- Key Facts
- Rating7.9/10
- Why this pickRaymarine no longer sells a plain 'Axiom 12.' The 12-inch size splits between Axiom+ (previous generation, reviewed here) and Axiom 2 or Axiom 2 Pro (current, pricier tiers). The RV version is the one with sonar built in; the base Axiom+ 12 is chartplotter-only.
Pros
- 1800-nit screen is the brightest in the Axiom+ RV line, a real step up from the 9-inch's 1500 nits
- Same full sonar suite as the smaller model, CHIRP, DownVision, SideVision, RealVision 3D at 600W, just on more screen
- 12-inch size gives split-screen views (chart plus sonar) real room to breathe at the helm
Cons
- $2,599.99 is for the display only; the real complete-kit price with Raymarine's RV-100 transducer is $2,949.99
- Above this sits Axiom 2 Pro, built specifically for offshore fishing, at an unlisted but clearly higher price point
- Same 28-satellite GPS and Bluetooth 4.0 as the cheaper 9-inch model, the extra money buys screen size and brightness, not new capability
Like the 9-inch model, a plain "Raymarine Axiom 12" doesn't exist in the current lineup. The 12-inch size splits between Axiom+, Raymarine's previous generation, and the newer Axiom 2 and Axiom 2 Pro tiers. This review covers the Axiom+ 12 RV, the sonar-equipped version, since that's the one anyone searching "Axiom 12 fish finder" actually wants.
Raymarine Axiom+ 12 RV Specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Screen | 12" WXGA, 1280 x 800, 1800 nits |
| Sonar / transducer | CHIRP conical, DownVision, SideVision, RealVision 3D, 600W sonar power; transducer sold separately |
| GPS | Internal, tracks up to 28 satellites (GPS/GLONASS/Beidou), ~5m accuracy 95% of the time with SBAS |
| Connectivity | NMEA 2000, RayNet (10/100 Mbps Ethernet), Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Price | $2,599.99 (display only) / $2,949.99 with RV-100 transducer bundle |
What Sits Above and Below the Axiom+ 12
Raymarine's Axiom family at 12 inches runs three real tiers. Axiom+ 12, covered here, is the previous generation. Axiom 2 12" is the current generation with faster processing. Above both sits Axiom 2 Pro, offered in a 12-inch single-channel-sonar version (Pro S, built for cruising and sailing) and a 12-inch RealVision MAX version (Pro RVM, built for serious offshore fishing). Raymarine doesn't publish US pricing for the Axiom 2 or Pro tiers on its own lineup page, so this review can't put a real number next to them, but expect a real step up from the Axiom+'s $2,599.99.
Axiom+ 12 sits in the middle of three real 12-inch tiers, Axiom 2 above it for faster processing, Axiom 2 Pro further above for dedicated offshore fishing, neither with published US pricing to compare against.
The Sonar Suite Doesn't Change, the Screen Does
Screen size and brightness are the actual differences between the 9-inch and 12-inch Axiom+ RV. Both run the same 600W sonar package: CHIRP conical sonar, DownVision, SideVision, and RealVision 3D. What the 12-inch adds is a 1280x800 WXGA panel at 1800 nits, brighter than the 9-inch's 1500 nits, and enough physical screen to run a split chart-plus-sonar view without either half feeling cramped. As with the 9-inch, the transducer isn't included. Raymarine's own RV-100 bundle brings the real complete-kit price to $2,949.99, not the $2,599.99 display-only figure.
The sonar package is unchanged from the 9-inch model, what the 12-inch actually buys is a brighter 1800-nit panel and more room for a comfortable split chart-plus-sonar view, and the real total price still needs the RV-100 bundle added on top.
GPS and Connectivity Are Identical to the 9-Inch
There's no upgrade here for the extra money. GPS tracking (up to 28 satellites, GPS/GLONASS/Beidou, ~5m accuracy with SBAS), NMEA 2000, RayNet Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.0, and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n are all the same specs as the Axiom+ 9. If navigation accuracy or networking capability is the deciding factor, size doesn't move the needle. Screen real estate and brightness are what you're actually paying the extra roughly $1,250 for.
GPS and connectivity specs don't change with screen size, the extra ~$1,250 over the 9-inch buys physical display real estate and brightness, nothing on the navigation side.
Axiom+ 12 vs. Axiom+ 9
For a smaller boat, a single console, or a tighter budget, the Axiom+ 9 RV delivers the identical sonar suite for $1,349.99 display-only, $1,250 less than the 12-inch. The 12-inch earns its price at a dedicated helm station on a larger boat, where the bigger split-screen view and extra brightness are worth having, not on a boat where a 9-inch screen already fills the available panel space.
The two sizes run the identical sonar suite, a smaller boat or tighter budget is genuinely better served by the 9-inch at $1,250 less; the 12-inch earns its price only at a dedicated helm with room to use the extra screen.
Verdict: Is the Raymarine Axiom+ 12 RV Worth It?
Buy it if you have the helm space for a 12-inch display and want the brightest screen in the Axiom+ RV line, with the full CHIRP/DownVision/SideVision/RealVision 3D sonar suite built in. Price the RV-100 bundle ($2,949.99), not the bare display, since a display alone won't run sonar.
Skip it if a 9-inch screen already fits your boat's console. The sonar and GPS specs are identical between the two sizes, so the smaller Axiom+ 9 RV covers the same fishing capability for $1,250 less.
Best fit is a larger boat with real helm space to dedicate to a 12-inch screen, anyone whose console already fits a 9-inch display gets identical fishing capability for less money by staying with the Axiom+ 9 RV.