The catch
Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
Side imaging is not something SplitShot HD provides.
Side by side
Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD vs Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3: Downward imaging is part of Eagle, while HELIX centers on Dual Spectrum and maps
Quick verdict
It comes down to included downward imaging or the HELIX Dual Spectrum and map workflow.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Actual screen area, given the published aspect ratio
Eagle 5 SplitShot HD offers about 11 square inches of display area, and HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3 offers about 11. Use that to judge 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
Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3
Down Imaging and Side Imaging are not offered.
Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
- Why pick it
- DownScan in the supplied compact kit is what you want
- Its SplitShot HD sonar setup suits your fishing
- The catch
- Side imaging is not something SplitShot HD provides.
Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3
- Why pick it
- Dual Spectrum CHIRP and Humminbird maps are your preference
- Its XNT 9 HW T sonar setup fits how you fish
- The catch
- Down Imaging and Side Imaging are not offered.
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What this page compares
Eagle 5 SplitShot HD and HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3 weighed on included sonar, display workspace, chart support and the battery demands of your boat.
It comes down to included downward imaging or the HELIX Dual Spectrum and map workflow.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Reading sonar while sitting in the usual position
Each has an 800 × 480 pixel picture on a five-inch screen. Downward imaging comes in Eagle’s SplitShot HD bundle, whereas this HELIX 5 GPS entry is the non-DI model.
- Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
- Depends
- Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3
- Depends
Picking a setup around maps and a small battery
Dual Spectrum CHIRP comes from Humminbird’s XNT9 HW T. The similarly named DI version has different sonar hardware, so verify the exact model suffix at checkout.
- Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
- Depends
- Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3
- Depends
Reusing hardware, or growing the boat system
Eagle’s checked card path is C-MAP DISCOVER, but HELIX supports listed LakeMaster, CoastMaster and Navionics products. Map cards come from different ecosystems here.
- Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
- Depends
- Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3
- Depends
Needing a downward-structure image points to Eagle’s package
Eagle adds one downward-imaging view on top of CHIRP. The non-DI HELIX gives you CHIRP with no Down Imaging view.
- Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
- Depends
- Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
Actual screen area, given the published aspect ratio
Eagle 5 SplitShot HD offers about 11 square inches of display area, and HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3 offers about 11. Use that to judge 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 HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3 point to 13.9 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 0.615A ×12V =7.4W. 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.
Needing a downward-structure image points to Eagle’s package
Eagle adds one downward-imaging view on top of CHIRP. The non-DI HELIX gives you CHIRP with no Down Imaging view.
How we worked this out
Feature gate: dedicated downward imaging is required. SplitShot HD passes. The HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3 that was selected is not the DI variant.
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
Humminbird, HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3
Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3
Its display is 5-inch, and under the maker conditions the listed sonar depth class reaches 1200 feet.
- Best for
- map an uncharted lake and fish from a kayak
Facts we checked
- It comes with a 5-inch display.
- Under the maker conditions, the listed sonar depth class reaches 1200 feet.
- A transducer comes with the named Amazon configuration.
- The named configuration leaves out side imaging.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD | Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display technology | IPS | Color TFT | Check how it looks off-axis and through your polarized glasses. |
| Published electrical point | 0.28A at 12V | 0.615A at 12V | Size a battery using the stated conditions. The HELIX voltage is a nominal 12V assumption. |
| Included transducer | SplitShot HD | XNT 9 HW T | The sonar modes and installation hardware you get depend on this exact bundle. |
| Downward imaging | Included | Not included | The suffix, DI, cv or SplitShot, needs checking. |
| Chart-card path | C-MAP chart-card support | LakeMaster, CoastMaster and listed Navionics cards | Navigation chart cards are a different thing from GPS waypoints and self-recorded depth maps. |
| Personal mapping | Genesis Live, 0.5ft contours | AutoChart Live, depth plus bottom hardness and vegetation | Fit the layers and contour display you need to the fishing task. |
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 Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3
- Because the G3 head does not network, it cannot be expanded into MEGA Live or a shared-display network.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
DownScan in the supplied compact kit is what you want
Go with Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD. Each has an 800 × 480 pixel picture on a five-inch screen. Downward imaging comes in Eagle’s SplitShot HD bundle, whereas this HELIX 5 GPS entry is the non-DI model.
Dual Spectrum CHIRP and Humminbird maps are your preference
Go with Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3. Dual Spectrum CHIRP comes from Humminbird’s XNT9 HW T. The similarly named DI version has different sonar hardware, so verify the exact model suffix at checkout.
Decision guide
How to decide
Take downward imaging in the package, or the HELIX Dual Spectrum and map workflow.
Look at the screen apart from the sonar bundle
Each has an 800 × 480 pixel picture on a five-inch screen. Downward imaging comes in Eagle’s SplitShot HD bundle, whereas this HELIX 5 GPS entry is the non-DI model.
Settle the chart source and power budget
Dual Spectrum CHIRP comes from Humminbird’s XNT9 HW T. The similarly named DI version has different sonar hardware, so verify the exact model suffix at checkout.
Think about mounting and later upgrades
Eagle’s checked card path is C-MAP DISCOVER, but HELIX supports listed LakeMaster, CoastMaster and Navionics products. Map cards come from different ecosystems here.
What this page can’t tell you
- These comparisons use manufacturer specifications only, with no testing on the water.
- Pixels on the screen and contour spacing do not prove how accurate sonar or depth readings are.
- Exact-model compatibility checks are needed for chart cards, mounting accessories and networked live sonar.
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
8 of the 23 models checked meet every need here: “Take in split screens at a glance” and “View structure straight below”.
8 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 “View structure straight below”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD |
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| Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3 | None of these needs is a documented match |
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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
DownScan in the supplied compact kit is what you want
See price & reviews on AmazonHumminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3
Dual Spectrum CHIRP and Humminbird maps are your preference
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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