Xbox Series X vs. Series S: The Flight Sim Comparison
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a technical marvel, streaming petabytes of real-world data into your living room. However, it is also the “console killer.” It uses more RAM and GPU power than almost any other game on the market. If you’re buying an Xbox specifically for flight, the difference between the Series X and Series S isn’t just about resolution—it’s about stability.
Technical Performance Breakdown
| Feature | Xbox Series X | Xbox Series S |
|---|---|---|
| Native Resolution | 4K (2160p) | 1080p |
| Draw Distance | High (Ultra on PC) | Low to Medium |
| Stability | High (Solid 16GB RAM) | Moderate (10GB RAM limit) |
| Frame Rate | 30 FPS (Locked) | 30 FPS (Variable) |
The Series S Memory Struggle
The biggest hurdle for the Xbox Series S in Flight Simulator is its 10GB of RAM. As you fly over dense cities like New York, London, or Tokyo, the game has to load thousands of 3D buildings and high-res textures. On the Series S, this often leads to “Black Avionics” (where the screens in your cockpit turn off to save memory) or complete game crashes during long flights.
The Series X: The Only Way to Fly “Pro”
The Xbox Series X, with its 16GB of RAM and massive 12-Teraflop GPU, handles the simulator with much more grace. It maintains a stable 4K image and allows for much further “LOD” (Level of Detail). This means that as you look out the cockpit window, the ground and distant mountains look like a real landscape rather than a blurry mess.
If you use a VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) monitor or TV, the Series X can also unlock its frame rate, often reaching 40-50 FPS in rural areas, making the flight feel incredibly smooth.
Can You Play with a Joystick on Both?
Yes. Both consoles fully support the same flight peripherals. Whether you want the budget-friendly Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One or the high-end Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight, they are plug-and-play via USB on both the Series X and Series S.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Series S uses aggressive scaling to maintain a playable frame rate. It often renders internally at 720p and upscales to 1080p, which can look “soft” on larger screens.
Technically no, but practically yes. Without a fast internet connection, the game cannot stream the photogrammetry data, and the world will look like a generic map from 20 years ago.
If you are committed to the Series S, yes. The base game and the “World Updates” can easily exceed 200GB, which would leave almost no room for other games on a 512GB model.