Humminbird Piranha Max 4 DI Fish Finder
| Overall Rating | 87.3% |
| Grade | Good |
| Maximum Depth | 600 ft in saltwater; Down Imaging: 320 ft in saltwater |
| Sonar Frequencies | 200/455 kHz |
| CHIRP |  |
| Display Size | 4.3 Inches |
| GPS |  |
| Chartplotter | |
| Down Imaging | |
| Side Imaging | |
| Transducer Included | |
| Suitability for Kayaks & Small Craft | |
| Water Temperature Sensor | |
Humminbird Piranha Max 4 DI: What Anglers Are Saying
The Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 DI is a huge hit with anglers across the globe, earning a solid average of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Users consistently praise its portability, dead-simple operation, and easy-to-read screen, even in bright sunlight.
While there have been a few isolated critiques (mainly concerning the Down Imaging feature or occasional defects), the positive feedback overwhelmingly tips the scales.
What really makes the PiranhaMAX 4 DI stand out is that it offers high-quality Down Imaging at an entry-level price point, making it a seriously attractive option for a wide range of fishermen.
This fish finder is a perfect match for beginners and anglers looking for a compact, portable unit for small to medium-sized waters. It’s especially well-suited for use on inflatables, jon boats, or belly boats.
If you want a crystal-clear, high-resolution view of what’s directly beneath your boat—particularly for vertical jigging in depths over 15 feet – this unit is tailor-made for you.
Here’s our in-depth review of the Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 DI, complete with a roundup of what fellow anglers are saying in their customer reviews. Plus, we’ve broken down the most important pros and cons of this fish finder for a quick and easy overview.
Humminbird Piranha Max 4 DI: The Official Editor’s Review
Maximum Depth / Sonar Frequencies / CHIRP
The Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 DI can reach a maximum depth of 600 feet in saltwater. It utilizes transducer frequencies of 200 and 455 kHz for the traditional 2D sonar and 455 kHz for Down Imaging. As an entry-level model, this unit does not include a CHIRP function.
When it comes to depth performance, the Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 DI holds its own, reaching a solid 600 feet. In our head-to-head comparison, this puts it right in the middle of the pack.
The undisputed champ in this category, however, is the Humminbird HELIX 5 G3, which can punch down to an impressive 1,200 feet.
For its traditional 2D sonar, the PiranhaMAX 4 DI uses frequencies of 200 and 455 kHz. When you switch over to the Down Imaging feature, it locks in on the 455 kHz frequency to give you that picture-like view.
Here’s the key takeaway on frequencies: Lower frequencies penetrate deeper into the water column but deliver less target detail. Higher frequencies, on the other hand, paint a much more detailed picture but can’t reach as deep.
Thanks to its Dual Beam technology, the PiranhaMAX 4 DI fires both 200 and 455 kHz sonar beams at the same time. This clever combo gives you the best of both worlds: great depth penetration and high-resolution images.
As one of Humminbird’s entry-level models, this unit is designed to be straightforward and affordable, which means it doesn’t come equipped with a CHIRP function.
Display Size / GPS / Chartplotter
The Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 DI sports a 4.3-inch display with a 272 x 480 pixel resolution. It’s a dedicated single-view screen, so it doesn’t offer a split-screen option.
This unit is a pure fish finder and does not include GPS or any chartplotting capabilities. This straightforward approach makes it an ideal choice for anglers focusing on small to medium-sized bodies of water.
The Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 DI is equipped with a 4.3-inch display that offers a 272 x 480 pixel resolution. This screen resolution is standard for many 4-inch fish finders, and you’ll find the same specs on popular models like the Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv and the Garmin Striker Plus 4.
Humminbird designed this model with user-friendliness as the top priority. To keep things simple, the screen is not splittable; you can only cycle between the Status view, the traditional Sonar view, and the Down Imaging view.
For anglers on larger bodies of water, reliable GPS is often essential for marking and returning to hot spots. It’s important to know that the Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 DI does not have a GPS function or a chartplotter.
Without built-in GPS, the PiranhaMAX 4 DI is best suited for use on smaller and medium-sized waters where you can navigate by sight. If you still want to mark your fishing spots, you can always fall back on an external GPS-enabled device, like your smartphone.
Fish Finder Features / Down Imaging / Side Imaging
The Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 DI makes finding fish easier with features like Fish ID+ (which displays fish as icons), fish alarms, and depth alarms.
The zoom function allows you to get a more detailed look when you need it. With Down Imaging, the unit creates sharp, picture-like images of the underwater world directly beneath your boat.
However, the PiranhaMAX 4 DI does not offer Side Imaging. That feature, which gives you a 180-degree side-to-side view, is available starting with the Humminbird HELIX 7 Series and up.
The following features help you locate fish more effectively with the Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 DI:
Fish ID+™
This feature interprets sonar returns and displays them as easy-to-see fish icons on the screen. The icons even vary in size to give you a general idea of how big the fish are. This simplifies fish identification, especially for anglers who aren’t experienced in reading traditional sonar arches.
Fish Alarms
These are audible alerts that go off as soon as the fish finder detects fish in the water column. You can typically customize the alarm to only sound for specific sizes of fish, helping you filter out smaller baitfish and focus on your target species.
This is a great way to keep tabs on what’s below without having to constantly stare at your screen.
Depth Alarms
The depth alarm lets you set a minimum or maximum depth range. If your boat moves into water that’s shallower or deeper than your preset limits, an alarm will sound. This is a crucial feature for safe navigation and for staying in specific, productive depth zones.
Zoom Function
This feature gives you the ability to magnify a selected portion of the water column. It’s especially useful for getting a closer look at bottom structure or schools of fish and pinpointing their exact location.
Down Imaging®
The Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 DI comes equipped with Down Imaging. This Humminbird technology uses a high-frequency, razor-thin sonar beam to create incredibly sharp, picture-like images of the world directly beneath your boat.
On the display, you can clearly make out bottom structures, submerged vegetation, and schools of fish in high detail. This feature is a game-changer for precisely identifying structure and the fish holding tight to it.
For comparison, similar technologies from other brands include Lowrance DownScan Imaging or Garmin ClearVü, which also provide detailed views below the boat.
The following models from our comparison also have this feature:
Humminbird’s Side Imaging offers a stunning 180-degree perspective of the underwater world. A razor-thin sonar beam rapidly scans an area up to 400 feet to the left and right of your boat. This gives you a total coverage of up to 800 feet.
The individual scans are seamlessly stitched together to create a single, detailed image of the bottom. Users can zoom in on specific details or mark promising structures and hotspots directly on the screen with a GPS waypoint.
Comparable technologies from other brands are known as SideScan Imaging from Lowrance and SideVü from Garmin.
It’s important to note that the Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 DI does not offer the Side Imaging feature. At Humminbird, this advanced function is only available starting with select models in the HELIX 7 series and up.
Transducer / Suitability for Kayak Fishing
The Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 DI includes the XNT 9 DI T transducer right in the box, so there are no extra costs and it’s ready to hit the water immediately. Thanks to its compact size and simple operation, it’s a perfect fit for inflatables and belly boats on smaller bodies of water.
The Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 DI comes packaged with the XNT 9 DI T transducer. This means you won’t have any extra costs for a compatible transducer, and the unit is ready to use right out of the box.
Thanks to its compact size and straightforward handling, it’s an excellent choice for use on inflatables and belly boats. Its simple installation and intuitive operation make it a practical companion for anglers on smaller waters.
The following 4-inch models are also well-suited for use on inflatables and boats:
How you mount a fish finder really depends on your type of boat. For inflatables, the transducer is typically attached to a solid transom. For belly boats, however, special strap systems with a mounting plate are ideal, as they can be flexibly attached to one of the air chambers.
If you’re using a rental boat where you can’t drill any holes for a permanent installation, portable transducer poles or suction cup mounts are practical solutions for a flexible and damage-free setup.
Customer Review Roundup: Feedback from Real Owners
The Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 DI is a huge hit with customers, pulling in an impressive average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars across more than 500 customer reviews.
Here’s a look at what customers are saying:
- Excellent product! It is easy to use and shows right where the fish are. Great value for the money!
- Price point on this is awesome. Used in a kayak this morning, both downvision and sonar. Found to work well with my early use of the device. Gave me what I wanted, It is portable, easy to use and I can see it in direct sunlight.
- It works great.
- As advertised. Nice unit. I don’t fish and justed wanted it wor depth and water temp.
- Nice slimline depth finder which fits my boat great.
- Great fish finder for the price. I I was highly impressed with the different options on this unit from sonar to the contour of the bottom of the body of water. Recommend this very much for somebody on a budget.
- Great unit, but it doesn’t come with arm assembly. Loved it but had to modify the mounting bracket to fit the arm mount on the kayak unit I got from cabela’s plus it was $34 for that arm assembly.
- It’s just what I wanted, and it’s great.
- I tested this product one time. There was a thunderstorm. The Humminbird turned off. Curtains. That’s a lot of money for not much. And there’s no way to get it repaired. Amazon’s policy (or their website) is preventing me from getting it fixed.
The Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 DI is clearly a major hit with anglers not just in the US, but around the world, with positive feedback pouring in from places like Canada and France, highlighting its international appeal.
The overwhelming consensus is that this unit delivers fantastic bang for the buck, making it a top recommendation for anyone on a budget.
Anglers consistently praise its user-friendly interface and simple operation, noting how easy it is to use right out of the box.
Its performance on the water is a key selling point; users are highly impressed with the crisp, clear imaging and the effectiveness of both the traditional sonar and the Down Imaging for mapping bottom contours.
The screen’s excellent visibility, even in direct sunlight, is another frequently mentioned benefit, which, combined with its portability and slim design, makes it a perfect fit for kayaks and smaller boats. Even non-anglers find it to be a great, straightforward unit for reading depth and water temperature.
While the praise is widespread, it’s worth noting a couple of critical points that have surfaced. A recurring piece of feedback is a heads-up for kayak anglers: the unit may not include the specific mounting arm assembly needed for all kayak setups, sometimes requiring a separate purchase and modification.
More seriously, there are isolated reports of the device failing unexpectedly, such as one instance during a thunderstorm. This user expressed significant frustration, feeling they had no way to get the unit repaired through the seller’s policy.
Despite these occasional critiques, the vast majority of experiences are overwhelmingly positive.
For the budget-conscious angler, kayaker, or beginner who wants a reliable, easy-to-use fish finder with clear Down Imaging, the PiranhaMAX 4 DI is celebrated as an excellent product that delivers exactly what it promises.
Humminbird Piranha Max 4 DI: Pros and Cons
The Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 DI is a huge hit with over 500 Amazon buyers, scoring big points for offering Down Imaging for under $300 and a depth capability of up to 600 feet. It’s compact, easy to use, and perfectly suited for inflatables and belly boats.
The trade-offs are the lack of CHIRP technology and a non-splittable screen. Nevertheless, it offers an attractive price-to-performance ratio for beginners who want to get into the world of Down Imaging.
Pros
- Purchased and rated by over 500 Amazon customers
- Humminbird fish finder with Down Imaging for under $200
- Solid depth performance down to 600 feet
- Great for inflatables and belly boats
- Easy to use
Cons
- No CHIRP
- Screen isn’t splittable / No split-screen view
The Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 DI is incredibly popular, a fact backed up by over 500 customer reviews on Amazon.
A major advantage of this model is that it brings Humminbird’s Down Imaging feature to a price point under $200, which is not a given for fish finders in this class. It also impresses with a solid depth capability of up to 600 feet.
Thanks to its simple operation and compact size, it’s a great fit for inflatables and belly boats. However, there are a couple of drawbacks to consider: the unit does not feature CHIRP technology, and the screen is not splittable for viewing multiple screens at once.
Despite these limitations, the PiranhaMAX 4 DI offers an attractive price-to-performance ratio for anglers looking for a user-friendly solution with the power of Down Imaging.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Humminbird Piranha Max 4 DI
Does the Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 DI have a chartplotter?
No, the Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 DI does not have a chartplotter. It’s an entry-level unit that is focused on the core fish finder functions.
- Humminbird
- Amazon
- Own experience
