Metal Detector Weight Comparison: How Much Do Popular Detectors Really Weigh?
Metal detector weight looks like one of the easiest specifications to compare. Find the manufacturer's figure, put the machines in a table and the lightest detector wins.
Unfortunately, it isn't quite that simple.
Across the 12 detectors we've researched, quoted weights range from around 750 g to 1.3 kg. On the face of it, that suggests the lightest machines weigh little more than half as much as the heaviest. Some of that difference is genuine, particularly when comparing XP's wireless detectors with more conventional machines from Minelab and Nokta, but some comes from the way manufacturers and retailers describe different configurations.
A detector might be quoted with or without its remote control mounted on the stem. Different coils change the overall weight, as can batteries and other components. Headphones are usually excluded entirely, while some figures describe a complete ready-to-detect machine and others need much more qualification.
So this comparison isn't about producing a league table based on numbers that aren't necessarily measuring the same thing. Instead, we'll look at the published weights, explain where the figures are reliable and highlight where configuration makes a direct comparison misleading.
Metal Detector Weight Comparison
Detector | Weight in our research | Important qualification |
XP Deus II | From approx. 0.75 kg | Highly configuration-dependent |
XP ICON | Approx. 0.843 kg with remote | Approx. 0.735 kg without remote mounted |
XP Deus 1 | Approx. 0.9 kg with remote | Approx. 0.8 kg without remote |
Minelab Vanquish 360 | 1.16 kg* | Independent source gave 1.26 kg |
Nokta Simplex Ultra | 1.2 kg | Standard detector configuration |
Minelab Vanquish 560 | 1.26 kg | Standard detector configuration |
Minelab Equinox 900 | Approx. 1.2–1.27 kg* | Published figures conflict |
Minelab X-Terra Pro | 1.3 kg | Manufacturer stated weight |
Minelab X-Terra Elite | 1.3 kg | Manufacturer stated weight |
Nokta Legend Pro-Pack | 1.3 kg stated | Detector weight; Pro-Pack accessories are separate |
Minelab Manticore | 1.3 kg | Standard M11 configuration |
Nokta Score | Not verified | No sufficiently reliable weight established in our evidence |
* Our evidence contains unresolved conflicting figures, so these shouldn't be presented with false precision.
The broad pattern is immediately obvious. XP occupies its own part of the comparison, with ICON, Deus 1 and Deus II all capable of weighing comfortably below one kilogram in suitable configurations. Most of the Minelab and Nokta machines cluster much more closely between roughly 1.2 and 1.3 kg.
The numbers alone still don't tell the whole story, though. To understand why, we need to look at what is actually being weighed.
Why Metal Detector Weight Isn't a Standard Measurement
When a manufacturer states that a detector weighs 1.3 kg, it sounds precise. The problem is that a metal detector isn't a single fixed object.
Change the search coil and you change the weight. Move a detachable remote from the stem to your pocket and you change the weight being carried by your arm. Add an external battery or other accessory and the complete setup changes again.
XP demonstrates this particularly clearly because its detectors are deliberately modular. The coil contains important electronics, the remote can be removed from the stem and the wireless headphones can form part of the control system. There isn't necessarily one configuration that represents every owner.
Conventional detectors are easier to compare because the control unit and battery remain attached to the stem, but coil choice still matters. A detector quoted with a small coil shouldn't be compared blindly with another carrying a much larger one.
This is why a useful weight comparison needs to describe the configuration rather than simply copying the smallest number from each specification sheet.
XP ICON: 735 g or 843 g?
The ICON provides a perfect example of how the same detector can legitimately appear with very different weight figures.
Our research supports a complete weight of approximately 843 g with the remote mounted on the detector. Owner evidence is very close to that figure, at around 845 g. Remove the remote from the stem and the figure falls to roughly 735 g.
Both figures can be meaningful, but they don't describe the same configuration.
If you intend to detect with the remote mounted conventionally on the stem, the figure around 843 g is the useful comparison. Quoting 735 g against a conventional detector carrying its control unit on the stem would make the ICON look lighter by removing part of its control system from the measurement.
That doesn't take anything away from the ICON. At around 843 g in the complete remote-mounted configuration, it is still exceptionally light compared with most conventional detectors in our dataset.
The important point is that the comparison remains like-for-like.
Deus 1 Has the Same Configuration Problem
The original XP Deus follows the same basic principle. A typical configuration is around 900 g with the remote mounted and approximately 800 g without it, although the exact figure also varies with the coil being used.
Again, both figures can be legitimate. The problem only arises when the lighter configuration is presented without explaining what has changed.
This is particularly relevant with Deus because the detector can be operated in several ways. Compatible wireless headphones can provide detector control without requiring the remote to sit on the stem, so removing the remote isn't necessarily an artificial configuration created purely to produce an attractive specification.
For some owners, it genuinely represents how they use the detector.
That means the fairest way to describe Deus weight isn't to insist on one universal figure. It's to explain the configuration and let the reader compare the setup they would actually use.
Deus II: Why "From 750 g" Needs Explaining
Deus II is even more difficult to reduce to one number because coil, remote and headphone choices all affect the final setup.
Our comparison dataset records the Deus II from approximately 750 g, but that figure must be treated as configuration-dependent rather than the universal weight of every Deus II. A detector fitted with a different FMF coil and used with the remote mounted will not necessarily match the lightest published configuration.
This is one of those cases where the word "from" is doing a lot of work.
What the wider evidence does establish is that Deus II belongs firmly within XP's very lightweight design philosophy. Even when sensible configuration differences are taken into account, it remains dramatically lighter than many conventional detectors around the 1.2–1.3 kg mark.
So the low weight is real. What we shouldn't do is pretend that every possible Deus II setup weighs exactly 750 g.
Why Are XP Detectors So Light?
The difference isn't simply a matter of using a lighter stem.
XP's architecture changes where the detector electronics are located. The search coil performs much of the signal processing and communicates wirelessly with the remote and headphones. That removes the conventional coil cable and allows the control system to be distributed between components rather than requiring a large permanently mounted control box.
The telescopic stems also pack down very compactly, while the removable remote gives the user further flexibility over how much weight actually sits on the shaft.
That design is common to Deus 1, Deus II and ICON, although the detector technology and level of control differ substantially between them.
The result is that sub-1 kg figures aren't simply specification tricks. XP really does build unusually light detectors. The qualification is that the exact number depends on how each one is configured.
Vanquish 360: An Unresolved Weight Difference
The Minelab Vanquish 360 is the lightest conventional detector in our comparison based on the manufacturer's figure. Minelab states 1.16 kg, which puts it noticeably below most of the other non-XP machines.
There is, however, an unresolved conflict in our evidence. One independent review gives the weight as 1.26 kg rather than 1.16 kg.
We don't have enough evidence to explain that 100 g difference confidently. It could relate to configuration or measurement, but filling that gap with an assumption would be misleading.
For comparison purposes, we've retained Minelab's official 1.16 kg specification while flagging the conflicting independent figure. That is more useful than quietly choosing whichever number makes the table look tidier.
Either way, the Vanquish 360 remains towards the lighter end of the conventional detectors researched.
Simplex Ultra: A Straightforward 1.2 kg
The Nokta Simplex Ultra is much easier to describe. Its stated weight is 1.2 kg, putting it between the exceptionally light XP machines and the group of detectors clustered around 1.3 kg.
Its fully retractable shaft also matters in practical use, although compactness and weight shouldn't be confused. A detector can collapse into a very small package without becoming any lighter while you're actually swinging it.
The Simplex Ultra evidence presents the 1.2 kg figure without the same configuration issues that complicate the XP comparison. There is no detachable stem-mounted remote creating two substantially different quoted detector weights.
That makes its figure much easier to compare directly with conventional machines such as the Vanquish, X-Terra, Legend and Manticore.
Vanquish 560: Slightly Heavier Than the 360
The Vanquish 560 is listed at 1.26 kg, placing it around 100 g above Minelab's official Vanquish 360 figure.
Part of the physical difference between the two machines is the coil. The 360 comes with the V10X 10 × 7-inch DD, while the standard 560 uses the larger V12X 12 × 9-inch DD.
The 560 also includes a more fully featured control system, but the practical point is that we're not comparing two identical detector configurations with nothing but different software.
This is another reason small differences in headline weight need context. A larger coil changes not only the total weight but where that weight sits, and that can affect how the detector feels during a long session.
The Pro Pack complicates matters further by adding the smaller V8X coil to the package. Fit that coil and the detector's overall weight and balance will change again.
X-Terra Pro and X-Terra Elite: Essentially the Same Weight Class
Both the Minelab X-Terra Pro and X-Terra Elite are stated at 1.3 kg and are normally supplied with the V12X 12 × 9-inch coil.
That makes weight one of the least important differences between them. The significant distinction is technological: the Pro uses selectable single-frequency operation, while the Elite adds Multi-IQ simultaneous multi-frequency.
From an ergonomic perspective, however, someone moving from Pro to Elite shouldn't expect a dramatic reduction in detector weight. They occupy essentially the same physical class.
This is useful because upgrade comparisons often concentrate so heavily on electronics that practical similarities get overlooked. If a detectorist finds the 1.3 kg X-Terra Pro tiring over a long session, moving to an Elite isn't likely to transform that simply because the electronics are more advanced.
A different coil may change the feel more noticeably than changing between these two control platforms.
Nokta Legend: 1.3 kg Doesn't Include the Whole Pro-Pack
The Nokta Legend is also stated at around 1.3 kg, but our comparison specifically covers the Legend Pro-Pack. That package contains considerably more equipment than the detector itself.
Alongside the main LG30 12 × 9-inch coil, the Pro-Pack includes the smaller LG15 6-inch DD coil, Bluetooth headphones and a waterproof spare battery. Those items add value and versatility to the package, but they shouldn't all be added to the detector weight as though you carry every accessory on the shaft simultaneously.
Conversely, calling the entire Pro-Pack a "1.3 kg package" would also be misleading because the box obviously weighs more than the detector alone.
The useful figure is the detector's operating weight in the configuration being used. Fit the smaller LG15 and the weight and balance will change from the standard LG30 setup.
This distinction between detector weight and package weight is particularly important when comparing bundles. Extra coils and headphones make a package heavier to transport, but not necessarily heavier to swing.
Equinox 900: Why Do Published Weights Differ?
The Equinox 900 is another machine where our sources don't agree on one exact figure. Published weights within the research range from approximately 1.2 to 1.27 kg.
Rather than inventing a false resolution, the sensible approach is to treat the Equinox 900 as belonging to roughly the same 1.2–1.3 kg weight class as the Vanquish 560, X-Terra machines, Legend and Manticore.
The standard package also complicates any attempt to give the detector one permanent weight because the Equinox 900 comes with two coils: the EQX11 11-inch DD and the much smaller EQX06 6-inch DD.
Most headline specifications refer to the normal larger-coil configuration. Fit the EQX06 for heavily contaminated ground and the detector's weight and balance change.
That small coil is a meaningful part of the Equinox package, so anyone particularly concerned about fatigue should consider the configuration they are likely to use rather than treating the published headline figure as immutable.
Manticore: 1.3 kg With the Standard M11
The Minelab Manticore is stated at 1.3 kg with its standard M11 11-inch DD coil, putting it firmly within the main cluster of conventional detectors in our dataset.
That is worth noting because Manticore is Minelab's premium machine in this comparison, yet its advanced Multi-IQ+ electronics and larger control system don't result in a dramatic weight increase over X-Terra or Legend.
Where comparisons can become misleading is when promotional bundles enter the picture. During our research, some Manticore packages included additional M9 and M15 coils. Those were promotional extras rather than the standard coil configuration and don't alter the 1.3 kg operating weight of the detector fitted with the M11.
Fit one of those other coils, however, and both weight and balance will change.
As with Equinox and Legend, package contents and detector operating weight need to remain separate concepts.
Why We Haven't Given the Nokta Score a Weight
The Score is the one detector in our 12-machine dataset for which we haven't established a sufficiently reliable weight figure.
It would be easy to search around until a plausible number appeared and fill the empty box. That would defeat the purpose of an evidence-led comparison.
The Score's verified specifications establish its simultaneous multi-frequency system, 5-metre waterproofing and SC30 12 × 9-inch coil, but our approved evidence didn't establish its weight to the standard needed for the master comparison.
So it remains "not verified".
A blank supported by honest evidence is more useful than a precise-looking number with uncertain provenance.
Does 100 g Actually Matter?
On paper, the difference between a 1.2 kg and 1.3 kg detector looks small. In percentage terms, it is only around eight per cent.
Whether you notice it over several hours is a different question.
Detector weight is held away from the body and moved continuously from side to side. The location of that weight therefore matters as well as the total. A machine that is well balanced can feel more comfortable than another with a similar measured weight but more mass concentrated towards the coil.
This is why total weight alone cannot tell you how tiring a detector will feel.
A larger coil adds weight at the end of the shaft, where leverage makes it particularly noticeable. A control box adds weight much closer to the hand. Two machines with the same total mass can therefore feel quite different when swung.
Our evidence doesn't provide controlled balance or fatigue measurements across all 12 detectors, so we shouldn't manufacture a comfort ranking. What we can say is that the headline weight is only one part of the ergonomic picture.
Coil Weight Matters More Than It First Appears
Changing coils is one of the easiest ways to change both the weight and balance of a detector.
Larger coils usually provide greater ground coverage, but they also place more material at the furthest point from the user's hand. That can make a relatively small increase in grams feel more significant than the same amount of weight added close to the grip.
Smaller coils do the opposite. They cover less ground with each sweep but can make the detector feel more agile, particularly on iron-contaminated sites where precise coil placement is useful anyway.
Several detectors in our research can be configured this way. The Equinox 900 includes both 11-inch and 6-inch coils as standard, the Legend Pro-Pack includes its LG30 and LG15, and the Vanquish 560 Pro Pack adds the smaller V8X. XP owners also have several coil choices across the compatible detector families.
So if weight is a significant consideration, don't just compare control units. Look at the coil you are actually likely to use.
What About Headphones?
Headphone weight is normally absent from metal detector specifications, which is reasonable because the headphones aren't supported by the detector shaft. They are still part of the complete equipment you're wearing, though.
This becomes particularly interesting with XP because the headphones can be more deeply integrated into the detector's control architecture. Depending on the model and configuration, the user may be able to operate without carrying the remote on the stem in the conventional way.
That is one reason comparing an XP machine with a conventional detector becomes difficult. Moving the remote from the stem doesn't make its mass disappear; it changes where that mass is carried.
For arm fatigue, that distinction can be genuinely useful. For a simple "total equipment weight" comparison, it needs to be acknowledged.
Both interpretations can be valid as long as we are clear about what is being measured.
Weight and Balance Aren't the Same Thing
This is probably the biggest limitation of any detector weight table.
Weight is measurable. Balance is experienced.
A 1.3 kg detector with much of its mass close to the handle can potentially feel easier to swing than another 1.3 kg detector with a heavier coil pulling at the end of the shaft. Shaft length, grip position and the user's height and sweep style can alter the experience again.
That means we can't look at 1.26 kg and 1.30 kg and confidently tell you which machine will feel better after six hours in a field.
The numbers are still useful, particularly when the difference becomes large. An 850 g XP and a 1.3 kg conventional detector aren't separated by a trivial amount. But as the figures get closer together, balance and configuration become increasingly important.
Ideally, comfort should be judged with the detector assembled in the configuration you intend to use.
Are the XP Machines Really That Much Lighter?
Yes, with an important qualification.
Even when we avoid the lightest stripped-down configurations and use remote-mounted figures where available, XP remains clearly separated from the rest of this dataset. ICON at around 843 g and Deus 1 at around 900 g are substantially below the 1.2–1.3 kg figures common among Minelab and Nokta machines.
That represents a genuine design difference rather than merely creative specification writing.
Where comparisons become misleading is when the very lightest XP configuration is placed against a fully assembled conventional detector without explaining that the remote has been removed from the stem.
The fairest conclusion is therefore not that every XP weighs 750 g. It's that XP's wireless modular architecture allows genuinely lighter detector configurations than the conventional designs represented in this comparison.
How much that matters depends on the detectorist.
Does a Lighter Detector Mean a Better Detector?
No more than a heavier detector automatically means a more powerful one.
Weight is an ergonomic specification, not a performance score.
The 1.3 kg Manticore provides Multi-IQ+, extensive Ferrous Limits and two-dimensional Target Trace. The much lighter ICON uses XP's FMF technology but deliberately provides fewer programmes and controls than Deus II. Their weight tells us something useful about how they may feel to carry; it tells us very little about how their detection systems compare.
Likewise, reducing coil size can make a detector lighter and easier to manoeuvre while also reducing the amount of ground covered with each sweep.
Weight therefore belongs alongside technology, controls, coils and intended use rather than replacing them.
For somebody who detects for two hours at a time, an extra 200 g may barely influence the buying decision. For somebody regularly spending full days walking large fields, it may become one of the most important specifications on the page.
Metal Detector Weight Comparison: What Should You Actually Compare?
The first thing to establish is whether two quoted weights describe equivalent configurations. Check which coil is fitted, whether a detachable remote is mounted and whether the number refers to the detector itself rather than an entire package.
After that, the broad differences in our 12-machine dataset become much more useful.
XP's ICON, Deus 1 and Deus II are the clear lightweight outliers, with the wireless modular architecture allowing sub-1 kg configurations. The difference remains substantial even when we use sensible remote-mounted figures rather than the lightest possible setup.
The Vanquish 360 sits towards the lighter end of the conventional machines at Minelab's stated 1.16 kg, although the conflicting 1.26 kg independent figure needs to remain visible. Simplex Ultra follows at 1.2 kg, while Vanquish 560, Equinox 900, X-Terra Pro, X-Terra Elite, Legend and Manticore occupy a relatively narrow band between roughly 1.2 and 1.3 kg.
Once detectors are that close together, arguing over 30 or 40 grams becomes much less useful than considering the coil, balance and way the machine will actually be configured.
That is the main limitation of every simple detector weight chart. The numbers look wonderfully precise, but they can encourage comparisons between things that aren't quite equivalent.
Use the figures as a starting point, not a comfort rating. Compare like with like, pay particular attention to the coil, and remember that moving weight away from your arm can matter just as much as removing it altogether.
Comparison Articles 1–12
The 12 Detectors - Reviewed
