Humminbird has forged a reputation for developing fish finders with advanced technology, high performance, and good usability. But with a plethora of models available, which Humminbird fish finder should you pick?
Here is a review of seven fish finders from this brand to make it easier to choose the best Humminbird fish finder for your needs. The factors considered in this review include features, good usability, and display.
- Humminbird Helix 7 Mega SI G4 – Best for Kayak and Small Boats
- Humminbird Helix 5 CHIRP DI GPS G3 – Budget Fish Finder
- Humminbird Helix Mega SI+ G4N – Best For Fishing Boat
- Humminbird Apex – Best for Cruisers and Day Sailors
- Humminbird Solix – Touch Screen Fish Finder
- Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 – Best Cheap Fish Finder
- Ice Helix 7 – Best for Ice Fishing
Humminbird Helix 7 Mega SI G4 – Best for Kayak and Small Boats
Helix 7 is the best selling Humminbird fish finder. It is a mid-range fish finder with the majority of features you can find in top of the line Humminbird units.
Helix 7 G4 is a non-networking fish finder suitable for Kayaks, small boats, or as a standalone unit on the boat. The G4 is the successor to the G3 model with Mega SI+ (Side Imaging) and Mega DI+ (Down Imaging) sonar capabilities.
This is also the only 7-inch fish finder in the market that provides sonar frequency at more than 1 MHz. The side imaging and down imaging details are outstanding where you can spot fish easily near the structures or distinguish the game fish from the bait balls.
The dual spectrum CHIRP sonar topped with the MEGA imaging will make your search for fish in the water easy. Dual spectrum CHIRP sonar offers two modes, narrow and wide. The narrow mode focuses on every detail available, while the wide option provides extensive coverage.
It also offers an ultra-wide HD display at 1024×600 pixels which is again better than the competitors in the market. The bright display is easier to look at in bright sunshine. It is also handy when looking at tiny details in the water.
Its built-in GPS with Humminbird Basemap includes charts of over 10,000 lakes and coverage of the U.S. coastline. You can also create other maps in real-time, thanks to the AutoChart Live feature.
Pros:
- MEGA Side and Down Imaging
- Dual Spectrum CHIRP Sonar
- Built-in GPS with Humminbird Basemap
- AutoChart Live
- Ethernet and Bluetooth connectivity
Cons:
- No touchscreen
- No networking
Humminbird Helix 5 CHIRP DI GPS G3 – Budget Fish Finder
The Humminbird Helix 5 is a budget fish finder that is easy to use and beginner friendly. It’s perfect for fishing in shallow lakes with depth coverage of 600 ft.
The CHIRP DI models offer down imaging and the CHIRP 2D sonar. The down imaging details are good for picking up big structures and dropping waypoints on them with the built-in GPS.
The split screen option is available to see 2D sonar, down imaging, and the maps at the same time. You can keep an eye on the route and mark the fishing spots on the go.
The included SwitchFire sonar allows you to control how the sonar returns appear, thanks to clear and max modes, which reduces clutter. It accounts for water temperature, depth, and turbulence with only a single push.
The Dual Beam feature enables anglers to have both narrow and wide coverage displays. If you choose a wide beam, you’ll be able to see a more extensive search region. The narrow beam enables you to focus more and fish with accuracy.
Its only drawback is that it doesn’t include any networking capabilities, which doesn’t come as a surprise considering its low price tag.
Pros:
- Wide range of sonar frequencies supported 50/83/200/455/800 kHz
- Intuitive keypad. Quickly access different functionalities with single key clicks
- High resolution 5” 800×480 px screen with anti-glare. Easy to view in bright sunshine or at night time
- Humminbird basemaps with the option to upgrade to Navionics charts
- Budget friendly
Cons:
- 5” screen is bit small for serious fishing
- No touchscreen
- No networking
- No side imaging
Humminbird Helix Mega SI+ G4N – Best for Fishing Boat
Humminbird Helix Mega SI+ G4N are networkable units offering larger screen sizes from 9-inch to 15-inch. They are ideal for mounting on the dash or bow of the boat.
You can add more units with these Helix models to run multiple transducers and sonar views simultaneously. It’s ideal for bass boats and other fishing boats anglers looking for game fish. You can run the maps and sonar simultaneously on the large screen and look for the structure, contour lines, drop offs, and bait schools to cast the bait at the right spot.
This fish finder is equipped with MEGA Side Imaging+ and MEGA Down Imaging+. The side imaging offers up to 200 feet display on either side of your boat with 20% more detail and 60% more range than past models. The down imaging shows clear images up to 200 feet below your boat.
This improved imaging combines well with AutoChart Live for real-time map-making, including depth contours, underwater terrain, obstacles, and vegetation.
The standard base map package in the built-in GPS includes 10,000 lakes plus coastal coverage for the continental U.S. Premium options extend its catalog to LakeMaster, CoastMaster, and Navionics products.
Other premium features like the AutoChart Live, Bluetooth, and built-in NMEA 2000 networking will help you communicate and find the best fishing spots.
Humminbird Apex – Best for Cruisers and Day Sailors
Introduced in November 2020, the Humminbird Apex series offers advanced technology for demanding anglers with the sharpest imaging and the fastest processors and combines it with the brand’s full networking capabilities.
Humminbird offers a choice between three multi-function touchscreen HD displays in 13”, 16”, or 19” models to fit any setup without being intrusive. All the necessary information and real-time maps are shown without crowding and in full 16-bit color.
Apex reaches the top with its dual-channel CHIRP (Compressed High-Intensity Radar Pulse) sonar plus Dual Spectrum CHIRP (2D) and MEGA Imaging sonars allowing anglers to choose the start and end frequencies. A wide range allows for better deep water penetration and improved target separation, so items on the screen show up more distinctly.
The system allows for numerous networking options to make the Apex part of your existing setup, including:
- Dual HDMI In/Out for additional displays
- NMEA 0183, 2kW 2D transducer receptacle
- 2D/DI SI/360 transducer connection
- NMEA 2000
- Two Ethernet ports
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capability
The built-in GPS with AutoChart Live and Humminbird Basemap gives anglers complete mapping coverage of the entire U.S. coastline and 10,000 inland waters.
Humminbird Solix CHIRP Mega SI+ G3 – Touch Screen Fish Finder
Humminbird Solix is the second in line after Humminbird Apex with touch screen and advanced networking capabilities.
The easy-to-use interface and graphical component are entirely customizable and can be reorganized depending on your fishing needs bringing important information forward. You can include multiple applications on your screen and set wallpapers for a personal touch.
All Solix models offer touchscreens with programmable keys to quickly access any functionality. They keys are also helpful when the touchscreen is not operatable due to wet fingers.
With its networking capabilities, Solix blends easily into existing setups thanks to built-in Ethernet, NMEA 2000, and Bluetooth connectivity. The NMEA 2000 is compatible with various accessories such as Autopilot and the deepwater penetrating CHIRP radar to see what’s ahead of you.
The Humminbird Solix is also compatible with One-Boat Network so that you can connect to motors, anchors, and other products in the family.
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Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 – Best Cheap Fish Finder
PiranhaMax4 is the best Humminbird fishfinder that won’t break the bank for beginners and anglers on a budget.
Like the Humminbird Helix 5 DI G2, this model is portable, affordable, and packed with easy-to-use features. Its key features include a 4.3 inches diagonal screen, Dual spectrum CHIRP sonar, and XNT 9 28 T transducer.
The XNT 9 28 T transducer offers single and DualBeam sonar at 200 and 455 kHz, which provides anglers with excellent detail, depth, and quick interpretation of sonar returns on a sharp 4.3 inches screen.
Thanks to the Down Imaging feature, you can see what’s below your boat in a narrow but detailed image. This feature doesn’t let any structure down the waters go unnoticed, be it the rocks, timber, or bridge pilings, showing them great detail.
The tilt and swivel mount comes in handy when you want to adjust the angle of your viewing area or if space is limited.
Humminbird Ice Helix 7 CHIRP GPS – Best for Ice Fishing
The Humminbird Ice Helix 7 is compact, portable, and comes with a fitting carrying case that’s great for ice fishing.
This is for the angler that needs an easy to set up but competent fishfinder with split-screen technology and built-in GPS that can enable you to see beneath the ice. It’s not the most advanced finder on the market, and that’s okay. It does the job well and affordably.
The 7-inch display allows split-screen with clear readings on both displays, and Its transducer can read depths of up to 1,500 feet in either salt or freshwater. It offers the highest IPX rating of the list at 7, which certifies for 30 minutes at a depth of 3 feet.
Its dual-beam sonar comes in wide and narrow modes, and the more advanced versions of the Ice Helix 7 feature the SwitchFire sonar. It allows anglers to switch between Max mode for high detail in deep water and Clear mode to show your lure clearly without shadow returns in water less than 8 feet.
It’s possible to create real-time maps of your favorite fishing spots on the ice, thanks to its AutoChart Live Ice feature.