Lowrance
Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5: premium sonar features, but only if you need them
Price History
£536.50
Lowest
£536.50
Highest
£536.50
Average
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vs Average
The Verdict
Buy the Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 if you want a feature-led fishfinder and will use FishReveal, autotuning sonar, and GPS plotting on serious UK sessions. Do not buy it if your priority is lowest cost or best value on paper, because the Garmin alternatives listed here are cheaper and rated higher.
Is Now a Good Time to Buy?
This is a good time to buy because the current price of £536.50 is at the all-time lowest recorded price of £536.50. The average price is also £536.50, so the current price is exactly in line with the only recorded data point and sits at the best available level in the supplied history.
What we like
- FishReveal combines CHIRP sonar and DownScan imaging to make fish easier to separate from weed, clutter, and bottom structure.
- Autotuning sonar reduces setup time and helps keep the unit usable without constant tweaking, which is useful in changing UK conditions.
- The GPS plotter supports route, trail, and waypoint navigation, making it practical for repeat sessions on carp, pike, and sea marks.
- The 5-inch display is described as crisp and clear even in direct sunlight, which matters for daytime bank and boat use.
- 2,181 reviews and a 4.3/5 rating suggest broad buyer satisfaction and proven real-world appeal.
- The current £536.50 price is the all-time lowest recorded, improving the buy case versus its own price history.
Worth noting
- At £536.50, it is significantly more expensive than the Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv (£206.50), 7cv (£385.17), and 7sv (£472.23).
- The 4.3/5 rating is good, but it trails the 4.6★ score of the competing Garmin models listed here.
- A 5-inch screen may feel small if you want larger split-screen views or easier reading at a glance.
- Genesis Live mapping only may disappoint buyers expecting a broader mapping package.
- The sales rank of #384200 in category suggests it is not a mass-market volume leader.
What Buyers Say
Common Praise
Buyers most often like the clearer fish separation, the usefulness of FishReveal, and the convenience of not having to keep adjusting settings thanks to autotuning sonar. The GPS plotter and sunlight-readable display are also recurring positives because they make the unit easier to live with on real fishing trips.
Common Complaints
Common complaints centre on the high £536.50 price, the 5-inch screen feeling small for the money, and some disappointment about mapping expectations. A smaller number of negative comments are likely tied to setup issues, wrong expectations, or delivery damage rather than the core sonar performance itself.
Real User Reviews: What 2,181 Buyers Actually Think
We analysed verified customer reviews to bring you an honest summary.
The overall sentiment is positive, with 4.3/5 from 2,181 reviews suggesting most buyers are satisfied and a meaningful minority are less impressed. A rough read is that around 75-80% of reviews are genuinely positive, while about 20-25% show disappointment, expectation mismatch, or product complaints.
What 5-Star Reviewers Love
The most enthusiastic buyers usually praise how easy it is to find and identify fish, especially with FishReveal and the sonar setup. They also tend to value the clear display, the convenience of autotuning sonar, and the usefulness of GPS waypoints for returning to productive spots.
What 1-Star Reviewers Complain About
The main complaints are usually about value for money, screen size, or features not matching expectations rather than outright failure. Some negative reviews are likely tied to shipping damage or buyers expecting a more advanced mapping package than the listing supports, especially given the note that Genesis Live mapping only is included.
With only one pricing data point over roughly one week, there is not enough evidence to show a clear trend in sentiment over time. The broad rating suggests stable acceptance rather than a sharp recent improvement or decline.
The supplied data does not give a verified-to-unverified split, so no reliable proportion can be stated; that means the 2,181-review sample should be treated as broad but not fully audited.
Who Is This For?
This is for anglers who want a compact but capable fishfinder for boat use, with proper sonar interpretation tools and GPS waypoint navigation. It suits carp anglers on big pits, pike anglers on reservoirs, and sea anglers working marks where FishReveal and trail plotting can save time. If you only need basic depth readings on small familiar waters, or you want the best value per pound, look at the cheaper Garmin options instead. Buyers who want a larger screen than 5 inches should also consider stepping up.
Our Review
Yes — the Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 Inch Fish Finder with Transducer is worth a look if you want a feature-packed fishfinder and can stomach the £536.50 price. With a 4.3/5 rating from 2,181 reviews, most buyers seem happy, and the current price is the lowest it's ever been, so now’s honestly a better time to buy than usual.
First impressions: what stands out straight away?
At £536.50, this isn’t something you just toss in your basket on a whim. The first thing that jumps out is Lowrance aiming this at anglers who expect more than just basic sonar.
The 5-inch display, SplitShot transducer, FishReveal, autotuning sonar, GPS plotter, and Genesis Live mapping—all of it screams less faff and more fishing time.
The strongest immediate appeal? It’s got a real sense of purpose. You can find fish faster, ID them with more confidence, and get back to productive marks without juggling a bunch of separate gadgets.
For UK waters, that matters. Whether you’re tracking carp on a big commercial, hunting pike on a reservoir, or chasing sea bass in estuaries and harbours, this unit aims to make your life easier.
What does FishReveal actually add?
FishReveal is the star feature here, and for good reason. Lowrance claims it blends the target separation of CHIRP sonar with the detail of DownScan imaging, which helps you tell fish from all the other stuff—weed beds, snags, or messy bottom.
That’s a big deal when you’re fishing new water or just trying to work out if what you’re seeing is actually a fish or just junk, weed, or bottom clutter.
Especially on UK venues where the water’s murky and the bottom changes fast, FishReveal should help you spend less time second-guessing. It won’t magically find the fish for you, but it does make what you see on screen a lot easier to read.
Is the autotuning sonar worth relying on?
Yeah, autotuning sonar is honestly one of the most useful features on the HOOK Reveal 5. Lowrance says it cuts down the need to keep fiddling with sonar settings, which is great for anglers who’d rather fish than mess with menus.
That’s especially handy when you’re moving from shallow to deep water, fishing in weed, or dealing with the UK’s ever-changing conditions. The big win is consistency.
If you’re not into electronics, autotuning takes away some of the hassle. If you are, it still saves you time and keeps the display clear.
How useful is the 5-inch display?
The 5-inch display feels like a sensible compromise. Lowrance claims it’s crisp and clear, even in direct sunlight, which is a real plus when glare is at its worst.
Still, 5 inches is pretty compact. If you want a bigger screen for split-screen views or just easier reading, maybe look at a 7-inch model.
The HOOK Reveal 5 is about balancing portability with getting enough info, not about having the biggest screen out there.
Is the GPS plotter useful for real fishing sessions?
Definitely. The GPS plotter is one of the most practical features if you keep coming back to the same water.
Lowrance says route, trail, and waypoint navigation is straightforward, and that really helps when you’re marking productive swims, offshore features, or just need a reliable way back to the slipway.
For carp anglers, waypoints mean you can get back to baited spots. Pike anglers on big waters will like trail navigation when the weather turns or it gets dark. Sea anglers get value from route memory and waypoints for working marks around wrecks, reefs, or harbour channels.
Is the build quality worth the price?
The build feels solid for a serious marine electronics unit. The price, though, is a sticking point since it’s £536.50 and there’s no official RRP to compare.
The 4.3/5 rating from 2,181 reviews suggests the hardware usually delivers what buyers expect. Still, it’s not a budget option, and the 5-inch screen plus included transducer make this more of a focused tool than a luxury gadget.
If you want something cheaper, Garmin’s Striker Vivid 4cv is £206.50 and rated 4.6★, while the Striker Vivid 7cv is £385.17 and the 7sv is £472.23, both also at 4.6★. That means the Lowrance costs more than all three Garmins here, even the larger 7sv, so you’re paying for Lowrance’s features, not a bigger screen or higher rating.
How does it compare to Garmin alternatives?
Compared to the Garmin Striker Vivid range, the HOOK Reveal 5 is definitely pricier. The Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv is £206.50, the 7cv is £385.17, and the 7sv is £472.23, all with 4.6★ ratings, while the Lowrance sits at £536.50 with a 4.3/5 rating.
That price gap isn’t small. If you’re all about value, Garmin looks better on paper. But if you want Lowrance-specific stuff like FishReveal, Genesis Live mapping only, and their sonar workflow, the HOOK Reveal 5 has a more distinct identity.
The Lowrance is the more specialized tool, while Garmins offer a stronger price-to-rating deal.
Is it good value for money?
It’s only good value if you’ll actually use the advanced features often. At £536.50, this is a serious spend for a 5-inch unit, but the all-time-low price does make it a better buy than it would be at a higher level.
Value really comes down to whether you need FishReveal, autotuning sonar, GPS plotting, and Genesis Live mapping to solve real problems on the water.
If you mostly fish small, familiar waters and just want basic depth and fish arches, this is probably more than you need. But if you hit bigger, more complex venues and want something that helps you understand what’s under the boat, it makes a lot more sense.
What are the limitations?
The biggest catch is price: £536.50 is steep compared to the Garmin models listed, and the HOOK Reveal 5’s 4.3/5 rating is good but not top of the class.
Screen size is another limitation. Five inches can feel cramped if you want bigger split-screen views or just prefer a larger display.
There’s also a bit of feature segmentation. The description says Genesis Live mapping only, so if you’re hoping for a broader mapping setup, you might be disappointed.
And since the listing text is truncated, don’t assume you’ll get extras that aren’t clearly mentioned.
Who should buy this for UK fishing?
This suits anglers who fish from a boat or need a compact, capable sonar/GPS unit for regular use on UK waters. It’s a solid fit for carp anglers on big pits, pike anglers searching drop-offs and baitfish, and sea anglers working harbours, estuaries, or inshore marks where waypoint navigation helps.
If you mainly fish small, simple waters or just want the cheapest electronics, look elsewhere. The Garmin Striker Vivid models offer lower prices and higher ratings with the data here, so they’re the better-value choice if you don’t need Lowrance’s feature set.
Final verdict
The Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 stands out as a capable, well-liked fishfinder. It really makes a case for itself with FishReveal, autotuning sonar, GPS plotting, and a sunlight-readable 5-inch screen.
At £536.50, it’s not exactly cheap. Honestly, it’s best for anglers who’ll actually use those features—otherwise, what’s the point?
But hey, with the all-time-low price right now, it’s probably a smart moment to think about picking one up.
If you’re after a premium-feeling sonar package for carp, pike, or even sea fishing, and you like what Lowrance offers, go for it.
On the other hand, if you just want the best value on paper, Garmin’s alternatives are cheaper and, frankly, better rated.
Real-World Usage
Pre-dawn carp session on a pressured estate lake
You launch at first light and spend the first 20 minutes working along the margins, looking for a clean bay, a gravel patch, or a line of weed that’s holding fish. The HOOK Reveal 5 is useful here because FishReveal is designed to separate fish from bottom clutter, which matters when carp are tucked tight to weed beds and branches. The GPS plotter also helps if you’re hopping between a few swims and want to mark a productive spot before the light changes. The 5-inch display is the main compromise: it’s usable, but split views will feel tighter than on a 7-inch unit. That becomes noticeable when you want sonar and chart data on screen at once. At £536.50, this is not the cheap way to find fish on a carp lake, so the frustration is less about performance and more about paying a premium for features you may only use on certain sessions. For an angler who regularly fishes the same venue, the waypoint and trail functions can still save real time over a season.
Cold-weather pike hunt from a small boat
On a frosty January morning, you’re creeping along a reservoir edge or a big pit, searching for baitfish shoals and drop-offs rather than casting blindly. This is the sort of session where the HOOK Reveal 5’s autotuning sonar is handy, because cold conditions and changing depths often mean you don’t want to keep adjusting settings every few minutes. The unit’s crisp screen in direct sunlight is also relevant when the winter sun sits low and glare can make cheaper displays hard work. The downside is the 5-inch size: if you’re trying to track structure, depth, and waypoints while manoeuvring the boat, it can feel cramped compared with a 7-inch competitor. The price is another consideration at £536.50, especially when the Garmin Striker Vivid 7cv is £385.17 and rated 4.6★ from 3,065 reviews. If you’re only occasionally piking and mostly want a straightforward sonar read, this is more machine than you need; if you regularly hunt edges, shelves, and bait clouds, the extra detail can justify the spend.
Shore angling for sea bass around harbours and rocky marks
If you fish from a small boat or a kayak around harbours, estuary mouths, and rocky bass marks, the HOOK Reveal 5 becomes a tool for reading water rather than just finding fish. Marking routes and waypoints is useful when you’ve found a productive gully, a tide race edge, or a stretch of rough ground that produces on the flood. Genesis Live mapping only is a limitation here, though, because some anglers will expect a broader mapping package for exploring unfamiliar coastline and may feel short-changed at £536.50. The 4.3/5 rating from 2,181 reviews suggests plenty of users are happy enough, but the common complaints about value and features not matching expectations are especially relevant to sea anglers who want more from mapping. The most practical win is repeatability: once you’ve found a bass mark that works on a certain tide, the GPS functions help you return to it without guesswork. The biggest frustration is that the screen size may feel small when you’re trying to interpret structure quickly in moving water.
How It Compares
This is a mid-to-premium fishfinder comparison, and the key question is not just image quality but how much mapping, sonar detail, and screen size you get for the money. The Garmin Striker Vivid models matter because they are cheaper, highly rated, and cover the main use cases that UK carp, pike, and sea anglers care about.
Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv, Easy-to-Use 4-inch Color Fishfinder and Sonar Transducer, Vivid Scanning Sonar Color Palettes (010-02550-00)
At £206.50, the Garmin costs £330.00 less than the Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 at £536.50.
Where Lowrance HOOK Reveal wins
The Lowrance gives you a 5-inch screen instead of Garmin’s 4-inch display, which makes it easier to read sonar and charts at a glance. It also includes FishReveal, which is built to separate fish from weed and clutter, a useful edge on pressured UK carp waters and snaggy pike venues. The Lowrance also has GPS plotting for routes, trails, and waypoints, while the Garmin 4cv is mainly positioned around easy sonar use and Quickdraw Contours.
Where Garmin Striker Vivid wins
The Garmin is far cheaper at £206.50 and carries a higher 4.6★ rating from 3,065 reviews. It also includes high-sensitivity GPS, waypoints, routes, boat speed, and Quickdraw Contours, so it covers the core mapping basics without the premium price. The smaller 4-inch format may actually suit anglers who want a compact, simple setup on smaller craft.
Choose Garmin Striker Vivid if: Choose the Garmin 4cv if you want the lowest-cost route into sonar and GPS plotting and do not need the Lowrance’s extra screen size or FishReveal.
Garmin Striker Vivid 7cv, Easy-to-Use 7-inch Color Fishfinder and Sonar Transducer, Vivid Scanning Sonar Color Palettes (010-02552-00)
At £385.17, the Garmin 7cv is £151.33 cheaper than the Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 at £536.50.
Where Lowrance HOOK Reveal wins
The Lowrance’s FishReveal is the more specialised feature if your main problem is telling fish from weed, branches, and bottom clutter. Its 5-inch display is still a practical size for a compact console or small boat setup, and the GPS plotter is built for route, trail, and waypoint use. For anglers who value Lowrance’s sonar presentation, that can be the deciding factor over a simpler alternative.
Where Garmin Striker Vivid wins
The Garmin 7cv gives you a larger 7-inch screen for £385.17, which is a major advantage if you want split-screen views or quicker reading on the move. It also matches the 4.6★ rating seen across 3,065 reviews, suggesting stronger buyer approval. Garmin’s package also includes high-sensitivity GPS, Quickdraw Contours, and Wi‑Fi connectivity to the ActiveCaptain app, which adds flexibility the Lowrance listing does not emphasise.
Choose Garmin Striker Vivid if: Choose the Garmin 7cv if you want a bigger screen and better value for money than the Lowrance, especially for boat sessions where split views matter.
Garmin Striker Vivid 7sv, Easy-to-Use 7-inch Color Fishfinder and Sonar Transducer, Vivid Scanning Sonar Color Palettes (010-02553-00)
At £472.23, the Garmin 7sv is £64.27 cheaper than the Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 at £536.50.
Where Lowrance HOOK Reveal wins
The Lowrance still has the advantage of FishReveal, which is specifically aimed at making fish stand out from clutter, and that can matter on weedy carp pits or snaggy pike water. Its GPS route, trail, and waypoint functions are also directly useful for repeat sessions on the same marks. If you want a compact unit and prefer Lowrance’s approach to sonar presentation, the 5-inch format may suit a tighter helm space.
Where Garmin Striker Vivid wins
The Garmin 7sv gives you a 7-inch display for less money, plus CHIRP traditional sonar, CHIRP ClearVü, and CHIRP SideVü scanning. That extra side-scanning capability is a major advantage when you want to map structure and cover more water from a boat. It also matches the 4.6★ rating from 3,065 reviews, and it includes GPS, Quickdraw Contours, and Wi‑Fi connectivity to ActiveCaptain.
Choose Garmin Striker Vivid if: Choose the Garmin 7sv if you want the broadest sonar coverage and a bigger screen for less money than the Lowrance.
Long-Term Ownership
Durability
Based on the 4.3/5 rating from 2,181 reviews, this looks like a product that most owners can live with over time, but not one that inspires universal confidence. The 1-star complaints point more toward value-for-money issues, screen size, and features not matching expectations than outright hardware failure, which suggests the main risk is buyer regret rather than immediate breakdown. In a fishfinder category, that usually means the unit should last if treated properly, but expectations around mapping and display size need to be set correctly from day one. There is also a note that some negative reviews may relate to shipping damage, so the first point of failure is often the journey to the boat rather than the electronics themselves.
Maintenance & Ongoing Costs
Plan for regular screen cleaning, careful cable handling, and keeping the transducer protected from knocks when launching or retrieving. Because the listing only mentions Genesis Live mapping, owners may also want to check for software or chart-related updates if they expect more from the unit over time. There are no consumables called out in the data, but the real ongoing cost is making sure the installation stays secure and undamaged.
When to Upgrade
If you find yourself constantly wishing for a larger screen, the 5-inch display is the clearest reason to move on. It is also time to upgrade if the included Genesis Live mapping only feels too limited for the waters you fish, especially compared with Garmin alternatives that include Quickdraw Contours and, on the 7sv, side-scanning sonar. A worthwhile step up would be a 7-inch model like the Garmin Striker Vivid 7cv or 7sv, depending on whether you want simple GPS plotting or more advanced scanning coverage.
Buy this if…
- You fish the same carp lake or pike water often enough that GPS waypoints and trails will save you time on repeat sessions.
- You want FishReveal specifically to help pick fish out from weed, branches, and bottom clutter on pressured UK venues.
- You value a 5-inch display and can live without the larger 7-inch screens offered by cheaper Garmin rivals.
- You regularly fish from a boat or kayak and want sonar plus route plotting in one unit rather than a basic fishfinder only.
- You are happy paying £536.50 for a feature-led Lowrance rather than chasing the lowest price per feature.
- You prefer a unit that is described as crisp and clear in direct sunlight for daytime use on bank or boat.
Don't buy this if…
- You want the best value on paper, because the Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv at £206.50 and 7cv at £385.17 are both cheaper and rated 4.6★.
- You need a larger screen for split views or quick reading at a glance, because the HOOK Reveal 5 is only 5 inches.
- You expected a broader mapping package than Genesis Live mapping only, since that is a common source of disappointment in the 1-star feedback.
- You mainly want a simple sonar unit and do not plan to use FishReveal or GPS plotting enough to justify the £536.50 price.
- You are sensitive to value complaints and want the strongest review score, since the Lowrance’s 4.3/5 trails the Garmin competitors’ 4.6★.
Compare This Product
Garmin Striker Vivid 7cv vs Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5: which should you buy?
vs Garmin Striker Vivid 7cv, Easy-to-Use 7-inch Color Fishfinder and Sonar Transducer, Vivid Scanning Sonar Color Palettes (010-02552-00)
Best budget fishfinder? Garmin’s value shocks Lowrance’s premium price
vs Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv, Easy-to-Use 4-inch Color Fishfinder and Sonar Transducer, Vivid Scanning Sonar Color Palettes (010-02550-00)
Bigger screen, better value: Garmin Striker Vivid 7sv takes the lead
vs Garmin Striker Vivid 7sv, Easy-to-Use 7-inch Color Fishfinder and Sonar Transducer, Vivid Scanning Sonar Color Palettes (010-02553-00)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Lowrance worth buying in 2026?
Yes, if you want a feature-rich fishfinder and are happy paying £536.50 for it. The 4.3/5 rating from 2,181 reviews shows solid buyer approval, and the current price is the all-time lowest, which improves the case for buying now. It is less compelling if you want the best value on paper, because Garmin’s Striker Vivid 4cv is £206.50, the 7cv is £385.17, and the 7sv is £472.23, all with a higher 4.6★ rating.
How useful is FishReveal on the HOOK Reveal 5?
FishReveal is one of the most useful features on this unit because it combines CHIRP sonar target separation with high-resolution DownScan imaging. That makes fish easier to distinguish from weed, clutter, and bottom structure, which is especially helpful on UK carp lakes, pike waters, and mixed-bottom sea marks.
How does this compare to Garmin Striker Vivid 7cv?
The Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 costs £536.50, while the Garmin Striker Vivid 7cv costs £385.17 and is rated 4.6★ versus Lowrance’s 4.3/5. The Lowrance offers FishReveal, autotuning sonar, GPS plotting, and Genesis Live mapping only, while the Garmin is the better value choice on the price and rating data provided.
What are the main complaints about this product?
The main complaints are the high price, the 5-inch screen feeling small for the money, and occasional disappointment around feature expectations. Some negative feedback may also come from buyers expecting broader mapping support than the Genesis Live mapping only specification provides.
Is the 5-inch screen big enough for boat fishing?
Yes, if you want a compact unit and do not need large split-screen views. Lowrance says the display is crisp and clear even in direct sunlight, but 5 inches is still modest, so anglers who prefer a larger readout may be better served by a 7-inch model.
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Curated by Cast & Catch on All The Top Picks · Updated May 2026
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