Nokta Simplex Ultra Review: Detailed Specifications, Field Reports and Detectorist Opinions
- Aug 2
- 15 min read
Nokta Simplex Ultra
The Nokta Simplex Ultra is a waterproof, single-frequency VLF metal detector designed to put an unusually broad range of controls into a relatively affordable and lightweight machine. It operates at 15 kHz, weighs 1.2 kg and combines six search modes with adjustable recovery speed, tone controls, notch discrimination, manual ground balance and a fully retractable shaft.
At an observed price of £299.95 from LP Metal Detecting on 2 August 2026, it occupies the space between basic switch-on-and-go detectors and more expensive simultaneous multi-frequency machines. You can view the current Nokta Simplex Ultra package at LP Metal Detecting.
Its specification is attractive, but specifications alone do not establish how a detector will behave in wet salt, mineralised ground or a park full of iron and modern rubbish. Published field reports show a machine capable of good inland performance and useful target separation, while also exposing the limitations of single-frequency operation and the need to learn what its tones and target numbers are actually telling you.
UK Detectorist has not owned or tested the Simplex Ultra. This review brings together Nokta’s published specifications, LP Metal Detecting material, two independent written reviews and several owner and community discussions.
What is the Nokta Simplex Ultra?
The Simplex Ultra sits at the top of Nokta’s current Simplex range. According to Nokta’s Simplex Ultra product page, it is intended to combine depth and higher-end controls with an entry-level price. It retains the accessible single-menu arrangement associated with the range but adds adjustments that are absent from the simpler models.
Those Ultra-specific controls include adjustable recovery speed, tone break, tone frequency, tone volume, Target ID depth and a choice between Coin and Relic identification scales. That makes the Ultra more adaptable than a basic beginner machine, although it also means the buyer must learn more than simply selecting a mode and digging every signal.
The underlying technology remains 15 kHz single-frequency VLF. It is not a simultaneous multi-frequency detector. That distinction matters most in difficult mineralised soil and during regular wet salt or black-sand detecting, where the two independent reviews both identify more advanced multi-frequency machines as the stronger option.
Nokta Simplex Ultra technical specifications
The following table consolidates the complete published specifications recorded in the source material. These are manufacturer and retailer specifications rather than measurements independently verified by UK Detectorist.
Category | Verified specification | Source notes and cautions |
Product | Nokta Simplex Ultra | Part number or SKU 11000625 |
Detection technology | Single-frequency VLF | Not simultaneous multi-frequency |
Operating frequency | 15 kHz | Consistently stated across official, retailer and review sources |
Search modes | Field, Park, 4 Tone, 99 Tone, Beach and All Metal | LP’s product page gives a shortened, incomplete list |
Target identification | 01 to 99 | Nokta and LP’s comparison article give 01 to 99. Iron & Dirt writes 0 to 99 |
ID scale options | Coin and Relic | Ultra-specific within the compared Simplex range |
Sensitivity | 30 levels | Published by Nokta |
Volume | Five levels | Published by Nokta |
Ground balance | Automatic and manual | Published by Nokta |
Recovery speed | Adjustable | Ultra-specific within the compared range |
Tone controls | Adjustable tone break, tone frequency and tone volume | Ultra-specific within the compared range |
Target ID depth | Adjustable | Ultra-specific within the compared range |
Discrimination | Notch discrimination and Iron Off | Published controls |
Ground Suppressor | Included | Intended to help manage difficult ground responses |
Threshold | All Metal threshold | Published control |
Interference control | Frequency shift | Nokta says this can reduce electromagnetic interference |
Pinpointing | Built-in pinpoint function | Published by Nokta |
Display | LCD screen | Includes adjustable backlighting |
Lighting | LCD backlight, keypad backlight and LED torch | Intended for low-light and underwater use |
Tactile feedback | Vibration | Presented as useful underwater and for users with impaired hearing |
Wireless audio | Bluetooth enabled | Optional WHP package includes low-latency Bluetooth headphones and a soft case |
Waterproof rating | IP68 | Stated maximum depth of 5 metres or 16 feet, with protection against total dust ingress |
Headphone waterproofing | Standard Bluetooth headphones are not stated to be waterproof | Nokta waterproof headphones are listed separately |
Weight | 1.2 kg or 2.6 lb | Published figure |
Collapsed length | 63 cm or 25 inches | LP’s comparison gives an overall adjustable range of 25 to 52 inches |
Shaft | Carbon-fibre construction | LP and Focus Speed describe a fully carbon-fibre shaft. Iron & Dirt specifies carbon-fibre middle and lower sections |
Standard coil | SX28 waterproof DD coil with cover | 28 cm or 11 inches |
Compatible SX24 coil | 24 x 15 cm or 9.5 x 6 inches | Focus Speed contains inconsistent part-number information, so no part number is reproduced here |
Compatible SX28 coil | 28 cm or 11 inches | Standard coil; uncertain third-party part-number data omitted |
Compatible SX35 coil | 35 x 31.5 cm or 13.5 x 12.5 inches | Optional larger coil |
Earlier coil compatibility | Earlier Simplex+ coils are reported as incompatible | Stated by Focus Speed |
Battery | Built-in rechargeable lithium-polymer battery | LP’s comparison states a capacity of 2,300 mAh |
Charging | USB charging | Can be charged through a suitable USB charger or power bank |
Data connection | USB charging and data cable | Used for charging and PC firmware updates |
Firmware updates | PC update support | Nokta’s page displayed firmware V7.01 dated 9 November 2023 |
V7.01 changes | Reduced level-one backlight brightness and simplified Bluetooth switching between AccuPOINT and Simplex | Information displayed by Nokta |
Warranty | Three years | Stated in LP’s comparison article |
Current observed price | £299.95 | Observed at LP Metal Detecting on 2 August 2026 and subject to change |
What comes with the detector?
The recorded standard package comprises the detector, SX28 11-inch DD coil and cover, USB charging and data cable, armrest and user guide. Package contents should still be checked before ordering because retailers may change bundles.
Available audio accessories listed across the sources include:
Accessory | Recorded description |
Nokta Bluetooth headphones | Low-latency wireless headphones included with the optional WHP package |
Nokta waterproof headphones | Separate waterproof audio option |
Nokta Koss headphones | Wired headphones with a waterproof connector |
Headphone adaptor | 6.3 mm adaptor |
WHP package extras | Bluetooth headphones and soft case |
The standard 11-inch coil is intended as a general-purpose option. A smaller 9.5 x 6-inch SX24 coil is listed for buyers who want a more compact search head, while the larger SX35 offers a 13.5 x 12.5-inch footprint. Earlier Simplex+ coils are reported to be incompatible, which is worth checking if you already own accessories from the previous generation.
For the latest price and supplied package, check the Nokta Simplex Ultra at LP Metal Detecting.
Is the Simplex Ultra genuinely easy to use?
There are two different answers in the published material.
The physical set-up appears straightforward. In the Iron & Dirt hands-on review, assembly reportedly took less than two minutes without tools. The cam locks felt firm, the machine felt solid and the screen and menu icons were readily understood.
A Bradford-based owner posting on Metal Detecting Forum UK also described a clear display, simple menus and a start-up time of about three seconds. The target ID was said to remain readable in sunlight. Focus Speed’s reviewer passed the detector to someone accustomed to a basic Bounty Hunter Tracker IV, who reportedly found the Ultra intuitive and appreciated the additional target information.
That does not mean every novice will immediately understand its responses. A new owner discussing a first beach session on Reddit encountered numerous bottle tops and other signals whose numerical IDs overlapped with desirable targets. After returning the detector, the user acknowledged: “It was my fault because I didn’t learn the machine.”
This is not really a contradiction. The menus can be clearly organised while the audio and target behaviour still require experience. Choosing a mode is easy. Deciding whether a repeatable signal is a coin, a bottle top or an awkwardly positioned piece of aluminium is a separate skill.
How much control does the Ultra provide?
The six modes establish different starting points, but the Ultra’s appeal lies in how far those starting points can be adjusted.
Thirty sensitivity levels offer finer control than a simple low, medium and high arrangement. Frequency shift is intended to help when electrical interference is present, while automatic and manual ground balance allow the machine to be matched to local conditions. Ground Suppressor adds another way to manage unwanted ground responses.
Notch discrimination can silence selected target ID ranges, while Iron Off and adjustable tone settings allow the audio response to be reshaped. Tone break determines where one audio region changes into another. Tone frequency alters its pitch, and tone volume allows particular target regions to be made louder or quieter.
These controls are useful, but discrimination always involves a trade-off. Conductive rubbish does not occupy a completely separate numerical range from coins and other desirable objects. The novice Reddit user reported bottle tops around ID 80, aluminium around 84 and a US silver dime at 86. Those exact US targets are not directly relevant to British finds, but the underlying lesson is universal: rejecting a numerical range because rubbish appeared there can also reject desirable objects with similar conductivity.
The detector therefore offers the means to make a difficult site quieter, but not a guaranteed method of identifying every target before digging.
How does adjustable recovery speed affect performance?
Recovery speed determines how quickly a detector can respond to one target and then become ready to report another. Faster recovery can help distinguish closely spaced objects, particularly when a desirable target lies near iron. Slower recovery may allow a signal to be sampled for longer and can sometimes favour depth in cleaner ground.
Iron & Dirt reports using increased recovery speed at a familiar Victorian park, where a silver sixpence was recovered beside an iron nail. At a cleaner pasture site, reducing recovery speed appeared to improve depth. The same reviewer conducted a homemade nail-board test in which the Ultra reportedly detected a small coin less than one inch from a rusty nail.
These are useful practical observations, but not controlled measurements. The coin, nail orientation, sweep speed, ground conditions and complete detector settings were not recorded. They show how the adjustment was used in the field rather than establishing an objective separation distance.
The Focus Speed review also describes good separation between nearby targets. Its broader claim that the machine can reach coins and relics at ten inches or more in optimal conditions is less secure because “optimal” is undefined and no repeatable test method is supplied.
Published observations therefore point towards useful separation performance, but they do not quantify how the Ultra compares with current alternatives at the same price.
What depth can the Nokta Simplex Ultra achieve?
There is not enough controlled information to give a defensible maximum coin depth.
Iron & Dirt reports recovering a small bronze coin at seven inches on pasture with Roman activity. The signal was described as “a soft, repeatable ‘peep.’” That is a credible account of one recovery, not proof that seven inches is either typical or the detector’s limit.
Focus Speed says coins and relics may be detected at ten inches or more under optimal conditions. However, it provides no controlled target, soil, settings or repeated-pass method for that claim. Its report of finding an old restroom token at a previously searched park is interesting but similarly lacks depth, target ID and soil information.
Depth depends on target size, orientation, metal, soil, ground balance, sensitivity, coil choice and electromagnetic conditions. A large object can be detected deeper than a small coin, while a poorly orientated thin target may be difficult at a much shallower depth. The published material supports the conclusion that the Ultra can make worthwhile inland finds. It does not support a universal depth figure.
How does it behave around iron and modern rubbish?
The most encouraging reports concern its ability to separate adjacent targets. Iron & Dirt’s sixpence beside a nail and nail-board observation both suggest that adjustable recovery speed can help on contaminated ground. The reviewer also used notch discrimination and tone breaks to reduce iron responses at a rubbish-heavy Victorian park.
Focus Speed similarly reports good nearby-target separation. This pattern across two independent reviews is more useful than a single isolated claim, although neither review supplies a controlled comparison against another detector.
Target separation must not be confused with target identification. A detector may report two nearby objects separately while still assigning similar target numbers to a desirable object and conductive rubbish. That distinction helps explain why the independent reviewers reported positive separation while the novice Reddit user struggled with bottle tops and aluminium.
One anonymous commenter described the standard coil as chirpy in rubbish-heavy ground and suggested a smaller coil. Confidence in that account is reduced because the commenter referred to “Park 2”, which is not one of the Ultra’s published modes and may indicate that another Simplex model was being discussed.
In principle, the smaller SX24 coil should provide a more compact search footprint than the standard 11-inch coil, but the approved sources contain no controlled comparison between them.
Is the Simplex Ultra suitable for fields and pasture?
Inland use is the strongest part of the published field material.
Iron & Dirt used the machine for several weeks on Scottish permissions, including pasture and a Victorian park. The reported finds and separation observations are generally positive, although total detecting hours and complete settings were not supplied.
Focus Speed’s first outing took place at a familiar park where the reviewer recovered an old token and several coins. A less technical Bounty Hunter user then reportedly found a coin spill at another frequently searched park. Again, these are individual outings rather than formal comparisons, but they show the Ultra being used successfully in typical inland conditions.
Brief community comments also describe it as a “Really good machine for the park and dry sand.”
What is missing is a systematic UK comparison across pasture, plough and strongly mineralised inland soil. The detector’s 15 kHz operating frequency is a general-purpose choice, but no extracted source establishes consistent performance on every type of British farmland.
How well does it work on wet salt sand?
The answer depends heavily on the beach and its mineralisation.
Iron & Dirt reports that Beach mode with manual ground balance produced little chatter on wet sand at Broughty Ferry and identified modern coins. The UK forum owner similarly reported “no chatter on dry or wet sand” during a session that produced five low-value coins and a bottle top.
Both accounts are encouraging, but limited. Iron & Dirt supplies no measured target depths or full settings. The forum owner’s beach session lasted about 30 minutes, with the exact beach, settings and depths left unstated.
Focus Speed provides the necessary counterweight. Its reviewer regards the Simplex Ultra as suitable for occasional saltwater use if the operator understands sensitivity and Ground Suppressor, but recommends a Nokta Legend for frequent detecting in the water, wet salt and strongly mineralised black sand. Suggested starting adjustments for chatter were sensitivity 25, ground balance zero and Ground Suppressor zero, though these are conditions-dependent suggestions rather than universal settings.
The correct conclusion is not that one account must be wrong. Different beaches produce different levels of salt and mineral response. The Ultra can run quietly on some wet sand, but its single-frequency design leaves less margin in severe conditions than a capable simultaneous multi-frequency detector.
Freshwater use is expected to be less demanding, and the IP68 construction makes river and shallow-water detecting an obvious use case. However, no extracted source documents a proper freshwater field test.
Is it really waterproof to five metres?
Nokta specifies an IP68 rating and a maximum submersion depth of 5 metres or 16 feet. The detector is also described as protected against complete dust ingress.
Independent experience does not fully verify that limit. Iron & Dirt used the machine in torrential rain without concern, while the beach reports cover limited use around wet sand. No controlled five-metre submersion test appears in the source material.
The waterproof specification applies to the detector itself. It must not be extended to ordinary Bluetooth headphones. Nokta lists separate waterproof headphones for submerged use. Vibration is useful here because it provides tactile target feedback underwater, including where visibility or audible feedback is poor.
Is the Simplex Ultra comfortable during long sessions?
Low weight, balance and compactness are among the most consistent strengths across the sources.
At 1.2 kg, the Ultra is relatively light for a full-size detector. Its shaft collapses to 63 cm, making it easier to store in a vehicle or carry to a permission. LP’s comparison article gives an adjustable range of 25 to 52 inches.
After a five-hour session near Tealing, Iron & Dirt’s reviewer reported no arm ache or fatigue. The grip and balance were praised, as was the compact collapsed size. Focus Speed also notes little shaft wobble, strong coil ears and a comfortable grip. The Bradford owner praised the handling and carbon-fibre construction.
The shaft description is not completely consistent. LP and Focus Speed describe it as fully carbon fibre, while Iron & Dirt specifies carbon-fibre middle and lower shafts. That wording difference does not alter the recurring owner and reviewer view that the machine feels light and well built.
Long-term durability remains untested. Firm cam locks and favourable early impressions do not establish how the shaft, control housing, coil cable and charging system will behave after several seasons.
What battery life should you expect?
Nokta specifies a built-in rechargeable lithium-polymer battery, with LP’s comparison article giving a capacity of 2,300 mAh. Charging is through the supplied USB cable, allowing the detector to be charged using a suitable USB charger or power bank.
Iron & Dirt reports 12 to 15 hours from a full charge. That is useful as an owner-style observation but not a controlled battery test. The battery’s age, ambient temperature, backlight use, volume, vibration and Bluetooth status were not recorded, and each could affect runtime.
The sealed rechargeable arrangement removes the need to carry disposable batteries, but a depleted internal battery cannot be replaced in the field as quickly as a set of loose cells. A power bank provides a practical charging option during longer trips.
What are detectorists saying?
Published sentiment is broadly positive, but the quality of the reports varies considerably.
The most detailed UK owner account comes from Metal Detecting Forum UK. The Bradford owner liked the build, carbon-fibre shaft, slim control box, quick start-up, sunlight-readable display and simple menus. An initial two-hour permission visit produced buttons and aluminium fragments. The later beach session was also positive, but the owner repeatedly framed these as early impressions rather than a completed long-term assessment.
A second forum owner said they could find no fault after one week and regarded the Ultra as good value. That adds sentiment, not meaningful performance data.
LP Metal Detecting carries two brief customer comments. Paul called it “Great machine and super fast delivery”, while Lee wrote: “Great service, arrived when stated! Loving the detector. :)” Neither review records the ground, settings, targets or duration of use.
LP also displays a Bronze Age finger ingot and an Early Medieval zoomorphic buckle fitting as finds made with the detector. Without dates, locations, depths, settings or independent verification, these should be treated as examples rather than evidence of typical results.
The more negative Reddit report is valuable precisely because it shows where a newcomer can struggle. After studying the manual, watching videos and testing targets at home, the user still found a public beach confusing. Bottle tops, pull tabs and aluminium occupied ID regions close to desirable US coins. The detector was returned after a couple of weeks, though the user later accepted that limited experience contributed to the problem.
Other commenters advised digging repeatable tones, balancing again when the ground changes, reducing iron volume and trying a smaller coil in heavy rubbish. Those are individual suggestions, not settings validated for every site.
A separate Reddit discussion contains brief positive descriptions of the Ultra as a good starter machine for parks, dry sand and possible river use. These comments are too short to establish performance but align with the broader view of a light, waterproof general-purpose detector.
Taken together, detectorists are not describing a flawless machine that identifies every worthwhile target. They are describing a well-equipped detector with a clear interface, good handling and useful inland capability, but one that still requires the operator to understand tone quality, ground balance and the overlap between rubbish and desirable target IDs.
How does it compare with more advanced detectors?
The extracted material does not contain a controlled comparison with current alternatives at the same price, so claims of class-leading performance would be unjustified.
Focus Speed’s reviewer normally uses a Nokta Legend and Minelab Equinox and described the Simplex Ultra as “the Nokta Simplex Ultra was a step-down.” In context, she still considered it strong for its price. The comparison reflects the gap between an affordable single-frequency detector and more expensive simultaneous multi-frequency machines rather than a claim that the Ultra is ineffective.
Iron & Dirt reached a similar practical boundary, identifying limited suitability for extreme mineralisation and small gold nuggets in difficult ground. It nevertheless considered the Ultra appropriate for ambitious beginners, intermediate users and those wanting a lightweight waterproof backup.
The Ultra’s strongest argument is therefore not that it equals every advanced machine. It is that its recovery-speed adjustment, tone controls, ground controls, waterproofing and carbon-fibre construction provide room to progress beyond a very basic detector.
What are its principal limitations?
The central limitation is its single 15 kHz operating frequency. The detector can be used on wet salt, but regular work in severe black sand or heavily mineralised conditions is where published reviewers favour simultaneous multi-frequency equipment.
It is also not presented as a specialist small-gold machine. Iron & Dirt specifically cautions against treating it as the right tool for small natural gold in highly mineralised ground, and no extracted field evidence establishes such performance.
Target ID is informative rather than infallible. Conductive rubbish can overlap desirable objects, so aggressive notching may silence targets worth investigating. This is a limitation of numerical discrimination generally, but it matters to a novice expecting the display to tell them precisely what lies beneath the coil.
Focus Speed reports possible interference between the detector and Nokta’s PulseDive pinpointer unless the pinpointer frequency is shifted. The report does not establish how frequently this occurs, but owners of both devices should know that adjustment may be needed.
There is also no long-term durability report, controlled depth comparison, quantified recovery test, broad UK owner survey or independent verification of the full five-metre submersion specification.
Overall Impression
The Nokta Simplex Ultra combines a clear control system with considerably more adjustment than a basic beginner detector. Its six modes, 30 sensitivity levels, recovery-speed control, tone adjustments, ground balance, discrimination, Bluetooth, vibration and IP68 construction create a machine that can be approached simply but offers more depth as the operator learns.
The most consistent strengths are its low weight, balance, compact shaft, favourable perceived build quality and useful inland performance. Independent reviewers report promising separation around iron, while UK owner material supports the view that the display and menus are straightforward.
Its limitations are equally clear. The Ultra remains a single-frequency detector. Wet salt performance varies by conditions, difficult black sand may expose chatter and instability, and the target ID cannot create a clean numerical division between rubbish and worthwhile finds. The controls are understandable, but learning the audio remains part of using the detector properly.
The published material places the Simplex Ultra between a basic starter detector and more advanced simultaneous multi-frequency equipment. It offers enough adjustment to remain useful beyond the first few outings, provided its price and package remain competitive and the buyer understands where single-frequency operation reaches its practical limits. The current Nokta Simplex Ultra package is available from LP Metal Detecting.
Sources and Further Reading
Official Manufacturer
Nokta Detectors Simplex ULTRA Metal Detector
UK Retailers
LP Metal Detecting Simplex Ultra
LP Metal Detecting Simplex Lite vs. BT vs. Ultra - Whats the difference?https://www.lpmetaldetecting.com/blogs/blog-posts/simplex-bt-vs-ultra-whats-the-difference
Independent Reviews
Iron & Dirt, hosted by Joan Allen Nokta Simplex Ultra Review: A Hands-On Field Test
Focus Speed Nokta Simplex Ultra: A Comprehensive Review of the Budget-Friendly Metal Detector
Community Discussions
Metal Detecting Forum UK Simplex Ultra https://www.metaldetectingforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=148753
Reddit, r/metaldetecting First day with Nokta Simplex Ultra - advice appreciated https://www.reddit.com/r/metaldetecting/comments/1fu2o5v/first_day_with_nokta_simplex_ultra_advice/
Reddit, r/metaldetecting Nokta Simplex Ultra, good all around detector?https://www.reddit.com/r/metaldetecting/comments/1cls9m3/nokta_simplex_ultra_good_all-around-detector/
Video Reviews
No approved extracted source in this category.
Additional Sources
No approved extracted source in this category.
Author: Holly
