GARMIN GPSMAP 78, 79 & 86 Series GPS Comparison
Here's how the models are different

Click here to compare with other Garmin handhelds								Discontinued	Discontinued
	GPSMAP 86s	GPSMAP 86sc	GPSMAP 86i	GPSMAP 86sci	GPSMAP 79s	GPSMAP 79sc	GPSMAP 78	GPSMAP 78s	GPSMAP 78sc
Unit dimensions:	2.65" x 7" x 1.7" (6.75 x 17.8 x 4.4 cm)	2.65" x 7" x 1.7" (6.75 x 17.8 x 4.4 cm)	2.75" x 7" x 1.7" (7 x 17.8 x 4.4 cm)	2.75" x 7" x 1.7" (7 x 17.8 x 4.4 cm)	2.67'' x 6.85'' x 1.67'' (6.77 x 17.40 x 4.23 cm)	2.67'' x 6.85'' x 1.67'' (6.77 x 17.40 x 4.23 cm)	2.6" x 6.0" x 1.2" (6.6 x 15.2 x 3.0 cm)	2.6" x 6.0" x 1.2" (6.6 x 15.2 x 3.0 cm)	2.6" x 6.0" x 1.2" (6.6 x 15.2 x 3.0 cm)
Display size:	1.5"W x 2.5"H (3.8 x 6.3 cm); 3" diag (7.6 cm)	1.5"W x 2.5"H (3.8 x 6.3 cm); 3" diag (7.6 cm)	1.5"W x 2.5"H (3.8 x 6.3 cm); 3" diag (7.6 cm)	1.5"W x 2.5"H (3.8 x 6.3 cm); 3" diag (7.6 cm)	1.5"W x 2.5"H (3.8 x 6.3 cm); 3" diag (7.6 cm)	1.5"W x 2.5"H (3.8 x 6.3 cm); 3" diag (7.6 cm)	1.43" x 2.15" (3.6 x 5.5 cm); 2.6" diag (6.6 cm)	1.43" x 2.15" (3.6 x 5.5 cm); 2.6" diag (6.6 cm)	1.43" x 2.15" (3.6 x 5.5 cm); 2.6" diag (6.6 cm)
Display resolution:	240 x 400 pixels	240 x 400 pixels	240 x 400 pixels	240 x 400 pixels	240 x 400 pixels	240 x 400 pixels	160 x 240 pixels	160 x 240 pixels	160 x 240 pixels
Display type:	transflective, 65K color TFT	transflective, 65K color TFT	transflective, 65K color TFT	transflective, 65K color TFT	transflective, 65K color TFT	transflective, 65K color TFT	transflective, 65-K color TFT	transflective, 65-K color TFT	transflective, 65-K color TFT
Weight:	9.59 oz (272 g)	9.59 oz (272 g)	9.59 oz (272 g)	9.59 oz (272 g)	9.95 oz (282g) with batteries	9.95 oz (282g) with batteries	7.7 oz (218.3 g) with batteries	7.7 oz (218.3 g) with batteries	7.7 oz (218.3 g) with batteries
Battery:	rechargeable internal lithium ion	rechargeable internal lithium ion	rechargeable internal lithium ion	rechargeable internal lithium ion	2 AA batteries (not included); NiMH or Lithium recommended	2 AA batteries (not included); NiMH or Lithium recommended	2 AA batteries (not included); NiMH or Lithium recommended	2 AA batteries (not included); NiMH or Lithium recommended	2 AA batteries (not included); NiMH or Lithium recommended
Battery life:	Up to 40 hours (standard mode); up to 200 hours (expedition mode)	Up to 40 hours (standard mode); up to 200 hours (expedition mode)	Up to 35 hours in 10-minute tracking mode; up to 200 hours (expedition mode)	Up to 35 hours in 10-minute tracking mode; up to 200 hours (expedition mode)	up to 19 hours	up to 19 hours	20 hours	20 hours	20 hours
Waterproof:	yes (IPX7)	yes (IPX7)	yes (IPX7)	yes (IPX7)	yes (IPX7)	yes (IPX7)	yes (IPX7)	yes (IPX7)	yes (IPX7)
Floats:	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
High-sensitivity receiver:	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/QZSS	GPS	GPS	GPS	GPS	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS and SBAS	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS and SBAS	GPS	GPS	GPS
Interface:	USB and NMEA 0183 compatible	USB and NMEA 0183 compatible	USB and NMEA 0183 compatible	USB and NMEA 0183 compatible	high speed microUSB and NMEA 0183 compatible	high speed microUSB and NMEA 0183 compatible	USB and NMEA 0183 compatible	high-speed USB and NMEA 0183 compatible	high-speed USB and NMEA 0183 compatible
MIL-STD-810	x	x	x	x	yes (thermal, shock, water); bare unit only	yes (thermal, shock, water); bare unit only	x	x	x
	GPSMAP 86s	GPSMAP 86sc	GPSMAP 86i	GPSMAP 86sci	GPSMAP 79s	GPSMAP 79sc	GPSMAP 78	GPSMAP 78s	GPSMAP 78sc
Basemap:	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Preloaded maps:	x	yes (preloaded BlueChart g3 U.S. coastal charts)	x	yes (preloaded BlueChart g3 U.S. coastal charts)	x	yes (preloaded BlueChart g3 U.S. coastal charts)	x	x	yes (preloaded U.S. coastal charts)
Ability to add maps:	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Map Segments	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	15,000	15,000	N/A	N/A	N/A
Built-in memory:	16GB	16GB	16GB	16GB	8GB	8 GB (user space varies based on included mapping on sc version)	1.7 GB	1.7 GB	1.7 GB
Includes detailed hydrographic features (coastlines, lake/river shorelines, wetlands and perennial and seasonal streams)	x	x	x	x	Yes (downloadable from Garmin Express™)	Yes (downloadable from Garmin Express™)	x	x	x
Includes searchable points of interests (parks, campgrounds, scenic lookouts and picnic sites)	x	x	x	x	Yes (downloadable from Garmin Express™)	Yes (downloadable from Garmin Express™)	x	x	x
Displays national, state and local parks, forests, and wilderness areas	x	x	x	x	Yes (downloadable from Garmin Express™)	Yes (downloadable from Garmin Express™)	x	x	x
Accepts data cards:	microSD™ card (not included)	microSD™ card (not included)	microSD™ card (not included)	microSD™ card (not included)	yes (32 GB max microSD™ card, not included)	yes (32 GB max microSD™ card, not included)	microSD™ card (not included)	microSD™ card (not included)	microSD™ card (not included)
Waypoints:	10,000	10,000	10,000	10,000	10,000	10,000	2000	2000	2000
Routes:	250	250	250	250	250, 250 points per route; 50 points auto routing	250, 250 points per route; 50 points auto routing	200	200	200
Track log:	20,000 points, 250 saved gpx tracks, 300 saved fit activities	20,000 points, 250 saved gpx tracks, 300 saved fit activities	20,000 points, 250 saved gpx tracks, 300 saved fit activities	20,000 points, 250 saved gpx tracks, 300 saved fit activities	20,000 points, 250 saved gpx tracks, 300 saved fit activities	20,000 points, 250 saved gpx tracks, 300 saved fit activities	10,000 points, 200 saved tracks	10,000 points, 200 saved tracks	10,000 points, 200 saved tracks
RINEX Logging	x	x	x	x	✔	✔	x	x	x
	GPSMAP 86s	GPSMAP 86sc	GPSMAP 86i	GPSMAP 86sci	GPSMAP 79s	GPSMAP 79sc	GPSMAP 78	GPSMAP 78s	GPSMAP 78sc
Automatic routing:	yes (with optional mapping for detailed roads)	yes (with optional mapping for detailed roads)	yes (with optional mapping for detailed roads)	yes (with optional mapping for detailed roads)	Yes (with optional mapping for detailed roads)	Yes (with optional mapping for detailed roads)	yes (with optional mapping for detailed roads)	yes (with optional mapping for detailed roads)	yes (with optional mapping for detailed roads)
Point-to-point navigation					✔	✔	x	x	x
Compass:	yes (tilt-compensated, 3-axis)	yes (tilt-compensated, 3-axis)	yes (tilt-compensated, 3-axis)	yes (tilt-compensated, 3-axis)	Yes (tilt-compensated 3-axis)	Yes (tilt-compensated 3-axis)	x	yes (tilt-compensated, 3-axis)	yes (tilt-compensated, 3-axis)
GPS Compass (while moving)	x	x	x	x	✔	✔	x	x	x
Barometric altimeter:	✔	✔	✔	✔	x	x	x	✔	✔
Photo navigation:	x	x	x	x	x	x	✔	✔	✔
Picture viewer:	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Custom maps compatible:	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Geocaching-friendly:	yes (paperless)	yes (paperless)	yes (paperless)	yes (paperless)	yes (paperless)	yes (paperless)	yes (paperless)	yes (paperless)	yes (paperless)
Hunt/fish calendar:	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Sun and moon information:	✔	✔	✔	✔	x	x	✔	✔	✔
Tide tables:	x	x	x	x	x	x	✔	✔	✔
Area calculation:	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Custom POIs:	✔	✔	✔	✔	x	x	✔	✔	✔
Unit-to-unit transfer:	✔	✔	✔	✔	x	x	x	✔	✔
Garmin Connect™ compatible:	✔	✔	✔	✔	x	x	✔	✔	✔
Smart notifications:	✔	✔	✔	✔	x	x	x	x	x
	GPSMAP 86s	GPSMAP 86sc	GPSMAP 86i	GPSMAP 86sci	GPSMAP 79s	GPSMAP 79sc	GPSMAP 78	GPSMAP 78s	GPSMAP 78sc
Interactive SOS	x	x	✔	✔	x	x	x	x	x
Send and receive text messages to SMS and email	x	x	✔	✔	x	x	x	x	x
Send and receive text messages to other inReach device	x	x	✔	✔	x	x	x	x	x
Exchange locations with other inReach device	x	x	✔	✔	x	x	x	x	x
MapShare compatible with tracking	x	x	✔	✔	x	x	x	x	x
Virtual keyboard for custom messaging	x	x	✔	✔	x	x	x	x	x
inReach remote compatible	x	x	✔	✔	x	x	x	x	x
Boat data streaming	✔	✔	✔	✔	x	x	x	x	x
Functions as a remote control for Garmin autopilot and select FUSION® marine products	✔	✔	✔	✔	x	x	x	x	x
Adjustable GPS filter	✔	✔	✔	✔	x	x	x	x	x
	GPSMAP 86s	GPSMAP 86sc	GPSMAP 86i	GPSMAP 86sci	GPSMAP 79s	GPSMAP 79sc	GPSMAP 78	GPSMAP 78s	GPSMAP 78sc

(1) Electronic compass: Provides direction information while you are standing still.
(2) Barometric altimeter: Gives altitude accurate to 10 feet with proper calibration.
(3) Elevation profiling: Records your "trip profile" in elevation
(4) Area calculation: Calculates the area enclosed by the track log

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