Short answer: if you can spend up to $1,000 on one detector for parks, fields, beaches and shallow water, buy the Minelab Equinox 900 at a US list price of $900 to $1,000. It runs simultaneous multi-frequency or six single frequencies, is rated IP68 to 5 m (16 ft), and comes with two coils (11 in and 6 in) and wireless headphones. If you want to keep more of the budget for a pinpointer and digger, the Equinox 700 ($700 to $750), Nokta Legend (under $700) and Minelab X-Terra Elite ($450 to $500) are also fully waterproof multi-frequency detectors. Under $400, the Vanquish 560, Garrett ACE Apex and Nokta Simplex Ultra cover most park and beach hunting.
Exact prices are Minelab and Garrett US store prices, checked October 3, 2026; Nokta prices are shown as bands. All specs come from the manufacturers’ pages listed under Sources. Nobody at Metal Detecting Review has field-tested these detectors.
The shortlist
| Model | Price band | Frequencies | Water rating | Weight | Stock coil(s) | Headphones in box |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minelab Equinox 900 | $900 to $1,000 | Multi-IQ, or single 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40 kHz | IP68, 5 m | 1.27 kg (2.8 lb) | EQX11 11 in DD and EQX06 6 in DD | ML85 wireless |
| Minelab Equinox 700 | $700 to $750 | Multi-IQ, or four single frequencies | IP68, 5 m | 1.27 kg (2.8 lb) | EQX11 11 in DD | ML85 wireless |
| Nokta The Legend (part 11000838) | Under $700 | Multi, or single 4, 10, 15, 20, 40 kHz | IP68, 5 m | 1.3 kg (3.0 lb) | LG30 12 x 9 in DD | Check listing |
| Minelab X-Terra Elite | $450 to $500 | Multi-IQ; 15 kHz option in Park and Field | IP68, 5 m | 1.3 kg (2.9 lb) | V12X 12 x 9 in DD | None |
| Minelab Vanquish 560 | $350 to $400 | Multi-IQ only | IP68, 5 m | 1.26 kg (2.6 lb) | V12X 12 x 9 in DD | Wired |
| Garrett ACE Apex | $350 to $400 | Multi-Frequency, Multi-Salt, or single 5, 10, 15, 20 kHz | Coil and lower stem submersible; control box rainproof | 2.5 lb | 6 x 11 in DD Viper | None |
| Nokta Simplex Ultra (part 11000625) | Under $300 | Single 15 kHz | IP68, 5 m | 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) | SX28 11 in DD | None (Bluetooth capable) |
The Minelab Manticore is outside this budget at $1,250 to $1,500.
What each one is for
Minelab Equinox 900: the all-in-one pick. It has the most single frequencies on this list (six), plus a Gold mode, a 0 to 9 Iron Bias range and 119 discrimination segments. It is also the only one here that ships with both a small coil for trashy ground and an 11-inch general coil. Minelab lists an internal 5100 mAh lithium-ion battery and a 3-year warranty. Equinox 900 on Amazon, model 3720-0006 .
Minelab Equinox 700: the Equinox without the extras. It has the same weight, waterproofing, ID scale and ML85 headphones as the 900. It drops the Gold mode and the 6-inch coil, and its Iron Bias range is 0 to 3 instead of 0 to 9. Minelab’s Amazon listing gives it four single frequencies. Equinox 700 on Amazon, model 3720-0005 .
Nokta The Legend: the most frequency choice per dollar. Five single frequencies plus multi-frequency modes, IP68 to 5 m, and up to 20 hours of battery life per Nokta. Its target ID scale (01 to 60) is coarser than the Minelab rivals’ -19 to 99, and Nokta now also sells a Legend 2. See our Nokta Legend review . The Legend on Amazon, part 11000838 .
Minelab X-Terra Elite: a cheaper fully waterproof Multi-IQ detector. It has the same -19 to 99 ID scale as the Equinox, a 12 x 9 inch coil and an IP68 5 m rating, but only a 15 kHz single-frequency option and no headphones in the box. Minelab says it also accepts EQX and VX-series coils. Compare it in Vanquish 540 vs X-Terra Elite . X-Terra Elite on Amazon, model 3707-0002 .
Minelab Vanquish 560: simplest waterproof option. It runs Multi-IQ with no frequency choices, three modes plus a user profile, and five target tones. See the Vanquish 560 review and the Vanquish 360 vs 460 vs 560 comparison . Vanquish 560 on Amazon, SKU 3820-0008 .
Garrett ACE Apex: frequency choice on land. It offers four single frequencies plus Multi-Frequency and Multi-Salt, a narrow 6 x 11 inch elliptical coil and Z-Lynk wireless. It does not use Bluetooth headphones. Garrett says the control box must never be submerged. See the ACE Apex review . ACE Apex on Amazon .
Nokta Simplex Ultra: lowest price for a fully submersible detector. It runs a single 15 kHz frequency, 01 to 99 IDs and a carbon-fiber shaft, and is rated IP68 to 5 m. See Simplex Ultra vs ACE Apex . Simplex Ultra on Amazon, part 11000625 .
How to narrow it down
- Will the detector go under water? If yes, rule out the ACE Apex. Every other model here is rated IP68 to 5 m as a complete detector.
- Do you hunt wet salt sand often? Look at the beach settings. The Minelabs and the Legend run Beach modes with multi-frequency, and the ACE Apex has a dedicated Multi-Salt setting (keep its control box dry). The Simplex Ultra’s Beach mode runs at its single 15 kHz frequency.
- Is your ground trashy? Smaller coils separate close targets better. Minelab lists its 6-inch EQX 06 and 8 x 5 inch V8X coils as the choices for high-trash areas. The Equinox 900 includes the EQX 06; on the others it is an extra purchase. Our large vs small coil guide covers this in more detail.
- Do you want to adjust frequencies yourself? The Equinox 900, Legend and ACE Apex offer the most single-frequency choices. The Vanquish 560 offers none.
- Leave budget for recovery tools. A pinpointer and a digger are part of the real cost of getting started.
FAQ
What is the best metal detector under $1,000?
For one detector that covers parks, fields, beaches and shallow water, the Minelab Equinox 900 at a US list price of $900 to $1,000 is the most complete package in this range: simultaneous multi-frequency plus six single frequencies, IP68 to 5 m, two coils (11 in and 6 in) and wireless headphones.
Which detectors under $1,000 can be fully submerged?
The Equinox 900, Equinox 700, Nokta Legend, X-Terra Elite, Vanquish 560 and Nokta Simplex Ultra are all rated IP68 to 5 m (16 ft) by their makers. The Garrett ACE Apex is not: only its coil and lower stem are submersible.
Is the Minelab Manticore under $1,000?
No. Minelab’s US store listed the Manticore at $1,250 to $1,500 on October 3, 2026.
Is a pinpointer part of the budget?
Yes. A pinpointer shortens recovery time and reduces plug size. Leave room for one, plus a digger, when you set a detector budget.
Sources
- Minelab Equinox 900 technical specifications and US product page with price
- Minelab Equinox 700 technical specifications and US product page with price
- Minelab X-Terra Elite technical specifications and US product page with price
- Minelab Vanquish 560 technical specifications and US product page with price
- Minelab Manticore US product page with price
- Minelab coil compatibility guide
- Nokta The Legend specifications
- Nokta Simplex Ultra specifications
- Garrett ACE Apex product page , Garrett FAQ and ACE Apex launch announcement (weight)
- Amazon listing: Minelab Equinox 700 (single-frequency count)
- Amazon listing: Nokta The Legend, part 11000838
- Amazon listing: Nokta Simplex Ultra, part 11000625
See Also
If you want to move from general advice into actual product choices, start with Bounty Hunter Junior Metal Detector Review, Garrett ACE 300I Review, and Metal Detector Headphones: Volume Control vs. Standard Models.
For a wider picture after the basics, Pocket Pinpointer With Vibration vs Audible-Only and Koss UR-30 Headphones for Metal Detecting Review are the next places to read.