Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 vs Lowrance HDS LIVE 9
Two high-ticket small-boat plotters. Charting, sonar personality, and transducer bundles differ more than the headline price. This page is not presented as a Cast & Cruise first-party lab head-to-head.
Garmin
Garmin EchoMap UHD2 93sv
9.0 Cast & Cruise score
The Garmin EchoMap UHD2 93sv is the chartplotter we recommend for most recreational center consoles 18–25 feet. A 9-inch glass-bonded display, built-in CHIRP sonar plus side and DownVu, included GT54UHD-TM transducer, and Garmin's cartography make it the no-regrets pick at $1,299. Score 9.0.
Best for: Center consoles 18–25 ft that want a 9-inch chartplotter without overpaying
research synthesis
$1,299
Lowrance
Lowrance HDS-9 LIVE
9.0 Cast & Cruise score
The Lowrance HDS Live 9 earns a 9.0/10 as a top-tier 9-inch fish finder/chartplotter. Exceptional sonar (LiveSight, StructureScan), highly intuitive menus with preview panes and cursor assist, and a large high-resolution screen that makes split-screen work practical. Premium price, but the feature depth and usability justify it for serious users.
Best for: Anglers and boaters who want premium sonar performance, intuitive controls, and a big clear screen for serious inshore/offshore work on center consoles
expert consensus
$1,499 (no transducer)
Scorecard overlap
| Criterion | Garmin EchoMap UHD2 93sv | Lowrance HDS-9 LIVE |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 9.3 | — |
| Sonar | 9.0 | — |
| Cartography | 9.5 | — |
| Value | 8.5 | 8.0 |
| Ease of use | 8.8 | — |
| Screen Quality | — | 9.3 |
| Sonar Performance | — | 9.5 |
| Ease of Use | — | 8.8 |
| Features | — | 9.4 |
| Build/Durability | — | 9.0 |