The Minelab Equinox and the XP Deus are two of the best metal detectors on the market. Both machines offer their own unique features but does one beat out the other? Lets compare the Minelab Equinox up against the XP Deus and see where the differences are and where each metal detector out performs the other.
Update 2022: Did you also notice that XP Metal Detectors just released their XP Deus II. How does it compare against the Equinox? You can find here
Overall is the Minelab Equinox Better Than The XP Deus?
The Minelab Equinox is better overall than the XP Deus. For the price and out of the box features, Multi-IQ, setup time etc. The Equinox wins every time.
However, as the owner of both metal detectors, I’m going to provide my honest and real review of the Equinox and the Deus. I will give credit where credit is due. The Equinox has proven itself to be a great machine but the XP deus won’t go down easy.
What Are The Pros and Cons of The Equinox and Deus?
Lets start with the XP Deus.
Pros:
- The Deus is probably the lightest metal detector on the planet.
- Great for beginners or advanced users.
- Easily fits inside of a backpack due to its telescopic shaft.
- Fast Reactivity/Recovery speeds. Probably the fastest detector on the market.
- Highly configurable and programable.
- 100% wireless (coil and headphones)
Cons:
- The Deus is not 100% waterproof. Needs a waterproof kit
- Advanced options are not easy to navigate
- Advanced options are not easy to setup.
- Too many options to configure.
- Uses multiple single VLF frequencies (only 1 at a time)
- Price, it cost much more than the Equinox.
Now lets look at the Minelab Equinox 800.
Pros:
- The Equinox is 100% waterproof
- Uses Multi-IQ technology (searches simultaneously using multiple frequencies)
- Fast Reactivity/Recovery speeds.
- Easy to setup and use right out of the box.
- Automatic ground balancing (no need to ever ground balance unless searching for gold nuggets)
- Highly configurable and programable.
- Great for beginners and advanced users.
- Target ID is accurate
Cons:
- The Equinox is a bit heavier (coil heavy) compared to the Deus.
- Construction could be better.
- Target ID is different than what most are used to (-9 to 40)
XP Deus Owners Will Be Shocked to Read This.
It seems that many of you have ventured over to Minelab and jumped on the Equinox wagon. I remember when Garrett’s AT Pro ruled the day and everyone had one of those. I still do! Times have definitely changed. Minelab has come out of shadows and knocked everyone down with the Equinox. It has been a game changer and there is no denying it. Hats off to them Minelab.
However, for those of us who own the XP Deus we can clearly see some of the advantages the Equinox offers over the Deus. But if you are a really experienced XP Deus user you will find it hard to give up for the Equinox. In fact, I bet you won’t. But for those who can put down their biased opinion and try an Equinox, you might find that you like it. That’s what happened to me after 2 years of denial. I own both the Minelab Equinox 800 and the XP Deus.
Which Metal Detector Adapts Better to Ground Conditions?
The Minelab Equinox adapts better to ground conditions right out of the box. If you are an experienced Deus or Equinox user, both of these metal detectors can adapt to your ground conditions. I believe this capability sets both brands ahead of their competition and you are already seeing this playing out in the metal detector market today. Both of these machines can adapt to just about any ground condition. However, I personally believe you can make more finer adjustments with the XP Deus.
The Equinox will ground balance better overall and especially at the beach in wet sand so if you are looking for a land and beach machine you can’t go wrong with the Equinox. The Deus still struggles a bit on the beach and I’ll go into more of that later but you can use the Deus on the beach and have success with it.
Minelab’s Multi-IQ or Multi-Frequency Out Shines The XP Deus.
Multi frequency hoping is a feature the XP doesn’t have and I wish it did. This capability, also known to Minelab as Multi-IQ, is clearly giving Minelab an advantage over the XP. While the XP has the ability to switch to other frequencies (and the frequencies will vary according to the coil you have) it doesn’t have the ability to cycle through them like the Minelab does.
Picture yourself on a 1 acre piece of ground. If you were using the XP it would take you (hypothetically) 4 trips to cover over the 1 acre piece of land. With the Equinox (hypothetically) you could cover the same area in 1 trip using the Equinox because of its ability to frequency hop. The advantage here goes to the Minelab Equinox. Keep in mind that you still have to walk over the target to hear it.
VDI Comparison of The Equinox and The Deus.
Minelab changed to game and started using -9 to 40. Many of you who own the Equinox have said its hard to adjust to those numbers when they are used to VDI numbers similar to a Garrett AT Pro. In my own opinion and after owning the Equinox for over 3 months, I didn’t experience the hard transition that others did. I found the VDI range was very easy to adjust to.
While the XP Deus also operates on a different VDI scale it does fall into the range from 1-99. I found the VDI scale of the Deus was easy to adapt to after a few hunts. In joking, I tell all my friends who own the Equinox and rip me for having a Deus that Minelab had to come up with machine (or market) for people who couldn’t count past 50 so Minelab gave birth to the Equinox.
In all seriousness, both VDIs are what they are and anyone can eventually adapt to either range. With that said, neither machine takes the advantage in this category. However, I will fully admit that after putting a few hours on the Equinox myself, I fully admit that I am now leaning more in favor of Minelab has done.
Which Metal Detector is Harder to Operate?
Without any doubt, the XP Deus is harder to operate. I firmly believe that XP can be adjusted a little bit better with its tones, ground conditions, separation, and sensitivity. But the Equinox isn’t far off. All it would take to surpass the XP is for Minelab to provide software update and provide Equinox owners some additional options.
However, the Equinox is easy to learn and maybe adding too many features could be its downfall. The Deus wasn’t an easy machine to learn (for me) but once you unlock the mystery magic behind the settings (or at least let your head allow them in) its easy to see why most XP owners will stick by their Deus.
But truth be told, the Equinox is by far one of the easiest machines I have ever used. From the basic settings and search modes you can be up and hunting in about 3 minutes out of the box and after putting some time on the Equinox I am finding that the Equinox is clearly much better at finding SILVER coins!
Which Metal Detector is Better on Salt Water Beaches?
The Minelab Equinox is one of the best VLF metal detectors that performs great on salt water beaches and is better than the XP Deus. Salt water beaches are a VLF machines nightmare (most of the time). Dry sand can be detected without too many issues for most VLF machines. But like I mentioned earlier, add in a little wet sand or surf to the equation and most VLF machines don’t react well to those conditions.
However, Minelab has figured out a way around those issues and the Equinox works really well on the beach, wet sand, and in the surf. In fact, check out my recent trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina where I spent 4 days and 4 nights hunting with the Equinox. This was my first trip to the beach with the Equinox. Watch the video below. Teaser alert! The Equinox crushed it!
The Deus will work in those conditions too but not as well. In 2019, I spent a week at the same beach at Hilton Head using the XP Deus and the 9 inch round HF coil. I will admit that if you use the Gold Field program with the correct settings you will get incredible depth. I found plenty of beach treasure with the XP Deus so I won’t throw in the towel just yet on the XP but the Equinox wins the day.
If you want to know how to get the most of out of the XP Deus on wet sandy beaches, then check out my article here.
Which Metal Detector is The Easiest To Swing?
The XP Deus is the easiest metal detector to swing. The XP Deus is continues to be the lightest metal detector on the planet. The Equinox is also lighter than most of the big name metal detectors but I found it to be a bit coil heavy. The advantage in this category goes to XP. There is nothing on the market lighter which appeals for those who have shoulder or arm issues. The XP Deus also appeals to older enthusiasts who can’t swing those heavier metal detectors.
Which Metal Detector is 100% Waterproof?
The Equinox is 100% waterproof, submersible down to approximately 10 feet of water. This makes the Equinox one of the most appealing metal detectors on the market. The XP Deus is not waterproof.
XP still hasn’t come up with a better solution to waterproofing the Deus. Even though it does work, the after market purchase of the “water kit” for the Deus is cumbersome and just not realistic to use as a permanent solution. However, it does work and is a solution to make the XP Deus waterproof.
Price Comparison of The Equinox, Deus, and ORX.
At last check the Equinox comes in at a cheaper price than the Deus. However XP has also released a slimmed down version of the Deus called the ORX that comes in close to the Minelab 800 price. Check the latest Amazon prices by clicking each link below.
Minelab Equinox 800 (Amazon)
Minelab Equinox 600 (Amazon)
XP Deus (Amazon)
XP ORX (Amazon)
Minelab Equinox and XP Deus Conclusion.
Both machines have features that offset each other. If I really had to pick one over the other, I would have to pick the Equinox for the type of metal detecting I prefer. Now that I have a bunch of hours on the Equinix it clearly has a the ability to find high conductive targets better than the Deus. In fact, I took the Equinox back to two permissions that I thought I had cleaned out with the XP. Wow! I was wrong. The multi-freq (Multi-IQ) feature of the Equinox and whatever Minelab is doing with the algorithms that go into it, is clearly working. I found numerous coins at both locations that I clearly missed with the XP Deus.
On the other hand, I still like the XP and the HF coil for relic hunting because of the capability to fine tune its settings to my choosing. Unfortunately, the XP Deus is not 100% waterproof which is its down fall and it lacks the ability to detect in more than one frequency at a time.
In addition, Minelab did a really good job at pricing the Equinox which put many of the big name brands detectors on their heels. I think the multi frequency machines will be a game changer going forward for metal detecting. In fact, Garrett is now coming out with their ACE Apex that offers multi-frequency as well (Check out my Garrett ACE Apex Review). I also hear rumors of a Nokta Makro multi-frequency in the works.
Are You Ready to Try The Equinox?
If you are ready to jump into an amazing hobby or want to upgrade to a new machine, I can’t speak highly enough about Fort Bedford Metal Detectors. They convinced me to try the Minelab Equinox 800 and its been one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Where Can I Find The Minelab Equinox and XP Deus/ORX Specs?
All of the specs for each machine can be found by clicking on the each machine below
Minelab Equinox 800
Minelab Equinox 600
XP Deus
XP ORX
Metal Detecting Video: XP Deus Wins This Day!
Metal Detecting Video: Minelab Equinox Wins This Day!
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