here. Depending on your budget and performance needs, different laptops might be better or worse for you. We have put together a list of recommended laptops for running Microsoft Flight Simulator, which can be found in the table above.

Does Microsoft Flight Simulator work on a laptop?

Yes, Microsoft Flight Simulator can run on laptops, provided that they meet the minimum system requirements. Refer to the table of recommendations above to determine which laptop is best suited for running Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Is 8 GB RAM enough for Microsoft Flight Simulator on a laptop?

8GB of RAM is the minimum amount of RAM required to run Microsoft Flight Simulator on a laptop. While 8GB might be sufficient for some users, we recommend 16GB of RAM for optimal performance and stability.

What are the requirements for running Microsoft Flight Simulator on a laptop?

The minimum system requirements for running Microsoft Flight Simulator on a laptop are a Full HD (FHD) display, an Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, an Nvidia GTX 1650 graphics card, and a 256GB SSD storage. For optimal performance, we recommend a FHD display, an Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, an Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti graphics card, and a 512GB SSD storage.

Is an i5 processor good enough for Microsoft Flight Simulator?

An Intel Core i5 processor is recommended for running Microsoft Flight Simulator. While an i3 processor might be sufficient to run the game, it is likely to experience lagging and stuttering. We recommend a minimum of an i5 processor for optimal performance.

What type of graphics card do I need to run Microsoft Flight Simulator on laptop?

To run Microsoft Flight Simulator at its best, you'll need at least an Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti graphics card. For higher performance requirements, we recommend an Nvidia RTX 2070 Super graphics card.

What type of laptop should I get for Microsoft Flight Simulator?

Can I run Microsoft Flight Simulator on a budget laptop?

Yes, it is possible to run Microsoft Flight Simulator on a budget laptop, provided that it meets the minimum system requirements. However, for optimal performance and stability, we recommend choosing a laptop with the recommended specs or higher. Refer to the table of recommendations above to determine which laptop is best suited for your needs.

5 Best Laptops for Microsoft Flight Simulator

$700

1.Lenovo Legion 5 Pro 16

Microsoft Flight Simulator laptop

Pros

Very good processor (Ryzen 9 6900HX)
Awesome graphics card (RTX 3070 Ti)
Exceptional display (16)
Very good memory amount (64GB)

Cons

No IPS Panel (worse contrast)

View on Amazon

Alternatives

$710

HP Victus 15

Pros

Strong entry-level gaming performance
Solid productivity performance

Cons

Display and webcam could be better
Too much pre-installed software

$850

2.HP Victus

HP Victus struggles to keep up with Microsoft Flight Simulator

Pros

Easy serviceability, 2x SODIMM, 1x M.2 PCIe4 2280 SSD
Attractive visual design for a budget model
Relatively cool surface temperatures
Smooth 144 Hz refresh rate

Cons

Subpar Turbo Boost sustainability
Weak hinges
No Thunderbolt or USB-PD support
Buggy battery life and fan behavior

View on Amazon

Summary

The HP Victus is a good budget gaming laptop, but struggles to run Microsoft Flight Simulator with its GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU. Its design is attractive, but its battery life and fan behavior can be buggy.

Reviews

Notebookcheck

HP Victus 15 laptop review: Expensive for a budget gamer