Simplex Ultra vs XP ICON. The Honest Beginner Guide

Prices checked 20 October 2026.

XP ICON vs Nokta Simplex Ultra: which is the best metal detector for beginners 2026? For most people, it’s the Simplex Ultra at about $299. Step up to the ICON for salt-water beaches or a lighter swing, and choose the ICON-X only for 28 kHz, finer iron control and more programs.

🛒 Ready to buy? Shop the Nokta Simplex Ultra at Serious Detecting, shop the XP ICON or shop the XP ICON-X. These are affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.

Best metal detector for beginners 2026: the quick answer

Choosing an entry-level metal detector is a lot like choosing hiking boots. The cheap pair gets you out the door this weekend, and the pricey pair pays off later. Think of this as a Nokta Simplex Ultra review for beginners, with XP’s ICON line as the rival. Here’s the short version:

• Nokta Simplex Ultra (about $299): a good fit for parks, yards, fields and freshwater.
• XP ICON ($569, or $699 with headphones): the pick for salt-water wet sand, long hunts and a path into XP’s Deus II gear.
• XP ICON-X ($699, or $799 with headphones): for buyers who can name the one feature they need.

One caveat is that the ICON line only reached owners at the end of April 2026, so it has months of track record, not years.

XP ICON vs Nokta Simplex Ultra: specs at a glance

XP vs Nokta comes down to one trade-off: a low price or multi-frequency power. FMF is XP’s fast multi-frequency system. It makes the ICON a true multi-frequency detector by sending out many frequencies at once. The Simplex Ultra is a VLF detector, which means it uses a single frequency. IP68 means a detector is dust-tight and can go underwater. The Simplex Ultra numbers here come from Nokta’s own spec page.

Feature	Simplex Ultra	ICON	ICON-X
Price	~$299 ($349 list)	$569 / $699 with headphones	$699 / $799 with headphones
Technology	15 kHz single frequency	FMF + 4 and 14 kHz	FMF + 4, 14 and 28 kHz
Weight	1.2 kg	~845 g	~830 g
Waterproofing	IP68, 5 m	IP68, 5 m	IP68, 5 m
Wireless audio	Bluetooth	XP digital link	XP digital link
Warranty	3 years	3 years (5 if registered)	3 years (5 if registered)
Track record	Since 2023	2026	2026

XP ICON price compared to Simplex Ultra: warranty and wireless headphones

The price gap is nearly double. Once you add wireless headphones, a Simplex Ultra bundle runs about $410, the ICON costs $699 and the ICON-X costs $799. If you’re hunting for the best waterproof metal detector under $700, the Simplex Ultra wins on value. The ICON with headphones and the ICON-X without them both land right at $699. Dealer Big Boys Hobbies is also adding a free Nokta Pointer through 31 December 2026.

XP ICON warranty and wireless headphones matter too. XP’s WSA ST headphones add $130 to the price. Its warranty lasts 3 years, or 5 if you register through the My XP account portal, while Nokta gives you 3 years. One UK dealer lists only 2 years on batteries and accessories, so read the fine print and register your detector right away.

Waterproofing: best beginner detector for beach and shallow water

All three are waterproof metal detectors rated IP68 to 5 m, so rain, creeks and wading are no problem. Some dealers say the ICON’s remote needs its cap kit fitted to reach that depth, so double-check before you dive in.

Underwater audio and wet salt sand

Underwater audio is the first catch. The Simplex Ultra’s Bluetooth drops out once the control box goes under, so you’ll want wired headphones or its handle vibration alert. The ICON line needs the optional BH-02 bone-conduction headset.

Wet salt sand is where these detectors really split. Salt water conducts, so a single-frequency detector has to turn its sensitivity down to stay stable. After a six-week field test, dealer Serious Detecting summed it up this way: “you give up sensitivity to keep it stable.” XP designed FMF to handle exactly this problem. Still, as of September 2026, UK Detectorist found no controlled, independent wet-beach test of the standard ICON, so most beach claims come from XP and dealers.

What’s the best beginner detector for beach and shallow water? In freshwater and on dry sand, the Simplex Ultra is plenty. For salt water, an ICON is the better bet, and the ICON-X adds a Wet Beach program.

For the technical reader: salt water sends back a huge ground-phase signal that swamps a single-frequency machine, so you lose depth and ID accuracy. FMF compares phase across many frequencies at once, which is how it’s meant to subtract the salt.

Lightweight metal detector for long hunts: weight, wireless and ease of use

The Simplex Ultra has a single menu and six modes: Field, Park, 4 Tone, 99 Tone, Beach and All Metal. The ICON keeps things even simpler. You power it on, pick one of three programs and start swinging.

Want a lightweight metal detector for long hunts? XP wins this round. The ICON weighs about 845 g with its remote on the stem, which is roughly 30% less than the Simplex Ultra’s 1.2 kg. Clip the remote to your hip and your arm carries only about 710 to 735 g.

As a wireless metal detector, the ICON uses XP’s own digital link, which adds only about 4 ms of delay. The Simplex Ultra uses Bluetooth, and Nokta’s aptX Low Latency headphones cost about $110.

The Simplex Ultra has two small downsides. Its lower clamps can slip during long sessions, and its screen can wash out in strong sun.

XP ICON vs ICON-X differences: what the extra $100–$130 buys

Both models share the same technology, coil, waterproofing, battery and wireless link. The extra money adds:

• A 28 kHz mono mode
• 6 + 6 programs (vs 3 + 3), adding Trashy Field and Wet Beach
• Reactivity levels 0 to 6 (vs 1 to 5), which control how fast the detector recovers between targets
• 0.5-point iron discrimination steps (vs 1-point)
• A carbon stem

For the technical reader: here are the XP ICON 4 kHz and 14 kHz modes explained. The 4 kHz mode favors large, highly conductive targets such as deep silver. The 14 kHz mode is the all-rounder, close to the Simplex’s 15 kHz. XP ICON-X 28 kHz for small gold jewelry is the real draw, since 28 kHz favors small, thin gold, but no hard field data yet shows how much it adds over FMF.

Value is the ICON-X’s weak spot. Treasure Hunting World’s Saul Hudson argues that a cheaper rival pack with two coils squeezes it. One experienced owner also reproduced a remote lock-up that cleared only when the battery ran down. XP knows about the problem, but no fix has been confirmed yet.

XP ICON-X vs Simplex Ultra: which is better?

For most beginners, the Simplex Ultra. If you want the best wireless multi-frequency detector for beginners, the simpler ICON is a safer pick than the ICON-X.

XP ICON vs Deus II: which should I buy? Coil compatibility explained

XP ICON coil compatibility with Deus II is a real selling point. The ICON line accepts Deus II 9″, 11″ and 13×11″ FMF coils, plus the HF2 elliptical. That’s a solid upgrade path, but not a cheap one, since Kellyco lists the 9″ FMF coil at $439, which is more than a whole Simplex Ultra. Nokta’s SX24 and SX35 coils cost less, though older Simplex+ coils won’t fit.

The ICON isn’t a budget Deus II. Its software limits how much you can adjust, and early owner reports rate the Deus II ahead. For a beginner, the ICON is the sensible pick. The Deus II RC with a 9″ coil runs $1,399 at Kellyco, so buy it only if you want the most control.

For the technical reader: one dealer-forum post says you may need a firmware update before Deus II coils work on an ICON, so check with your dealer first.

Best metal detector for coin hunting beginners, kids and teens

Looking for the best metal detector for coin hunting beginners? On a Saturday park hunt, the Simplex Ultra is the value pick. In trashy or mineralized ground, the ICON’s FMF and 28-segment multi-notch earn their keep.

Simplex Ultra vs ICON for kids and teens

It comes down to cost and weight. For kids, the Simplex Ultra is tough, cheap to replace and has a handle vibration alert. For teens who are already hooked, the ICON’s lower weight helps smaller arms, but the remote, coil and headphones are three more things to charge and keep track of. Skip the ICON-X for children.

Beginner metal detector verdict: which detector should you buy?

If you are…	Buy	Why
A budget beginner, child or freshwater hunter	Simplex Ultra	Best value, tough, submersible
A salt-water wet-sand hunter	ICON	Multi-frequency is built for salt
Weight-sensitive	ICON	~845 g, fully wireless
Chasing small gold or iron-heavy sites	ICON-X	28 kHz, finer iron control
Wanting maximum tuning	Deus II	The ICON is deliberately simplified

Bottom line: Start with the Simplex Ultra unless salt water or weight is a regular problem for you. If it is, step up to the ICON with headphones ($699), and save the ICON-X for buyers who can name the feature they need. Prices change, so check current listings first.

🛒 Decided? Get the Nokta Simplex Ultra, get the XP ICON or get the XP ICON-X at Serious Detecting (affiliate links).

FAQ: XP ICON vs Simplex Ultra buying questions

Is the XP ICON worth the money?

Yes, if you’ll use what you’re paying for, such as multi-frequency on salt beaches or mineralized soil, light weight and XP’s wireless gear. For clean parks and freshwater, the Simplex Ultra costs less than half as much.

Is the Nokta Simplex Ultra still worth buying in 2026?

Yes. At about $299 it’s fully waterproof, packed with features and well proven. The only good reason to skip it is regular hunting on wet salt sand.

Should I buy the Simplex Ultra or step up to an XP ICON?

Buy the Simplex Ultra if your budget is under roughly $450, you hunt inland or in freshwater, or you’re not sure you’ll stick with the hobby. Step up to an ICON if you hunt salt-water beaches or weight matters to you.

Still deciding? Browse more metal detector reviews before you buy. Happy detecting! 🔍