A 16-inch screen at the helm changes how you fish and navigate — more chart detail, room for split-screen sonar and radar, and genuinely easier reading from a distance. The two mainstream options in this size are the Garmin GPSMAP 8616 GN+ and the Lowrance HDS PRO 16. Here’s how they stack up.
Display-only vs bundled sonar
Both are available as a display-only “head unit” (no transducer), which suits anyone adding a second station or already running a black box sonar system elsewhere on the boat. Our Garmin GPSMAP 8616 GN+ 16-Inch Display Unit and the used Lowrance HDS PRO 16 head unit are both popular choices for exactly this reason — the used HDS PRO 16 in particular is a strong budget route into a 16-inch screen.
Networking and ecosystem
At this size, these displays are almost always the hub of a wider network — radar, autopilot, engine data, and multiple sonar sources. Garmin’s network is deep and mature; Lowrance’s ties into the wider Simrad/B&G ecosystem, which matters if you’re running B&G autopilot or Simrad radar elsewhere.
Budget tip
Buying a 16-inch display new is a serious investment. A professionally inspected used head unit — like our HDS PRO 16 — can save you well over £1,000 versus new, with the same 90-day used-goods warranty as our other refurbished stock. Worth considering if this is a second station rather than your primary helm display.
Not sure which fits your network? Get in touch — we’re happy to talk through compatibility before you buy.