Under $500 is the band where a detector stops being a starter and starts handling water, salt and trash. The Minelab Vanquish 560 is the pick for most buyers: Minelab lists multi-frequency, full submersion to 5 m (16 ft) and a large 12 x 9 inch coil, with a short menu. The Garrett ACE Apex gives you the most frequency choice, the Nokta Simplex Ultra is the cheapest fully submersible step up, and the Minelab X-Terra Elite has the most adjustment at the top of the band.

This is desk research from maker pages, not field testing. The price bands are what Amazon listings showed on November 7, 2026. They change often, so check the listing.

If your ceiling is closer to $300, our best budget metal detectors list keeps every pick under that line. If you can stretch past $500, the under $1,000 buying guide covers the next tier.

Picks at a Glance

Detector Usual Amazon price band Frequency (per the maker) Water (per the maker) Main trade-off
Minelab Vanquish 560 $300-400 Multi-IQ IP68, to 5 m (16 ft) Fewer manual controls than the X-Terra Elite
Garrett ACE Apex $300-400 5, 10, 15, 20 kHz, Multi-Frequency, Multi-Salt Fully waterproof Viper coil No submersion rating for the whole detector on Garrett’s page
Nokta Simplex Ultra $200-300 15 kHz single IP68, to 5 m (16 ft) Single frequency, so weaker on wet salt sand
Minelab X-Terra Elite $400-500 Multi-IQ, plus 15 kHz in Park and Field IP68, to 5 m (16 ft) No headphones in the box

What You Get for $300 to $500

  • Water protection. Three of the four picks are rated IP68 to 5 m (16 ft) by their makers. That covers rain, creeks, wading and shallow water. Our waterproof vs water-resistant guide explains why a waterproof coil alone is not the same thing.
  • Multi-frequency or frequency choice. Multi-frequency helps on wet salt sand and in mixed ground. A choice of single frequencies lets you lean low for larger, more conductive targets or high for small ones, which Garrett explains on its Apex page.
  • Wireless audio. The Apex has Garrett’s Z-Lynk built in, the Vanquish 560 and Simplex Ultra support Bluetooth audio, and the X-Terra Elite supports Minelab’s low-latency wireless audio.
  • Finer target ID. The two Minelab picks list target IDs from -19 to 99 with a ferrous range below zero, which separates iron from non-ferrous targets more clearly than a single 0 to 99 scale.

1. Minelab Vanquish 560: Best Under $500 for Most Buyers

Minelab’s tech specs list Multi-IQ multi-frequency, four modes (Beach, Park, Field and a User Profile), 30 discrimination segments, five target tones, ferrous volume and iron bias settings, Bluetooth LE audio and wired headphones in the box. The detector is rated IP68 to 5 m (16 ft), uses a built-in rechargeable battery and ships with the V12X 12 x 9 inch double-D coil.

That combination is why it leads this list: it covers parks, fields, beaches and shallow water without a long menu. The step down is the Vanquish 460 , which Minelab lists with the smaller V10X 10 x 7 inch coil, three tones and fixed ferrous volume. Our Vanquish 360 vs 460 vs 560 comparison and Vanquish 560 review go through the differences. Check the Vanquish 560 on Amazon .

Choose it for: One detector for land and water with the fewest decisions.

2. Garrett ACE Apex: Best for Frequency Choice

Garrett lists single frequencies of 5, 10, 15 and 20 kHz plus two simultaneous modes, Multi-Frequency and Multi-Salt, six detection modes plus pinpoint, five-tone audio, a 6 x 11 inch DD Viper searchcoil and built-in Z-Lynk wireless. Garrett says lower frequencies generally do better on larger, more conductive targets such as large silver coins and higher frequencies on smaller, less conductive ones, and pitches the Apex for coin shooting, relic hunting, wading, beach hunting and prospecting.

The trade-off is water. Garrett calls the Viper coil fully waterproof, but its Apex page does not give a submersion depth for the whole detector, so treat the Apex as a land, beach and wading machine rather than a snorkeling one. Our ACE Apex review and Garrett lineup guide cover where it sits. Check the ACE Apex on Amazon .

Choose it for: Coin and relic hunters who want to pick a frequency for the site.

3. Nokta Simplex Ultra: Best Lower-Cost Step Up

Per Nokta’s comparison chart , the Simplex Ultra runs at 15 kHz, weighs 1.2 kg (2.6 lbs), is IP68 rated and submersible to 5 m (16 ft), and adds Bluetooth, an 11 inch SX28 coil, six search modes and settings such as recovery speed and tone break over the Simplex Lite. It sat in the lowest band of this list on November 7.

The limit is the single frequency. It is a strong park, field and fresh-water detector, but wet salt sand is where the multi-frequency picks above pull ahead. Our Nokta lineup guide compares it with the Lite and the Legend. Check the Simplex Ultra on Amazon .

Choose it for: A waterproof detector with wireless audio for less money, away from salt water.

4. Minelab X-Terra Elite: Most Adjustment Under $500

Minelab’s tech specs list Multi-IQ in Park, Field and Beach modes, with a 15 kHz single-frequency option in Park and Field. It adds manual controls the Vanquish line leaves out: sensitivity from 1 to 25, volume and ferrous volume from 0 to 25, iron bias, five tone options and a custom search profile. It is IP68 rated to 5 m (16 ft), weighs 1.3 kg (2.9 lbs) and ships with the V12X 12 x 9 inch coil. Minelab lists no headphones in the box.

It sits at the top of this band. Pay for it if you want to tune the detector to a site rather than let it run automatically. It is also our top pick in best metal detectors for the beach . Check the X-Terra Elite on Amazon .

Choose it for: A buyer who wants to grow into manual settings without paying Equinox money.

Match the Detector to Your Situation

  • Parks and yards, little water: Simplex Ultra or Vanquish 560.
  • Beaches with wet salt sand: Vanquish 560, X-Terra Elite or the Apex in Multi-Salt.
  • Old sites with iron and mixed targets: ACE Apex or X-Terra Elite, for frequency choice and iron controls. Our best metal detectors for relic hunting list goes further.
  • Coins in trashy parks: see our best metal detectors for coins .

Final Recommendation

Buy the Minelab Vanquish 560 if you want one fully waterproof detector that covers most hunting with little setup. Pick the Garrett ACE Apex if frequency choice matters more than full submersion, the Nokta Simplex Ultra if you want to spend less and stay away from salt, and the Minelab X-Terra Elite if you want the most control in this band.

FAQ

What is the best metal detector under $500?

For most buyers, the Minelab Vanquish 560: Minelab lists Multi-IQ multi-frequency, an IP68 rating to 5 m (16 ft), a 12 x 9 inch coil and Bluetooth LE audio. Choose the Garrett ACE Apex for more frequency options, the Nokta Simplex Ultra to spend less, or the Minelab X-Terra Elite for the most adjustment.

Is a $500 metal detector much better than a $200 one?

It usually buys water protection, multi-frequency or a choice of frequencies, wireless audio and finer target ID. Every pick here is fully waterproof or has a waterproof coil, while most detectors in the lower bands keep a dry control box and one fixed frequency.

Which detector under $500 is best for the beach?

Saltwater favors multi-frequency. The Vanquish 560 has a Beach mode, the ACE Apex has a Multi-Salt mode, and the X-Terra Elite runs Multi-IQ in its Beach modes. The Simplex Ultra is single frequency, so it suits dry sand and fresh water better than wet salt sand.

Do these prices include headphones?

It varies. Minelab lists wired headphones with the Vanquish 560 and none with the X-Terra Elite. Check the box contents on the listing you buy, because packages change.

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