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Under about $500 the detectors we have read about are the Minelab Vanquish 560 ($399), the X-Terra Pro ($399 as a bundle), the Garrett AT Pro ($459.99) and the X-Terra Elite ($479); from $549.99 to $1,499 you reach the Garrett AT Max, the Minelab Gold Monster 1000, Equinox 900 and Manticore; and, among the pulse induction gold detectors we have read about, the cheapest is $2,299.99. Price is only one part of the choice, so the table also shows the water rating and what is in the box for each. We have not tested any of these detectors; every figure is from a manufacturer’s page or a store listing on the date shown, and where owners have written about a model we link the thread.
What each price level buys
Prices checked on 8 October 2026 on High Plains Prospectors (an affiliate partner) and on Garrett’s own store. Specifications are from Minelab’s and Garrett’s pages; sources are linked in our comparisons below.
| Model | Type | Water rating (maker’s page) | In the box | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minelab Vanquish 560 | Multi-IQ; 1.26 kg | IP68, 5 m | V12X coil, wired headphones | $399 at High Plains Prospectors |
| Minelab X-Terra Pro | PRO-SWITCH, single frequencies; 1.3 kg | IP68, 5 m | V12X coil; no headphones (the bundle adds an adventure pack and sand scoop) | $399 as a bundle at High Plains Prospectors |
| Garrett AT Pro | Single frequency, all-terrain | Control box fully waterproof to 3 m | 8.5″ x 11″ coil, wired headphones, 4 AA batteries | $459.99 at Garrett (no commission for us) |
| Minelab X-Terra Elite | Multi-IQ; 1.3 kg | IP68, 5 m | V12X coil; no headphones | $479 at High Plains Prospectors |
| Garrett AT Max | Single frequency, all-terrain | Fully waterproof to 3 m | Wireless headphones, 4 AA batteries | $549.99 at Garrett (no commission for us) |
| Minelab Gold Monster 1000 | VLF gold detector, 45 kHz; 1.33 kg | Coil 1 m; box splash/rain proof | 5″ double-D coil; the listing is a bundle with an extra battery | $899 at High Plains Prospectors |
| Minelab Equinox 900 | Multi-IQ; 1.27 kg | IP68, 5 m | 11″ and 6″ coils, wireless headphones; the listing is a bundle with a backpack | $1,099 at High Plains Prospectors |
| Minelab Manticore | Multi-IQ+; 1.3 kg | IP68, 5 m | 11″ coil, wireless headphones, hard case | $1,499 at High Plains Prospectors |
| Garrett Axiom Lite | Pulse induction gold detector | See the Axiom Lite page | 11″ x 7″ mono coil | $2,299.99 at High Plains Prospectors |
| Garrett Axiom | Pulse induction gold detector | Coil and stem waterproof; box rainproof | 13″ x 11″ and 11″ x 7″ coils, wireless headphones | $3,199.99 at Garrett (no commission for us) |
| Nokta Magnetar 9000 | Pulse induction gold detector | IP68, 3 m | Two coils and two batteries | $4,999 at High Plains Prospectors |
| Minelab GPX 6000 | Pulse induction gold detector | Coil 1 m; box splash/rain proof | 14″ and 11″ coils | $6,999 at High Plains Prospectors |
Several of these are bundles, and the same model appears in other bundles at other prices on the same store. The Vanquish 560 is the only model in the first rows for which we found no owner discussion to link; it is newer, and the threads we found were about older Vanquish models.
How to use the table
- If you will wade or hunt the beach, start from the water column. Models rated whole-machine, such as the IP68 Minelabs, are in a different group from those rated only on the coil. Our waterproof guide lists every rating as written.
- If your main interest is gold, the question is VLF or pulse induction, and the price gap is large: $899 for the Gold Monster 1000 against $2,299.99 and up. See our VLF and PI guide and the three-way gold detector comparison.
- If you are choosing between two models in the table, read the matching comparison: X-Terra Pro vs Elite, Garrett AT Pro vs AT Max or Equinox 900 vs Manticore.
- If headphones matter, check the box column: the X-Terras list none, the Vanquish 560 and AT Pro list wired ones, and the AT Max, Equinox 900 and Manticore list wireless ones.
What owners report
We link what we read rather than rank by it. For the X-Terras, owners disagree about which keeps target IDs steadier (2024 to 2025 thread). For the AT Pro and AT Max, a 2019 thread disputes whether the Max is deeper (thread). For the Equinox 900 and Manticore, two Manticore owners preferred it on the beach in 2023 and one found his Equinox 800 more sensitive to a small lead pellet (thread). For the Magnetar 9000 we found no independent owner reports we could read.
One thing a table cannot show is whether a detector suits a first-time user. We do not own any of these detectors and have not tested them, so we do not rank them for beginners.
Where to buy, and how to read the price
The prices above are selling prices on each store’s listing on 8 October 2026. Some listings show a struck-through list price far above the selling price; we ignore it. High Plains Prospectors is an affiliate partner: if you buy through the links marked as affiliate links we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and it does not change what we say about each model. Where the manufacturer’s own store is cheaper, as with the AT Max, we link it. Stock and bundles change daily.
FAQ
What is the cheapest detector in this table?
The Vanquish 560 and the X-Terra Pro bundle, both $399 at High Plains Prospectors on 8 October 2026. They are not like for like: one is the detector with wired headphones, the other a bundle with accessories.
Which has the longest warranty?
Minelab’s pages list 3 years for the Vanquish 560, X-Terra Pro and Elite, Equinox 900 and GPX 6000; the Gold Monster 1000 lists 2 years; Garrett says its detectors carry 3 years, and the 2022 Axiom manual says 24 months.
Do I need to spend over $1,000?
That depends on what you want to hunt and where. A higher price in this table buys features such as the Manticore’s colour screen or the gold-detector technology, not a documented difference in finds.
Where can I detect legally?
See our guide to metal detecting rules on U.S. federal land.
Keep reading
How we put this guide together
Specifications come from the manufacturers’ pages cited in our comparisons, prices from each store’s listing on the date shown, and owner comments from the linked threads. We do not own or field-test these detectors. Full method.