Based on user experience, technical specifications, reviews, comparisons and more, these are the best metal detectors under $300 that are great for beginners. These recommended metal detectors are easy to use and and easy to understand. You can’t go wrong with any one of these metal detectors. I would recommend any of them to anyone wanting to try their hand at metal detecting.
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Note: Some of my recommendations below will take you over to Kellyco Metal Detectors or Amazon where you can learn more about each machine and compare prices.
3 Best Metal Detectors For Beginners.
Metal Detectors Under $300 (updated 2023)
As a beginner you don’t want to spend a lot of time trying to figure things out. You want to turn on the metal detector and use it without fumbling around with a bunch of knobs and buttons. The good news is that its 2023 and metal detectors have become easy to use. Because of that, anyone can get into the metal detecting with very little cost up front. Fortunately for you I’ve done the research. I picked 3 metal detectors that will do the job and save you hundreds of dollars.
Affordable Metal Detectors That are Great For Beginners.
When I first started writing this article, I’ve listed 3 metal detectors that were very affordable and under $300. I recommended the Minelab Vanquish, Nokta Makro Simplex, or the Garrett Ace 250 and 300 and I still highly recommend them if you are new to metal detecting but in 2023, there is a new detector on the market that needs to be considered.
The Best Metal Detector for Beginners is the Minelab X-Terra Pro.
In 2023 Minelab announced the rebirth of it’s X-Terra Pro metal detector and it something to consider. In fact, from what I’ve seen, I would consider the X-Terra Pro the best bang for the buck with a price of $269. I have personally handled the machine at Digstock V and it is very impressive for a single frequency VLF metal detector. There are still advantages to simultaneous multi-frequency metal detectors but the X-Terra Pro is deep and a well behaved machine in EMI. It runs very quiet on the beach and will pick up targets at 10 inches or better in the right conditions. The X-Terra is also 100% waterproof down to 16 feet! I believe the X-Terra Pro is the best metal detector for beginners in 2023.
If you want more information on the X-Terra Pro, I wrote a review of the Minelab X-Terra Pro that you can find here .
The Minelab Vanquish, Nokta Makro Simplex, or the Garrett Ace 250 and 300 are also great machines for beginners and I still highly recommend them. These machines are easy to use (turn on and go) and they won’t break the bank. Each machine listed below will link over to Kellyco Metal Detectors so you can learn more about these machines and what they have to offer. Kellyco also throws in a few extras that are included in their price.
- Minelab Vanquish
- Nokta Makro Simplex (100% waterproof)
- Garrett Ace 250 and 300
A couple of key things to point out. If you are looking for a metal detector that is 100% waterproof, look no further. The Nokta Makro Simplex is the machine of choice. If you are looking for multi-frequency technology then you should consider the Minelab Vanquish.
Benefits of Multi Frequency Technology.
Of the four machines mentioned in this article, only one of them are considered “Multi Frequency”. But what is the benefit of multi frequency?
The Minelab Vanquish is the only one of the four mentioned that uses multi frequency technology. This technology enables the operator to search in several frequencies at one time. Some targets hit differently on different frequencies. You could miss targets with metal detectors that only operate on one frequency. Minelab built this technology into their popular Equinox 600/800, Equinox 700/900, and Manticore series of detectors. The technology is also contained in the Minelab Vanquish.
Which Affordable Beginner Metal Detector is Right For You?
After reading about the benefits of multi frequency you are probably thinking that the Minelab Vanquish is right for you but maybe not. The Vanquish is not 100% waterproof. The Garrett Ace is not 100% waterproof either. However, the Simplex is 100% waterproof and has great reviews and it is a single frequency metal detector.
It Boils Down to This…
So it boils down to the type of metal detecting you think you may end up doing. If you are around the water a lot, maybe the X-Terra Pro or Simplex is right for you. If you are going to be hunting parks and beaches the X-Terra Pro, Vanquish is probably the machine of choice. If you never plan on hunting in wet sand or the water and you want something that has been a proven work horse then go with the Garrett but the X-Terra Pro could be the newest and best metal detector for all three scenarios.
Check Out These Articles
I have written several articles about all of these detectors that include comparisons or reviews that you can find links to below. My latest review of the Minelab X-Terra Pro can be found here.
| Minelab Vanquish vs. Nokta Makro Simplex | Minelab Vanquish vs. Garrett Ace. |
| Nokta Makro Simplex Review | Which Vanquish is Right For You? |
It’s a Great Time to Start Metal Detecting.
With the recent surge of wireless and multi frequency technology hitting the market, these 4 machines are great for beginners. They are packed with high end options and have reasonable prices. If you have been sitting on the sideline, its a great time to start metal detecting.
In addition, a lot of the guessing work has been taken out of setting up these machines. They are “turn on and go” metal detectors. The learning curve isn’t as steep as it used to be and anyone can jump into this hobby. But I do recommend reading the instruction manual a few times and watching other setup videos on YouTube. Watching instructional videos prior to purchase will shorten the learning curve and get you digging up treasure a lot sooner. You can get a lot of the content from my Mental Metal YouTube Channel. Please consider subscribing.
Beginners Please Don’t Break The Bank.
If you are new to metal detecting do yourself a favor and don’t break the bank. What do I mean?
I’ve been metal detecting since the 1990’s. When I purchased my first metal detector it was a Whites 5900. It was a great machine for its time but it was a lot more advanced that I was. I spent a lot of money on something that was far beyond my comprehension level. Needless to say, I never fully understood how to use the machine. For many months, I was very frustrated at myself for spending my hard earned money on something I didn’t understand or enjoy using. Don’t let that happen to you.
All of the metal detectors mentioned in this article are easy to learn and turn on and go machines. They are the best metal detectors under $300 for beginners. If you still aren’t sure try this.
Beginners Take a Test Drive or Borrow a Metal Detector.
Many of you who end up trying to metal detect won’t like it for various reasons. You will spend a lot of money when you didn’t need to. Here is one way to avoid spending all that money on something you may not enjoy.
If you have a friend who metal detects ask them to show you their machine and try it out. Ask them if you can borrow it for a couple of days. Some places will let you rent a metal detector for a day or 2 and that’s a good option. In a couple days you will know if you are going to like the hobby or not.
With Every New Metal Detector Comes Great Power.
With great power comes a whole lot of patients. Everything you dig up with not be treasure. Most of you will dig up nails, pull tabs, and junk. None of us like to dig up those items but it happens. It happens a lot.
Overtime, operating your Minelab, Nokta, Garrett, or any other metal detector will become 2nd nature and eventually it will all make sense. I usually tell folks to get between 60-100 hours of operating time on your metal detector. By the time you hit those hours you will know how operate your machine. At that point you are no longer a beginner. Thanks for reading.
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