Lowrance is one of the most popular fish finder brands around and you’ll find their units along with Garmins on most professional fishing boats you wander on to.
They make a huge range of fish finders from basic and budget-friendly to top of the line, but which is the best Lowrance fish finder for you?
I’ve picked out some of the best Lowrance fish finders below across all budgets and reviewed them so you can save all that research time and find everything you need here instead.
The Best From The Review
Here are the top three best lowrance fish finders from the lineup…
Top Pick
Lowrance Elite 5 Ti
The all-around best Lowrance fish finder is the Elite-5 Ti. It comes with everything you need to hit the water and it’s not going to break the bank either.
You get a GPS that is accurate, super detail CHIRP, side and down images, a great touch display and you can add maps with ease.
Best Value
Lowrance HOOK 2 4X
Basic and affordable It’s best used for fishing shallow lakes where depth changes are all you really need to see.
Lowrance HOOK 2 4X
The best Lowrance fish finder, if you’re on a budget, is the Hook 2 4X.
For under $150 you get a simple to use unit that’ll give you accurate depth readings plus some fish and structure readings, that is sent on to a crisp display.
You can ask for much more at this price and it’s an ideal choice for lake or kayak fishing
Editor’s Choice
Lowrance HDS Live 9
A highly accurate GPS/fish finder combo that lets you use every bit of Lowrance’s sonar tech to build maps live on the screen in combination with CMAP charts.
Lowrance HDS Live 9
The best one of them all in my eye is the HDS live 9 fish finder.
This Lowrance unit gives you the most comprehensive data set that you can also see all at once and even merge together into your own map, live.
This sounder and GPS will give you the best of everything from CHIRP sonar to every other scan, so you can have the best underwater perspective available.
Our Best Lowrance Fish Finders
Find the best lowrance fish finder for you in this list…
Lowrance Elite 7X
The Elite 7x fishfinder is an easy to use dedicated fish finder without GPS.
It’s a pretty expensive fish finder for not including GPS and would suit someone who already has a separate chartplotter and wants the best images – especially when fishing deep offshore waters from 1000-3000 ft.
Features
The Lowrance Elite 7x has a 7-inch fish finder display that’s easy to read and displays crips color images for you to see.
It’s durable, waterproof, and you can split the 7 inch display into two for viewing multiple data sets at the same time.
Sonar
Along with the 7-inch screen size, these fish finders use CHIRP sonar and hi-def downscan imaging sonar to give you excellent images of up to 3000ft deep, which is ideal for fishing deep wrecks, finding seamounts, and looking for areas that broadbill might be hiding in.
This fish finder is a simple unit to set up and learning the features is easy too.
With the Elite 7x you can watch downscan images and CHIRP at the same time, and even overlay the two for extra detail. The fish finder also lets you record sonar history so you can review it later to really understand the area you’re fishing and make a plan for next time.
Specs
- Size Display: 7 inch
- Display: Color
- Touch Display: No
- Waterproofing: IPX7
- Power: 500 W
- Frequency: 83/200+455/800KHz
- Sonar: CHIRP, Hi-Def Down Imaging
- GPS: No
- GPS Memory: No
- Transducer: Included
- Depth: 3000 ft
- Wi-Fi: No
- Bluetooth: No
- Water Temperature: Yes
Pros
- Scans deep to 3000ft
- Detailed pictures with downscan and CHIRP
- Split-screen and easy to read color display
- Review and record sonar history
- Good target separation
- Simple to use
Cons
- No GPS
- Expensive
Lowrance Elite 7 Ti2
It comes with C-Map US inland maps preloaded that give you detailed 1-foot contours of 4000 US lakes, super handy for freshwater fishermen.
Lowrance Elite 7 Ti2
The Lowrance Elite-7 Ti2 is an upgraded version of the Elite 7 Ti and it is an easy to use fish finder with a built-in GPS.
It comes with C-Map US inland maps preloaded that give you detailed 1-foot contours of 4000 US lakes, super handy for freshwater fishermen.
Navionics
You can also use the SD slot to add other maps like Navionics and transfer your data to the unit so you can start fishing with the same data from a previous fish finder. It also has wifi connectivity for sharing data between other Ti units.
Screen
The Elite-7 Ti2 has a waterproof and durable 7-inch screen size that can be split into 4 data views. Its touch screen display makes it easy to use and simple to navigate around all the features and gives you crystal clear images.
Sonar
The Lowrance Elite-7 Ti2 fish finder comes with CHIRP Sonar, side and downscan imaging, broadband sounder and you can view them all at the same time. This means no matter where the fish are, down deep or shallow and to the side, you’ll be able to find them while you’re fishing.
Unfortunately, there are some technical issues with these fish finders and Lowrance is aware of them.
They have consistent connection and software problems that make them unusable in rare cases, and Lowrance is hard to get a hold of for a fix.
Specs
- Size Display: 7 inch
- Display: Color
- Touch Display: Yes
- Waterproofing: IPX 7
- Power: 500 W
- Frequency: 83/200+455/800KHz
- Sonar: CHIRP sonar, SideScan, and DownScan
- GPS: Yes
- GPS Memory: SD
- Transducer: Included
- Depth: 3000 ft
- Wi-Fi: Yes
- Bluetooth: No
- Water Temperature: Yes
Pros
- Connects to your phone for notifications
- Comes with C-Map US inland
- GPS included for marking waypoints and more
- Shows excellent images
- Built-in broadband sounder
- Easy to use touch screen
- You can add other maps like Navionics
Cons
- Consistent connection problems
- Consistent software problems
Lowrance HDS 7 Gen 3
You’ll find the best of all Lowrance’s features in this unit. The HDS 7 Gen 3 does it all from GPS and StructureScan 3D to showing you sms and email notifications from your phone.
Lowrance HDS 7 Gen 3
The Lowrance HDS 7 Gen3 fish finder does it all from GPS and StructureScan 3D to showing you sms and email notifications from your phone.
You’ll find the best of all Lowrance’s features in this unit.
GPS
The GPS on this Lowrance HDS 7 is super accurate and comes with C-MAP US Enhanced charts for freshwater and coastal regions pre-loaded so you can fish all over the US without downloading any maps.
You can also use other maps you’re used to and add more using the SD card slot, and of course, transfer all your data to it too.
Sonar Imaging and Display
The Lowrance HDS 7 unit features every kind of imaging fish finder you could want from CHIRP to side imaging and down imaging plus StructureScan HD and 3D.
You’ll get awesome images of everything displayed on the 7-inch screen while cruising, looking down, to the side, or even checking out a 3D picture of the structure you want to fish.
With a max depth of 3,000 ft, that’s more than enough for any form of lake or ocean fishing, and you might even find some deep-sea creatures with it.
The features don’t end there though.
Touchscreen
The Lowrance HDS 7 is an easy to use touchscreen fish finder for the best usability, it can be connected to radar and weather updates plus you can save the data and connect it to Insight Genesis online to build your own customized maps.
The only downside is that the fish finder is quite expensive due to having most of the best features. It’s quite hard to understand all the functions and how to use them at the beginning but over time, it’ll become second nature.
Here’s our full and detailed Lowrance HDS review.
Specs
- Size Display: 7 inch
- Display: Color
- Touch Display: Yes
- Waterproofing: IPX7
- Power: 500 W
- Frequency: 83/200kHz
- Sonar: StructureScan HD, CHIRP, StructureScan 3D with enhanced SideScan and DownScan Imaging
- GPS: Yes
- GPS Memory: 2 x SD slots
- Transducer: Included
- Depth: 3000 ft
- Wi-Fi: Yes
- Bluetooth: No
- Water Temperature: Yes
Pros
- Preloaded CMAP US Enhanced charts for freshwater and coastal regions
- Comes with excellent sounding for detailed images
- Connects to your phone for notifications
- Can be connected to radar and weather updates
- Includes GPS with a large memory double SD card slot
- Split-screen for multiple views
- Make your own customized maps with Insight Genesis
- Easy to use touch screen
Cons
- Expensive
- Takes time to get used to the features
Lowrance HDS-9 Gen 3
Designed for anyone who wants to merge every data set around to give the fullest picture of a fishing area possible.
Lowrance HDS-9 Gen 3
The Lowrance HDS-9 Gen3 has been designed for anyone who wants to merge every data set around to give the fullest picture of a fishing area possible.
It is the only fish finder Lowrance makes that I can find that has these features.
Features
With this fish finder, you can use down, side, and StructureScan HD for amazing imaging that is then saved, can be reviewed and then transferred to your favorite charts.
This ends up giving you a life-like underwater view with an amazing perspective of your boat’s position in relation to fishing spots, so you can fish with utmost precision.
Taking it further, the 9-inch screen can be split into 4 and it is easy to navigate using touch. You can utilize the 4 views to see the weather, radar, GPS, and imaging at the same time, or even multiple sonar views to give you all the data you need on one screen.
GPS
This fish finder also comes with GPS and includes Insight USA Charts and works with Navionics for the 3D perspective mapping. The GPS is very accurate and you can even set up the display to show two charts at once for extra detail.
Unfortunately, this unit comes without a transducer included but this does mean you can handpick the best transducer to match it.
Plus, having the best feature sets around and a large screen means it’s quite expensive.
Specs
- Size Display: 9 inch
- Display: Color
- Touch Display: Yes
- Waterproofing: IPX7
- Power: 500 W
- Frequency: Supports 50/200 or 83/200 kHz for traditional sonar and 455/800 kHz for DownScan sonar
- Sonar: StructureScan HD, DownScan, SideScan
- GPS: Yes
- GPS Memory: 2 x SD
- Transducer: Not included
- Depth: 3000 ft
- Wi-Fi: Yes
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Water Temperature: Yes
Pros
- The screen splits into 4 views
- GPS is accurate and easy to follow routes and mark waypoints
- Optional connection to radar, AIS, Satellite weather
- Detailed down and side images
- Great display for a fish finder that’s easy to use with touch screen
- Comes with pre-loaded Insight USA Charts
- You can easily add maps like Navionics
- StructureMap capability allows you to add sounder data to a chart
- Record and review sounder history
Cons
- Expensive
- No transducer included
- Hard to understand the fish finder features at first
Best Value
Lowrance HOOK 2 4X
The most basic and affordable fish finder Lowrance makes. It’s best used for fishing shallow lakes where depth changes are all you really need to see.
Lowrance HOOK 2 4X
The Lowrance HOOK2 4X fishfinder is the most basic and one of the most affordable fish finders Lowrance makes.
It’s best used for fishing shallow lakes where depth changes are all you really need to see, as being so basic the sounder struggles to pick up much more detail than this.
Sonar Imaging
This Lowrance Hook2 4 inch fish finder uses the simplest sounder technology, a wide-angle single beam.
This means it has good coverage but only operates on one frequency of 200 kHz to give you solid depth imaging but not very detailed fish or structure targets.
Screen
The Lowrance Hook2 fish finder comes with a 4-inch screen with a sunlight-readable color display.
It’s not the biggest and best but the screen of this Lowrance Hook 2 fish finder is durable, waterproof, and still easy to read thanks to the good resolution.
Installation
The installation or mounting of the Lowrance Hook2 fish finder is easy, just connect and mount the transducer, turn on auto-tuning and it does the rest so you can keep on fishing.
Unfortunately, this Lowrance Hook fish finder doesn’t come with GPS, unlike its rival the Garmin Striker 4, and it can’t see target fish, hence the affordability. The Lowrance Hook2 also has a few glitches with the screen turning on and off at will, so be aware of this.
Specs
- Size Display: 4 inch
- Display: Color
- Touch Display: No
- Waterproofing: IPX 7
- Power: 200 W
- Frequency: 200kHz
- Sonar: Single beam wide angle
- GPS: No
- GPS Memory: No
- Transducer: Included
- Depth: 260ft plus
- Wi-Fi: No
- Bluetooth: No
- Water Temperature: No
Pros
- Very affordable
- Easy to install
- Easy to use
- Good at showing depth
Cons
- No Gps
- Very basic sounder
- Can’t see fish targets
Top Pick
Lowrance Elite 5 Ti
The Lowrance Elite-5 Ti is a great all-around fish finder that’s best for both lake and sea fishing, although it doesn’t quite go deep enough for offshore fishing where you need to see depths beyond 1000ft.
GPS
The Elite-5 Ti is a GPS and sounder all in one that comes with the Insight USA Worldwide Basemap pre-loaded.
It’s a great base map as far as base maps go with more details than most, but you can add other maps easily too for more detail.
I wrote a guide answering the question “what is a marine GPS?” if you have trouble deciding which unit is best for your boating or fishing needs.
Sonar Imaging
The Lowrance Elite-5 Ti sounder comes with CHIRP traditional sonar and downscan imaging to give you detailed sonar images in depths up to 1000ft.
The 5-inch fish finder has a split screen feature that lets you split the screen into two to see multiple data views at the same time, be it CHIRP and downscan imaging, or sonar and GPS.
Other Features
The Elite 5 also has features like trackback for recording and reviewing sonar history, an easy to use touch screen, and you can even control certain anchors and trolling motors via Bluetooth connectivity.
Unfortunately, this particular fish finder is expensive due to the features but you would expect a larger screen for the price. You can consider the Lowrance Elite 9 Ti if you want a bigger display.
It also has some technical issues where it turns on and off by itself.
Specs
- Size Display: 5 inch
- Display: Color
- Touch Display: Yes
- Waterproofing: IPX7
- Power: 500 W
- Frequency: 83/200, 455/800kHz
- Sonar: CHIRP, Down scan
- GPS: Yes
- GPS Memory: SD
- Transducer: Included
- Depth: 1000 ft
- Wi-Fi: No
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Water Temperature: Yes
Pros
- Record and review sounder history
- Includes Insight USA Worldwide Basemap
- Easy to add other maps
- Bluetooth control of Power-Pole shallow anchors and Motorguide Xi5 Trolling Motors
- Easy to use touch screen
- Great fish finder images with side and DownScan sonar
- Accurate and easy to GPS
Cons
- Expensive
- Turns itself on and off
Editor’s Choice
Lowrance HDS Live 9
A highly accurate GPS/fish finder combo that lets you use every bit of Lowrance’s sonar tech to build maps live on the screen in combination with CMAP charts.
Lowrance HDS Live 9
The Lowrance HDS 9 is one of the best sounders Lowrance makes thanks to the incredible features it has inside it.
It’s a highly accurate GPS/fish finder combo that lets you use every bit of Lowrance’s sonar tech to build maps live on the screen in combination with CMAP charts.
This means all the data you receive is added to your charts if you want it to be, giving you an understanding of what’s beneath the surface from every data perspective.
Display
The 9-inch touch screen is crystal clear and can be split into 4.
You can program it to have two different CHIRP views, or use GPS, side scan, down scan, and GPS at the same time.
You might think this would overload the unit but the dual-core processor has the speed to handle it. In the end, you end up with one of the best data views possible.
Features
The features are a little endless with this unit.
You can connect it to your phone for notifications, add radar and weather, add maps to the GPS, use all the sounder tech at the same time, and more.
The downside to this unit is that it can only go to 1000ft, and for the price, believe me, it’s a lot for anyone, you’d expect it to hit at least 3000ft.
Specs
- Size Display: 9 inch
- Display: Color
- Touch Display: Yes
- Waterproofing: IPX7
- Power: 500 W
- Frequency: 83/200kHz + 455/800kHz
- Sonar: CHRIP, SideScan and DownScan sonar, StructureScan 3D, StructureScan HD
- GPS: Yes
- GPS Memory: 2 x SD
- Transducer: Included
- Depth: 1000 ft
- Wi-Fi: Yes
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Water Temperature: Yes
Pros
- Simultaneously view CHIRP Sonar with StructureScan 3D or StructureScan HD to get the best possible view of fish and structure
- View two CHIRP channels at the same time
- The dual-core processor gives extra processing speed
- Live on-screen mapping with C-MAP Genesis
- A GPS that is super accurate
- Very detailed images
- Comes with CMAP USA
- Add maps with ease
- Compatible with radar
- Super crisp display
Cons
- Very expensive
- Should go deeper for the price
Who Is Lowrance?
Lowrance has been in the fish finder game for over 60 years and makes some of the best fish finders on the planet along with Garmin.
They are a US company based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma with a production plant in Mexico where all their goodies are made.
History
In the world of fish finders, Lowrance is a bit of legend. They’re the first that come to mind when I think “what is a depth finder?“
They actually invented the first-ever consumer sonar device back in 1957 and have been innovating ever since.
The company has constantly updated its technology in order to give fishermen all over the world a better view of what’s happening underwater.
Things like Structure ScanHD and 3D even let you see picture-like images of what’s beneath so you can hone in on fish targets and catch more than ever.
Are Lowrance Fish Finders Popular?
Lowrance fish finders are one of the most popular fish finders on the market thanks to their broad range of units to suit every budget and every need of fishermen.
If you get on a fishing boat, you have a 50/50 chance of finding a Lowrance fishfinder at the helm.
Why Are They Popular?
Lowrance fish finders are popular due to the great features of their fish finders that makes it easy to identify fish and structure no matter which unit you go for, whether it’s a portable fish finder for small boats or a large built-in unit.
Their imaging is super detailed, their screens are crystal clear, each fishfinder chartplotter is intuitive to use, and you’re able to see exactly what you need beneath the surface.
Why Buy Lowrance Fish Finders?
Price & Quality
Whether you’re looking for budget-friendly Lowrance quality fish finders for ice fishing or high-end units for offshore fishing that give you side imaging, active imaging, and features like being able to connect to radar, there is a fish finder Lowrance has made to suit your needs and budget.
When they’re connected and working, the best Lowrance fish finders give you some of the top high-resolution images around.
They can identify fish, structure, penetrate depths, they’re easy to use, you can view sonar history and some can even drive your boat for you.
Features
The best Lowrance fishfinder will come packed full of features. Although not as good as a dedicated, compact GPS unit, some will have GPS features that can work well enough for some people.
You’ll be able to see a detailed cruising image thanks to their advanced signal processing and use of multiple sonar frequencies with CHIRP or dual beam.
Their best fish finders also has great features like downscan imaging, side imaging, and Structure ScanHD or 3D that gives you picture-like 3D images of what’s below your boat so you can target your fishing techniques no end.
Record Your Data
You can record and review your sounder data and even use it to build your own maps overlaid with a chart of your choice, something no other manufacturers offer.
This gives you an awesome picture of the area to base your fishing style on.
You’ll find the best Lowrance fish finder reviews also talk about how accurate the GPS systems are, and they come with excellent base maps, and you can add any chart you want, ensuring you don’t have to change up and re-learn anything.
Warranty & Customer Support
Every Lowrance fish finder comes with a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty as standard. Having read through all the Lowrance fish finder reviews, they do honor their warranty but their customer service department is very hard to get hold of.
Some of the Lowrance fish finder reviews mention not getting a reply after 3 months regarding a technical issue.
I really hope Lowrance is doing something about this, it’s such a shame.
Imagine owning the best fish finder you have ever had and then the company not helping you get it working, it’s a little outrageous.
What To Look For In A Fish Finder
Display
The display your Lowrance fish finder comes with is one of the most important parts of the whole rig and knowing how to read all the details on the fishfinder display is a must.
The display is where you’ll set-up the sound and view all the data for your fishing trip needs, and if you can see it or use it properly, you’ll have some issues.
Every fish finder Lowrance makes comes with a color screen that is easy to see even in direct sunlight and easy to use, so the only thing you need to think about is size.
Size
The larger the screen the easier it’s going to be to see while you’re fishing. Budget-friendly fish finders usually have smaller screens and the price tends to go up as they get bigger.
NOTE
You’ll also want to bear in mind that most screens can be split into 2, 3, or even 4 views, and when in these modes, having a larger screen makes it much easier to see what’s happening in each view.
Transducers & Sonar Technology
Almost every fish finder Lowrance makes comes with a transducer included bar a few where you’ll need to buy the transducer separately.
The transducer does all the detecting beneath the surface and sends the data to the screen for advanced signal processing to give you an image.
The best fish finder will have a transducer that sends out signals over multiple frequencies from 80-800 kHz.
Frequencies
High frequencies provide a lot of detail of what’s close to the boat while low frequencies penetrate deep to the bottom, and when used together, they give you the fullest picture available of what’s beneath.
There are 4 main types of sonar tech you need to be aware of with a Lowrance fish finder; CHRIP sonar, side scan imaging, down scan imaging, and Structure Scan. The best fish finder will come with all of them.
CHIRP Sonar
CHIRP sonar technology is the best sonar tech to use while you’re cruising as it sends out high and low-frequency waves at the same time to give you the fullest picture of what’s happening at every depth.
This allows you to see everything you need while fishing, and when you find a good fishing spot, you can mark it and switch to another sonar tech to get even more detail.
Side and Down Imaging
These are pretty much the same thing except that side images are made using high-frequency waves to give you detailed images of what’s in the shallow water on either side of your boat.
And down images use high and low-frequency waves to give you a detailed focus on what’s right under your boat.
They are really useful when fishing a wreck or other structure and when you’re looking for shoaling baitfish near the surface.
Structure Scan HD or 3D
The best Lowrance fish finder will come with Structure Scan HD and 3D. This uses multiple frequencies and advanced processing to build you a 3D photo like-picture of the structure and where fish are holding.
You can pan, rotate, and tilt the image to see exactly what’s going on and tailor your fishing technique.
Sounding Out
I hope we’ve managed to clear up the world of Lowrance fish finders for you a little bit.
There is a lot to choose from a portable unit or a large built-in unit and you’ll certainly find they make the right one for you across their units.
The quality is a bit hit or miss though, as you will have seen above, so be careful.
If you’re still unsure, here are my top 3…
Top Pick
For an all-around accurate sounder and GPS, go for the Elite-5 Ti.
It has all the features you need to fish in lakes or the ocean, and it gives you great data.
If you want to know more about the Elite 5 Ti, you can read my Lowrance Elite 5 Ti in-depth review.
Best Value
For the most budget-happy fish finder, the Hook 2 4x is the way to go. The Lowrance Hook 2 is affordable for everyone, easy to use, can be hooked up to any vessel, and it’ll give you accurate depth data.
Editor’s Choice
If you want the best, go for the HDS live 9. You’ll see all the data, at the same time, and you can record it and add it to a map live.
If you’re a treasure hunter or a fishing enthusiast, you’ll know every part of the bottom using this unit.
Thanks for reading the best Lowrance fish finders article, we hope you found it useful. It never hurts to do your research when it comes to sounders.
If you think Lowrance isn’t for you, you might want to check out our review of sounders from Garmin, as they might suit you better and they’re just as good.
As always, please share this around if you liked it and there are loads more fishing related articles to find on the website like the review on Humminbird Helix 9 fish finder or a guide on how to catch bass, be sure to check them out if you’re interested.
