I decided I wanted to get into airliner ops.  I'll get the PMDG Soon TM.  But that one I know how to use fairly well.

Past history aside, is there a clear winner to the FSLabs vs Fenix Airbus debate?

Any real airbus pilots on here who own both?

If not real advice, any super duper simmers on here care to explain why they might favor one or the other?

It's not FSLabs, but V1Simulations, a real life A321 pilot, did a comparison between the Fenix (in MSFS 2024) and Toliss, and he thought the Fenix was better than the Toliss:

 

Edited December 21, 2025Dec 21 by abrams_tank

Wait, I see that V1Simulations did compare the Fenix to FSLabs, so here you go, check out his comparison video:

 

Just throwing this out there.  If interested would take a look at the RJ Professional or MD-80.  While I like fenix alot, the A320 is so automated that it gets old after a while.  CRJ also.  

Both are solid choices. Fenix is less "controversial", while also being excellent, FSlabs has some features (MEL) that Fenix doesn't, Fenix is better in some things (visually for sure). So pick your poison. 

Really, I think you can't go wrong with either, but I would pick the Fenix unless you really really want something from FSlabs. They are just better with customers and have proved that they care about customers (free updates, great livery selection, consistent improvement)

Fenix is a small UK team that has worked tirelessy to update their Airbuses (Airbi?), provide amazing support and offered a huge, amazing update (it's called the 'BFU' update) and a native 2024 update for FREE.  And their A320 is widely acclaimed.

I'm sure the FSLabs is good too but.....

Edited December 21, 2025Dec 21 by JYW

2 hours ago, ryanbatc said:

I decided I wanted to get into airliner ops.  I'll get the PMDG Soon TM.  But that one I know how to use fairly well.

Past history aside, is there a clear winner to the FSLabs vs Fenix Airbus debate?

Any real airbus pilots on here who own both?

If not real advice, any super duper simmers on here care to explain why they might favor one or the other?

I can tell you the personal opinion of a german Airbus Captain who flies for Lufthansa and who owns both and streams for a german speaking community from time to time.

His verdict was thus:

FSLABS is better on documentation and has the nice feature like Techlog and MEL items.

FENIX has the better flight model and is the overal more polished product.

38 minutes ago, JYW said:

Airbuses (Airbi?)

Yes, Airbuses, not "Airbi", because "omnibus" (which "Airbus" derives from) is already a dative plural, and not (as one might imagine merely from seeing the "-us" suffix) a second declension nominative singular.

Or at least that's what I presume Sir Humphrey Appleby would have responded...

Performance is worse in the FSLabs compared to Fenix. People were saying it wasn't using correct system or mixed in the NEO. Basic cabin. Nice features like the tech log, flight history which will come to Fenix at some point not sure if flight history will though. I've flown both versions and personally prefer Fenix.  

Honest opinion Fenix, FSL, or Toliss? They are all top tier to me as no other comes close.

Edited December 21, 2025Dec 21 by JBDB-MD80

Fenix for sure. I real love Fenix team, they are so humble and often you see Aamir roaming around here 😁

Edited December 21, 2025Dec 21 by omarsmak30

3 hours ago, micstatic said:

Just throwing this out there.  If interested would take a look at the RJ Professional or MD-80.  While I like fenix alot, the A320 is so automated that it gets old after a while.  CRJ also.  

Agreed that in terms of flipping switches on the overhead, there's more to do on the RJ or MD-80 than on the CRJ. (The MD-80 is a lot weirder though.)

But purely in terms of flying, I'd argue the CRJ keeps you on your toes more because of the lack of autothrottle. 

 

3 hours ago, ryanbatc said:

I decided I wanted to get into airliner ops. 

Well that's a turn of events!

The Fenix has been an excellent experience in term of immersion; it really feels like an airliner when flying it. And a thoughtful and engaging team.

Over the past 20 years, I’ve never been happier with the overall experience of an airliner add-on than I am with the Fenix (the first one I ever bought was the PMDG 737 for FS9, around 2004 or 2005).
Not to stir the pot or anything, but this was a free update 😉 Their blog posts are worth reading too. https://fenixsim.com/blog/

 

Edited December 21, 2025Dec 21 by outermarker

I have both. Caveat: MSFS2020.

If MSFS24 is your sim it seems that FSL are having a few issues that need ironing out. However, systems-wise you can't go wrong with either one. Visually the Fenix is a step above and seems to be a more "finished" product (as it should be considering it has been out in the wild for much longer than the FSL offering) but lacks some of the small things that can make a difference (as others have mentioned above) such as the MEL, flight history on each airframe and livery.

Either way your $$s will be well spent.