Metal Detectors for Beginners: What Matters and the Models Compared
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A metal detector is a coil that sends a magnetic field into the ground and listens for metal disturbing it, as Garrett puts it. Beyond that, beginner models differ in how much they tell you about a target, how they handle wet or mineralized ground, and whether you can take them in the water. Everything below comes from official specs and listings. We haven't tested these detectors.
What matters on a first detector
- Target ID. Minelab says advanced detectors measure a target's conductivity and magnetic properties and assign a Target ID number. Scales differ by brand, so learn your own machine's numbers.
- Discrimination and iron handling. Discrimination lets you silence trash like bottle caps, in Minelab's description. Garrett's Iron Audio lets you hear iron instead of ignoring it.
- Frequency. Garrett says lower frequencies tend to do better at depth and on highly conductive targets, while higher frequencies pick up small or low-conductivity targets. Multi-frequency detectors run several at once.
- Water. Check whether the whole detector or only the coil is waterproof. Garrett's ACE 400 manual says its coil is submersible but its control housing is not.
- Weight. Most here are listed between about 2 and 3 pounds.
Garrett ACE 300 and ACE 400
Garrett lists the ACE 300 at 8 kHz with a 7 x 10 inch concentric coil and 2.8 pounds; the ACE 400 at 10 kHz with an 8.5 x 11 inch DD coil, Iron Audio, a 0-99 Target ID and 2.9 pounds. Both have adjustable frequency to cut interference and an electronic pinpoint mode, per the listings. Full comparison in our ACE 300 vs ACE 400 guide.
Garrett ACE 300 Metal Detector
- Digital Target ID, 0-99 scale, per the listing
- Electronic pinpointing (non-motion All-Metal mode)
- Adjustable frequency to reduce interference
- Searchcoil cover included; title lists a waterproof coil
Garrett ACE 400 Metal Detector
- Digital Target ID, 0-99 scale, per the listing
- Iron Audio to hear iron before you dig
- Electronic pinpointing; adjustable frequency
- Searchcoil cover included
Minelab Vanquish: fully automatic multi-frequency
The Vanquish 340 uses Minelab's Multi-IQ simultaneous multi-frequency and picks its settings automatically, with no frequency or ground balance to set, per the listing. Minelab's spec page lists a coil waterproof to 1 m (3.3 ft) and 2.6 pounds. The newer Vanquish 360 is listed as fully submersible to 16 feet with a rechargeable battery. See our Minelab lineup guide.
Minelab Vanquish 340
- Multi-IQ simultaneous multi-frequency, fully automatic, per the listing
- Park, Field and Beach modes
- Waterproof coil; water-resistant control box
- 2.6 lb; collapses to 30 in.
Minelab Vanquish 360
- Multi-IQ, fully automatic, per the listing
- IP68, submersible to 16 ft
- Park, Beach and All Metal modes
- Rechargeable battery, up to 10 hours; V10X 10x7 in. DD coil; 2.6 lb
Nokta Simplex Lite and Ultra
Nokta lists both at 15 kHz, IP68 and fully submersible to 5 meters (16 feet), 2.6 pounds, with automatic or manual ground balance and a 01-99 Target ID. The Lite has a 9.5 x 6 inch coil; the Ultra an 11 inch coil and Bluetooth. Details in our Simplex guide.
Nokta Simplex Lite
- 9.5 in. waterproof DD search coil, per the title
- Vibration for underwater use
- Beach and All Metal search modes listed in the title
Nokta Simplex Ultra
- Fully waterproof to 16 ft (5 m), per the listing
- Carbon fiber shaft; retracts to 25 in.
- Online firmware updates via USB
- 2.6 lb; Bluetooth headphones not included; 11 in. coil
Minelab X-Terra Pro
Selectable single frequencies (5, 10 and 15 kHz for park and field, 8 kHz for beach, per Minelab's spec page), IP68 waterproof to 16 feet, a 12 x 9 inch DD coil and 2.9 pounds.
Minelab X-Terra Pro
- Selectable frequencies (Pro-Switch), per the listing
- IP68 waterproof to 16 ft
- 2x Park, 2x Field and 2x Beach modes; 30 discrimination segments
- Flashlight, backlit display, handgrip vibration; 2.9 lb
Fisher F22
First Texas lists the F22 at 7.69 kHz with a weatherproof control housing, a 9 inch waterproof coil and just over 2 pounds. The listing here is the 11 inch coil version, which the listing calls weatherproof, with a 0-99 Target ID and 4-tone audio.
Fisher F22 (11 in. coil)
- Weatherproof; 11 in. weatherproof coil, per the listing
- 0-99 numeric Target ID with 4-tone audio
- Discrimination, sensitivity, notch and pinpoint
- About 2 lb
Compared
| Detector | Frequency | Water | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garrett ACE 300 | 8 kHz | Coil only (see notes) | 2.8 lb |
| Garrett ACE 400 | 10 kHz | Coil submersible; housing not | 2.9 lb |
| Minelab Vanquish 340 | Multi-IQ | Coil to 1 m (3.3 ft) | 2.6 lb |
| Minelab Vanquish 360 | Multi-IQ | Submersible to 16 ft (listing) | 2.6 lb (listing) |
| Minelab X-Terra Pro | 5/10/15 kHz, 8 kHz beach | To 16 ft (5 m) | 2.9 lb |
| Nokta Simplex Lite | 15 kHz | To 16 ft (5 m) | 2.6 lb |
| Fisher F22 | 7.69 kHz | Weatherproof (11 in. coil version, per listing) | About 2 lb |
Specs from each maker's official page, except where noted as the listing. Garrett's ACE 300 page doesn't state waterproofing; its listing title says "waterproof coil."
Budget and kids' options
The Garrett ACE 200 lists a 0-99 Target ID, a 6.5 x 9 inch waterproof coil and under 3 pounds; the Bounty Hunter Tracker IV lists three modes and an 8 inch waterproof coil. For younger kids, see our kids' detector guide.
Garrett ACE 200
- Digital Target ID, 0-99, per the listing
- 6.5 x 9 in. waterproof concentric coil; control box is not waterproof
- Under 3 lb; adjustable stem
- 4 AA batteries; 3-year limited warranty
What else you'll need
A pinpointer and a digging tool help you recover targets with smaller holes; Garrett's manual says accurate pinpointing lets you dig the smallest hole possible. Before your first hunt, read where you can legally detect and our beginner technique guide.
More starter options
A few more worth a look. Minelab's GO-FIND 66 is listed at 2.3 pounds and collapses to fit a backpack. Nokta's Double Score adds simultaneous multi-frequency and a rechargeable battery. And if you already know you want a Garrett ACE, the bundles add a pinpointer, which saves buying one separately.
Minelab GO-FIND 66
- 2.3 lb; collapses to fit a backpack, per the listing
- 10 in. coil waterproof to 2 ft
- Four Find modes, pinpoint and automatic ground tracking
- Bluetooth ready; earbuds and digging tool included
Nokta Double Score
- Simultaneous multi-frequency, per the listing
- IP68 to 16 ft (5 m)
- Rechargeable battery, up to 12 hours; Bluetooth
- 3 search modes; 2.7 lb
Garrett ACE 300 Bundle with Pro-Pointer AT
- ACE 300 with 0-99 Target ID, per the listing
- Includes Pro-Pointer AT (waterproof to 20 ft) and coil cover
Garrett ACE 400 Bundle with Pro-Pointer II
- ACE 400 with Iron Audio and 0-99 Target ID, per the listing
- Includes Pro-Pointer II, carry case and coil cover
Down to two? Our head-to-heads go deeper: ACE 400 vs Vanquish 540 and Double Score vs Simplex Ultra. Ready to step up later? Fisher's F75 adds a mineralization readout and FastGrab ground balance, per its listing.
Fisher F75
- 0-99 numeric Target ID; large LCD, per the listing
- Trigger pinpointing and FastGrab ground balance
- Mineralization readout; DD waterproof coil
- 4 AA batteries
FAQ
What should a beginner look for?
Target ID, discrimination, pinpointing, the right waterproofing and a comfortable weight.
Is multi-frequency better?
It helps in saltwater and mineralized ground, per Garrett.
Where can I detect?
Not in national parks. BLM and Forest Service land generally allow it with limits. Get permission on private land.