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Flasher or Graph? Vexilar FLX-28 vs MarCum M1 vs Humminbird ICE HELIX 7

Short answer: The Vexilar FLX-28 is the all-rounder (9° cone, 0.5 in target separation, lithium battery). The MarCum M1 is the budget pick for shallow and mid-depth fish (20° cone, lead-acid battery). The Humminbird ICE HELIX 7 is a GPS graph for anglers who want maps and a unit that also goes on the boat.

Before spending on live sonar, ask whether you need it. A good flasher still does the job for most people. I picked one flasher that does most things well, a cheaper one, and a GPS graph that can go on the boat in summer.

Spec comparison

	Vexilar FLX-28 (ProPack II)	MarCum M1	Humminbird ICE HELIX 7 CHIRP GPS G4
Type	Flasher	Flasher	Graph / GPS (all-season)
Transducer cone	9° Pro-View Ice-Ducer	20°	15° & 21° (Dual Spectrum CHIRP)
Target separation	0.5 in	Down to 2 in	3/4 in
Max depth	300 ft	160 ft (20/40/80/160 ranges)	400 ft
Power output	1,000 W peak-to-peak	1,000 W peak-to-peak	4,000 W p-p / 500 W RMS
Zoom	Split screen, 6 ft & 12 ft bottom zones	Split screen 5 ft bottom lock	Graph zoom views
Interference rejection	20 settings	6-step	6 modes
Battery (as packaged)	12 V / 9 Ah lithium	12 V 7 Ah sealed lead acid	11.1 V 15 Ah lithium
Extras	Auto range, digital depth, weed & night mode, 5 palettes	3-color MBC display	Built-in GPS, mapping, AutoChart Live Ice, LakeMaster-compatible
Warranty	2-year limited	2-year	1-year

Sources: vexilar.com product and comparison pages; marcumtech.com M1 tech specs; humminbird.johnsonoutdoors.com ICE HELIX 7 G4 spec sheet (Oct 2026).

Who each one is for

Vexilar FLX-28: the all-rounder

The narrow 9° cone keeps things tight in deep water, so you see your jig and the fish right under it. You get auto range, a digital depth readout and a weed mode, and it ships with a lithium battery. If you want one flasher for perch in 12 ft and lakers in 80, start here.

MarCum M1: the value pick for shallow and mid-depth fish

The wide 20° cone shows fish farther out from the hole, which helps in shallow weeds where panfish come in from the side. The trade-off is 2-inch separation and a lead-acid battery. It's a great first flasher, or a second unit for the kid.

Humminbird ICE HELIX 7: the map guy's choice

It's a full graph with GPS, so you can mark spots, run lake maps and come back to the exact rock pile. In summer the same head goes on the boat. It's heavier and more involved than a flasher, and some anglers find a flasher dial faster to read when fish are moving quickly.

Where to buy

FLX-28: Buy at Vexilar →
MarCum M1: Buy at MarCum →
ICE HELIX 7 G4: Buy at Humminbird →

Quick questions

What's the difference between a 9° and 20° cone?

A narrow cone like the FLX-28's 9° shows a tighter area under the hole, which helps in deep water. A wide cone like the MarCum M1's 20° shows fish farther to the side, which helps in shallow weeds.

Gear in this guide

• Where to buy the Vexilar FLX-28 ProPack II (Lithium, ProView) · more on Vexilar
• Where to buy the MarCum M1 Flasher System · more on MarCum
• Where to buy the Humminbird ICE HELIX 7 CHIRP GPS G4 All Season · more on Humminbird

Related guides

• Forward-Facing Sonar for Ice: LiveScope Plus vs MEGA Live 2 vs ActiveTarget 2
• Flasher vs Forward-Facing Sonar: A Beginner's Guide

Written by Cory Arnold, Iron County, Michigan. Specs checked October 2026.

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