Every pick below is backed by specs verified on the manufacturer's own pages — with sources, trade-offs, and no invented numbers.
The Minelab Equinox 800 remains the best all-round detector: Multi-IQ multi-frequency, six selectable single frequencies, and a dedicated Gold mode. The XP Deus II is the ultimate underwater machine (20 m, fully wireless). The Nokta Simplex Ultra is the value king — IP68 waterproof at a budget tier.
We evaluated 22 current models from Minelab, Garrett, Nokta, XP, and Fisher against real use cases — not marketing claims. Each spec below was verified on the manufacturer's product page or manual in October 2026, and every model page links its sources. Where a manufacturer hasn't published a spec, we say so instead of guessing. Our full process is on the How We Test page.
The all-round benchmark: Multi-IQ, six single frequencies, Gold mode. Does everything well.
Underwater flagship: 20 m waterproof, fully wireless, FMF multi-frequency.
Budget-tier waterproof (IP68, 5 m) with carbon shaft and Bluetooth. Unbeatable value.
Multi-Flex multi-frequency with Z-Lynk wireless — versatile mid-range.
Multi-IQ+ power with 2D ID mapping for serious detectorists.
| Model | Technology | Frequencies | Weight | Waterproof | Coil | Best for | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minelab Equinox 800 | Multi-Freq | Multi-IQ | 1.34 kg | Not published | Not published | Coins | Premium |
| XP Deus II | Multi-Freq | 45 kHz + MF | From 750 g | IP68 · 20 m | 9" DD | Underwater | Flagship |
| Nokta Legend | Multi-Freq | 4 kHz–40 kHz + MF | 1.3 kg | 5 m | 12" × 9" DD | Coins | Premium |
| Garrett ACE Apex | Multi-Freq | 5 kHz–20 kHz + MF | 2.5 lbs | Weatherproof | 6" × 11" DD | Coins | Mid-range |
| Nokta Simplex Ultra | VLF | 15 kHz | 1.2 kg | IP68 | 11" DD | Beginners | Budget |
| Minelab Manticore | Multi-Freq | Multi-IQ+ | 1.3 kg | IP68 · 5 m | Not published | Coins | Flagship |
| Garrett AT Pro | VLF | 15 kHz | 3.03 lbs | 10 ft | 8.5" × 11" DD | Coins | Mid-range |
| Minelab Vanquish 540 | Multi-Freq | Multi-IQ | 1.3 kg | 1 m | 12" × 9" DD | Beginners | Budget |
Specs verified against manufacturer pages in October 2026. "Not published by the manufacturer" means the spec is absent from official pages — we do not fill it from retailers.
Understand the tech behind these picks: VLF vs pulse induction vs multi-frequency, the metal detector frequency guide (kHz explained), how discrimination and sensitivity work, the history of the metal detector, and detecting laws and permits. Compare head-to-head: Equinox 800 vs ACE Apex · Legend vs Equinox 700 · Deus II vs Manticore.
For most people, the Minelab Equinox 800: simultaneous multi-frequency for salt beaches and trashy parks, selectable single frequencies for specialization, and a Gold mode. It covers more use cases competently than any single machine in our database.
No. Price buys specialization: waterproofing depth, multi-frequency, wireless audio, and build quality. A budget VLF machine finds coins in a park just as well as a flagship — the flagship earns its keep in difficult ground, saltwater, or at depth.
Multi-frequency (Multi-IQ, FMF, Multi-Flex) is more versatile — one machine for parks, fields, and beaches. High single frequency (e.g., 45–71 kHz) wins for tiny gold. Our technology guide explains the trade-offs.
We don't publish depth-test numbers because depth depends on soil, target size, and settings more than the model badge. Manufacturers rarely publish depth specs either; treat any retailer's depth claim as marketing.
Only if you'll hunt in rain, streams, or surf. 'Waterproof coil' alone means the control box must stay dry — check each model's waterproof line in our spec tables before wading in.
Target ID is the detector's guess at what's underground, shown as a number on a conductivity scale (iron low, silver/copper high). It's a probability, not a verdict — pull-tabs and gold rings famously share ID ranges, which is why discrimination is a skill, not just a setting.
DD (Double-D) coils handle mineralized ground and saltwater better and give a blade-shaped detection field; concentric coils pinpoint more precisely and discriminate slightly cleaner in mild ground. Most stock coils today are DD — it's the safer default.
Yes — lost rings and chains are the beach hunter's bread and butter. Small gold is a low-conductivity target, so multi-frequency machines (and high single frequencies) see it best. Hunt the towel line and the low-tide cut where waves concentrate heavies.
No detector does everything. Multi-frequency costs more and adds learning curve; single-frequency VLF is simpler and lighter but struggles on wet salt sand. Buy for the ground you'll actually hunt — parks, beaches, or goldfields — not for a spec sheet.