Metal detectors by brand

Our full ranking sorts ten beginner metal detectors by a single overall score, and our comparison chart breaks that score into four sub-scores side by side. This page cuts the same ten machines a third way: by manufacturer. If a club, a forum thread or a family member already pointed you toward a brand, this is the fastest way to see every model we have reviewed from that maker in one place, in rank order, with a link straight to the full review.

Garrett (3 models)

Garrett is the brand most new detectorists get handed first, and all three models in our ranking share the same trait: an honest numeric target ID that tells you what is under the coil before you dig. The ACE 300 is the one that gets recommended most often; the ACE 200 strips out iron audio to hit a lower price; the ACE 400 adds a frequency adjustment and a better stock coil for someone who already knows they will not outgrow a first machine.

If you have narrowed it to two Garretts, our ACE 300 vs ACE 200 comparison walks through exactly what the extra money buys.

Minelab (2 models)

Minelab's advantage in this lineup is technical rather than cosmetic: both models transmit multiple frequencies at once, which matters on mineralised soil and salt beaches where a single-frequency machine starts chattering and loses depth. The Vanquish 360 brings that technology in at an entry price; the Vanquish 540 Pro-Pack bundles two extra coils and headphones for someone ready to buy a complete kit on day one.

See how that multi-frequency advantage plays out against a single-frequency machine in our Vanquish 360 vs Simplex Ultra comparison.

Nokta (2 models)

Nokta's Simplex line is built around one feature competitors mostly treat as an upgrade: full submersibility. Both models seal the entire machine, not just the coil, so you can wade or hunt a riverbed without a second thought. The Simplex Ultra adds a wireless setup most beginners pay extra for elsewhere; the Simplex Lite strips that back to hit a lower price.

Our best waterproof metal detectors guide goes deeper into the difference between a waterproof coil and a fully submersible machine, which is the whole reason both Nokta models rank where they do.

Fisher (1 model)

Fisher has one model in our ranking, the F22, and it earns its spot on a specific strength: it stays light, quiet and weatherproof in the kind of trashy public-park ground that frustrates other entry-level machines, with a clear numeric ID to match.

See how it stacks up directly against the competition in our ACE 200 vs F22, ACE 300 vs F22 and Simplex Ultra vs F22 comparisons.

Bounty Hunter (2 models)

Bounty Hunter sits at the budget end of our ranking. The Land Ranger Pro is capable on paper but asks you to interpret a less direct display than the other brands here; the Tracker IV is the classic cheap starter that will find coins but also sends you digging a lot of iron - a trade-off worth understanding before you buy, not after.

Which brand should you start with?

There is no brand that wins outright - the right one depends on your ground and your patience for a steeper learning curve. If you want the widest accessory ecosystem and the most forgiving target ID, Garrett's ACE 300 is still the one most clubs hand a newcomer first. If your ground is mineralised or you detect near salt water, Minelab's multi-frequency Vanquish 360 reads targets a single-frequency machine would miss. If you already know you will be wading or hunting a riverbed, Nokta's Simplex line is the only fully submersible option in this ranking. If your local parks are full of modern trash, Fisher's F22 is built for exactly that ground. And if you just want to try the hobby as cheaply as possible before committing further, Bounty Hunter's Tracker IV is the lowest entry point here - with the trade-off that it has no numeric target ID, so you will dig a lot more iron along the way.

For the complete picture across all ten machines regardless of brand, see our full ranking or the side-by-side score breakdown.