The Game Changer: Minelab Vanquish 560
The Verdict: The new 2026 release that makes all other beginner machines obsolete. It finally combines Multi-IQ performance with a fully waterproof body.
Best For: Beginners & Beach Hunters
Waterproof: Yes (5m)
Tech: Multi-IQ
Why buy it? It eliminates the need to choose between performance and durability. You get rechargeable batteries, a flashlight, and salt-water capabilities in an entry-level package.
Plus you have a wide search coil choice, the Vanquish 60 series will work with X-Terra search coils and the Equinox search Coils.
The Budget Warrior: Minelab X-Terra Pro
The Verdict: The undisputed ruler of the budget category if you don't need Multi-Frequency.
Best For: Freshwater, Parks, Budget Hunters
Waterproof: Yes (5m)
Tech: Pro-Switch (Single Frequency)
Why buy it? It is the most affordable way to get a rugged, fully waterproof machine. It feels professional in the hand and offers high-frequency switching for small targets.
The Sweet Spot: Minelab X-Terra Elite
The Verdict: The perfect middle-ground. It has the rugged body of the Pro but the Multi-IQ engine of the Equinox.
Why buy it? If the Vanquish feels too "plasticky" for you, but if the Equinox 900 is above your Budget, this is the machine to get. It accepts Equinox coils and handles salt sand brilliantly.
The Workhorse: Minelab Equinox 700/900
The Verdict: The proven professional standard. Reliable, deep, and sensitive.
Why buy it? It offers better target separation and sensitivity than the models below it. A good choice of Minelab And Coiltek Search Coils, making it a complete package for serious hunters to adapt to detecting any terrain or land.
The Beast: Minelab Manticore
The Verdict: The most advanced VLF machine on the market with a 2D identification screen.
Why buy it? The 2D Target Trace screen allows you to "see" the shape of the signal, helping you identify iron masking that other machines miss. It is the deepest machine on this list.
