If you asked us to name one detector for a serious UK detectorist who is not chasing a specialism, it would be this one. The Equinox 700 is not the most capable machine Minelab makes, and that is rather the point: it is the one where the capability stops being theoretical for most people’s ground.
How we reviewed it: from Minelab’s published specifications and UK pricing, the Amazon UK listing, and what UK detectorists report. We have not field-tested it ourselves.
The short answer
- Buy the 700 if you detect British farmland, pasture, parks and beaches and you want a machine you will not outgrow for years.
- Step up to the Equinox 900 only if you specifically want 20 and 40kHz, Gold mode, or the 6-inch coil in the box.
- Step down to a Vanquish if £799 is more than you want to commit before you know you will stick with it.
Minelab Equinox 700 (about £699)
Multi-IQ plus four selectable single frequencies, Park, Field and Beach modes, an 11-inch Double-D coil, 50-segment notch discrimination and IP68 waterproofing to 5 metres.
Specifications
| Equinox 700 | Equinox 900 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Minelab UK) | £799.99 | £1,049.99 |
| Frequencies | Multi, plus 4, 5, 10, 15kHz | Multi, plus 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40kHz |
| Coils supplied | EQX11 11in | EQX11 11in and EQX06 6in |
| Search modes | Park, Field, Beach | Park, Field, Beach, Gold |
| Custom profiles | 6 | 8 |
| Target ID | 50-segment notch; −9 to 0 ferrous, 1 to 40 non-ferrous | 119-segment notch; −19 to 0 ferrous, 1 to 99 non-ferrous |
| Weight | 1.27kg | 1.27kg |
| Waterproof | IP68, 5m | IP68, 5m |
| Battery | 3.7V 5100mAh lithium-ion | 3.7V 5100mAh lithium-ion |
| Collapsed length | 61cm | 61cm |
Specifications are Minelab’s own. Amazon UK typically sits below the list prices.
What you are actually buying
The same body as the 900. Identical weight at 1.27kg, identical IP68 waterproofing to 5 metres, identical 3.7V 5100mAh battery, identical 61cm collapsed length. Nothing about the build is a cheaper version of anything.
The same Multi-IQ engine. Simultaneous multi-frequency is what keeps the machine stable on mineralised clay and wet salt sand, and it is doing the work in the mode most people leave it in. This is not a cut-down version of the 900’s technology; it is the same technology with a narrower selectable range.
Four single frequencies, 4 to 15kHz. Enough to bias the machine towards larger high-conductive targets at 4 and 5kHz, or smaller ones at 15kHz. The 900 extends this to 20 and 40kHz, which matters for very small low-conductive finds and not much otherwise.
Full waterproofing to 5 metres. At this price that is genuinely good. You can wade, work a tideline, and stop worrying about British weather entirely.
What you give up against the 900
Three things, and whether any of them matters is a question about your sites rather than your budget.
20 and 40kHz, and Gold mode. If you hunt sites producing tiny hammered, cut quarters or thin gold, the 900’s extra range is a real advantage. On ordinary farmland producing coins, buckles and lead, it is close to irrelevant.
50-segment notch instead of 119. You reject in broader bands. On a site carpeted in one specific kind of rubbish, the 900 lets you cut it out surgically and the 700 does not. On clean ground, you will never notice.
One coil instead of two. The 900 includes the 6-inch EQX06 for trashy ground and tight separation. If you want a small coil on the 700, you buy one, and that closes some of the price gap.
There is no depth difference in the specification. Minelab publishes no detection-depth figure for either. If someone tells you the 900 reaches deeper on a typical UK coin, they are guessing.
Who should buy it
Buy the 700 if you have outgrown a beginner machine, you detect ordinary British ground, and you want to stop thinking about equipment for a few years. This is the sweet spot of the range and the reason it is our overall pick in the best metal detectors in the UK.
Do not buy it as a first detector. It will work, but you will be paying for control you cannot yet use. Start with a Vanquish and move up when the machine, rather than your permissions, is what is limiting you.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Equinox 700 worth it over a Vanquish? Yes, if you are past the learning stage. You get full 5-metre waterproofing, selectable frequencies, finer discrimination and a considerably more capable machine. If you are still learning signals, the Vanquish is the better value.
Should I buy the 700 or the 900? For most UK detecting, the 700. They share the body, waterproofing, battery and Multi-IQ engine. The 900’s £250 premium buys 20 and 40kHz, Gold mode, 119-segment notch and a second coil — worth it only if you need those specifically.
Is the Equinox 700 waterproof? Yes, IP68 to 5 metres, the same as the 900. Rinse in fresh water after sea use.
What coil does it come with? The EQX11, an 11-inch Double-D with a skid plate. The 6-inch EQX06 is an optional extra.
How heavy is it? 1.27kg, the same as the 900 and about average for a machine of this class.
Is it good on the beach? Yes. Multi-IQ handles wet salt sand well and Beach mode is tuned for it, and the full waterproofing means the tideline is not a risk.