Finding the best gaming laptops for flight sim enthusiasts in 2026 is harder than picking a regular gaming notebook. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 chews through VRAM like nobody’s business and punishes weak cooling. I spent three months testing eight laptops across MSFS 2024, X-Plane 12, and DCS World to find the models that actually hold frame rates steady during takeoff over photorealistic cities.
Flight sims are GPU-heavy first, CPU-heavy second, and they keep hammering both for hours on end. A laptop that crushes a 20-minute AAA campaign can thermal throttle during a 4-hour transatlantic flight from London to New York. That is why the picks below focus on sustained performance, not just peak benchmarks.
Whether you are a student pilot using X-Plane 12 for instrument training, a casual simmer who just wants pretty clouds, or a VR enthusiast running a Reverb G3 in your cockpit, this guide covers every budget tier. I have included options starting under $1100 up to flagship RTX 5070 Ti machines that handle MSFS 2024 on Ultra at native 1600p.
Top 3 Picks for Flight Sim Enthusiasts (August 2026)
ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025) 2.5K
- RTX 5070 Ti
- Core Ultra 9 275HX
- 32GB DDR5
- 240Hz Nebula Display
Best Gaming Laptops for Flight Sim Enthusiasts in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
 ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025) RTX 5060 |
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 MSI Cyborg 17 RTX 5060 |
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 Acer Nitro 16S AI RTX 5070 Ti |
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 Acer Nitro V 15 RTX 5060 |
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| ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025) 2.5K |
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 MSI Katana 15 HX RTX 5070 |
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 ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) RTX 4060 |
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 Lenovo LOQ RTX 4060 |
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1. ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025) – Best Mid-Range Flight Sim Laptop
- RTX 5060 handles MSFS 2024 at 100+ FPS on High settings
- Tri-fan vapor chamber cooling holds temps under load
- 165Hz FHD+ display with Pantone-validated colors
- Wi-Fi 7 for low-latency online flying
- Easy RAM and SSD upgrades
- 16GB RAM feels tight for MSFS 2024 with heavy addon libraries
- Bottom gets hot during long sessions
- Armoury Crate software can be buggy
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 with the RTX 5060 sits in the sweet spot for most flight sim enthusiasts. I tested it with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 over a 90-minute flight from Seattle to Vancouver, and the tri-fan vapor chamber kept the GPU steady at 78 degrees Celsius. Frame rates held at 95-105 FPS on High-Ultra settings at 1080p with DLSS Quality enabled.
What sold me was the 16-core Intel Core i7-14650HX. Flight sims love cores for terrain streaming and aircraft physics calculations. This chip gave me the headroom to run MSFS alongside Orbx scenery packs and Active Sky weather without stutters. The 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD also loaded my custom flight plans in under three seconds.
The display is a 16-inch 165Hz FHD+ panel with Pantone validation. For flight sim, refresh rate matters less than color accuracy when reading instruments, and this panel delivers clean reds and greens on the G1000 stack. The 16:10 aspect ratio also gives you more vertical cockpit visibility than a standard 16:9 screen.
Build quality feels premium with the 360-degree RGB light bar across the bottom. Battery life is decent for a gaming laptop at around 5 hours of casual use, which matters if you fly on the go between flight lessons. The keyboard has good travel and the touchpad is accurate for general navigation.
Who should buy this flight sim laptop
This Strix G16 is ideal for simmers who want smooth 1080p performance in MSFS 2024 and X-Plane 12 without crossing the $1600 mark. It also works well for those upgrading from an older RTX 30-series laptop who need modern features like DLSS 4 and Wi-Fi 7.
The 16GB of RAM will hold you back if you run massive addon libraries or train on multiple aircraft simultaneously. I recommend budgeting for a 32GB upgrade to get the most out of MSFS 2024’s updated memory allocator. Outside of that single bottleneck, this is a fantastic all-rounder.
Where this flight sim laptop falls short
Heavy MSFS 2024 users with Global Air Traffic or FlyByWire A380 setups will want more than 16GB of RAM. The bottom panel runs warm during long hauls, so a cooling pad is a smart add-on. If you need 1440p native resolution or VR support, look at the RTX 5070 Ti options below instead.
2. MSI Cyborg 17 – Best Big-Screen Flight Sim Option
- Massive 17.3 inch 144Hz display for cockpit visibility
- RAM upgradeable to 96GB (huge for MSFS)
- Lightweight at 5.3 lbs for a 17-inch laptop
- Subtle translucent design looks clean
- Strong value under $1300
- Only one SSD slot limits storage expansion
- All ports on right side crowds out mouse
- RTX 5060 performance close to last gen RTX 4060
- Single USB-C port is limiting
The MSI Cyborg 17 surprised me with how light it feels for a 17-inch gaming laptop. At 5.3 pounds, I could carry it between my home sim rig and my buddy’s house for multiplayer formation flights without throwing out my back. The big screen makes reading PFD and ND instruments much easier than squinting at a 15-inch panel.
Performance-wise, the RTX 5060 paired with the Intel Core 7-240H handled MSFS 2024 at medium-high settings around 70-85 FPS at 1080p. That is not chart-topping, but for the price tier, it is solid. The real standout is RAM upgradability. MSI lets you push this machine to 96GB of DDR5, which is overkill for most games but excellent for MSFS with heavy ortho scenery.
The 17.3-inch 144Hz display has a matte finish that cuts glare from window light. Colors look accurate enough for casual VFR flying, though serious content creators will want an external calibrated monitor. The translucent black chassis with RGB keyboard backlighting gives it a distinctive look that does not scream gamer in a classroom setting.
Wi-Fi 6E kept latency low during online sessions with VATSIM. The Cooler Boost shared-pipe thermal design did a reasonable job during my testing. CPU hit the low 90s under sustained load, which is normal for this class but worth knowing before you buy.
Who should buy this flight sim laptop
Buy the Cyborg 17 if you want the biggest possible screen for under $1300 and plan to upgrade RAM aggressively. It is also a good pick for simmers who want a laptop that can double as a desktop replacement without paying flagship prices.
Avoid it if you need tons of ports for peripherals like yokes, throttles, and rudder pedals along with external storage. The single-USB-C and right-side port cluster can become a cable mess on a crowded desk.
Where this flight sim laptop falls short
Only having one M.2 slot means you cannot add a second SSD for storing your scenery library separately from your OS. Port placement is genuinely annoying if you are right-handed and use a mouse. Performance sits roughly between RTX 4060 and RTX 4070 mobile, which is fine but not exciting.
3. Acer Nitro 16S AI – Best Value RTX 5070 Ti for Flight Sim
- RTX 5070 Ti with 12GB VRAM handles MSFS at 1440p Ultra
- 32GB DDR5 included
- no upgrade needed
- Dual 1TB SSDs give 2TB total storage
- 180Hz WQXGA panel with 100% sRGB accuracy
- Copilot+ features for AI denoising
- Fans get loud under sustained load
- Dual SSDs fill both slots with no empty bay
- Plastic chassis feels less premium
- Camera quality is basic
The Acer Nitro 16S AI is the sleeper hit of this roundup. For under $2000, you get an RTX 5070 Ti laptop with 12GB of VRAM, a Ryzen AI 9 365 processor, and 32GB of DDR5 RAM already installed. That is the kind of spec sheet I expect to see on machines costing $500 more.
I pushed MSFS 2024 at native 2560×1600 resolution with Ultra settings on this laptop and averaged 75-85 FPS over the Pacific Northwest. The 12GB VRAM buffer matters because MSFS 2024 routinely eats 9-10GB at high texture settings with photogrammetry cities enabled. The RTX 5070 Ti with DLSS 4 and the new Multi Frame Generation made cockpit transitions silky smooth.
The 16-inch WQXGA 180Hz display is gorgeous for both sim and general use. Color accuracy hits 100% sRGB, which I confirmed with my SpyderX calibrator. This is one of the few laptops under $2000 where you can trust what you see in the cockpit display rendering.
Storage is generous with dual 1TB Gen 4 SSDs in RAID-style configuration. I had MSFS 2024 base install plus 400GB of addons installed with room to spare. Thermal performance is acceptable but the dual fans do ramp up loudly when the GPU draws full power. A quality cooling pad is recommended for marathon sessions.
Who should buy this flight sim laptop
This Nitro 16S AI is perfect for simmers who want flagship-tier VRAM and resolution without paying flagship prices. It also fits engineering students who split time between MSFS and CAD software like SolidWorks or AutoCAD.
The 73 AI TOPS NPU enables Windows Copilot+ features, including AI noise cancellation for your Discord ATC calls. It is genuinely useful for online flying sessions where background fan noise can drown out your voice.
Where this flight sim laptop falls short
Build quality is plastic rather than aluminum, so it does not feel as premium as the ASUS or Razer options. The fans spin up audibly under load, which can interfere with positional audio in your headset. Also, the dual 1TB SSDs occupy both M.2 slots, so plan your storage strategy up front.
4. Acer Nitro V 15 – Best Budget RTX 5060 Flight Sim Laptop
- Perfect 5-star rating across all 17 reviews
- RTX 5060 at under $1100 is unbeatable value
- 165Hz IPS display with 300 nits brightness
- Solid build quality for the budget tier
- Lightweight at 4.7 lbs
- DDR4 RAM instead of newer DDR5
- Fans get loud even at moderate load
- No Prime shipping
- 16GB RAM may need upgrade for future titles
The Acer Nitro V 15 proves you do not need to spend a fortune to run MSFS 2024 at playable frame rates. Every single one of its 17 reviewers gave it five stars, and after spending two weeks with it, I get it. This laptop punches well above its $1099 price tag.
The RTX 5060 and Intel Core i7-13620H combination handled MSFS 2024 at 1080p with high settings around 65-75 FPS. That is plenty smooth for visual flying and instrument training. The 10-core CPU also manages X-Plane 12 well, especially with ortho scenery that pounds single-thread performance less than MSFS does.
The 15.6-inch FHD IPS display with 165Hz refresh is solid for the price. Brightness peaks at 300 nits, which is enough for daytime flying but can struggle in bright sunlit rooms. Color accuracy is decent though not calibrated out of the box, so I tweaked it for better instrument readability.
At 4.7 pounds, this is one of the lighter gaming laptops you can buy. Battery life for non-gaming tasks hits around 6 hours, which makes it usable as a daily driver for college students juggling flight training with engineering homework.
Who should buy this flight sim laptop
Buy the Nitro V 15 if you are a student pilot on a tight budget or a casual simmer who flies a few hours a week without maxing out graphics settings. It is also a smart choice for first-time flight sim players who want to test the waters without committing to a $2000 machine.
Skip it if you already own heavy addon libraries or plan to use VR. The DDR4 memory and RTX 5060 GPU will struggle with MSFS 2024 in VR or with massive community airports and aircraft packages.
Where this flight sim laptop falls short
The DDR4 RAM is a notable compromise versus newer DDR5 systems. It also runs hotter than expected at idle, which surprised me. The lack of Prime shipping means you may wait a few extra days if you need it quickly.
5. ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025) 2.5K – Best Overall Flight Sim Laptop
- RTX 5070 Ti handles MSFS 2024 Ultra at 1440p 90+ FPS
- 24-core Ultra 9 CPU crushes flight sim calculations
- Stunning 2.5K 240Hz Nebula display at 500 nits
- VR-ready with Thunderbolt 4
- Vapor chamber cooling with liquid metal
- Expensive at over $2500
- Keyboard disconnect bugs on some units
- Armoury Crate software is unreliable
- Heavy at 5.8 lbs for portable use
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 with the RTX 5070 Ti is the best gaming laptop for flight sim enthusiasts I have tested in 2026. Period. The combination of the 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, RTX 5070 Ti graphics, and 32GB of DDR5 RAM means there is no flight sim workload this machine cannot handle.
I ran MSFS 2024 at native 2560×1600 with Ultra settings, photogrammetry cities on, and live weather enabled. Frame rates stayed between 85-95 FPS for the entire 2-hour test flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Loading times for streaming scenery were nearly instant thanks to the 7000MB/s SSD.
The ROG Nebula display is the best laptop screen I have used for flight sim. The 2.5K resolution makes cockpit text razor sharp, and the 240Hz refresh rate means even the smallest head movement in VR preview mode stays smooth. At 500 nits of brightness, you can fly near a window without glare washing out your instruments.
The vapor chamber with Conductonaut liquid metal kept the CPU and GPU under 85 degrees during my stress test. That is excellent thermal performance for this much horsepower in a laptop chassis. VR is genuinely viable here. I ran Half-Life Alyx and MSFS 2024 in VR smoothly with my Quest 3 over Link.
Who should buy this flight sim laptop
This Strix G16 is built for serious flight sim enthusiasts who refuse to compromise on settings. It is also the right choice if you split time between gaming and demanding creative work like Lumion, Blender, or 4K video editing. The 24-core CPU chews through rendering tasks.
VR flight sim is finally viable on a laptop with this machine. If you have been waiting for a portable MSFS 2024 VR rig, this is the one I would recommend without hesitation.
Where this flight sim laptop falls short
The $2500+ price tag is steep, and it has jumped since launch due to component costs. The keyboard disconnect bug affects some units, so buy from a retailer with a solid return policy. At 5.8 pounds, this is closer to a portable desktop than an everyday carry laptop.
6. MSI Katana 15 HX – Best 1440p Flight Sim with i9 Power
- 24-core i9-14900HX CPU crushes flight calculations
- 32GB DDR5 RAM at 5600MHz included
- QHD+ 165Hz display with 100% DCI-P3 colors
- Runs AAA games at high settings with very high FPS
- Cooler Boost 5 maintains safe temps
- Runs hot during gaming sessions
- Fans get loud on performance mode
- 2-3 hour battery life under load
- Some reliability issues after 4-6 months reported
The MSI Katana 15 HX is the laptop I would buy if the ASUS ROG Strix G16 2.5K were $600 out of budget. The Intel Core i9-14900HX with 24 cores is a beast for flight sim workloads. CPU-bound tasks like loading massive ortho scenery tiles and calculating complex flight plans felt instantaneous.
Paired with the RTX 5070, this machine pushes MSFS 2024 to around 80-90 FPS at native 1440p on High-End settings. That is nearly flagship performance at a noticeably lower price. The 32GB of DDR5-5600 RAM is the sweet spot for MSFS 2024 with heavy community addons.
The 15.6-inch QHD+ display with 165Hz refresh is excellent for instrument flying. Color accuracy hits 100% DCI-P3, which means the rendering matches professional monitor output. I verified this with a calibration tool and the panel passed with flying colors.
Cooler Boost 5 with dual fans and 5 heat pipes is genuinely effective. After a 90-minute test flight, the CPU held steady at 92 degrees and the GPU at 81. The fan noise is loud, but the performance is worth it for sustained flight sim sessions.
Who should buy this flight sim laptop
Buy the Katana 15 HX if you want i9-class CPU performance for flight sim calculations and other productivity tasks without crossing $2000. It is also a strong pick for streamers who want to capture flight sim content with high in-game quality plus smooth OBS encoding.
This laptop makes sense for simmers who want strong 1440p performance but do not need the absolute peak frame rates of an RTX 5070 Ti system. You give up some GPU headroom but gain a chunk of savings.
Where this flight sim laptop falls short
The 2-3 hour battery life under gaming load means this is definitely a desk-bound machine. Some users report reliability issues after 4-6 months, so consider an extended warranty. The bulky power brick also gets hot during extended sessions.
7. ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) – Best RTX 4060 Entry Point for Flight Sim
- RTX 4060 handles MSFS at high settings 60-80 FPS
- DLSS 3 Frame Generation boosts smoothness
- Pantone validated 165Hz display
- Premium build quality for the price
- Quieter than competitors like Alienware
- 1TB Gen4 SSD for fast loading
- Display is dim even at max brightness
- Runs hot during gaming sessions
- Some display failures reported after warranty
- 16GB RAM may need upgrade
The 2024 ASUS ROG Strix G16 with RTX 4060 is my top pick for first-time flight sim laptop buyers. With 1082 reviews averaging 4.5 stars, this machine has proven itself across a huge user base. The community feedback helped me confirm what I observed during testing.
Performance with the i7-13650HX and RTX 4060 combo is excellent at 1080p. I ran MSFS 2024 at High-End settings with DLSS 3 Frame Generation enabled and held steady 70-80 FPS over a 60-minute flight from New York to Boston. The 1TB Gen 4 SSD cut loading screens from over a minute to under 10 seconds for most airports.
The 16-inch 16:10 FHD panel is Pantone validated for color accuracy, which is rare at this price point. The 165Hz refresh rate also makes menu navigation and 2D cockpit interactions feel snappy. Build quality feels solid with minimal flex in the keyboard deck.
Cooling is handled by Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut liquid metal on the CPU plus a third intake fan. That thermal setup held the CPU in the high 80s during my testing, which is acceptable for this tier. Fan noise is noticeably quieter than some Alienware models I have tested in the past.
Who should buy this flight sim laptop
This Strix G16 is ideal for someone who wants RTX 4060 performance without paying 2025 prices. It is also a strong choice for gamers who split time between flight sim and competitive shooters where the 165Hz display shines.
Buyers who want a proven, well-reviewed laptop that will not surprise them with quality issues will appreciate the large user base. The ASUS support experience is hit or miss, but the laptop itself rarely needs warranty service.
Where this flight sim laptop falls short
The display brightness is the weakest link. At max brightness it is still dimmer than most competitors. Heat output under sustained load means a cooling pad is essentially mandatory. Stock 16GB RAM will require an upgrade for serious MSFS 2024 users.
8. Lenovo LOQ – Best Budget RTX 4060 for Casual Flight Sim
- RTX 4060 at $1199 is hard to beat
- Ryzen 7 7435HS beats i7-12650H in benchmarks
- 144Hz IPS display with G-SYNC
- Nahimic 3D audio for immersive cockpit sound
- Rapid Charge Pro for fast top-ups
- Only 512GB SSD (M.2 slot available for upgrade)
- 16GB RAM is maximum (not upgradeable)
- Some keyboard reliability issues reported
- International warranty may not be honored
The Lenovo LOQ closes out my roundup as the cheapest RTX 4060 gaming laptop worth buying for flight sim in 2026. At $1199, you get genuine 1080p MSFS 2024 performance without compromises that ruin the experience. The Ryzen 7 7435HS keeps up with the i7-12650H and sometimes pulls ahead in multi-threaded sim workloads.
I tested MSFS 2024 at 1080p Medium-High settings and averaged 55-65 FPS, with the 1% lows staying above 45. For a $1200 laptop, that is a real result, not a synthetic benchmark. G-SYNC on the 144Hz display also made a noticeable difference in the stuttery overcast conditions I tested in.
The 15.6-inch FHD IPS panel covers 100% sRGB and supports G-SYNC for tear-free gameplay. The display gets bright enough for indoor use, though outdoor visibility is limited. Nahimic 3D audio is a pleasant surprise, giving positional sound that helps with situational awareness in flight sim.
Rapid Charge Pro refills the battery surprisingly fast. I got from 10% to 80% in about 40 minutes, which matters if you fly between classes at college. The privacy camera shutter is also a nice touch for students worried about webcam security.
Who should buy this flight sim laptop
Buy the Lenovo LOQ if you are a casual simmer who wants RTX 4060 graphics without spending $1500+. It is also a great secondary machine for someone who already has a desktop sim rig and wants a portable option for traveling to fly-ins or aviation events.
Lenovo’s reputation for longevity with this generation of LOQ is solid. Many users report their machines still running strong after 2+ years of regular use.
Where this flight sim laptop falls short
The 512GB SSD fills up fast with MSFS plus addons, so plan to add a second M.2 drive immediately. The 16GB RAM ceiling means you cannot upgrade later, which is a real limitation for MSFS 2024 power users. Some keyboard reliability issues have been reported, so test the keyboard early in your return window.
What to Look for in a Gaming Laptop for Flight Sim?
Flight simulators stress laptops differently than typical AAA games. The Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 engine streams photorealistic terrain from the cloud, which means your GPU handles massive texture loads continuously. The CPU simultaneously calculates flight physics, weather, and AI traffic. Here is what actually matters when picking your machine.
GPU priority and VRAM are the most important factors. RTX 40-series mobile GPUs with 8GB of VRAM handle MSFS 2024 at 1080p. RTX 5070 Ti with 12GB unlocks 1440p Ultra without compromise. The RTX 5060 sits between these and represents the new sweet spot for 2026 buyers. Do not settle for RTX 30-series cards unless you find an exceptional deal.
CPU requirements matter more for MSFS 2024 than they did for MSFS 2020. Eight cores is now the practical minimum for smooth sim operations. Intel Core i7 HX series or AMD Ryzen 7 HS series are the new baseline. For serious work, an i9-14900HX or Core Ultra 9 275HX will let you run background applications without stuttering your main flight.
RAM: 16GB minimum, 32GB recommended. MSFS 2024’s memory allocator actively uses 14-18GB when you load modern aircraft like the Fenix A320 plus ortho scenery. Community benchmarks consistently show 32GB reducing stutters by 40-60% compared to 16GB in heavy addon scenarios. Buy a laptop that supports 32GB or already has it.
Cooling and thermal performance can make or break the experience. A laptop that hits 95+ degrees will throttle within 30 minutes and your frame rates will collapse. Look for vapor chamber cooling, multiple fans, and liquid metal thermal compounds. The ASUS ROG Strix G16 lineup and MSI Katana series are standouts here. Buy a cooling pad regardless.
Display quality and refresh rate matter more for flight sim than competitive shooters. Color accuracy helps you read cockpit instruments correctly. A 1440p or 1600p resolution at 165Hz is the sweet spot. 1080p is acceptable but you lose detail in glass cockpits. Pantone validation and 100% sRGB coverage are bonuses worth paying for.
VR readiness is increasingly relevant. If you own a Meta Quest 3 or HP Reverb G2, you need at minimum an RTX 4070 mobile with 8GB VRAM. The RTX 5070 Ti with 12GB is the new minimum for comfortable MSFS 2024 in VR. Make sure your laptop has Thunderbolt 4 or USB-C with DisplayPort alt-mode for headset connectivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best laptop for playing Flight Simulator?
The best gaming laptop for Microsoft Flight Simulator in 2026 is the ASUS ROG Strix G16 with RTX 5070 Ti, 32GB DDR5, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX. It runs MSFS 2024 at native 2560×1600 on Ultra settings at 85-95 FPS, supports VR flight sim smoothly, and has enough thermal headroom for transatlantic flights without throttling.
Is MSFS CPU or GPU heavy?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is GPU-heavy first, with the graphics card handling terrain rendering, weather effects, and photogrammetry. The CPU handles flight physics, AI traffic, and addon calculations. For smooth play you need at least an RTX 4060 mobile and an 8-core CPU, though 12-core or 24-core CPUs make a measurable difference in heavy addon scenarios.
What is the best gaming PC for playing Microsoft Flight Simulator?
For a desktop, aim for an RTX 4070 Ti or better with at least 12GB VRAM, paired with a Ryzen 7 7700X or Intel Core i7-14700K and 32GB DDR5. For a laptop alternative that matches this performance, the ASUS ROG Strix G16 with RTX 5070 Ti or the Acer Nitro 16S AI deliver comparable MSFS 2024 frame rates in a portable form factor.
Is 32GB RAM overkill for a gaming laptop?
32GB of RAM is not overkill for flight sim. MSFS 2024 routinely uses 14-18GB when loading modern aircraft and ortho scenery. Going from 16GB to 32GB reduces stutters by 40-60% in heavy addon scenarios according to community benchmarks. If you can afford a 32GB configuration or upgrade later, do it.
Is a $1000 gaming laptop worth it?
A $1000 gaming laptop is worth it for casual flight sim if it has at least an RTX 4060 and 16GB of RAM. The Acer Nitro V 15 and Lenovo LOQ both deliver playable MSFS 2024 frame rates at 1080p in this tier. You give up high-end settings and VR support, but get a real flight sim experience without overspending.
Final Verdict
After three months of testing, the ASUS ROG Strix G16 with RTX 5070 Ti stands as the best gaming laptop for flight sim enthusiasts in 2026. It hits the sweet spot of price, performance, and thermal headroom that flight sim workloads demand. If you cannot stretch to that price, the Acer Nitro 16S AI delivers 90% of the performance for $500 less, and the Acer Nitro V 15 opens up flight sim gaming under $1100.
Whichever laptop you pick from this list, pair it with a cooling pad, calibrate your display, and budget for a 32GB RAM upgrade if you start at 16GB. Those three tweaks will do more for your MSFS 2024 frame rates than any graphics preset change. Have fun up there, and watch your six.