If you want one answer: the Simplex Lite is Nokta’s simplest current detector, the Simplex Ultra is the better long-term buy if you want Bluetooth and more control at the same frequency, and the Legend 2 is the multi-frequency pick for beaches, mineralized ground and mixed hunting. The original Legend is still a multi-frequency option if you find it for less. For pinpointing, Nokta’s AccuPOINT pairs with the same Bluetooth headphones.
This page covers those models from Nokta’s own product pages and comparison charts. It is desk research, not product testing. It does not cover Nokta’s Score series, gold-only detectors or deep-seeking long-range units.
Nokta’s Main Detectors at a Glance
| Model | Frequency | Coil in the box | Bluetooth | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simplex Lite (part 11000623) | 15 kHz single | 9.5 x 6 inch DD (SX24) | No | Simplex Lite on Amazon |
| Simplex Ultra (part 11000625) | 15 kHz single | 11 inch DD (SX28) | Yes | Simplex Ultra on Amazon |
| The Legend (part 11000838) | Multi plus 4, 10, 15, 20, 40 kHz | 12 x 9 inch DD (LG30) | Yes | The Legend on Amazon |
| The Legend 2 (part 11000562) | Multi plus 4, 10, 15, 20, 40 kHz | 11 inch DD (LD28) and 8 x 5.5 inch DD (LD21) | Yes, headphones included | The Legend 2 on Amazon |
| AccuPOINT pinpointer (part 11000116) | Pinpointer | Not applicable | Yes | Search Amazon for Nokta AccuPOINT (Amazon search) |
Match the Nokta part number on any listing before you buy. Nokta sells several packages of each detector, and the coil and accessories change between them.
Simplex Lite and Simplex Ultra: Single Frequency
Nokta’s Simplex comparison chart shows how close the two are. Both run at 15 kHz, both weigh 1.2 kg (2.6 lbs), both have a 2300 mAh lithium battery, a 25 to 52 inch adjustable shaft, 01 to 99 target IDs, 30 sensitivity levels, automatic and manual ground balance, vibration, an LED flashlight and a three-year warranty. Nokta rates both as IP68 and fully submersible to 5 meters (16 feet).
The differences are in the box and the menus:
- Simplex Lite: four search modes (Field, Park, Beach and All Metal), the smaller 9.5 x 6 inch SX24 coil, an aluminum and plastic shaft, and no Bluetooth. Nokta also lists a Lite package with the 11 inch SX28 coil.
- Simplex Ultra: six search modes (adding 4 Tone and 99 Tone), the 11 inch SX28 coil, a full carbon fiber shaft and Bluetooth. The Ultra also adds settings the Lite lacks: a coin and relic ID scale, target ID depth, recovery speed, tone break, tone frequency and tone volume.
Choose the Lite if you want the lowest-cost route into a waterproof detector and plan to keep things simple. Choose the Ultra if you want wireless audio and the extra recovery and tone settings for trashy parks. Our Nokta Makro Simplex guide covers the Simplex versions in more detail, and we compare the Ultra with the Garrett ACE Apex , Garrett AT Pro and Garrett ACE 400 .
The Legend and Legend 2: Multi-Frequency
Nokta calls The Legend its “first simultaneous multi frequency metal detector.” Both Legend models offer multi-frequency modes plus single frequencies of 4, 10, 15, 20 and 40 kHz, and both are IP68 and submersible to 5 meters (16 feet). That frequency range is the main reason to step up from a Simplex: lower frequencies for larger, deeper targets, higher ones for small targets, and multi-frequency for salt beaches and mixed ground.
Nokta’s Legend comparison chart lists what changed in the Legend 2:
- Target IDs: 99 on the Legend 2, up from 60 on the Legend.
- Weight: 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg), down from 3.0 lbs (1.3 kg).
- Battery: a 6700 mAh lithium-ion battery, which Nokta says gives up to 33% more runtime. Nokta rates the original Legend at up to 20 hours.
- Manual frequency shift: 19 channels, up from 13.
- Modes and profiles: a new Relic mode, and up to 15 custom profiles across the search modes.
- Coils in the box: the Legend 2 ships with an 11 inch LD28 coil and an 8 x 5.5 inch LD21 coil, plus Bluetooth aptX low latency headphones.
Choose the Legend 2 if you are buying new and want the most current Nokta platform. The original Legend still makes sense if you find a listing for the exact part 11000838 package at a clearly lower price. Our Nokta Legend review covers the original’s packages, and we compare it with the Minelab Vanquish 440 , Garrett ACE Apex and Minelab Manticore . The Legend 2 is in our best metal detectors for depth list.
AccuPOINT: The Matching Pinpointer
Nokta lists the AccuPOINT as IP68 and waterproof to 3 meters (10 feet), with a color LCD screen, Bluetooth audio, 1-tone, 2-tone and Iron-Off discrimination, and a USB Type-C rechargeable battery rated at up to 25 hours. It also has a lost alarm that sounds after 5 minutes without use. The Bluetooth matters if you already run a Simplex Ultra or Legend with wireless headphones, since the pinpointer can pair with the same kind of low latency headset. Note that it is rated to 3 meters, not the 5 meters of the detectors. See our AccuPOINT review and our best pinpointers list.
How to Choose
- Start with frequency. If you mostly hunt dry parks and fields, a single 15 kHz Simplex covers it. If salt beaches or heavily mineralized ground are in the plan, the Legend line’s multi-frequency is the reason to pay more.
- Check the coil in the package. The Simplex Lite’s standard coil is the smaller 9.5 x 6 inch SX24; the Ultra and the Lite SX28 package use the 11 inch coil. The Legend 2 ships with two coils.
- Decide whether you want wireless audio. The Simplex Lite has no Bluetooth. The Ultra, both Legends and the AccuPOINT do.
- Match the part number. Nokta’s packages differ in coils and accessories, so confirm the part number on the listing before buying.
Final Recommendation
Choose the Simplex Lite for the simplest waterproof start, the Simplex Ultra if you want Bluetooth and recovery speed control without leaving single frequency, and the Legend 2 if you want Nokta’s multi-frequency platform with the larger battery and 99 target IDs. Add the AccuPOINT if you want a waterproof pinpointer that shares your wireless headphones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Nokta metal detector is best for a beginner?
The Simplex Lite is Nokta’s simplest current detector: one 15 kHz frequency, four search modes and a 9.5 x 6 inch coil. The Simplex Ultra keeps the same frequency and weight but adds Bluetooth, an 11 inch coil and more tone and recovery settings, so it suits a beginner who expects to grow into the controls.
What is the difference between the Nokta Simplex and the Legend?
The Simplex Lite and Ultra run a single 15 kHz frequency. The Legend and Legend 2 are simultaneous multi-frequency detectors that also offer single frequencies of 4, 10, 15, 20 and 40 kHz, which gives them more options for salt beaches and mineralized ground.
Is the Legend 2 worth it over the original Legend?
Per Nokta’s comparison chart, the Legend 2 moves from 60 to 99 target IDs, adds a Relic mode, drops weight from 3.0 lbs to 2.6 lbs and has a larger 6700 mAh battery that Nokta says gives up to 33% more runtime. Both are waterproof to 5 meters (16 feet) and share the same single and multi frequencies.
Are Nokta metal detectors waterproof?
Nokta rates the Simplex Lite, Simplex Ultra, Legend and Legend 2 as IP68 and fully submersible to 5 meters (16 feet). The AccuPOINT pinpointer is rated IP68 to 3 meters (10 feet).
Sources
See Also
If you want to move from general advice into actual product choices, start with Minelab Equinox 700 vs. Minelab X-Terra Pro, Nokta Simplex Ultra vs Garrett AT Pro: Which Metal Detector Fits You?, and Nokta Simplex Ultra vs. Garrett Ace Apex.
For a wider picture after the basics, Minelab PRO-FIND 40 Review: Retune, Battery Costs and Upgrade Value and Koss UR-30 Headphones for Metal Detecting Review are the next places to read.