Yes exactly. I just wanna play Microsoft flight sim cuz of its absolutely astonishing graphics and it's really fun. I also like flying over my house in real time. Im goin with Microsoft flight simulator more cuz I dont wanna be a pilot Its also more fun now and its actually getting better
@Lufty001 microsoft flight simulator 100% Plus microsoft flight simulator is on game pass which is like 10 bucks and u get a full 100+ library of games so its an obvious choice here bud
Have both - Uninstalled FS2020. Granted, I am a former IRL airline pilot. FS2020 for the graphics and the kids. X-plane for the serious sim enthusiast that is looking for high level system interaction and accuracy.
@@yaosio Not angry at all kitty cat. I own both sims. I happen to just be forming a PROFESSIONAL opinion. MSFS 2020 is not and has never been certified for use in a Level D sim. You likely don't know what that is. Full motion certified training sim. Its how airline pilots stay current. I would know because I'm one of those pilots. ALL I am saying is MSFS2020 is beautiful and all but it isn't "too good" lol. I'm not interested in the fine tuned ripples in the water or true to life clouds (which xplane does just fine.) I'm interested in procedurally accurate aircraft along with functions. I'm interested in accurate flight models. Neither of these MSFS2020 provides. It is just that simple. Meow.
@@jaydubs5007 I love the MSFS 2020 but the performance is terrible. I cannot even control the plane for 10 mins and the plane has a mind of its won. Comparing ti the FSX Steam 2020, the performance is better than the newest one. I am going to take a break from MSFS 2020 and play X-Planes 11 and FSX Steam 2020. I just wish there is a flight sim that is best for graphics and best for serious flying at the same time.
Excellent job in this evaluation... unbiased, thorough, and useful... especially for IRL pilots. Thanks. Wayne (I sim-fly X-Plane 11.50 and IRL fly a DA40)
@@joetjoepjoeserneejm, actually I haven't found a good DA40 for X-Plane. I use the TorqueSim SR22 instead (excellent G1000/Perspective implementation).
After sim update 5 I started using x plane again I've been flying alot with the a320 and yes microsoft looks amazing but unhave found that from a technical and procedural standpoint msfs2020 can't touch xplane it just looks pretty once I updated to live weather on xplane I may only fly vfr on msfs2020 since xplane has fully completed planes
The slack in the MSFS flight model I feel gets understated here. I can't compare to X-Plane, but it's so bad in MSFS I actually uninstalled. Stalls and areas outside of the normal flight envelope (very important areas to model...otherwise why fly correctly at all if there are no repercussions) have little work done. For instance, tail dragged physics don't perform like actual tail dragged setups, while on the ground. Accelerated stalls also just don't really exist in MSFS. You can take right off in a cub and instantly pull loops, with no wing drop, buffeting, spin or other tendencies. If you're looking for a flight Sim that will teach you how a plane should act and perform, even without flying X-Plane myself, X-Plane is absolutely undoubtedly the better bet. Heck even War Thunder in flight Sim mode has a plus one on MSFS....a sentence I never thought I'd ever say
Great job Ryan! Besides the issues you mentioned the thing I miss most from X-Plane is saving Situations and Replay files. Situations allow quick set up for maneuver and approach practice and replays allow trainees to see the flight again from various angles and with stop action for discussion.
Thanks for pointing this out. It's a pretty big gap for MS FlightSim 2020. Being able to replay is very helpful for debriefing. It would be nice if there was a way on X-Plane to start (i.e. "continue" in a new simulation) from a point on the replay. (If there is such a feature, I' haven't found it yet.)
Hello Russ I think your video "Holy Grail" is a good starting point for flight simmers to help make a decision between XP and FS2020. One has to understand the difference between gamers/hobbyist/flight simmers and RW flight simmers first. Good Luck Here is a link to Russ's video. th-cam.com/video/CD3Mgm9APqY/w-d-xo.html
As a CFI/II I only ran MSFS2020 for a day when I became too frustrated due to hardware incompatibility, long loading screens, and lack of flight customization like mentioned in the video. Just installed Xplane11 and I'm much happier.
thanks a lot for the review...Im doing my IFR and to practice home, I'm using xplane...I don't really care whether there are trees or nice buildings...as long as airport layouts and aircraft systems are correct, I'm good
Huge admirer of FS2020 but actually using X-Plane 11.50 for training as for reasons this review of yours explains perfectly. Love both sims. Each has its strong points.
After excitedly trying MSFS, I was disappointed with the realism and purchased XP11. My primary use for simulators is instrument proficiency, where MSFS severely lacks. Another XP11 advantage is native support for GPS and traffic information (ForeFlight).
@@cameronwells768 iv been using xp11 since 2017 and iv recetly tried fs2020, here is an honest thing: user experince: downloading: the game was trerrible, even with gigabit internet the game still took me well over 14 hours to install not mentioning the crashes i get and the unability to use anything on my conputer bec it will crash the installtion in game: Microsofts servers/EA are known to be bad, server have been down twice this week making me unable to use their bing maps data which makes the game look like fsx, litteraly, and preventing me from signing in and "authienticating" a game Im supposed to be able to launch without internet connection Addons and freeware planes: by all means the FBW a320nx is an amazing addon, amazing sounds, however again, it lack in flight dynamics and compared to the tollis a321, it stands no chance in flight dynamics and systems, however deafult sounds are bad and cabing modeling is teriible xplane has the zibo mod, a freeware open source plane where you can choose it over PMGD just fine Physics: if your not going to use payware planes like PMGD, phsyics are bad, really bad compared to xp11, espicialy GA planes
I used to use x-plane to practice VFR and FSX for IFR but will switch to MSFS for VFR flying. I've used it to dry run a cross country before doing it in the real plane and it's amazing to spot things in the real world that you just saw in the simulator earlier. If I need to do real IFR training I'll continue using FSX with my 3rd party addons until MSFS catches up in this area.
This is completely SPOT ON with my experience. X-Plane is my "go to" for practicing aircraft and IFR procedures, MSFS is great for VFR exploring. Neither is perfect, as was pointed out in the video.
I don’t understand some comparisons. I’m a pilot, and played both simulators for IFR practice and flight proficiency. Both are good simulators. I’ve never used for RNAV training and only for conventional means (vor, ndb and ILS). Why would someone say MSFS is worst by using conventional navaids ? It is important to specify while comparing. Now about the aircraft systems, xplane 11 is a little more realistic. About playing with big airplanes such Boeings and airbus, you should use third part add ons (pmdg). Their default options are soo distant from the reality. My vote is for msfs.
They think that pushing buttons and having the autopilot fly the plane is real flying. Anything else is not really flying, considering when you start your flying career you start off in a Cessna flying vfr
One thing to point out.. you CAN actually change aircraft or location in MSFS without going back to the main menu. If you switch on developer mode (in the settings page) a menu bar will appear to the top left of your screen. There are options here to change aircraft etc. You have to wait a few seconds but it’s much quicker than going back to the main menu.
@@PilotUnknownX Because it means having to start something else first (developper interface). It's like if you would have to send a code via SMS first before you can steer your car. It's not intuitive, so it makes the UI not userfriendly. It will work but it's a workaround.
I use X-Plane in virtual reality for training and it is great. I use it for both stick and rudder and IFR. If you simulate 0 visibility IFR in VR on XP11 your heart beat will increase, try it is very challenging. My daughter uses the training station to give me a run for my money with unexpected situations. She is like my personal instructor she likes to say.
I really appreciate this video as someone getting into the hobby for a PPL. I'm not sure when graphics became part of the "simulation" experience. Granted I understand its nice to have it pretty but the idea of simulation is supposed to be a life like experience. Honestly Im excited to see this and excited for the future of Xplane12. Competition gives us drive.
Great review Ryan. I have both of your IFR video series' and both sims. MSFS2020 is just a toy for me today. I hop in it to just "play around". I'm always back in XP when on PilotEdge or going through your IFR lessons for the millionth time for review. I am hoping that the systems/avionics catch up in MSFS2020 for more realistic practice in that sim too.
I have both sims, and both are good at what they are designed to do. Its cool to practice ground reference maneuvers, 8s on pylons and power off 180s in MSFS, as the real terrain just immerses you in the experience. Also nothing beats flying into Oshkosh in a Corsair on PilotEdge “Silver Corsair over Warbird”!! X-Plane really shines in IFR practice. Put reality-xp on realsimgear gns 530,430 stack and you have a capable platform. No crashes or bugs, just pure instrument flying in the stock King Air, on the Garmin databases with the PilotEdge controller throwing in complex instructions and route deviations, making MSFS seem like child’s play when you can barely find an approach in the database. So there you go, get both and decide for yourself.
Great review. I’ve never gone the a Xplane route - too much invested in add ons for FSX/P3D including customised aircraft and Mindstar and RealityXP avionics which I use to stay current. Did the first 4 hours of my recent instrument rating on line on Zoom with my instructor during COVID. Only problem I now have is the MSFS is so much fun for just going out for a spin to check out a strip that I’ll fast be non current. Wait 6 months and it will be incredible.
Im on the bridge between XP11 & MSFS2020.Im currently using X-Plane 11.52 and still happy with it.The visuals in MSFS2020 looks amazing,but its pointless when it comes to instrument practices and performances.This is where X-Plane 11 meets my demands.Especially when it comes to FMC functionality like in the IXEG 733.I think until these points are resolved in future updates in MSFS2020,im still sticking to X-Plane.
Your comparison was well thought out and brought home the truths between the two sims. Still, I am in the mindset that I can play around and explore on MSFS but use XPlane to sharpen my skills. Much appreciation to you at PW for all you guys do.
MSFS needs multi monitor. The stretch option sucks. Plus MSFS has so many problems and information builds up and then it does not run well. I'm taking MSFS off my computer. I have a good gaming computer and still get screwed up.
You can actually change the weather and aircraft etc in MSFS without going back to the title screen, you have to enable the developer menu to get these options however, not sure why they didn't just make that a default feature like in sims of past.
You can change weather at any time (and it happens instantly, which is cool), but for things like relocating or changing aircraft weight and balance you need to end the flight. Dev mode does allow you to change aircraft and "teleport" to the middle of an airport, but it seems a little buggy and unpredictable. And it's buried in a menu system full of items that are truly for developers, so I decided not to mention it in the video.
X-Plane combined with Orbx scenery gives an excellent accurate reality for flying VFR while MS FS 2020 is only photogrammetry scenery, while it looks stunning it is not an accurate rendition of what is actually there. I have tried the new 2020 simulator but have returned back to my X-Plane set up.
That is true I have X Europe & orbx true earth and In my arse where j live south Yorkshire y visually from Don caster airport , file the roads through the town past the lake centre , last the train and bus station through to mexbrough through to Rotherham then sheff etc Medowhall is modelled pretty good too , I can even recognise the Tesco express petrol estate near my area before banking to head toward s sheff
I use X-Plane 11 and have my Cardinal 177RG modeled exactly like my real aircraft. Used this a lot when getting my instrument rating. Still use it when going to new airports to preview the flight.
dsloop52: I just completed my instrument training/rating. I found my home sim setup limited, using a CH Flight Sim Yoke. Two questions. 1. The G530W/430W is very cumbersome to program with the mouse. I basically pause the flight and program it. Any way to improve this? 2. I fly a C182P, 6 pack + G430W. Are there any good C182 add-ons for XPlane 11? Again the C172 flight dynamics are not great. Heading is ok but altitude is all over the place, even after doing the yoke setup. And I love using Foreflight with XPlane for my charts & tracking - fantastic. Thanks!
@@bubbaski750 I have the CH yoke also. Altitude may vary because of the resolution and inconsistent center of the yoke elevator control. I have the same issue. You can adjust the center response in Xplane some to make this better. As far as the 430 manipulation, I do not know of anything better than the mouse. I have the RealityXP 530W and it uses the Garmin 400/500 Trainer as an interface so most all of the real 530 functionality is there, but you can only get up to about 6-2010 updates on the IAPs. That make IFR approaches weird when the sim unit does not match the charts. There have been a lot of changes since 2010 to waypoints on approaches. I use iFly GPS or FltPlanGO (free sw) on an iPad to practice approaches. I have not found a way yet to update the sim even though I have a subscription for my real plane.
@@bubbaski750 Hello. I agree 100%. Trying to twist 430/530 freqs or add waypoints with mouse or VR controller is stupid. I went to Air Manager desktop with touchscreen and Knobster and it really makes all the difference. Especially with IFR, Pilotedge,Vatsim etc. The knobster is expensive but if you are serious about RW simming/flying then it is my best purchase. Knobster mimics inner/outer/push-in of real 430/530 and has the same feel as real 430/530. I am Using 3 32" monitors with touchscreen below, similar to Gleim or Touchtrainer FAA approved BATD. Good luck. You don't need 3 monitors but it really is great because I can look directly down each wing.
Excellent, thorough, and well-balanced review. I use x-plane 11 for IFR Practice in fixed wing and maneuver practice in Robinson 44 (I have custom built controls). Now do helos!
Glad I stumbled onto this video. I use the sim for instrument proficiency and found X-Plane good for that, and when I downloaded MSFS and tried to use it I thought I had software problems with the navigation equipment, but Now I see it’s a deficiency they haven’t corrected. Saved me hours of research trying to fix it.
X-Plane 11.50 is very smooth. I don't have MSFS-2020, but all the videos I've seen so far show micro-stutters and obvious visual changes as sceneries load during flight. X-Plane is not quite as pretty in the scenery or weather departments, but it feels like an actual aircraft.
Basically what I'm hearing is fs2020 just needs time for people to make and update stuff for it. Then it'll be superior in many ways. I'm glad they recently updated the g1000.... Definitely can be used for IFR more now
I agree 100% with this review. I have both programs and like to practice IFR procedures, and X-Plane is easily the winner. I think that MSFS2020 might be more appealing for non-pilots, but for actual aviators it is X-Plane all the way.
I am an actual aviator and boy the fact that you just cannot fly VFR in Xplane out of the Box is a huge downside. I have no IR rating, so I cannot speakk for that part.
I've got nice rudder pedals that work great on X-Plane, but aren't recognized in the Microsoft sim. I'm also amazed by the scenery in the new program. Try flying from Pompano Beach to Miami Beach along the shoreline. It feels like the real thing almost.
Amen to this review, very accurate - I have both sims and am in training for my PPL. I find the controls and airplane behaviour (I fly a C172) much more realistic in x-plane than MSFS2020. Moreover, I have set up a semi-home cockpit using air manager (not supported by MSFS2020 yet) for instrument displays on a secondary iPad, LogitechG (previously called Saitek) radios, multi panel and switch panel (supported in MSFS2020 through SpadX, but only marginally...) and VirtualFly's Yoko the yoke, Ruddo pedals and V3RNIO levers (which work fine in both as they are actual joysticks). Although MSFS looks stunning and is a lot less of a hassle (as stated in the review) to get realistic visuals, I do have an issue with grass strips: my home airport (EHHV - Hilversum, the Netherlands) has 3 separate grass landing strips which are way too visible in x-plane, however way too invisible in msfs2020... I too expect things to improve with MSFS2020 once third party developers get their hands dirty, but for now I'm sticking with x-plane when it comes to supplementing my real world training...no harm in doing 'touristy' flights for friends & family in MSFS2020 though!
Exactly, and I love xplane, have it for years. I got sucked into fs2020 too, got it and am disappointed. Xplane never gives my any crashes, plane problems, spiked terrains, bad server connections, broken planes with every update, etc, I do long hauls with airliners in xplane without any problems. Love it and its staying on my drive forevermore!!
I am using XP11 for practicing approaches. I am training for IFR rating in the real world, the practice I could do at home before shooting the real approach is very helpful.
As I expected, FS 2020 is more about fancy scenery than better aircraft modeling. It needs an internet connection, a non starter for my ground instructing at EAA Young Eagles events. We currently use P3D. I anticipate FS 2020 being a resource hog, even more than X-Plane, especially in the graphics department.
MSF2020 is certainly glorious-looking but as you say the add-on market is early days. That said, I do feel the MSF2020 devs are focusing too much on visual improvements at the expense of improving other simulation systems. The SDK is shockingly under-documented and from third-party addn developer chat the SDK doesn't provide them with enough 'hooks' into the flight simulator engine to help create addons that help introduce more realistic flight and aircraft systems. I particularly find the ATC and non-player aircraft AI very poor.
This is a great review - short, relevant and to-the-point. I have a PPL and 95% done an instrument rating, and have used X-Plane 11 for both. XP11 with rudder pedals was very helpful to me as I was developing cross-wind landing techniques, and for the IFR training, the sim has been invaluable. I bought Air Manager, knobster, the G5 add-ons, and the RealityXP GTN 650, signed-up for VATSIM then built an Air Manager panel which is very close to my flying club's 172M new panel. There are some minor glitches with the add-on instruments but overall it has made me feel much more proficient flying under-the-hood when I get into the real aircraft.
Sadly even in 2022 it's still in a very similar state and still have some major issues & bugs here and there. But good part is few really nice third party add-ons are becoming available gradually.
I'm glad to hear that XP is slightly better for realistic training, as I've invested 2 years and God knows how much money, building a C-172 cockpit. I'm taking great pains to make it as real as possible. I hope someday to convert it for FS2020, but for now I'll stick with XP.
@@jackal6902 I wish I could, but for health reasons I can't fly for real. I have Menere's Disease and have sudden, and sometimes violent, vertigo attacks. I did take lessons many years ago, when I was young and healthy but stopped when I lost my job and unfortunately never went back.
Slightly lool alot better theres so many features so have to use the sim to experience if all like eg flap damage ,they can break off too rudder damage , 250 failures ect among the obvious physics abd fm
@@DC3Refom Yes! I've actually had the flaps break off! Just made that mistake once though and never forgot. One reason I think sims are great for student pilots.
Finally a reviewer that just calls it as it is, no favorites. Will have to keep your channel in mind for more viewing. MSFS is for the nice and pretty experience. Despite X Plane being some 4 years older at present, I find it a lot more grueling and stomach turning, while MSFS is so plain. Question: do you not find the propellers and engines in MSFS2020 to be so soft and subtle? In X Plane they are loud and harsh -- a real joy. It makes me think MSFS propellers aren't quite real, but I'll leave it to people who actually operate these things beyond the screen to call it.
I actually am still using p3d v3. My boss bought ms2020, I wasn't impressed at all. I personally think microsoft should have either made it a game, or a flight sim. But it's stuck between both. I use my flight sim as a training tool. It has saved me a bunch of money over the years in real flying costs. Especially for IFR training. I have used xplane, I prefer p3d. Just my opinion
I'm still on P3D V5, not because it's wonderful, because I'm waiting for the initial bugs to be cleared up with Microsoft. I'm tired of being a retail buying bug chaser! I'll let the "firsters" do that. For actual flight practice, I agree X-Plane is probably a better choice for now. But considering the amount of followers and finances of Microsoft, I expect it will soon mature to be by far the better of the three.
I tried using FS2020 for my flight training, but observed that the G1000 was seriously lacking. Many waypoints are missing, making flight planning challenging if using standard flight tools such as foreflight or even paper charts. I also observed issues with the plane performance (172) , where I couldn't maintain expected climb rates.
Flight Simulation is about FLIGHT in the first and most important instance. Nice scenery is a bonus. X-Plane is in my opinion the better for actual flight and aircraft. I had almost all versions of MSFS, enjoyed it immensely. I skip MSFS 2020 for now. Maybe later...
Perhaps updating this video might not be a bad idea... A few details no longer apply with so many changes to the platform, and a comparison is far closer tha than it used to be while continuing to change.
PPL working on my IFR. X-Plane 11 has been invaluable to me for practicing basic stick rudder skills, crosswind techniques and IFR procedures. Now with a VR headset it's even better in spite of the drawbacks that come with VR. MSFS is a no go for me for the time being. Even looking at recordings of it the planes don't appear to fly naturally, maybe it's just the effect of the camera angle.
And, here it is 2023. I have both and find that X-Plane 11 has just slightly better physics rendering for the GA training aircraft used in the flight school I am attending. What is disappointing is that in order to get a basic steam-gauge C-172 in MSFS, you need to spring for the deluxe edition. To counter that issue, I fly the C-152 in MSFS. It handles almost exactly the same as the 172H model I am familiar with. The weather is much improved now. The ATC in both is still dismal. I am a student pilot, so all VFR for me. I have tried ILS approaches, and they both seem to be almost equal now. My one complaint with XP-11 is that the inaccuracies at my home field will never be fixed now that XP-12 has been released. So far neither sim has been updated to reflect the new runway alignment at KGDJ, so my pattern practice time is not very beneficial. How about a comparison of XP-12 to MSFS 2020? Is XP-12 worth me dropping $60 bucks for? Since my computer handles MSFS 2020 very well (nearly topped out in all categories thanks to 6GB DDR 6 VRAM), I would assume that XP-12 will also run well on it.
Very balanced commentary. Ryan was my remote CFI for a short while before he joined Pilot Workshops. Since then, I have had two more remote CFI's. My sim has the YOKO yoke and MFG rudder pedals plus TQ/TrimWheel/Flap Switch, 60" LED Tv with TrackIR 5. My sim supports real world training. I wish FS2020 gave refunds. Asobo Studios promised a brand new flight model and all the talk about 1,000 surfaces on the wing. Just don't see it. On the other hand, XP11 with the Simcoders REP pack for the C172 ($20) I can practice approach and departure stalls, steep turns, etc just like in the real Cessna. Only the sim is just a bit more challenging. Great for training. The immersion with XP11 is super. My FS2020 copy will just sit unused. I don't need fancy scenery. For training, it is all about the flight model physics. FS2020 was over sold. Should have waited.
@@yehanmudalige6596 regardless of who as a Sim is better, IMHO X-Plane will tolerate older hardware better than MS2020, so if you running a Rig that is based on the 7-8 generation of intel CPU Platform and NVIDIA GTX1080 OR EVEN GTX 1080TI, stick to X-Plane it is a wonderful Sim after all
@@yehanmudalige6596 ..pretty much sure FS2020 will take care those issues, for the longer run, and the commitment you are about to make, there are some more factors and aspects of the Sim that should be taken into consideration , in our case is the outcome of the "Battle" between David & Goliath ...... but with the current situation and assuming that your HW is not top notch, and you have no intention for more investments, yes, X-Plane with Volcan is you pick (Bear in mind that it will require quite few addon/ plugins, which, most of them are freebees, and some tweaking of the Sim)
Notice the pilot seat rotates with the outside view at different rates. Also, Xplane is used by Boeing, Nasa, redbull chalenge pilots, aircraft manufacturers, approved by FAA to train ATP, commercial pilots. Phil, Commercial pilot.
If you go for X-Plane, a great compromise is HD Mesh v4, or UHD Mesh if you have a nice computer. It doesn't take up too much space, but it is also very nice looking to enhance your visual experience. Another great tool to practice ATC operations is VATSIM. It may not be quite as accurate as pilotedge, but I would say it's 90-95% most of the time, and if you fly during events you can get full ATC matching the controllers usually on in real life.
Excellent review, thanks. I currently use FSX for pre-trip flights and explore future airport locations. I'm also planning to purchase FS2020 for the same purpose. As you stated, being so new there are not add-ons that can enhance the value of FS2020, but if FSX is any indication, it will soon explode with options and updates. Thanks again.
Unless the product fragments like FSX did I doubt if MSFS will head into the territory of true rigour. The money is with the kids and their game stations. They are 95% eye candy driven. There is an invisible slider at work. It goes from "pretty" to "realistic". MSFS has pushed that slider to "pretty" and given most hardware struggles it's not going to compromise that for "realism" to satisfy a relatively small customer base.
Well almost 2 years have passed since this video was released, and yes the new flight Sim has come a long way! The GPS is better, then it was obviously, the scenery is gorgeous, the planes have improved dramatically, taking all that into consideration I think Microsoft Flight Sim has closed the gap between its counterpart, although laminar is working on a new version of X-Plane... So we will have to see...🤔
Finally! An unbiased comparison of both sims... by someone who actually flys real planes. I feel the same about having the FS2020 for VFR and Xplane11 for IFR. One thing I noticed using a very windy airport (SAWH), with xplane, winds and how the plane reacts to them seems far more real , unlike FS2020, where I notice a "light" impact compared to xplane even though all settings are set to hard/real, but graphics wise, FS2020 wins hands down
Wow! Am I glad I happened on your video. I'm all about practicing IFR Approaches and other ATC maneuvers. I've been taking my time doing searches trying to make the right choice. I realize that MFS 2020 will improve as time go along. However I want to continue flying now. I've been away for a year or so. The main thing I am concerned with is with the G1000 not being more functional. However I can still work around that. All that being said thank you so much for your great review. It helped me make my decision on which one to buy. X-Plane.
Good review, will probably get both. FS 2020 already after just a month has a second patch out that is taking care of some of the issues, such as real world weather and autopilot issues. They seem to be pretty responsive on trying to get this right, as well as Osobo saying that they plan to release world refinements and model refinements at least every two months. There are also many third party developers who are already putting new things online and available for FS 2020 with many, many more to come. I think competition is going to be GREAT for everyone between MS and X Plane.
So far this is the most balanced review of MSFS and XP11. No fanboism and just a solid realistic evaluation. At this point in time its without doubt that XP11 excels at procedural stuff and IFR while MSFS is great for VFR. I will never understand the rivalry and fanboism I see elsewhere. As this reviewer said - get both, keep both. I have XP11, FSX, DCS all existing happily together and in about 2 years MSFS will join the party!
I used X-Plane back in 2018 when I was doing my PPL. I used to fly the routes in the sim that I'd flown for real earlier in the day. I also used updated scenery I'd generated myself of the whole country (not USA) it was deja-vu every time.
Just saying, I always preferred X-Plane to Microshaft. Well, I guess you can tell my opinion just from the beginning of the comment. I had all the fight gear. Throttle quadrant, yoke, and rudder pedals. I also loved that I could input my own designs into X-plane to see how they would fly, or input published stats from a book on aircraft and expect it to perform pretty much as the actual plane would do. Edit: The last version of X-plane I have experience with was version 9.X
Me too...flight physics and overall feeling are much better in XP although MSFS might have better graphics. But XP graphics (modded) are good enough for me.
A very good video! Thank you! I bought both sims and preferred X-Plane, but now I'm done at 12-17 fps, so I think even with a major hardware update I won't get more than 20 fps. And then it's game over. :( MSFS on the other hand provides me with 40 fps and after my HW update it will be 60 or close. So practically MSFS remains my only choice for now - until performance optimization will not become a priority for Laminar Research.
very well said and a good summary of all the shortcomings that MSFS2020 has at the moment, right now it can not be used for any IFR flight, except for the most basic one.
I'm actually using p3d v5, and i think it's a tad better then MFS 2020 not as far as graphics of the world but as far as realistic aircraft fight and dynamics, p3d v5 blows MFS 2020 away. And it's great for flight training as well, and right now has tons of 3rd market aircraft and addons,, Yes MFS 2020 is great visual , but that is the only thing it has going for it as far as a flight sim. there rest is way better with p3d v5.. Hey it's just my opinion..
I'm considering purchasing/installing X-Plane. I upgraded (?) from FSX to FS2020 a couple of months ago, but am finding recent updates to be making the flying harder, not easier. Specifically, attempting to use autopilot almost always causes loss of control and a crash. In FSX, I was getting along quite well with most GA aircraft, and with the various autopilot systems. Replys and recommendations are quite welcome!
See my comments above. Hardware choices are easy now. Just set your budget. Read this long list of comments and you will see that where real world flight training support is a critical factor, then XP11 is the choice. That tells the tale.
I will echo what others have said. FS2020 for fun VFR, with really great graphics. X-plane for IFR practise, using touch screens, knobster, Air Manager, multiple screens etc.
Great review! A few words on support (or lack thereof) of standard hardware like Saitek panels and VR should be included - MSFS fails miserably on both of those aspects at this time.
Great video. C152 pilot IRL in France, South of Paris. Using Ortho4XP with ZL 18/19 and home made autogen and AD, Xplane 11 gives me more realistic experience compared to FS2020 in VFR flight. France textures are so so in the middle of 2021 on FS2020. Little streams become rivers (big one), to much forests ruin flight experience. For me the flight model of C152 (FS2020) is bad compared with the third part one from Jusflight. Not a fair comparaison from my side (comparing a out of the box sim with a custom one), but just my point of view in middle of 2021...
Great no-nonsense review that does not exude with "fanboy" comments as I have seen from gamers who lurk on the MSFS2020 boards telling everyone they are idiots if they think Xplane is better. I have both Sims and surprised you didn't touch on the lack of peripherals currently supported by MSFS2020 out of the gate. I have a Redbird YK1 Yoke (had to custom build the controls to work), Ruddo pedals (Gen1) I had to program as well, SimInnovations Air Manager 3.7 (planned to work with 4.0 version) and none of the Logitech/Saitek FIPs or radios work. Also could not get my iPad with Foreflight to connect to MSFS2020 as well. That and no support for PilotEdge make it a "no-go" as a real-world practice tool for now. A lot of real-world elements that has MSFS2020 fall short, but the scenery makes it a great Gamer product right out of the gate. All that said, I expect in the next 6-12 months that MSFS2020 will get quickly to feature parity with Xplane 11.50 to really make real-world pilots fans.. For now, as yu stated, I will stick with Xplane 11.50 for staying fresh with real-world flying.
I would love to have your actual opinion, especially about the on going development of MSFS, add-ons and the sim itself. I am a long time user of XP11, but I also like MSFS a lot, it's only missing the simulation depth. But it seems that good and complex are still missing.
With the new GPS add-ons to msfs, the use use GPS has been greatly improved. Not to mention some of the updates to the base game ones from asobo. We've even had some pretty good ad-on planes come out now for msfs so hopefully that continues
7:50 I don't think it's strange at all that they allow you to disable the Aero effect of icing while keeping the visual. It's a great training aid to be able to spot the visual artifacts associated with Icing, consistently, before learning how to respond / react to those same visual cues.
I’ve been a long time user of x-plane 11 and wanted to try MSFS but after watching this I’ve made up my mind to continue using x-plane. X-plane PRO’s far outweighs it’s CON’s
X-Plane hast the best flight physics experience. Also, add-on aircraft for X-Plane have become extremely good, for example Toliss A321 or FF A320. FS2020 has amazing graphics and an "ok" flight model. But if you mod X-Plane, you can have amazing graphics and realistic flight dynamics!
I am currently taking flying lessons and I use X Plane as a simulator for practice. Pretty scenery is nice, but I’d sacrifice scenery detail for sight seeing over flight accuracy. By the way, X Plane scenery is excellent in it’s own right, especially from people who are dedicated to specifically creating specially developed airports and locals etc.
I love xplane.. and msfs.. as said by you, msfs can be used to practice cross country flights.. but for actually practicing flying xplane's physics are better including suspension
I've come to similar conclusions: if you want a fun, pretty VFR experience, fly FS2020. And if you want a realistic IFR practice, use X-plane.
and this is what people don't understand. If you're bored AF and want to enjoy scenery ms2020. Want to do actual procedures and hard IFR? xplane
Yes exactly.
I just wanna play Microsoft flight sim cuz of its absolutely astonishing graphics and it's really fun.
I also like flying over my house in real time.
Im goin with Microsoft flight simulator more cuz I dont wanna be a pilot
Its also more fun now and its actually getting better
That's what I was thinking.
Well, this is quickly changing! Might no longer be true as this platform progresses
@Lufty001 microsoft flight simulator 100%
Plus microsoft flight simulator is on game pass which is like 10 bucks and u get a full 100+ library of games so its an obvious choice here bud
Have both - Uninstalled FS2020. Granted, I am a former IRL airline pilot. FS2020 for the graphics and the kids. X-plane for the serious sim enthusiast that is looking for high level system interaction and accuracy.
lol angry x-plane fans coming in here complaining that FS2020 is too good
@@yaosio Not angry at all kitty cat. I own both sims. I happen to just be forming a PROFESSIONAL opinion. MSFS 2020 is not and has never been certified for use in a Level D sim. You likely don't know what that is. Full motion certified training sim. Its how airline pilots stay current. I would know because I'm one of those pilots. ALL I am saying is MSFS2020 is beautiful and all but it isn't "too good" lol. I'm not interested in the fine tuned ripples in the water or true to life clouds (which xplane does just fine.) I'm interested in procedurally accurate aircraft along with functions. I'm interested in accurate flight models. Neither of these MSFS2020 provides. It is just that simple. Meow.
@@yaosio Get back to your Xbox
@@jaydubs5007 Hahahahahaha. X-Plane 11 physics are trash.
@@jaydubs5007 I love the MSFS 2020 but the performance is terrible. I cannot even control the plane for 10 mins and the plane has a mind of its won. Comparing ti the FSX Steam 2020, the performance is better than the newest one. I am going to take a break from MSFS 2020 and play X-Planes 11 and FSX Steam 2020. I just wish there is a flight sim that is best for graphics and best for serious flying at the same time.
One of the best comparison I’ve seen yet , great job in the video, no need to say anymore
Can you do this comparison again by taking updates, mods and third party planes into consideration? MSFS has changed a lot during this year.
Yes, there are much better avionics available now and the base sim has had some improvements aswell.
And now, X-plane 12 is out.
Excellent job in this evaluation... unbiased, thorough, and useful... especially for IRL pilots. Thanks. Wayne (I sim-fly X-Plane 11.50 and IRL fly a DA40)
@@joetjoepjoeserneejm, actually I haven't found a good DA40 for X-Plane. I use the TorqueSim SR22 instead (excellent G1000/Perspective implementation).
i fly a pa-28 and the reason i stick with xp11 (for now) is cause of the super detailed mod for the pa-28
but it was biased and throughout was in favour of x plane 11.
It's been 9 months. Would like to see an update!
agreed but maybe after sim update 6 lol
After sim update 5 I started using x plane again I've been flying alot with the a320 and yes microsoft looks amazing but unhave found that from a technical and procedural standpoint msfs2020 can't touch xplane it just looks pretty once I updated to live weather on xplane I may only fly vfr on msfs2020 since xplane has fully completed planes
I used X-Plane 11 and PilotEdge for my IFR training. It was a great combination.
The slack in the MSFS flight model I feel gets understated here. I can't compare to X-Plane, but it's so bad in MSFS I actually uninstalled. Stalls and areas outside of the normal flight envelope (very important areas to model...otherwise why fly correctly at all if there are no repercussions) have little work done. For instance, tail dragged physics don't perform like actual tail dragged setups, while on the ground. Accelerated stalls also just don't really exist in MSFS. You can take right off in a cub and instantly pull loops, with no wing drop, buffeting, spin or other tendencies.
If you're looking for a flight Sim that will teach you how a plane should act and perform, even without flying X-Plane myself, X-Plane is absolutely undoubtedly the better bet. Heck even War Thunder in flight Sim mode has a plus one on MSFS....a sentence I never thought I'd ever say
Great job Ryan! Besides the issues you mentioned the thing I miss most from X-Plane is saving Situations and Replay files. Situations allow quick set up for maneuver and approach practice and replays allow trainees to see the flight again from various angles and with stop action for discussion.
Thanks for pointing this out. It's a pretty big gap for MS FlightSim 2020. Being able to replay is very helpful for debriefing. It would be nice if there was a way on X-Plane to start (i.e. "continue" in a new simulation) from a point on the replay. (If there is such a feature, I' haven't found it yet.)
Hello Russ I think your video "Holy Grail" is a good starting point for flight simmers to help make a decision between XP and FS2020. One has to understand the difference between gamers/hobbyist/flight simmers and RW flight simmers first. Good Luck
Here is a link to Russ's video. th-cam.com/video/CD3Mgm9APqY/w-d-xo.html
I’m curious how this changed as of late 2021
As a CFI/II I only ran MSFS2020 for a day when I became too frustrated due to hardware incompatibility, long loading screens, and lack of flight customization like mentioned in the video. Just installed Xplane11 and I'm much happier.
thanks a lot for the review...Im doing my IFR and to practice home, I'm using xplane...I don't really care whether there are trees or nice buildings...as long as airport layouts and aircraft systems are correct, I'm good
Huge admirer of FS2020 but actually using X-Plane 11.50 for training as for reasons this review of yours explains perfectly. Love both sims. Each has its strong points.
FS2020 is better now a year later, much better than Xplane
@@thecomedypilot5894 It is often broken, crashed
@@franco_albi9559 But more updates will improve that.
@@thecomedypilot5894 Now I have reset the computer settings to a week ago; the simulator has unlocked. Now I provide updates. Ciao and thank you.
@@thecomedypilot5894 Better in what way(s)?
After excitedly trying MSFS, I was disappointed with the realism and purchased XP11. My primary use for simulators is instrument proficiency, where MSFS severely lacks. Another XP11 advantage is native support for GPS and traffic information (ForeFlight).
XP12 is coming out also so byby FS2020. I have XP9 and I am updating to xp11.
@@InternetGoldMiner xplane 12 won’t bye bye fs2020 and fs2020 won’t buy xplane 12, both will be extremely popular
Is this still the case in 2022 in your opinion?
@@cameronwells768 iv been using xp11 since 2017 and iv recetly tried fs2020, here is an honest thing:
user experince:
downloading:
the game was trerrible, even with gigabit internet the game still took me well over 14 hours to install not mentioning the crashes i get and the unability to use anything on my conputer bec it will crash the installtion
in game:
Microsofts servers/EA are known to be bad, server have been down twice this week making me unable to use their bing maps data which makes the game look like fsx, litteraly, and preventing me from signing in and "authienticating" a game Im supposed to be able to launch without internet connection
Addons and freeware planes:
by all means the FBW a320nx is an amazing addon, amazing sounds, however again, it lack in flight dynamics and compared to the tollis a321, it stands no chance in flight dynamics and systems, however deafult sounds are bad and cabing modeling is teriible
xplane has the zibo mod, a freeware open source plane where you can choose it over PMGD just fine
Physics:
if your not going to use payware planes like PMGD, phsyics are bad, really bad compared to xp11, espicialy GA planes
@@holtrixstudios xplane 12 will bye bye unrealistic fs 2020
I wish there was a way to take all of the graphics from MFS and put them in X-Plane where the flight models actually function.
X-PLane 12 has been announced. It looks promising, but MSFS will likely keep putting out addons and third party will include more content.
I used to use x-plane to practice VFR and FSX for IFR but will switch to MSFS for VFR flying. I've used it to dry run a cross country before doing it in the real plane and it's amazing to spot things in the real world that you just saw in the simulator earlier. If I need to do real IFR training I'll continue using FSX with my 3rd party addons until MSFS catches up in this area.
If you like buttons and Accurate Physics go for X-Plane 11, Realistic graphics definitely msfs 2020
This is completely SPOT ON with my experience. X-Plane is my "go to" for practicing aircraft and IFR procedures, MSFS is great for VFR exploring. Neither is perfect, as was pointed out in the video.
I don’t understand some comparisons. I’m a pilot, and played both simulators for IFR practice and flight proficiency. Both are good simulators. I’ve never used for RNAV training and only for conventional means (vor, ndb and ILS). Why would someone say MSFS is worst by using conventional navaids ? It is important to specify while comparing. Now about the aircraft systems, xplane 11 is a little more realistic.
About playing with big airplanes such Boeings and airbus, you should use third part add ons (pmdg). Their default options are soo distant from the reality.
My vote is for msfs.
They think that pushing buttons and having the autopilot fly the plane is real flying. Anything else is not really flying, considering when you start your flying career you start off in a Cessna flying vfr
One thing to point out.. you CAN actually change aircraft or location in MSFS without going back to the main menu.
If you switch on developer mode (in the settings page) a menu bar will appear to the top left of your screen. There are options here to change aircraft etc. You have to wait a few seconds but it’s much quicker than going back to the main menu.
Not very convenient and userfriendly having to open the developper mode to do this...but thanks for the info.
@@frankbyte how is that not convenient? I'm confused
@@PilotUnknownX Because it means having to start something else first (developper interface). It's like if you would have to send a code via SMS first before you can steer your car. It's not intuitive, so it makes the UI not userfriendly. It will work but it's a workaround.
I use X-Plane in virtual reality for training and it is great.
I use it for both stick and rudder and IFR.
If you simulate 0 visibility IFR in VR on XP11 your heart beat will increase, try it is very challenging.
My daughter uses the training station to give me a run for my money with unexpected situations.
She is like my personal instructor she likes to say.
I really appreciate this video as someone getting into the hobby for a PPL. I'm not sure when graphics became part of the "simulation" experience. Granted I understand its nice to have it pretty but the idea of simulation is supposed to be a life like experience. Honestly Im excited to see this and excited for the future of Xplane12. Competition gives us drive.
Great review, thanks all!
X-plane 11 with toliss or flight factor is great (if you're an airbus guy). Especially connected to VATSIM, the experience is just amazing.
Great review Ryan. I have both of your IFR video series' and both sims. MSFS2020 is just a toy for me today. I hop in it to just "play around". I'm always back in XP when on PilotEdge or going through your IFR lessons for the millionth time for review. I am hoping that the systems/avionics catch up in MSFS2020 for more realistic practice in that sim too.
I have both sims, and both are good at what they are designed to do. Its cool to practice ground reference maneuvers, 8s on pylons and power off 180s in MSFS, as the real terrain just immerses you in the experience. Also nothing beats flying into Oshkosh in a Corsair on PilotEdge “Silver Corsair over Warbird”!!
X-Plane really shines in IFR practice. Put reality-xp on realsimgear gns 530,430 stack and you have a capable platform. No crashes or bugs, just pure instrument flying in the stock King Air, on the Garmin databases with the PilotEdge controller throwing in complex instructions and route deviations, making MSFS seem like child’s play when you can barely find an approach in the database.
So there you go, get both and decide for yourself.
Great review. I’ve never gone the a Xplane route - too much invested in add ons for FSX/P3D including customised aircraft and Mindstar and RealityXP avionics which I use to stay current. Did the first 4 hours of my recent instrument rating on line on Zoom with my instructor during COVID. Only problem I now have is the MSFS is so much fun for just going out for a spin to check out a strip that I’ll fast be non current. Wait 6 months and it will be incredible.
Im on the bridge between XP11 & MSFS2020.Im currently using X-Plane 11.52 and still happy with it.The visuals in MSFS2020 looks amazing,but its pointless when it comes to instrument practices and performances.This is where X-Plane 11 meets my demands.Especially when it comes to FMC functionality like in the IXEG 733.I think until these points are resolved in future updates in MSFS2020,im still sticking to X-Plane.
Your comparison was well thought out and brought home the truths between the two sims. Still, I am in the mindset that I can play around and explore on MSFS but use XPlane to sharpen my skills. Much appreciation to you at PW for all you guys do.
MSFS needs multi monitor. The stretch option sucks. Plus MSFS has so many problems and information builds up and then it does not run well. I'm taking MSFS off my computer. I have a good gaming computer and still get screwed up.
You can actually change the weather and aircraft etc in MSFS without going back to the title screen, you have to enable the developer menu to get these options however, not sure why they didn't just make that a default feature like in sims of past.
You can change weather at any time (and it happens instantly, which is cool), but for things like relocating or changing aircraft weight and balance you need to end the flight. Dev mode does allow you to change aircraft and "teleport" to the middle of an airport, but it seems a little buggy and unpredictable. And it's buried in a menu system full of items that are truly for developers, so I decided not to mention it in the video.
@@ryankoch5796 - You can change aircraft weight and balance without ending the flight in fs2020, even without dev mode.
X-Plane combined with Orbx scenery gives an excellent accurate reality for flying VFR while MS FS 2020 is only photogrammetry scenery, while it looks stunning it is not an accurate rendition of what is actually there. I have tried the new 2020 simulator but have returned back to my X-Plane set up.
That is true I have X Europe & orbx true earth and In my arse where j live south Yorkshire y visually from Don caster airport , file the roads through the town past the lake centre , last the train and bus station through to mexbrough through to Rotherham then sheff etc
Medowhall is modelled pretty good too , I can even recognise the Tesco express petrol estate near my area before banking to head toward s sheff
I use X-Plane 11 and have my Cardinal 177RG modeled exactly like my real aircraft. Used this a lot when getting my instrument rating. Still use it when going to new airports to preview the flight.
dsloop52: I just completed my instrument training/rating. I found my home sim setup limited, using a CH Flight Sim Yoke. Two questions. 1. The G530W/430W is very cumbersome to program with the mouse. I basically pause the flight and program it. Any way to improve this? 2. I fly a C182P, 6 pack + G430W. Are there any good C182 add-ons for XPlane 11? Again the C172 flight dynamics are not great. Heading is ok but altitude is all over the place, even after doing the yoke setup. And I love using Foreflight with XPlane for my charts & tracking - fantastic. Thanks!
Mee too!!!
@@bubbaski750 I have the CH yoke also. Altitude may vary because of the resolution and inconsistent center of the yoke elevator control. I have the same issue. You can adjust the center response in Xplane some to make this better. As far as the 430 manipulation, I do not know of anything better than the mouse. I have the RealityXP 530W and it uses the Garmin 400/500 Trainer as an interface so most all of the real 530 functionality is there, but you can only get up to about 6-2010 updates on the IAPs. That make IFR approaches weird when the sim unit does not match the charts. There have been a lot of changes since 2010 to waypoints on approaches. I use iFly GPS or FltPlanGO (free sw) on an iPad to practice approaches. I have not found a way yet to update the sim even though I have a subscription for my real plane.
@@bubbaski750 Hello. I agree 100%. Trying to twist 430/530 freqs or add waypoints with mouse or VR controller is stupid. I went to Air Manager desktop with touchscreen and Knobster and it really makes all the difference. Especially with IFR, Pilotedge,Vatsim etc. The knobster is expensive but if you are serious about RW simming/flying then it is my best purchase. Knobster mimics inner/outer/push-in of real 430/530 and has the same feel as real 430/530. I am Using 3 32" monitors with touchscreen below, similar to Gleim or Touchtrainer FAA approved BATD. Good luck. You don't need 3 monitors but it really is great because I can look directly down each wing.
Excellent, thorough, and well-balanced review. I use x-plane 11 for IFR Practice in fixed wing and maneuver practice in Robinson 44 (I have custom built controls). Now do helos!
Glad I stumbled onto this video. I use the sim for instrument proficiency and found X-Plane good for that, and when I downloaded MSFS and tried to use it I thought I had software problems with the navigation equipment, but Now I see it’s a deficiency they haven’t corrected. Saved me hours of research trying to fix it.
Yes I am a pilot and I use XPlane 11 for practice in my house I like a lot XPlane 11
X-Plane 11.50 is very smooth. I don't have MSFS-2020, but all the videos I've seen so far show micro-stutters and obvious visual changes as sceneries load during flight. X-Plane is not quite as pretty in the scenery or weather departments, but it feels like an actual aircraft.
I agree with every thing you said in this review. I am a real world airline pilot and I have both X-Plane and MSFS 2020.
Basically what I'm hearing is fs2020 just needs time for people to make and update stuff for it. Then it'll be superior in many ways. I'm glad they recently updated the g1000.... Definitely can be used for IFR more now
I agree 100% with this review. I have both programs and like to practice IFR procedures, and X-Plane is easily the winner. I think that MSFS2020 might be more appealing for non-pilots, but for actual aviators it is X-Plane all the way.
I am an actual aviator and boy the fact that you just cannot fly VFR in Xplane out of the Box is a huge downside. I have no IR rating, so I cannot speakk for that part.
I've got nice rudder pedals that work great on X-Plane, but aren't recognized in the Microsoft sim.
I'm also amazed by the scenery in the new program. Try flying from Pompano Beach to Miami Beach along the shoreline. It feels like the real thing almost.
Do all rudder pedals not work with Microsoft?
Amen to this review, very accurate - I have both sims and am in training for my PPL. I find the controls and airplane behaviour (I fly a C172) much more realistic in x-plane than MSFS2020. Moreover, I have set up a semi-home cockpit using air manager (not supported by MSFS2020 yet) for instrument displays on a secondary iPad, LogitechG (previously called Saitek) radios, multi panel and switch panel (supported in MSFS2020 through SpadX, but only marginally...) and VirtualFly's Yoko the yoke, Ruddo pedals and V3RNIO levers (which work fine in both as they are actual joysticks). Although MSFS looks stunning and is a lot less of a hassle (as stated in the review) to get realistic visuals, I do have an issue with grass strips: my home airport (EHHV - Hilversum, the Netherlands) has 3 separate grass landing strips which are way too visible in x-plane, however way too invisible in msfs2020...
I too expect things to improve with MSFS2020 once third party developers get their hands dirty, but for now I'm sticking with x-plane when it comes to supplementing my real world training...no harm in doing 'touristy' flights for friends & family in MSFS2020 though!
Exactly, and I love xplane, have it for years. I got sucked into fs2020 too, got it and am disappointed. Xplane never gives my any crashes, plane problems, spiked terrains, bad server connections, broken planes with every update, etc,
I do long hauls with airliners in xplane without any problems. Love it and its staying on my drive forevermore!!
A fantastic, knowledgeable review. The conclusion is also clearly comprehensible and absolutely conclusive.
I am using XP11 for practicing approaches. I am training for IFR rating in the real world, the practice I could do at home before shooting the real approach is very helpful.
As I expected, FS 2020 is more about fancy scenery than better aircraft modeling. It needs an internet connection, a non starter for my ground instructing at EAA Young Eagles events. We currently use P3D. I anticipate FS 2020 being a resource hog, even more than X-Plane, especially in the graphics department.
MSF2020 is certainly glorious-looking but as you say the add-on market is early days. That said, I do feel the MSF2020 devs are focusing too much on visual improvements at the expense of improving other simulation systems. The SDK is shockingly under-documented and from third-party addn developer chat the SDK doesn't provide them with enough 'hooks' into the flight simulator engine to help create addons that help introduce more realistic flight and aircraft systems. I particularly find the ATC and non-player aircraft AI very poor.
We don’t fly at street level? I do! Thanks for the review
This is a great review - short, relevant and to-the-point. I have a PPL and 95% done an instrument rating, and have used X-Plane 11 for both. XP11 with rudder pedals was very helpful to me as I was developing cross-wind landing techniques, and for the IFR training, the sim has been invaluable. I bought Air Manager, knobster, the G5 add-ons, and the RealityXP GTN 650, signed-up for VATSIM then built an Air Manager panel which is very close to my flying club's 172M new panel. There are some minor glitches with the add-on instruments but overall it has made me feel much more proficient flying under-the-hood when I get into the real aircraft.
Sadly even in 2022 it's still in a very similar state and still have some major issues & bugs here and there. But good part is few really nice third party add-ons are becoming available gradually.
I'm glad to hear that XP is slightly better for realistic training, as I've invested 2 years and God knows how much money, building a C-172 cockpit. I'm taking great pains to make it as real as possible. I hope someday to convert it for FS2020, but for now I'll stick with XP.
@@jackal6902 I wish I could, but for health reasons I can't fly for real. I have Menere's Disease and have sudden, and sometimes violent, vertigo attacks.
I did take lessons many years ago, when I was young and healthy but stopped when I lost my job and unfortunately never went back.
Slightly lool alot better theres so many features so have to use the sim to experience if all like eg flap damage ,they can break off too rudder damage , 250 failures ect among the obvious physics abd fm
@@DC3Refom Yes! I've actually had the flaps break off! Just made that mistake once though and never forgot. One reason I think sims are great for student pilots.
Finally a reviewer that just calls it as it is, no favorites. Will have to keep your channel in mind for more viewing. MSFS is for the nice and pretty experience. Despite X Plane being some 4 years older at present, I find it a lot more grueling and stomach turning, while MSFS is so plain.
Question: do you not find the propellers and engines in MSFS2020 to be so soft and subtle? In X Plane they are loud and harsh -- a real joy. It makes me think MSFS propellers aren't quite real, but I'll leave it to people who actually operate these things beyond the screen to call it.
I actually am still using p3d v3. My boss bought ms2020, I wasn't impressed at all. I personally think microsoft should have either made it a game, or a flight sim. But it's stuck between both. I use my flight sim as a training tool. It has saved me a bunch of money over the years in real flying costs. Especially for IFR training. I have used xplane, I prefer p3d. Just my opinion
I'm still on P3D V5, not because it's wonderful, because I'm waiting for the initial bugs to be cleared up with Microsoft. I'm tired of being a retail buying bug chaser! I'll let the "firsters" do that.
For actual flight practice, I agree X-Plane is probably a better choice for now. But considering the amount of followers and finances of Microsoft, I expect it will soon mature to be by far the better of the three.
I tried using FS2020 for my flight training, but observed that the G1000 was seriously lacking. Many waypoints are missing, making flight planning challenging if using standard flight tools such as foreflight or even paper charts. I also observed issues with the plane performance (172) , where I couldn't maintain expected climb rates.
Flight Simulation is about FLIGHT in the first and most important instance. Nice scenery is a bonus. X-Plane is in my opinion the better for actual flight and aircraft. I had almost all versions of MSFS, enjoyed it immensely. I skip MSFS 2020 for now. Maybe later...
I wanted to practice some procedures, and your video was helpful in helping me decide which one to pick to practice with on a 737
Perhaps updating this video might not be a bad idea... A few details no longer apply with so many changes to the platform, and a comparison is far closer tha than it used to be while continuing to change.
PPL working on my IFR. X-Plane 11 has been invaluable to me for practicing basic stick rudder skills, crosswind techniques and IFR procedures. Now with a VR headset it's even better in spite of the drawbacks that come with VR. MSFS is a no go for me for the time being. Even looking at recordings of it the planes don't appear to fly naturally, maybe it's just the effect of the camera angle.
And, here it is 2023. I have both and find that X-Plane 11 has just slightly better physics rendering for the GA training aircraft used in the flight school I am attending. What is disappointing is that in order to get a basic steam-gauge C-172 in MSFS, you need to spring for the deluxe edition. To counter that issue, I fly the C-152 in MSFS. It handles almost exactly the same as the 172H model I am familiar with. The weather is much improved now. The ATC in both is still dismal. I am a student pilot, so all VFR for me. I have tried ILS approaches, and they both seem to be almost equal now. My one complaint with XP-11 is that the inaccuracies at my home field will never be fixed now that XP-12 has been released.
So far neither sim has been updated to reflect the new runway alignment at KGDJ, so my pattern practice time is not very beneficial.
How about a comparison of XP-12 to MSFS 2020? Is XP-12 worth me dropping $60 bucks for? Since my computer handles MSFS 2020 very well (nearly topped out in all categories thanks to 6GB DDR 6 VRAM), I would assume that XP-12 will also run well on it.
Very helpful and professional comparison of the two products!
Very balanced commentary. Ryan was my remote CFI for a short while before he joined Pilot Workshops. Since then, I have had two more remote CFI's. My sim has the YOKO yoke and MFG rudder pedals plus TQ/TrimWheel/Flap Switch, 60" LED Tv with TrackIR 5.
My sim supports real world training. I wish FS2020 gave refunds. Asobo Studios promised a brand new flight model and all the talk about 1,000 surfaces on the wing. Just don't see it.
On the other hand, XP11 with the Simcoders REP pack for the C172 ($20) I can practice approach and departure stalls, steep turns, etc just like in the real Cessna. Only the sim is just a bit more challenging. Great for training.
The immersion with XP11 is super. My FS2020 copy will just sit unused.
I don't need fancy scenery. For training, it is all about the flight model physics. FS2020 was over sold. Should have waited.
great review, I migrated from FSX to XP11 & lived through
Would you recommend xplane 11 or MSFS 2020
@@yehanmudalige6596 regardless of who as a Sim is better, IMHO X-Plane will tolerate older hardware better than MS2020, so if you running a Rig that is based on the 7-8 generation of intel CPU Platform and NVIDIA GTX1080 OR EVEN GTX 1080TI, stick to X-Plane it is a wonderful Sim after all
@@yair1956 The thing is MSFS 2020 has a download error 😞 and I'm not the only one so im planning on downloading Xplane 11
@@yehanmudalige6596 ..pretty much sure FS2020 will take care those issues, for the longer run, and the commitment you are about to make, there are some more factors and aspects of the Sim that should be taken into consideration , in our case is the outcome of the "Battle" between David & Goliath ...... but with the current situation and assuming that your HW is not top notch, and you have no intention for more investments, yes, X-Plane with Volcan is you pick (Bear in mind that it will require quite few addon/ plugins, which, most of them are freebees, and some tweaking of the Sim)
Notice the pilot seat rotates with the outside view at different rates. Also, Xplane is used by Boeing, Nasa, redbull chalenge pilots, aircraft manufacturers, approved by FAA to train ATP, commercial pilots. Phil, Commercial pilot.
Thanks for the comparison. Are you planning on an update video after all the MSFS updates?
If you go for X-Plane, a great compromise is HD Mesh v4, or UHD Mesh if you have a nice computer. It doesn't take up too much space, but it is also very nice looking to enhance your visual experience.
Another great tool to practice ATC operations is VATSIM. It may not be quite as accurate as pilotedge, but I would say it's 90-95% most of the time, and if you fly during events you can get full ATC matching the controllers usually on in real life.
Pilot Edge is very affordable and provides real controllers who are their to support your practice sessions. Highly recommended.
Excellent review, thanks. I currently use FSX for pre-trip flights and explore future airport locations. I'm also planning to purchase FS2020 for the same purpose. As you stated, being so new there are not add-ons that can enhance the value of FS2020, but if FSX is any indication, it will soon explode with options and updates.
Thanks again.
Allright, here we are checking out a few months...a year and a half later - come ooon redo the MFS vs XP11 comparison! :D
Unless the product fragments like FSX did I doubt if MSFS will head into the territory of true rigour. The money is with the kids and their game stations. They are 95% eye candy driven. There is an invisible slider at work. It goes from "pretty" to "realistic". MSFS has pushed that slider to "pretty" and given most hardware struggles it's not going to compromise that for "realism" to satisfy a relatively small customer base.
Well almost 2 years have passed since this video was released, and yes the new flight Sim has come a long way! The GPS is better, then it was obviously, the scenery is gorgeous, the planes have improved dramatically, taking all that into consideration I think Microsoft Flight Sim has closed the gap between its counterpart, although laminar is working on a new version of X-Plane... So we will have to see...🤔
But physics havent improved
Lmao not!
Great video, congrats.
I use both the open source FlightGear Simulator and X-Plane
Until now april 2021 , xp11 is still the best ?
Finally! An unbiased comparison of both sims... by someone who actually flys real planes. I feel the same about having the FS2020 for VFR and Xplane11 for IFR. One thing I noticed using a very windy airport (SAWH), with xplane, winds and how the plane reacts to them seems far more real , unlike FS2020, where I notice a "light" impact compared to xplane even though all settings are set to hard/real, but graphics wise, FS2020 wins hands down
I'm a glider pilot. So I tend to use condor 2 for main practice and Xplane for messing around for fun
Wow! Am I glad I happened on your video. I'm all about practicing IFR Approaches and other ATC maneuvers. I've been taking my time doing searches trying to make the right choice. I realize that MFS 2020 will improve as time go along. However I want to continue flying now. I've been away for a year or so. The main thing I am concerned with is with the G1000 not being more functional. However I can still work around that. All that being said thank you so much for your great review. It helped me make my decision on which one to buy. X-Plane.
Good review, will probably get both. FS 2020 already after just a month has a second patch out that is taking care of some of the issues, such as real world weather and autopilot issues. They seem to be pretty responsive on trying to get this right, as well as Osobo saying that they plan to release world refinements and model refinements at least every two months. There are also many third party developers who are already putting new things online and available for FS 2020 with many, many more to come. I think competition is going to be GREAT for everyone between MS and X Plane.
So far this is the most balanced review of MSFS and XP11. No fanboism and just a solid realistic evaluation. At this point in time its without doubt that XP11 excels at procedural stuff and IFR while MSFS is great for VFR. I will never understand the rivalry and fanboism I see elsewhere. As this reviewer said - get both, keep both. I have XP11, FSX, DCS all existing happily together and in about 2 years MSFS will join the party!
I used X-Plane back in 2018 when I was doing my PPL. I used to fly the routes in the sim that I'd flown for real earlier in the day. I also used updated scenery I'd generated myself of the whole country (not USA) it was deja-vu every time.
Just saying, I always preferred X-Plane to Microshaft. Well, I guess you can tell my opinion just from the beginning of the comment. I had all the fight gear. Throttle quadrant, yoke, and rudder pedals. I also loved that I could input my own designs into X-plane to see how they would fly, or input published stats from a book on aircraft and expect it to perform pretty much as the actual plane would do.
Edit: The last version of X-plane I have experience with was version 9.X
Me too...flight physics and overall feeling are much better in XP although MSFS might have better graphics. But XP graphics (modded) are good enough for me.
A very good video! Thank you! I bought both sims and preferred X-Plane, but now I'm done at 12-17 fps, so I think even with a major hardware update I won't get more than 20 fps. And then it's game over. :( MSFS on the other hand provides me with 40 fps and after my HW update it will be 60 or close. So practically MSFS remains my only choice for now - until performance optimization will not become a priority for Laminar Research.
For me.....if u want to crazy with graphics yea just take MSFS.....but if u want the reality playing,realistic physics just take X-Plane 11.easy ! 👍
The first good comparison video of the both sims. Thanks for that. Good job on it.
very well said and a good summary of all the shortcomings that MSFS2020 has at the moment, right now it can not be used for any IFR flight, except for the most basic one.
FS2020 is about 6 month old, it Would be great to have an update to this great vid
The update is it’s still as buggy as it was when this review came out. Give it another year.
...& with the GPU prices soring, X-Plane will remain my choice for at list a year
I'm actually using p3d v5, and i think it's a tad better then MFS 2020 not as far as graphics of the world but as far as realistic aircraft fight and dynamics, p3d v5 blows MFS 2020 away.
And it's great for flight training as well, and right now has tons of 3rd market aircraft and addons,, Yes MFS 2020 is great visual , but that is the only thing it has going for it as far as a flight sim.
there rest is way better with p3d v5.. Hey it's just my opinion..
I'm considering purchasing/installing X-Plane. I upgraded (?) from FSX to FS2020 a couple of months ago, but am finding recent updates to be making the flying harder, not easier. Specifically, attempting to use autopilot almost always causes loss of control and a crash. In FSX, I was getting along quite well with most GA aircraft, and with the various autopilot systems. Replys and recommendations are quite welcome!
See my comments above. Hardware choices are easy now. Just set your budget. Read this long list of comments and you will see that where real world flight training support is a critical factor, then XP11 is the choice. That tells the tale.
I will echo what others have said. FS2020 for fun VFR, with really great graphics. X-plane for IFR practise, using touch screens, knobster, Air Manager, multiple screens etc.
Great review! A few words on support (or lack thereof) of standard hardware like Saitek panels and VR should be included - MSFS fails miserably on both of those aspects at this time.
And multi monitor support and force upgrade when patches are released.
All of these issues were mentioned as early as the technical alpha and still things have not changed. This sim will not be improved as requested
Excellent video. Been looking for this comparison.
Great video. C152 pilot IRL in France, South of Paris. Using Ortho4XP with ZL 18/19 and home made autogen and AD, Xplane 11 gives me more realistic experience compared to FS2020 in VFR flight. France textures are so so in the middle of 2021 on FS2020. Little streams become rivers (big one), to much forests ruin flight experience. For me the flight model of C152 (FS2020) is bad compared with the third part one from Jusflight. Not a fair comparaison from my side (comparing a out of the box sim with a custom one), but just my point of view in middle of 2021...
Great no-nonsense review that does not exude with "fanboy" comments as I have seen from gamers who lurk on the MSFS2020 boards telling everyone they are idiots if they think Xplane is better. I have both Sims and surprised you didn't touch on the lack of peripherals currently supported by MSFS2020 out of the gate. I have a Redbird YK1 Yoke (had to custom build the controls to work), Ruddo pedals (Gen1) I had to program as well, SimInnovations Air Manager 3.7 (planned to work with 4.0 version) and none of the Logitech/Saitek FIPs or radios work. Also could not get my iPad with Foreflight to connect to MSFS2020 as well. That and no support for PilotEdge make it a "no-go" as a real-world practice tool for now. A lot of real-world elements that has MSFS2020 fall short, but the scenery makes it a great Gamer product right out of the gate. All that said, I expect in the next 6-12 months that MSFS2020 will get quickly to feature parity with Xplane 11.50 to really make real-world pilots fans.. For now, as yu stated, I will stick with Xplane 11.50 for staying fresh with real-world flying.
I would love to have your actual opinion, especially about the on going development of MSFS, add-ons and the sim itself. I am a long time user of XP11, but I also like MSFS a lot, it's only missing the simulation depth. But it seems that good and complex are still missing.
With the new GPS add-ons to msfs, the use use GPS has been greatly improved. Not to mention some of the updates to the base game ones from asobo. We've even had some pretty good ad-on planes come out now for msfs so hopefully that continues
7:50 I don't think it's strange at all that they allow you to disable the Aero effect of icing while keeping the visual. It's a great training aid to be able to spot the visual artifacts associated with Icing, consistently, before learning how to respond / react to those same visual cues.
I’ve been a long time user of x-plane 11 and wanted to try MSFS but after watching this I’ve made up my mind to continue using x-plane. X-plane PRO’s far outweighs it’s CON’s
8:40 not true, can be done via the development menu
How about a updated review?
In my experience, MSFS 2020 is a "game". X-Plane 11 is a "flight simulator".
X-Plane hast the best flight physics experience. Also, add-on aircraft for X-Plane have become extremely good, for example Toliss A321 or FF A320. FS2020 has amazing graphics and an "ok" flight model. But if you mod X-Plane, you can have amazing graphics and realistic flight dynamics!
I am currently taking flying lessons and I use X Plane as a simulator for practice. Pretty scenery is nice, but I’d sacrifice scenery detail for sight seeing over flight accuracy. By the way, X Plane scenery is excellent in it’s own right, especially from people who are dedicated to specifically creating specially developed airports and locals etc.
I love xplane.. and msfs.. as said by you, msfs can be used to practice cross country flights.. but for actually practicing flying xplane's physics are better including suspension