The catch
Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
Side imaging is not something SplitShot HD provides.
Side by side
Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD vs Eagle 7 TripleShot HD: Beyond below-boat sonar, the seven-inch TripleShot adds side views of structure
Quick verdict
Either keep a compact below-boat setup or add SideScan and a larger screen.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Actual screen area, given the published aspect ratio
About 11 square inches of display area belong to Eagle 5 SplitShot HD and about 21.6 to Eagle 7 TripleShot HD. The figures help in judging viewing distance and split-screen comfort.
Where this comes from
Assuming square pixels and the published diagonal, Area = diagonal² × horizontal pixels × vertical pixels ÷ (horizontal pixels² + vertical pixels²). The values are geometric estimates and not active-area measurements.
The catch
Lowrance Eagle 7 TripleShot HD
This is not a platform for networked live sonar.
Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
- Why pick it
- Compact downward sonar with lower draw is what you need
- Its SplitShot HD sonar setup fits your kind of fishing
- The catch
- Side imaging is not something SplitShot HD provides.
Lowrance Eagle 7 TripleShot HD
- Why pick it
- Included side imaging and a seven-inch display are what you want
- Its TripleShot HD sonar setup is right for your fishing
- The catch
- This is not a platform for networked live sonar.
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What this page compares
How Eagle 5 SplitShot HD and Eagle 7 TripleShot HD differ in included sonar, display workspace, chart support and battery needs for your boat.
Either keep a compact below-boat setup or add SideScan and a larger screen.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Reading sonar while sitting in the usual position
Switching changes the size and the transducer together. Side imaging is added by Eagle 7 TripleShot HD, whereas Eagle 5 SplitShot HD stays a downward-looking setup.
- Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
- Depends
- Lowrance Eagle 7 TripleShot HD
- Depends
Picking a setup around maps and a small battery
The pixel matrix remains 800 × 480. A larger screen brings more physical viewing space but no extra addressable pixels.
- Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
- Depends
- Lowrance Eagle 7 TripleShot HD
- Depends
Reusing hardware, or growing the boat system
Compared with Eagle 5, Eagle 7 is 43.8mm wider and draws 550mA at 12V against 280mA. Plan the mounting track and the battery along with the sonar upgrade.
- Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
- Depends
- Lowrance Eagle 7 TripleShot HD
- Depends
Over eight hours, the side-imaging upgrade adds about 26Wh
The stated difference in draw is 0.27A at 12V, or 3.24W. Over eight hours that adds 25.92Wh, before battery reserve and other electronics.
- Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
- Depends
- Lowrance Eagle 7 TripleShot HD
- Depends
In practice
Differences you will notice
Actual screen area, given the published aspect ratio
About 11 square inches of display area belong to Eagle 5 SplitShot HD and about 21.6 to Eagle 7 TripleShot HD. The figures help in judging viewing distance and split-screen comfort.
How we worked this out
Assuming square pixels and the published diagonal, Area = diagonal² × horizontal pixels × vertical pixels ÷ (horizontal pixels² + vertical pixels²). The values are geometric estimates and not active-area measurements.
A 12.8V10Ah battery, keeping 20% in reserve
Using the 102.4Wh working allowance, the published electrical point of Eagle 5 SplitShot HD works out to about 30.5 hours and the Eagle 7 TripleShot HD point to 15.5 hours.
How we worked this out
The assumption is 12.8V ×10Ah ×0.8 =102.4Wh usable for this device alone. At the published points, power is 0.28A ×12V =3.4W and 0.55A ×12V =6.6W. HELIX input is taken as 12V, since the draw specification leaves out the test voltage. Converter loss, temperature and battery aging are ignored. This is not a measured runtime comparison.
Over eight hours, the side-imaging upgrade adds about 26Wh
The stated difference in draw is 0.27A at 12V, or 3.24W. Over eight hours that adds 25.92Wh, before battery reserve and other electronics.
How we worked this out
(0.55 minus 0.28) ×12 ×8 =25.92Wh. It is an estimate based on specifications and not a measured trip runtime.
Option A
Lowrance, Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
This five-inch IPS fishfinder and chartplotter uses SplitShot HD for CHIRP and views of structure below the boat. A small case and a published 280mA draw make it a fit for compact 12V setups.
- Best for
- Compact down-looking sonar plus chart cards
Facts we checked
- IPS display, 5-inch, 800 × 480
- Includes SplitShot HD
- 280mA at 12V when the backlight is full
- Genesis Live provides 0.5ft contours
Option B
Lowrance, Eagle 7 TripleShot HD
Lowrance Eagle 7 TripleShot HD
A 7-inch display comes with it, and the named Amazon configuration also includes a transducer.
- Best for
- map an uncharted lake and fish from a kayak
Facts we checked
- A 7-inch display is built in.
- A transducer comes with the named Amazon configuration.
- Side imaging comes with the named configuration.
- The unit supports charting or live mapping.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD | Lowrance Eagle 7 TripleShot HD | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display diagonal | 5 inches | 7 inches | A bigger physical view helps if the unit is mounted farther from the seat. |
| Published electrical point | 0.28A at 12V | 0.55A at 12V | Size a battery using the stated conditions. The HELIX voltage is a nominal 12V assumption. |
| Included transducer | SplitShot HD | TripleShot HD | The sonar modes and installation hardware you get depend on this exact bundle. |
| Side imaging | Not included | Included | A below-boat image cannot stand in for a left-right structure scan. |
| Bare body width | 182.1mm | 225.9mm | Allow extra room for the bracket and the cable exits. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
- The package selected here is the base transducer bundle, and a C-MAP DISCOVER card comes as its own named package. Verify the included regional charts against the exact lake.
With Lowrance Eagle 7 TripleShot HD
- What charts you get depends on the exact US bundle, since the Eagle name alone does not settle it.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Compact downward sonar with lower draw is what you need
Go with Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD. Switching changes the size and the transducer together. Side imaging is added by Eagle 7 TripleShot HD, whereas Eagle 5 SplitShot HD stays a downward-looking setup.
Included side imaging and a seven-inch display are what you want
Go with Lowrance Eagle 7 TripleShot HD. The pixel matrix remains 800 × 480. A larger screen brings more physical viewing space but no extra addressable pixels.
Decision guide
How to decide
Go with the compact below-boat setup, or go for SideScan and the larger screen.
Judge the display and sonar on their own
Switching changes the size and the transducer together. Side imaging is added by Eagle 7 TripleShot HD, whereas Eagle 5 SplitShot HD stays a downward-looking setup.
Map choices and the electrical budget
The pixel matrix remains 800 × 480. A larger screen brings more physical viewing space but no extra addressable pixels.
How it installs and what it can grow into
Compared with Eagle 5, Eagle 7 is 43.8mm wider and draws 550mA at 12V against 280mA. Plan the mounting track and the battery along with the sonar upgrade.
What this page can’t tell you
- The figures here are manufacturer specifications. They do not come from water testing.
- Pixel counts and contour spacing are not evidence of accurate sonar or depth readings.
- Each of chart cards, mounting accessories and networked live sonar needs an exact-model compatibility check.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the fish finders we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
How many fit
Only 5 of the 23 models checked meet every need here: “Take in split screens at a glance” and “Scan to port and starboard”.
5 models fit, out of 23 checkedShow the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “Take in split screens at a glance” and “Scan to port and starboard”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD | None of these needs is a documented match |
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| Lowrance Eagle 7 TripleShot HD |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
Compact downward sonar with lower draw is what you need
See price & reviews on AmazonLowrance Eagle 7 TripleShot HD
Included side imaging and a seven-inch display are what you want
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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