The Simrad NSS4-12 is the redesigned 12-inch flagship sport-fishing chartplotter / fishfinder combo with hybrid touch + rotary + keypad controls, the Qualcomm 8-core processor, dual-channel 1kW CHIRP sonar, Active Imaging HD support, glass-to-edge IPS SolarMax touchscreen with 1200+ nit brightness, and the bundled U.S. C-MAP Discover X chart card. The all-in-one helm display for sport-fishing boats and coastal cruisers that want one display doing chartplotting, sonar, radar control, autopilot, NMEA 2000 instrument data, AIS, weather, and trolling-motor integration on the latest Simrad operating system.
The Simrad NSS4-12 (part 000-16015-001) is the 12-inch all-in-one chartplotter / fishfinder / radar-control multifunction display in the redesigned NSS 4 lineup. The 12-inch SolarMax IPS touchscreen with glass-to-edge styling, the Qualcomm 8-core processor for fast page transitions and quick auto-routing, dual-channel 1kW CHIRP sonar built in, Active Imaging HD support, hybrid touch + rotary knob + keypad controls, and the U.S. C-MAP Discover X chart card bundled in the box. The right-sized helm display for the 23-32 foot center console / express cruiser / sport-fishing boat helm where you want a single big screen running chartplotting, sonar, radar control, and instrument data without the cost of a 16-inch display.
What the redesign brings. Simrad rebuilt the NSS line inside and out for this generation. On the inside, the 8-core Qualcomm processor (replacing the previous quad-core) makes page transitions noticeably snappier, auto-routing finishes faster, and chart panning at high zoom levels is smoother. On the outside, the glass-to-edge bezel design looks meaningfully more premium at the helm than the older NSS 3 gen, and the screen brightness is up to 1200+ nits for direct-sunlight readability with polarized sunglasses. If you’ve used an older NSS, you’ll notice the speed difference within the first minute.
Hybrid controls (touch, rotary, keypad). The NSS4-12 gives you three input methods at once: pinch-zoom and tap on the touchscreen, spin and click the rotary knob, or press the keypad buttons. Touch is fastest in calm conditions. The rotary knob plus keypad work better in rough water (when the boat is bouncing and your finger can’t reliably hit the screen target) and with wet or gloved hands. Anglers who came up on knob-controlled MFDs don’t have to re-learn touch. Anglers who came up on touchscreens get the full touch experience too. Use whichever fits the moment.
12-inch SolarMax IPS touchscreen. The SolarMax IPS panel runs 1280 x 800 resolution with greater than 1200 nits of backlight brightness, 80-degree viewing angles top / bottom and left / right, and polarized-sunglasses-compatible polarization (the panel stays readable even when you’re wearing polarized fishing sunglasses, where some marine displays go black at certain rotation angles). For a center-console helm in direct sun, the panel stays clear and readable.
Built-in dual-channel 1kW CHIRP sonar. Two independent 9-pin Xsonic sonar ports, each capable of low / medium / high CHIRP up to 1 kW RMS. Run a traditional CHIRP transducer on one port and a DownScan / SideScan / Active Imaging transducer on the other, so the screen displays both views simultaneously without sacrificing one for the other. The 1 kW CHIRP power level is enough for offshore fishing in 800-1500 feet of water with the right transducer (lower-frequency CHIRP penetrates deeper). The dual ports make the NSS4-12 a complete standalone fishfinder without a separate sonar module for typical sport-fishing depths.
Active Imaging HD support. Plug in an Active Imaging HD transducer (sold separately) and the NSS4-12 displays the highest-resolution side-imaging and down-imaging the Simrad ecosystem produces today. The HD imaging makes individual fish, individual brush limbs, and individual rocks distinguishable on the screen out to wider beam widths than the previous-generation Active Imaging.
U.S. C-MAP Discover X chart card included. The Discover X card covers all of North American coastal and inland waters with shaded relief, depth contours at 0.5 m intervals on supported areas, marina detail, navigation aids, and tide and current data. The chart card is the same one Simrad ships in C-MAP Discover X 4D-bundle MFDs, so you’re not getting a stripped-down promotional version. For coastal and Great Lakes fishing, the Discover X card is the right cartography out of the box. For owners who want shaded relief detail on smaller inland waters or community-edited bathymetry, the NSS4-12 also accepts C-MAP Reveal X cards as a separate purchase.
RECON trolling motor compatible (plus Rhodan). The NSS4-12 is the helm-display half of the Simrad RECON trolling motor system. Drop a RECON anchor waypoint from the chartplotter, send the trolling motor to a fishing waypoint set on the chart, see trolling motor status on the NSS4-12 display, all over the One Network. Rhodan trolling motors integrate similarly. For boats running RECON or Rhodan, the NSS4-12 is the OEM-correct chartplotter half of the system.
HALO radar control. The NSS4-12 controls Simrad HALO dome and HALO open-array radars over Ethernet. Configure radar range, gain, sea clutter, rain clutter, and target overlay on the chart from the NSS4-12 touchscreen. The Ethernet network port (X-Coded M12 GbE) is the high-speed connection for radar, sonar modules, and the rest of the networked Simrad helm electronics.
NMEA 2000 + AIS + autopilot. The NSS4-12 has a NMEA 2000 Micro-C port for instrument data: speed, depth, heading, wind, fuel level, engine data (with appropriate gateways), water temp, and the rest of the standard NMEA 2000 sensor data. Receive AIS targets over NMEA 2000 from a compatible AIS receiver / transponder and overlay them on the chart. Drive a Simrad NAC-1, NAC-2, NAC-3, or NAC-D autopilot computer for full chartplotter-driven autopilot navigation.
Wi-Fi 5 with the Simrad app. The built-in Wi-Fi 5 (IEEE 802.11ac, listed as 802.11ax in the Simrad spec) lets the NSS4-12 talk to the Simrad mobile app on iOS and Android. Push waypoints from the phone to the helm, mirror the chart on the phone for guests, monitor the boat from the dock, push software updates wirelessly. Wi-Fi 5 throughput is fast enough that screen-mirroring works without the lag the older Wi-Fi 4 NSS gen had.
HDMI video in. Plug a thermal camera (compatible IP / ONVIF cameras over Ethernet, or 232/300-series thermal cameras over the camera input) into the NSS4-12 and switch to the camera view at the touch of a button. Useful for night running and for inlet navigation in low-visibility conditions. Also plug a separate engine display, an underwater camera, or a third-party feed via the HDMI input.
Mercury SmartCraft Connect, CZone, and SiriusXM. The NSS4-12 supports Mercury SmartCraft Connect for Mercury engine data display directly on the MFD. CZone digital switching support lets you control onboard systems (lights, pumps, accessories) from the NSS4-12 if your boat has a CZone install. SiriusXM weather (USA only, with the WM4 module and SiriusXM subscription, both sold separately) overlays current marine weather and forecast on the chart.
Mounting and waterproofing. The NSS4-12 ships with both a bracket mount and rear-mount brackets so you can choose surface bracket or flush rear mount at install. Display dimensions: 13.34 x 8.20 x 3.34 inches. With the supplied bracket: 14.48 x 9.17 x 3.34 inches. Weight: 6.17 lb. The IPX6 / IPX7 waterproof rating means the display survives pressure spray and brief immersion, which is the right rating for a center console helm. Power draw: 40 W max from 12 / 24 V DC supply (10-31.2 V range, 5 A fuse recommended).
Storage and waypoints. Two microSD card slots (microSD / SDHC) for chart cards, screen-shot export, and waypoint backup. Internal storage holds 10,000 waypoints, 75,000 track points, 75 saved tracks, and 125 routes (or higher max if NSS / NSO evo2 / evo3 units are on the same network).
2-year Simrad warranty. Same-day shipping before 3 PM ET on in-stock units.
