6 Best Side Imaging Fish Finders (November 2026)

Side imaging changes how you read a lake. Instead of a narrow cone straight down, the sonar shoots a wide, flat beam to each side of the boat and paints a picture of the bottom that looks closer to an aerial photo than a graph. Standing timber, rock piles, brush, drop-offs, and even sunken boats stand out as shapes on the screen, which lets you scan a wide strip of water in a single pass and decide where to cast without guesswork.

This guide is for anglers shopping for a screen with side imaging built in or compatible with it, and the six listings below all come from Humminbird, the brand best known for the feature. They cover the Helix 7 line and the larger XPLORE series with an HD touchscreen. A few Lowrance models and a Helix 5 listing that appeared in the same results were left out, because their titles list DownScan or dual spectrum CHIRP rather than side imaging. In 2026, the key calls are screen size, whether a transducer comes in the box, and how you plan to mount the head unit on your boat.

Quick Picks

Our top picks

Top pickHumminbird Helix 7 G4 GPS Fish Finder

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Also greatHumminbird XPLORE 9 GPS Fish Finder with

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Also greatHumminbird Helix 7 G4N GPS Fish Finder

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Also greatLowrance HOOK Reveal 5 SplitShot

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Also greatHumminbird Helix 5 G3 GPS Fish Finder

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Also greatHumminbird XPLORE 10 GPS Fish Finder with

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How to Choose

Pick the screen size for your boat and eyes

A seven inch screen suits a jon boat or a small bass boat where space is tight. Nine and ten inch units give you more room to split the screen between side imaging and a down view, and twelve inch heads suit larger boats with a console. Bigger screens use more power and need a stronger mount, so match the size to your deck. If you wear bifocals or fish in glare, the extra inches pay off.

Understand what comes in the box

Titles often say with transducer or control head only. A control head is just the display, which makes sense if you already own a compatible transducer and wiring. Without one, the head is not useful on its own. Compare the transducer type too, since side imaging needs a compatible transducer, not just a display that lists the feature.

Look at the imaging tier

The listings mention Side Imaging, MEGA Side Imaging, and MEGA Side Imaging+. The MEGA tiers use a higher frequency, which is meant to produce a sharper picture at close range, while standard side imaging reaches wider. Check each listing for the stated range, and think about whether you fish shallow lakes and ponds or deeper reservoirs where range matters more. Boat speed also matters, because side imaging is best read at a slow cruise; fast runs blur targets and waste the feature.

Think about mapping, touch, and mounting

GPS lets you save waypoints and overlay maps. A touchscreen is quick to use but can be hard with wet fingers or gloves, so many anglers prefer a unit with physical keys as well. Plan your mount early: a trolling motor or a transom mount is different from a console flush mount, and a bad transducer position ruins the image no matter how premium the head unit is. Take time to read the installation guidance for your boat style, because the angle and depth of the transducer decide how clean the picture looks at speed, and a small bracket adjustment can fix a smeared image. Cable runs matter as well, so keep power and transducer wires away from the trolling motor lead to avoid interference.

The 6 Best Options

Humminbird Helix 7 G4

The Helix 7 G4 pairs a GPS fish finder with a transducer, dual spectrum CHIRP sonar, and side imaging. It is a popular size for anglers who want a capable all-around unit without the cost and footprint of a large screen. Side imaging on a seven inch display works best when you slow down and read it in passes, running parallel lines along a bank or a point and marking anything that stands out. Many anglers learn the feature on a Helix and later move up to a bigger screen once they know what they want from it.

• Strength: side imaging is listed along with dual spectrum CHIRP.
• Strength: GPS and a transducer are included, per the title.
• Trade-off: seven inches is smaller than the XPLORE screens.

Skip it if you want a touchscreen or a larger split-screen display.

Humminbird XPLORE 9

The XPLORE 9 is a GPS fish finder with a transducer, MEGA Side Imaging+, and an HD touchscreen. It is designed for anglers who want a large, bright display and the sharper close-range imaging described by the MEGA label. A touchscreen speeds up zooming, panning, and dropping waypoints, which is helpful when you are locating a brush pile and steering at the same time. It also sits between the Helix 7 and the ten inch XPLORE in size, a middle ground for many mid-size boats.

• Strength: a nine inch HD touchscreen gives room to see side imaging clearly.
• Strength: MEGA Side Imaging+ appears in the title.
• Trade-off: it costs more and needs more mounting space than a seven inch unit.

Skip it if your boat has little space or you prefer physical buttons only.

Humminbird Helix 7 G4N

The Helix 7 G4N adds MEGA Side Imaging to the Helix 7 formula, along with GPS and a transducer. The title is partly garbled in the listing, so confirm the full spec on the page. For many anglers, the appeal is a familiar Helix interface with the sharper MEGA imaging added, and it often costs less than stepping up to the larger XPLORE line. If a feature list matters to you, compare it line by line against the plain G4 before choosing.

• Strength: MEGA Side Imaging is named in the title.
• Strength: it includes GPS and a transducer.
• Trade-off: the listing text is messy, so double check which features are included.

Skip it if you want a screen larger than seven inches.

Humminbird XPLORE 10 with Transducer

This ten inch XPLORE combines GPS, a transducer, MEGA Side Imaging+, and an HD touchscreen in one complete package. It suits anglers who want a bigger canvas for reading structure. On a screen this size you can run side imaging beside a down view, and still have room for the map, which makes it easier to confirm that a shape on the side view is a real piece of cover. Tournament-minded anglers often favor this size for exactly that reason.

• Strength: it includes both the head and the transducer.
• Strength: the larger screen makes side imaging easier to interpret.
• Trade-off: it demands more mount space and power.

Skip it if you want a compact unit for a small boat.

Humminbird XPLORE 10, Control Head Only

This is the XPLORE 10 sold without a transducer, listing GPS, MEGA Side Imaging+, and an HD touchscreen. It fits anglers who are upgrading an existing system and already own a compatible transducer. It is also a way to move an older transducer you trust onto a newer display, saving money if the old hardware is still in good shape. Confirm the plug type and the transducer compatibility on the listing and in the manual before you order.

• Strength: it lets you reuse a transducer you own.
• Strength: the same ten inch screen as the complete package.
• Trade-off: it is not usable without a compatible transducer and wiring.

Skip it if this is your first fish finder.

Humminbird XPLORE 12, Control Head Only

The XPLORE 12 is the largest screen on this list, also sold as a control head only with MEGA Side Imaging+ and an HD touchscreen. It is meant for larger boats where a console can hold a big display. At this scale, you will likely want a robust mount, a clean power line, and a way to protect the screen from sun and spray with a cover. It is a serious piece of equipment for anglers who spend most days on the water and read sonar constantly.

• Strength: the largest screen here gives plenty of room for split views.
• Strength: the HD touchscreen is listed in the title.
• Trade-off: it is sold as a head only, and it needs a bigger mount and more budget.

Skip it if you fish from a small boat or kayak.

Which One Fits Your Situation

You fish a jon boat or small bass boat

The Helix 7 G4 balances screen size and cost without crowding the deck. It mounts easily on a bow or a console, and it leaves room for a second unit if you later decide to add a trolling motor display or a livewell panel.

You want the sharpest image on a bigger screen

The XPLORE 10 with transducer gives you MEGA Side Imaging+ on a large display in one package.

You already own a transducer

Buy the XPLORE 10 control head only and reuse your existing hardware.

You run a large boat with a console

The XPLORE 12 offers the biggest canvas, if your console can hold it. Check the wiring, the mounting hardware, and the transducer compatibility first so the large display does not sit idle waiting for parts.

Common Mistakes

• Buying a control head without a compatible transducer.
• Mounting the transducer too high or at an angle that spoils the image.
• Assuming every fish finder with CHIRP also has side imaging.
• Picking a large screen for a boat with no room for it.
• Running the boat too fast and blurring the side imaging picture.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does side imaging show that standard sonar does not?

It shows a wide picture of the bottom to each side of the boat, which helps you find structure without driving directly over it. That means less time spooking fish with the boat and more time casting to cover you have already identified.

Is MEGA Side Imaging better than Side Imaging?

It uses a higher frequency, which is meant to give a sharper picture at closer ranges. Standard side imaging may reach farther.

Do I need a touchscreen?

No. It is convenient, but many anglers prefer keys in rough water or with gloves on. Choose what suits your habits, and remember that a large touchscreen is still a screen: it can smudge, glare, and react poorly to spray.

Can I use this on a kayak?

These are larger units designed for boats with power sources. A portable castable sonar is a better fit for a kayak.