8 Reasons Anglers Love the Humminbird XPLORE Fish Finder

Fish Finder Technology Made Simple: Humminbird XPLORE Overview

The Humminbird XPLORE Series is designed to make high-end sonar technology more accessible and intuitive for anglers with all levels of experience with fishing electronics. Packed with best-in-class sonar and imaging, GPS, and networking capabilities, XPLORE Series fish finders deliver premium performance right out of the box at a great value.

Whether your goal is a fun weekend on the water or tournament results, XPLORE fish finders have exactly what you need.

Let's dive into 8 things you NEED to know about the Humminbird XPLORE Series.

Jump to a section:

Premium Hardware | Simplified Offering | User Interface | Cross-Touch Technology | Mapping Products Included | Compatibility and Networking | Waypoint Management | One-Boat Network App Integration

1. Premium Display Performance and Hardware

The Humminbird XPLORE features a ton of attributes that make it the perfect fish finder for all anglers.

• Best-in-class anti-glare display that produces crystal-clear sonar returns and vibrant colors. Available in 9", 10" and 12" models.
• Sleek, Low-Profile Design for a clean install and space-saving.
• Lightning-Fast Quad-Core Processor for smooth and quick navigation between views and settings.
• Four Simple Connection Points: Power, Sonar, Ethernet, and NMEA 2000.
• Two Micro SD Card Slots for contour cards like LakeMaster, CoastMaster, AutoChart Zero Lines, and more.
• Humminbird's crystal-clear MEGA Side/Down Imaging and Dual Spectrum CHIRP Sonar (2D) is standard on all units and is contained in a compact transom transducer.
• Built-In Precision GPS for navigation and mapping
• Universal Gimbal Mount for customization of installation height because each gimbal size is backwards compatible with all units. For example, if you purchase a 9" model, but want to raise the height of the XPLORE, you can purchase a gimbal for a 10" or 12" model.
• 2-Year Limited Warranty, but if you register your XPLORE, you will receive an extra year of warranty (3 total years).

2. Simplified Offering and Decision Making

The XPLORE Series has a very simple product offering compared to other fish finders on the market, making it extremely simple to choose which XPLORE is perfect for you.

All models come with Humminbird's crystal-clear MEGA Side/Down Imaging and Dual Spectrum CHIRP Sonar, GPS, and networking abilities, so the decision becomes very simple.

How to Select the Right XPLORE Fish Finder for You

1. Screen Size
   1. Decide which size screen is best for your boat or application.
   2. Factors to consider are the physical space limitations of your boat and what technologies you plan to use.
   3. For example, if you plan to use technologies like MEGA Live 2 forward-facing sonar or MEGA 360 Imaging, it may be best to lean towards a larger size to maximize your screen space and see as much detail as possible.
2. Transducer Needs
   1. The next question is, do you need a transom transducer?
   2. The beauty of XPLORE is that it is compatible with a variety of existing Humminbird transom transducers, so if you are already a Humminbird owner, you may not need to install a new transducer.
      1. To see if your existing transducer is compatible, visit our Transducer Compatibility Article and select "Compatible Transducer Listing".
   3. If you already have a compatible transducer installed on your boat, simply purchase a CHO model (Control Head Only) at a more affordable price.

That's it! A very simple process for deciding which XPLORE model is right for you.

3. A Modern, Easy-to-Use Fish Finder Interface

The backbone of the XPLORE Series is its easy-to-use interface, meant to provide anglers of all experience levels the ability to navigate menus, adjust settings, and take full advantage of its powerful capabilities quickly and efficiently.

Here are a few features that you'll love about the user interface:

• Redesigned Home Screen
• Custom Sonar/Chart View Creation and Favorites
• Simplified Settings Menu
• Updated Menu Bars for Access to Settings
• In-Pane Touch Targets to Quickly Adjust Settings
• Touchscreen Shortcuts to Switch Views Quickly
• Re-Imagined Waypoint Management Capabilities (see more below)
• Mobile App and Minn Kota (One-Boat Network) Integration

XPLORE User Interface Overview & How-To Videos

If you want to learn how to be an expert with your Humminbird XPLORE fish finder, check out this series of overview and how-to videos to take your electronics game up a notch.

4. Cross-Touch Technology: Touchscreen & Physical Keys for User Preference

The Cross Touch interface of XPLORE gives you the flexibility to control your fish finder with either the touchscreen or the keypad.

For those of you who are used to Humminbird HELIX models and are comfortable using the keypad, no problem; the XPLORE gives you the option to control it with the keys, touchscreen, or both, allowing you to operate with comfort.

Jump right into modern fish finder navigation with touchscreen or slowly work your way into it-it's up to you.

Bonus for HELIX Fish Finder Users

Remember those "View Shortcut" buttons that you could program to your favorite view?

Well, the XPLORE comes with three customizable One-Boat Network buttons that can be programmed to your most used sonar or chart views or other networking functions (we'll explain more below).

5. High-Definition Mapping Included: LakeMaster and CoastMaster

The XPLORE Series comes with Humminbird's suite of GPS and mapping solutions right out of the box, including the built-in Basemap and this one will excite all of you. 

Included with every XPLORE is a contour card featuring Humminbird's renowned LakeMaster and CoastMaster contour data of over 13,000 lakes in the U.S. and Canada, as well as complete U.S. Coastal waters for the saltwater anglers. Giving you unrivaled fishing maps at your fingertips.

Take your fish finder skills to another level with popular features like depth highlights, water level offset, and shallow water highlight, SmartStrike, without purchasing a regional mapping card. If you like advanced features like aerial imagery and shaded relief, you can upgrade with regional LakeMaster Premium cards (sold separately).

Bonus: Another functionality to mention is AutoChart Live, which allows you to create a custom map of a body of water that may not be mapped at all, or if it has basic coverage, you can turn this feature on and create your own high-definition map. 

6. XPLORE Fish Finder Compatibility and Networking

The XPLORE Series is built for seamless integration. Effortlessly share data across multiple compatible fish finders, connect with Minn Kota trolling motors and shallow water anchors for enhanced control of your gear, and ensure compatibility with Humminbird's advanced sonar technologies.

Share waypoints, tracks and maps across multiple fish finders, control devices from multiple locations, auto-sync your network of fish finders, connect to your phone and the One-Boat Network App (more info below), and control your Minn Kota gear right from your XPLORE.

Compatible Fish Finders with XPLORE

• XPLORE Series
• SOLIX G3 Series
• APEX Series

Compatible Advanced Sonar

• MEGA Live 1 and 2 Forward Facing Sonar
• MEGA Live TargetLock
• MEGA 360 Imaging

Mega Live, Mega 360, and TargetLock sonar, and offers networking capabilities via Ethernet and NMEA 2000. You can connect multiple Humminbird units and integrate them with Minn Kota trolling motors and shallow water anchors.

What's Needed to Network an EXPLORE with Compatible Fish Finders

• Direct connect two compatible devices with a Humminbird Ethernet cable
• If you have more than two compatible fish finders or Minn Kota products, it's recommended that you connect via the ETH 5PGL ethernet switch to create your network

7. Powerful Waypoint Management

The XPLORE Series introduces an advanced waypoint management system. You can mark, edit, group, and color-code or customize icons for your waypoints on the fly.

Want to export or import data? You can do it via SD card or wirelessly through the One-Boat Network App. Features like "draw to select" make managing clusters of waypoints easier than ever.

8. One-Boat Network Mobile App Integration

Adding to the networking capabilities mentioned above, take full advantage of your fishing experience by connecting your XPLORE with the Humminbird and Minn Kota One-Boat Network Mobile App for even more control of your electronics and data.

Benefits of Using the One-Boat Network App

• Update Your XPLORE Software from Your Phone
• Import, Export and Edit Waypoints from the Comfort off the Water
• View the devices in your network (fish finders, trolling motor, shallow water anchors, etc.
• Scout lake or coastal maps from the comfort of your home
  • Premium Subscription available for only $24.99/year!
• Control your Minn Kota products like trolling motors and shallow water anchors
• Self help section with links to manuals, FAQs, video tutorials, service provider locations, etc.
• Request a call-back from Humminbird or Minn Kota's technical support teams

Learn more about the One-Boat Network Mobile App.

Elevate Your Fishing Experience

The Humminbird XPLORE Series is not just a fish finder, it's a complete sonar and mapping system that adapts to the way you fish.

From hardware to software, touchscreen control to mobile integration, every detail is designed with anglers in mind.

Want to learn more? Visit the XPLORE Series and prepare to take your on water experience to the next level.