This roundup keeps the decision practical. The Garrett AT Pro is the clear Garrett pick for most buyers. The Bounty Hunter Tracker IV is the budget floor if cost matters more than feature depth. The Minelab Equinox 800 is the strongest upgrade if you want more flexibility across different sites. The Nokta Makro Simplex+ is the cleanest modern first detector if you want an easier start than the Equinox 800.
| Pick | Best for | Why it fits | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garrett AT Pro | Most buyers who want one all-around Garrett detector | Waterproof body, familiar controls, and a middle-ground feature set make it easy to keep using | Older interface and less room to grow than the more advanced choices |
| Bounty Hunter Tracker IV | Lowest-cost starter | Simple controls and an easy learning curve help new users get started quickly | Limited target information and only the searchcoil is waterproof |
| Minelab Equinox 800 | Mixed sites and long-term growth | Multi-IQ, multiple single frequencies, two coil sizes, and full waterproofing give it the widest range here | Deeper menu load than casual users may want |
| Nokta Makro Simplex+ | First-time buyers who want modern simplicity | Full waterproofing, a rechargeable battery, and a straightforward layout reduce early frustration | Less flexibility than the Equinox 800 |
The table is the fast answer, but the real choice comes down to how much you want to learn, how often you hunt near water, and whether you want a detector you can live with for a long time or one that keeps the first purchase cheap.
Garrett AT Pro: Best all-around Garrett pick
The Garrett AT Pro is the model most buyers land on when they want one detector that can handle a little bit of everything. It runs at 15 kHz, is waterproof to 10 ft / 3 m, uses 4 AA batteries, and comes with an 8.5" x 11" DD coil. Those are not flashy details, but they matter because they keep the machine usable across common hunting conditions without turning setup into a project.
- Who it is for: buyers who want a broad-use Garrett detector for parks, yards, and shallow-water outings.
- Why it helps: the AT Pro keeps the controls familiar and the battery routine simple, which makes it easier to stay active with the hobby instead of spending time learning a complicated menu.
- Limitation: the control layout is older, and the feature set is narrower than what you get on more modern detectors.
- Choose something else if: you want more flexibility for changing sites, in which case the Equinox 800 is the stronger upgrade, or you want a newer-feeling first buy, in which case the Simplex+ is easier to live with.
The AT Pro makes the most sense for a buyer who wants a dependable middle ground. It is not the cheapest detector in the roundup, and it is not the most advanced, but it avoids the two common mistakes people make when buying their first serious machine: buying something too basic to keep, or buying something so complex that it stays in the closet.
It also fits a practical ownership style. AA batteries are easy to source, which helps if you do not want a built-in pack to shape your routine. For a lot of Garrett shoppers, that alone is enough to keep the AT Pro at the top of the list.
Bounty Hunter Tracker IV: Best low-cost starter
The Bounty Hunter Tracker IV is the budget choice for a reason. It keeps the controls plain, the 6.6 kHz single-frequency setup straightforward, and the learning curve short. At 2.9 lb, it is easy to carry, and the 2 x 9V battery setup is familiar to almost anyone who has used basic electronics.
- Who it is for: buyers who want the lowest-cost entry into metal detecting or a simple detector for casual use.
- Why it helps: the Tracker IV limits complexity, which removes a lot of early hesitation for new hobbyists.
- Limitation: only the searchcoil is waterproof, and the detector gives you limited target information compared with the other models here.
- Choose something else if: you already know you want to stay in the hobby for a while, because the Simplex+ or AT Pro gives you more room to grow.
This is the right pick when the goal is to start, not to optimize. It works best for basic backyard use, casual coin hunting, and low-pressure practice sessions. It does not ask the user to learn a lot of settings before the first outing, and that can be a real advantage for beginners who just want to sweep and dig.
The trade-off is clear: the Tracker IV is easy, but it is also limiting. If you expect to hunt more often, move between different site types, or spend time near water, the AT Pro or Simplex+ is a better long-term purchase.
Minelab Equinox 800: Best upgrade option
The Minelab Equinox 800 is the strongest choice in this roundup if you care most about flexibility. Multi-IQ plus single-frequency options at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 40 kHz give it a wider operating range than the simpler models. It is also waterproof to 10 ft / 3 m, weighs 2.96 lb, uses a built-in rechargeable battery, and comes with both 11" and 6" DD coils.
- Who it is for: buyers who hunt a mix of sites and want one detector that can adapt as their routine changes.
- Why it helps: the Equinox 800 gives you the most room to adjust coil size and frequency behavior, which matters when one machine has to cover several kinds of ground.
- Limitation: the menu load is deeper than many casual users need, so it asks for more attention than the simpler picks.
- Choose something else if: you want a detector that feels easier to learn out of the box, in which case the Simplex+ is the cleaner start, or you want a simpler Garrett-centered choice, in which case the AT Pro stays easier to manage.
The extra flexibility is the whole reason to buy it. A smaller coil can help in tight or cluttered areas, while the broader frequency spread gives the user more ways to approach different hunting situations. That does not make it the best choice for everyone, but it does make it the most adaptable detector in the group.
This is the model for buyers who know they are going to keep hunting and want more machine under them as they improve. If that sounds like you, the Equinox 800 is the one with the most ceiling.
Nokta Makro Simplex+: Best beginner-friendly modern detector
The Nokta Makro Simplex+ is the cleanest first purchase for buyers who want a modern detector without a cluttered learning experience. It runs at 12 kHz, is waterproof to 10 ft / 3 m, weighs 2.9 lb, uses a built-in rechargeable battery, and comes with an 11" DD coil.
- Who it is for: first-time buyers who want a simple modern detector that feels current without being complicated.
- Why it helps: the Simplex+ combines waterproofing, rechargeable power, and a straightforward layout, which keeps the first season easier to manage.
- Limitation: it gives up some flexibility compared with the Equinox 800.
- Choose something else if: you want to stay closer to Garrett, in which case the AT Pro is the more direct choice, or you need the cheapest entry possible, in which case the Tracker IV still wins on price-first shopping.
The Simplex+ fits a very common buyer pattern: someone wants a detector that is easy to start with, but does not want something so basic that they will outgrow it immediately. That is where this model earns attention. It sits in a useful middle lane between the bare-bones Tracker IV and the more complex Equinox 800.
If your priority is fewer decisions and a cleaner first outing, the Simplex+ does that job well. If your priority is staying with a Garrett name, the AT Pro is still the better anchor point.
How to narrow the choice
Start with where you actually hunt. Wet grass, shallow water, and muddy ground push you toward a fully waterproof detector. Mixed sites with different trash levels point toward the Equinox 800. Simple parks, yards, and casual outings are covered well by the AT Pro or Simplex+.
Then be honest about how much setup you want to learn. The Tracker IV is simple because it limits choices. The AT Pro sits in the middle and stays manageable. The Equinox 800 opens the most doors, but it expects more attention from the owner.
Do not forget the rest of the kit. A pinpointer and a digger usually improve the day-to-day experience more than a small bump in detector features. If you are building out a full setup, see our pinpointer guide and digging tools guide.
Battery style matters too. AA and 9V cells are convenient because they are easy to source, while built-in rechargeable packs suit buyers who hunt often and are comfortable charging after use. That is a small detail on paper, but it changes how easy the detector is to keep ready.
Common buyer questions
Is the Garrett AT Pro still the main Garrett choice?
Yes. For most buyers, the AT Pro is the Garrett model that makes the most sense because it balances waterproofing, easy ownership, and enough feature depth to stay useful beyond the first few outings.
Should a beginner buy the Tracker IV or the Simplex+?
The Simplex+ is the better first detector for most beginners because it feels more current and gives more room to grow. The Tracker IV only wins when the budget needs to stay as low as possible.
Is the Equinox 800 too much detector for casual use?
For a buyer who wants simple park hunting and does not plan to learn the extra controls, yes. For someone who hunts varied sites and wants more adjustment room, no. It is the strongest flexibility pick in this roundup.
Which model is easiest to live with near water?
The AT Pro, Equinox 800, and Simplex+ all bring full waterproofing, so they are the practical choices for wet ground and shallow-water use. The Tracker IV is the one to avoid if water use matters beyond the searchcoil.
What should I buy before chasing another detector upgrade?
A pinpointer and a decent digging tool. Those two add-ons help you recover targets faster and keep the hunt moving, which is more useful than jumping to a more complicated detector before you are ready.
Final verdict
If you want one Garrett-centered answer, buy the Garrett AT Pro. It gives the best balance of waterproof use, simple ownership, and practical feature depth for most buyers.
If your main constraint is budget, the Tracker IV gets you into the hobby with very little setup pressure. If your priority is flexibility and long-term growth, the Equinox 800 is the strongest machine in the group. If you want the easiest modern first detector, the Simplex+ is the cleanest pick.
That is the real split in this roundup: AT Pro for balance, Tracker IV for price, Equinox 800 for capability, and Simplex+ for simplicity.