Best Side Imaging Fish Finder Reviews 2025
Are you on the hunt to elevate your fish-finding game? Look no further than side imaging sonar technology – an angler’s potent ally, offering unparalleled insights into the underwater world. This advanced technology stands out from conventional sonar systems by employing a precision, razor-thin beam to create lifelike, photo-quality images of the bottom structures.
We understand that the right equipment can make all the difference, and that’s why we’ve meticulously analyzed and reviewed the market’s best side imaging fish finders. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just delving into this technology, our guide is tailored to assist you in selecting the ideal side imaging fish finder to align with your unique needs and preferences.
For those already well-versed in side imaging sonar technology, feel free to jump to the bottom of the post for an in-depth exploration of the top models. Our mission is to equip you with the perfect tool, paving the way for a more fruitful and enjoyable fishing adventure. Experience the cutting edge of aquatic exploration and reel in success with our expert guidance!
Contents
Best Side Imaging Fish Finder Reviews 2025
| Image | Model | Display | Editorial Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Lowrance HOOK2 | 5", 7", 9" | 4.7 |  |
 | Garmin Striker Vivid 7sv | 7" | 4.9 | |
 | Humminbird 410950-1 HELIX 7 | 7 Inches | 4.9 | |
  | Humminbird Helix 9 SI GPS | 9 inches | 4.5 | |
 | Lowrance Hook Reveal 7 | 7 Inch | 4.6 | |
  | Humminbird HELIX 5 SI | 5" | 4.4 | |
  | Garmin Striker 7SV Review | 3.5,5,7 inch | 4. | |
  | Garmin Echomap Chirp 73sv With Transducer | 4,5,7,9" | 4.4 |  |
 | Simrad GO9 XSE MFD/Sonar | 9 inch | 4.7 | |
  | Elite Navico Ti 9" | 9" | 4.5 | |
  | Raymarine Axiom 12 | 12" | 4.5 | |
  | Garmin Echomap Chirp 74SV | 7" | 4.5 | |
  | Lowrance Elite 7 Ti | 7-inch | 4.5 | |
Humminbird 411920-1 Helix 7 SI GPS G4
The Helix fish finder is a remarkable device that combines cutting-edge sonar technology with a user-friendly interface. With keypad control, you can quickly access its advanced features at the press of a button, ensuring reliable operation even in rough conditions. The intuitive menu system reveals pre-loaded views, so you can toggle between Down Imaging, 2D sonar, and navigation data effortlessly. Thanks to CHIRP Down Imaging and Dual Spectrum CHIRP sonar, you receive crystal-clear images beneath the boat, giving you the best chance to locate fish-holding structure. Noise and clutter are drastically reduced with CHIRP Digital Sonar processing, ensuring you see every detail. Whether you’re an amateur or an experienced angler, the Helix streamlines the process of finding fish.
Equipped with an internal GPS and Humminbird Basemap, the Helix grants you detailed insights into more than 10,000 lakes and coastal regions across the continental US. This comprehensive mapping system highlights key points such as buoys, hazards, and marinas, helping you navigate with confidence. For even greater coverage, the unit supports premium chart options like LakeMaster, CoastMaster, and Navionics, ensuring the highest level of detail. The AutoChart Live function further enhances your fishing experience by letting you map real-time data on depth contours, bottom hardness, and vegetation. With eight hours of built-in recording and support for AutoChart Zero Line SD cards, you can log near-endless data. Complete with a transom-mount transducer, power cable, and mounting hardware, the Helix is ready to transform your fishing game. These features are backed by a 1-Year Limited Warranty, ensuring lasting performance.
Notable Features
- Keypad Control – Simple, reliable operation via softkey controls in any condition.
- CHIRP Down Imaging – Filters out clutter for a clearer view beneath your boat.
- Dual Spectrum CHIRP Sonar – Wide Mode for maximum coverage, Narrow Mode for sharper detail.
- Internal GPS & Humminbird Basemap – Over 10,000 lake charts plus coastal coverage for the continental US.
- Premium Chart Compatibility – Supports LakeMaster, CoastMaster, and Navionics for enhanced detail.
- AutoChart Live – Create real-time maps with depth, bottom hardness, and vegetation data.
- Complete Installation Kit – Includes transom-mount transducer, power cable, bracket, and hardware.
- 1-Year Limited Warranty – Added peace of mind for your investment.
Humminbird Helix 5 SI with GPS
Helix 5 SI is a fish finder which comes with both side imaging sonar and GPS feature. If you are a big fan of bigger displays, you will love its 5-inch long display which has an 800Hx480V resolution. With the help side imaging and down imaging sonar system, it becomes pretty easy to find the fishing spots.
It is equipped with a lot other features like the precision GPS with UNIMAP, micro SD card slot, easy operating hard buttons, and more. Humminbird used Switchfire sonar technology which can take commands of how the sonar return appears with the clear/max modes.
Notable Features:
- 800×480 resolution
- Side imaging with Down imaging
- DualBeam PLUS Sonar
- Precision Internal GPS
- Built-in UniMap cartography
- Micro SD card slot
Lowrance Hook 2
The Lowrance Hook 2 comes with a TripleShot transducer which provides the DownScan sonar, SideScan sonar, and CHIRP sonar. Downscan is used for straight down while the SideScan sonar allows up to 300′ to each side of the boat or water vessel. Lowrance loaded high detail mapping with the device for US inland mapping with 4000 lakes with 1-foot contours. There is another version available where you can get the mapping for Canada too. You can narrow your search for productive water while easily locate the fish-holding structures.
Additionally, Hook 2 comes with other cool features like the GPS plotter, SD card slot to load third-party maps, and more. In a nutshell, this is a great side imaging fish finder which boasts a lot of useful features.
Pros:
- DownScan sonar,
- SideScan sonar (up to 300′ to each side)
- CHIRP sonar: double the coverage of traditional fishfinders
- Tripleshot transducer
- Available in four different sizes
- Easy to use
- Auto-tuning
- Preloaded high detail mapping of USA
- Option to buy Canada mapping too
- SD card to load third-party maps
- Basic navigation
- GPS plotter: add waypoints, follow trails, and navigate
Cons:
- expensive
Garmin 010-01554-00 Striker 7SV
Garmin 010-01554-00 Striker 7SV is one of the best cheapest side imaging fish finder in the market. Despite being available at a low price, Garmin 010-01554-00 Striker 7SV doesn’t compromise any of its advanced technology and features. This side imaging fish finder comes with a rugged design to offer excellent durability for long usage. It can withstand very harsh environment while fishing.
If you are planning to fish in freshwater than this is a good fishfinder to choose. However, I wouldn’t recommend this if you are planning to go long fishing tour with this fish finder. Putting waypoints from another device to this device won’t work. You need to figure out another way of doing this by manual input. You can use it’s waypoint map to mark easily, view or navigate to locations like stumps and docks. The device comes with GPS to favorite your fishing spots to navigate quickly at a later time.
Like advanced fish finders, Garmin striker 7SV comes with CHIRP sonar technology. CHIRP uses multiple frequencies at the same to provide better information than traditional sonar systems. So you can easily find more fishing targets. This device offers CHIRP SideVü scanning sonars to find the structures on each side of your boat. That’ what we are looking for, right? You can use the split screen to watch several sonar options, or you can create customized sonar views simultaneously. What’s more, the device comes with a built-in flasher.
Pros:
- 7 inches long big screen
- 800X480 pixels resolution
- SideVu scanning sonar
- DownVu scanning Sonar
- Built-in GPS
- Simple keypad interface
- Water rating: IPX7
- CHIP sonar
- Built-in flasher
Cons:
- GPS could be better
- No Chartplotter
Humminbird Helix 7 Si Gps Review
Humminbird is one of my most favorite fishfinders with Side Imaging Sonar. With an ultra-bright big display, this fish finder comes with Side Imaging Sonar. You don’t only get a fish finder with fantastic side sonar technology, but navigational help too. The device comes with an integrated GPS feature for better navigation. The side Imaging along with the Down Imaging sonar offers clear, brightest and crispest photo-like images of what’s beneath your boat. The device is very powerful and offers better process * RAM than previous models for lightning management with better screen refreshes. Side Imaging Range of Humminbird 7 SI GPS is 100’.
Pros:
- 16:9 Widescreen display
- 480×800 High-quality resolution
- See the display in direct sunlight
- Side Imaging Sonar
- Down Imaging Sonar
- GPS included
- 500 watts RMS/4000 watts peak-to-peak power
- up to 2500 waypoints
- Support to LakeMaster, AutoChart, AutoChart Pro, Navionics Gold/Hotmaps
- Micro SD card slot
Cons:
- Only one MicroSD slot
- You will have to swap Navionics and SD card
Lowrance HDS 9 Gen2 Touchscreen
Another best side imaging fish finder with lots of features. As the name suggests, this advanced fish finder has a touchscreen to access and use it’s amazing features more smoothly than ever. Any professional angler would love to have their hands on this hi-tech fish finder. Lowrance HDS 9 Gen2 comes with the StructureScan sonar imaging. StructureScan imaging will provide you with a realistic view of the bottom structure and game. Note that you need an optional (compatible) transducer to use the StructureScan sonar.
This device features a 16:9 touchscreen 9-inch screen with a WVGA 800×480 resolution. As a result, the images you get are crispy and easy to readable. You can use the multi-display function with the built-in sounder. The device features a lightning-fast chart redraw too.
You can use backtrack to save the best fishing spot or your favorite locations. Just swiping your finger across the screen from right to left direct will do the trick. You can review the location’s history by the trackback feature. The device is pre-loaded with the USA charts and can be loaded with optional Navionics chart.
- Big 9 inch display with touchscreen feature
- Multi-function display
- Sturdy design
- Built-in USA mapping
- StructureScan Sonar
- Pre-loaded Insight USA chartsTrackback & waypoints
- expensive
Lowrance Elite 7 Ti
Lowrance Elite 7 is one of my most favorite fishfinder for its incredible power and numerous features. With advanced sonar systems like CHIRP, DownScan Imaging, and StructureScan, it is loved by a lot of anglers. It comes with a whopping 7-inch high-resolution display to show all the necessary information at the same time. The resolution of the display is 800×480.
Besides the CHIRP sonar, you will be able to unleash the power of the StructureScan. StructureScan is like the Side Imaging Sonar where you will be able to see photo-like images of what’s beneath your boat on both sides. The details are very clear, crisp and sharp. However, to use the StructureScan sonar, you will need the TotalScan Transducer. What’s more, it also comes with DownScan Imaging.
There are tons of other features like the touchscreen display. Yes, you can use touch and the manual buttons to operate the device with more ease. You will also have the GPS feature, MicroSD card slot, trackback, waypoints and more. The built-in wireless connectivity allows you to access the GoFree cloud for purchasing and downloading things like User insight maps and third party maps.
: NMEA 2000 network connectivity helps for waypoint sharing, MotorGuide XI5 interfacing and more. See: Lowrance Elite 7 Ti Review
Pros:
- High-resolution 7-inch display
- Touchscreen display
- Advanced sonar system: CHIRP, StructureScan, DownScan Imaging
- NMEA 2000 Network Connectivity for waypoint sharing, external GPS integration, and moreTrackback feature
- Integrated GPS feature
- Built-in wireless connectivity
- MicroSD card slot
Cons:
- CHIRP and SideScan doesn’t work at the same time
Garmin echoMAP CHIRP 73sv with transducer
Garmin has been making amazing marine devices for a long time, and their fish finders are full of exciting features. EchoMAP CHIRP 73sv is a powerful fishfinder packed with advanced sonar technology like CHIRP Sonar and SideVü scanning sonar.
The device comes with a bright 7” display with high contrast and an automated backlighting feature. Checking display at direct sunlight, should not be a problem to the users. The device comes with a 77/200kHz paired-beam built-in sonar along with CHIRP sonar, SideVü scanning sonar, and DownVü scanning sonar.
The CHIRP sonar sends multiple frequencies in one signal ranging from low to high and later receives to interpret the frequencies. CHIRP sonar allows you to get more clutter-free images of the bottom. As a result, you can easily see more targeted fishes in crisp images.
The device comes with SideVü scanning sonar and DownVü scanning sonar. Via using these sonar systems, picking the best spot for fishing is quite easier than ever. Garmin echoMAP CHIRP 73sv features a microSD card option to save your best and favorite fishing spot, capture or to store screenshots. It is preloaded with the LakeVu mapping system which consists of 17,000 comprehensive maps of different lakes and rivers.
You can use it’s AutoGuidance function to set the end of the journey to choosing a safe route to go there. From time calculation of minor hazards, it will tell to maximize your time.
- Easy to operate
- 7-inch big color display with manual button
- Backlit keyboard
- CHIRP Sonar for a clear image with better fish separationCHIRP DownVu scanning sonar
- CHIRP DownVu scanning sonar
- Panoptix all-seeing sonar support if you have appropriate sonar
- Preloaded HD map creation app: Quickdraw Contours
- Built-in Maps and Charts
- Built-in GPS
- Waypoints feature
- panoptrix transducer not included
Humminbird 899ci HD SI Combo
Another great side imaging fish finder from Humminbird. Unlike other side imaging fish finders, this one comes at a relatively low price. Humminbird 899ci HD SI Combo has a big 7” color display. The display comes in a widescreen 800×480 resolution. What’s more, the display has LED backlit feature. The aspect ratio of this side imaging display is 16:9.
Humminbird 899ci HD SI comes with built-in GPS chart plotting with ContourXD maps. The device supports Ethernet network connectivity option.
It features advanced sonar technologies like Side Imaging, Down Imaging, and Dual Beam PLUS sonar to provide you with the best weapons for fishing efficiently. It has a higher speed process compared to previous fishfinder models. These sonar technologies, with the help of powerful configuration help you to fish effectively on the water.
Shop now at Amazon.comWhat is Side Imaging?
Side imaging is a sonar technology which uses a razor thin beam which covers both sides of the boat’s bottom. The output of this sonar showed on display are an image like photos. It doesn’t depend on the light, darkness or the clumsy weather. It has the ability to show different types of objects depending on the device. You will see the natural structure, boats, automobiles, school of bait fishes will be shown once the sonar returns to the device.
How To Read Side imaging readings?
Side imaging is quite different than typical sonar systems. A conventional sonar system will move from right to bottom, but the side imaging will show move from top to bottom. The most recent reading will be on the upper part of the display while the bottom is the history of sonar readings. Usually, the boat location is at the top middle point.
Humminbird Side Imaging Tutorial
Final Verdict
I have always loved Humminbird’s fish finders for their amazing capability and Helix series is one of my most favorite fishfinder series. Helix 7 SI GPS combo is my most favorite side imaging fish finder. It comes with great features with the side imaging sonar system, and it has a big screen to view and maintain the data easily. This side imaging fish finder comes with a very decent price too. You can read our editorial rating and make a choice to make fishing more enjoying.
