Nokta Simplex Ultra Review: Serious Features Without the Premium Price?
- 13 hours ago
- 4 min read
The Nokta Simplex Ultra is a waterproof, single-frequency metal detector aimed at newcomers who want room to progress and experienced detectorists seeking a lighter secondary machine. It combines accessible menus with adjustments more commonly associated with advanced detectors, including recovery speed, tone breaks, notch discrimination and manual ground balance.
At £299.95 when checked on 2 August 2026, the Ultra sits above the simplest beginner machines without entering simultaneous multi-frequency territory. View the Nokta Simplex Ultra at LP Metal Detecting.
UK Detectorist has not tested the Simplex Ultra. This review draws on published specifications, independent field reports and owner experiences.
What does the Nokta Simplex Ultra offer?
The Ultra operates at a single 15 kHz frequency and provides six search modes: Field, Park, 4 Tone, 99 Tone, Beach and All Metal. Its target identification range is 01–99, supported by 30 sensitivity levels and controls for recovery speed, tone frequency, tone volume, tone breaks and target ID depth.
The detector weighs 1.2 kg and retracts to 63 cm, making it relatively easy to transport. Its standard coil is the waterproof 28 cm SX28 DD, while the control unit includes a backlit screen, illuminated keypad, torch and vibration feedback. The detector is rated IP68 for submersion to five metres, although the ordinary Bluetooth headphones are not waterproof.
Power comes from an internal rechargeable battery. One reviewer reported 12–15 hours from a full charge, but did not document temperature, lighting, Bluetooth use or other test conditions. USB charging allows the detector to be powered from a compatible charger or power bank.
This is a strong feature list for the price, particularly for someone likely to outgrow a detector offering only preset modes. Check the current Simplex Ultra price and package.
Is it genuinely suitable for beginners?
The interface appears straightforward, but the detector is not equally simple for everyone.
During a multi-week Scottish field review, Iron & Dirt found the screen and menus easy to understand. Assembly reportedly took under two minutes and a five-hour session caused no arm ache. A UK owner similarly praised the clear display, simple menus and start-up time of roughly three seconds.
Focus Speed also reported that a detectorist accustomed to a basic Bounty Hunter machine found the Ultra intuitive and appreciated the additional target information.
A novice contributor on Reddit had a different experience. After three hours on a beach, the user struggled with numerous signals and overlapping rubbish and coin identification ranges, eventually returning the detector. They later acknowledged: “It was my fault because I didn’t learn the machine.”
That contrast matters. The menus may be accessible, but interpreting tones and target numbers still takes practice. Notching out an irritating identification range can also remove desirable objects with similar conductivity.
How does it perform around iron and rubbish?
Both independent reviews reported promising target separation. Iron & Dirt used higher recovery speed at a rubbish-heavy site and recovered a silver sixpence beside an iron nail. In a homemade test, the detector reportedly identified a small coin less than an inch from a rusty nail.
Focus Speed also described separation as effective. However, neither source supplied enough controlled detail to establish a measurable performance advantage over competing machines.
Target separation should not be confused with perfect target identification. A detector can distinguish two nearby objects while still assigning similar numbers to rubbish and desirable targets. The novice beach report illustrates precisely that limitation.
What depth can it achieve?
Iron & Dirt recovered a small bronze coin at a reported seven inches, producing what the reviewer called “a soft, repeatable ‘peep.’” Focus Speed claimed that coins and relics could be detected at ten inches or more under optimal conditions.
Neither observation establishes a dependable maximum depth. Coil position, soil, target size, orientation, settings and mineralisation all affect the result, and no controlled UK depth test was available.
Is the Simplex Ultra suitable for beaches?
Published UK experiences are encouraging but limited. Iron & Dirt reported little chatter while using Beach mode and manual ground balance on wet sand. A UK owner similarly described “no chatter on dry or wet sand”, although that session lasted only around 30 minutes.
Focus Speed was more cautious. The reviewer considered the Ultra suitable for occasional saltwater use if sensitivity and ground controls are understood, but recommended a simultaneous multi-frequency detector for regular detecting in wet salt or strongly mineralised black sand.
These accounts are not necessarily contradictory: they reflect different beaches, conditions and expectations. The Ultra may behave well on some wet sand, but its single-frequency design makes it a less certain choice for demanding coastal use.
What are detectorists saying?
Owner comments repeatedly praise the low weight, compact shaft, perceived build quality and ease of navigation. One Reddit contributor called it a “Really good machine for the park and dry sand.”
The reservations concern the learning curve, target-number overlap and saltwater limitations. Focus Speed also reported possible interference with the Nokta PulseDive pinpointer unless its frequency is shifted. Earlier Simplex+ coils are stated to be incompatible, which matters to anyone hoping to reuse existing equipment.
Overall Impression
The Simplex Ultra combines low weight, waterproof construction and unusually extensive controls at an accessible price. Published reports are particularly positive about its handling, inland performance and separation around iron, although the testing is not controlled enough to support firm depth or superiority claims.
Its main limitation is the 15 kHz single-frequency platform. Occasional beach use appears realistic, but frequent wet-salt or severely mineralised detecting may justify a simultaneous multi-frequency machine. It is best understood as an approachable detector with genuine adjustment depth, not a machine that removes the need to learn tones, settings and target behaviour.
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 https://www.joanallen.co.uk/nokta-simplex-ultra-review
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/
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Author: Holly
