Bigger Screen or Better Value? Garmin Striker Vivid 7cv vs Hook Reveal 5

Display

Garmin wins here. The Striker Vivid 7cv has a 7-inch colour display, which is a major advantage when you’re trying to interpret arches, baitfish, bottom changes, and structure quickly on the water. That extra screen real estate makes a real difference on a windy day at a big UK reservoir or when you’re watching for subtle drops and weed edges on a carp lake. The Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 only has a 5-inch screen, which is usable, but it is noticeably smaller and less comfortable for extended viewing. If you want the clearest, easiest-to-read display, Garmin takes this category.

Performance

Garmin also edges this one. The Striker Vivid 7cv uses Garmin’s ClearVü scanning sonar and vivid colour palettes, which are designed to make targets and bottom detail stand out more clearly. In practical angling terms, that helps when you’re tracing shelves, finding hard spots, or checking for fish holding tight to cover. The Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 SplitShot offers a solid mix of traditional sonar and down-imaging via the SplitShot transducer, and it’s perfectly capable for general use. But Garmin’s larger display and strong sonar presentation make it the better performer overall, especially when you want fast interpretation rather than just basic fish marking.

Build quality and design

This is close, but Garmin wins again. Both brands have strong reputations, and both units are built for regular boat use rather than delicate fair-weather handling. Garmin’s Striker line has a simple, rugged design that suits anglers who want reliability without fuss, and the 7cv feels like the more substantial unit. The Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 is compact and tidy, which is handy on smaller boats or kayaks where space is tight. Still, Garmin’s larger, cleaner interface and more premium feel give it the edge for overall design and usability.

Battery life

Tie. Neither product comes with a battery in the box, so real-world battery life depends more on the battery you choose than the fishfinder itself. In practice, the smaller 5-inch Lowrance will usually draw slightly less power than the 7-inch Garmin, which may matter on a kayak, inflatable, or a small day boat running limited battery capacity. However, the Garmin’s larger screen is the more power-hungry trade-off for that improved visibility. If battery efficiency is critical, Lowrance has a slight practical advantage, but not enough to overturn the overall result.

Price and value for money

Lowrance wins this category. At £273.75, the HOOK Reveal 5 SplitShot is £125.01 cheaper than the Garmin, and that is a meaningful saving. If you’re a weekend angler, a newcomer to fishfinders, or you simply want sonar and mapping without spending close to four hundred quid, the Lowrance offers strong value. The Garmin at £398.76 is expensive, but you are paying for the bigger 7-inch screen and a more premium viewing experience. On pure pounds-to-features, the Lowrance is the better buy.

Features and ease of use

Garmin wins for the core feature set that matters most on the water. The Striker Vivid 7cv is built around easy operation and vivid sonar presentation, which makes it especially attractive to anglers who want to power up and fish rather than spend time learning menus. The Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 does have preloaded C-MAP US Inland mapping, which is a genuine bonus if you fish mapped waters and want contour guidance straight away. But for a UK buyer, that US inland mapping is less relevant than it sounds, so Garmin’s stronger all-round sonar experience is the more useful feature set in this comparison.

Overall user experience

Garmin wins overall. The larger 7-inch screen, strong sonar presentation, and straightforward operation make it the more satisfying unit to use day after day. It feels better suited to anglers who want to identify features quickly and confidently, whether that’s finding carp patrol routes on stillwaters, tracking pike over weed, or reading seabed changes on coastal trips for sea bass. The Lowrance is simpler on the wallet and compact enough for smaller setups, but its 5-inch screen and US-focused mapping make it less compelling for a UK angler looking for the best all-round experience.

Overall summary: if you want the better fishfinder regardless of price, the Garmin Striker Vivid 7cv is the clear winner. If you want the best value and can live with a smaller screen, the Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 SplitShot is the cheaper practical choice. For most UK anglers, especially those fishing from a boat where screen clarity matters, Garmin is the definitive recommendation.