I've put in around 800 hours in the FBW but I've been told by several users that the Fenix is the way to go and was wondering why that is?

Is there a massive difference in immersion? Better systems/work load? What is it that makes it stand out more than the FBW version?

I know the EFB seems to have more functions but is this option really worth dropping 50 bucks for?

I'm so grateful to FBW and all they have done with this freeware and I feel some loyalty towards them so if there isn't drastic differences then I wouldn't see the point in the investment.

Depends which addons you have else?

My advice would be to try the PMDG 737 before as you have then a complete different toy.

I can highly recommend the Fenix, but if you need sth really new, try the PMDG first. I switch myself for and back between FBW and the Fenix. For me the Fenix feels a bit more polished, but the FBW has also some features I like (cabin announcements to name one of several). Can't say if its worth 50 bucks for you ...

Edited February 16, 20233 yr by guenseli

The FBW just feels..... Friendlier, to me.

More immersive sounds, the tablet seems more well thought out and the "flow" seems smoother...

The Fenix is probably more feature rich and realistic.... But using it kinda' feels like work.

The FBW is more fun for me, and I tend to gravitate towards it, still.

Edited February 16, 20233 yr by HiFlyer

10 minutes ago, guenseli said:

Depends which addons you have else?

My advice would be to try the PMDG 737 before as you have then a complete different toy.

I can highly recommend the Fenix, but if you need sth really new, try the PMDG first. I switch myself for and back between FBW and the Fenix. For me the Fenix feels a bit more polished, but the FBW has also some features I like (cabin announcements to name one of several). Can't say if its worth 50 bucks for you ...

I've put in over 100 hours in the PMDG 738 so far, it's by far my favourite at the moment but I'll still use the A320 in the future.

There's nothing really wrong with the FBW from what I can see which is why I was wondering why people recommended the Fenix.

2 minutes ago, HiFlyer said:

The FBW just feels..... Friendlier, to me.

More immersive sounds, the tablet seems more well thought out and the "flow" seems smoother...

The Fenix is probably more feature rich and realistic.... But using it kinda' feels like work.

The FBW is more fun for me, and I tend to gravitate towards it, still.

I don't mind the idea of "work" which is why I prefer flying the PMDG 738, it all adds to the immersion! The sound difference I can get by as I use FSRealistic anyway.

Is there much of a difference with the MCDU between the versions?

What approaches do you like to do when you fly? How closely do you monitor and respect constraints in a sid/star? Do you mind giving a little bit of extra attention to ensure your aircraft is flying the vertical profile properly ? How interested are you in failure simulation?

The pay ware stuff has to meet a higher standard to be acceptable to buy. FBW are under no such obligation .. yes they are definitely working to match and possibly exceed the pay ware options but they are a bit off when it comes to systems and nav. But hats off to them for toiling along.

My progression has been .. The Asobo airbus / the FBW / PMDG & Fenix . But as i progressed to the payware i had different needs as my knowledge increased.

1 minute ago, El Diablito said:

Is there much of a difference with the MCDU between the versions?

Only that I feel that the FBW tends to fill in more from the tablet for you automatically if you want, whereas the Fenix seems to make you manually type in more stuff, which can be a bit tedious eventually, especially as it doesn't have crew and captain cabin announcement's and other sounds going on to make you feel less alone while you get ready for your flight.

There are also announcement's when you reach cruise level, and a few other things here and there that can make you feel just that bit more immersed.

A matter of taste.

6 minutes ago, Maxis said:

What approaches do you like to do when you fly? How closely do you monitor and respect constraints in a sid/star? Do you mind giving a little bit of extra attention to ensure your aircraft is flying the vertical profile properly ? How interested are you in failure simulation?

The pay ware stuff has to meet a higher standard to be acceptable to buy. FBW are under no such obligation .. yes they are definitely working to match and possibly exceed the pay ware options but they are a bit off when it comes to systems and nav. But hats off to them for toiling along.

My progression has been .. The Asobo airbus / the FBW / PMDG & Fenix . But as i progressed to the payware i had different needs as my knowledge increased.

The more technical I can get on descent and approach the better tbh, which is why I prefer flying the PMDG. I haven't done anything with failures up to now and not sure if I will in the future.

Thanks for your comment, food for thought.

7 minutes ago, HiFlyer said:

Only that I feel that the FBW tends to fill in more from the tablet for you automatically if you want, whereas the Fenix seems to make you manually type in more stuff, which can be a bit tedious eventually, especially as it doesn't have crew and captain cabin announcement's and other sounds going on to make you feel less alone while you get ready for your flight.

There are also announcement's when you reach cruise level, and a few other things here and there that can make you feel just that bit more immersed.

A matter of taste.

Thanks for this also, both these comments have given me a better idea of the differences now. I know exactly what you mean.

I may wait for the PMDG 777 to spend my hard earned. I was thinking maybe the Fenix would be wildly different and give me a new lease of life in the Airbus, alas maybe not.

I don't have the Fenix 320, but spend most of my time in either thew FBW 320 or PMDG 738 ... which I feel is a great combination. I would stick with the FBW and save your cash for another aircraft (PMDG 777 or 737-900 <?>).

31 minutes ago, HiFlyer said:

whereas the Fenix seems to make you manually type in more stuff

Does the Fenix allow you to actually type in values in the MCDU, like the FBW does?  I was surprised to see that when PMDG said it couldn't be done due to limitations in MSFS.

If flight dynamics are important for you, then go Fenix. FBW feels way too light and like a glider. 

12 minutes ago, Noel said:

Does the Fenix allow you to actually type in values in the MCDU, like the FBW does?  I was surprised to see that when PMDG said it couldn't be done due to limitations in MSFS.

Other than clicking keys with the mouse, if it lets you use your keyboard for input, I'm unaware of it.

Otherwise, it seems you can do anything the FBW allows and mostly Vice Versa.

2 minutes ago, Hatch76 said:

If flight dynamics are important for you, then go Fenix. FBW feels way too light and like a glider. 

The only problem I find with that is that its subjective, and opinions can and do vary wildly from person to person.

Even ones choice of input device can affect that judgement.

When I was deciding whether to grab the Fenix, I found this video helpful though in the end, I found a lot of the Fenix "extras" where things I don't use, yet.