Garmin ECHOMAP Plus vs UHD vs Ultra

• COMPARISON •

What are the main differences between the Plus, UHD, & Ultra?

• Screen Size – Plus & UHD come in 4/6/7/9 & Ultra comes in 10/12
• Screen Type – All 3 have Key-Assist Touchscreens however the 4″ | 6″ Plus & UHD models are Keypad control
• Internal GPS – Plus & UHD have 5Hz & Ultra has 10Hz
• microSD – Plus & UHD have 1 & Ultra has 2
• Network/Panoptix Ports – Plus & UHD have 1 & Ultra has 2
• Ultra High Definition Sonar – Ultra & UHD yes – Plus no
• Panoptix LiveScope – Ultra has an additional 12pin transducer port for LVS12 sonar
• Sounder Output – Plus and UHD have 500W and Ultra has 600W

► Jump right to the Side-by-Side – Comparison Infographic for all feature details. 

Additional Series Details

ECHOMAP UHD Series – is a mid-sized chartplotter/sonar combo with a keyed-assisted touchscreen. Includes features like built-in support for Ultra High-Definition scanning sonar and Panoptix LiveScope support.

The UHD takes the design of the all-in-one ECHOMAP Plus combo,  adds built-in Ultra High-Definition sonar, and includes the GT54 Ultra High-Definition transducer.

ECHOMAP Ultra Series – comes in a 10″ and 12″ Chartplotter/sonar combo and includes an all-in-one transducer for CHIRP traditional and Ultra High-Definition scanning sonars.

The Ultra also supports Panoptix LiveScope™ LVS12 sonar (no black box required), the Panoptix LiveScope system, and the full line of Panoptix™ sonars.

Should I upgrade to an ECHOMAP UHD or ECHOMAP Ultra?

I think for the extra cost of about $50.00 over the Plus, when it was introduced, the UHD is a better value if you want Ultra High-Definition scanning sonar.

As for the  Echomap Ultra, it does jump in price point somewhat but if you’re looking for an excellent 10-12″ screen and don’t need all of the features in the GPSMAP 7600 or 8600 Multifunction series then I like the Ultra.

Pro Tip | 11/2023: Although these aren’t current, they are always available on the secondary market new and used and are still awesome units.

How do the Rear Connections compare?

Is there any difference between Ultra High-Definition and ClearVu Sonar?

Yes, as you can see below, the UHD definitely shows more detail.

Garmin | Ultra High-Definition ClearVu Sonar – Comparison

Here is our, Echomap Plus, UHD & Ultra – Side by Side Comparison showing a more detailed view of the differences between the two: