Head-To-Head Comparison
Garrett AT Pro vs Minelab Equinox 800
A quick, honest look at how the Garrett AT Pro and the Minelab Equinox 800 compare on specs, depth, price and real-world performance.
🏆 Our Top Pick
Equinox 800
The AT Pro is a proper workhorse and still turns up the goods. It’s submersible to 3m, tough as old boots, and there’s a coil or accessory for every job. But it’s a single-frequency machine now showing its age beside the Equinox 800, whose simultaneous multi-frequency simply reads dodgy ground and wet sand more cleanly. For around £270 more the 800 is the better all-rounder in 2026. Stick with the AT Pro if you want bombproof simplicity at a keen price. Go Equinox if you want the depth and the beach edge.
Side-By-Side Specs
Pros & Cons
Garrett AT Pro
PROS
- ✓Fully submersible to 3m
- ✓Dual ground balance (auto & manual)
- ✓15 kHz suits coins, relics and some gold
- ✓Proven reliability
- ✓Huge accessory and coil ecosystem
CONS
- ✗Showing its age vs modern multi-frequency detectors
- ✗Single frequency
- ✗Analog-feel controls
Minelab Equinox 800
PROS
- ✓All-environment excellence
- ✓Beach 2 and Gold modes
- ✓User-adjustable recovery speed
- ✓Iron Bias control
- ✓Fully submersible to 3m
- ✓Multi-frequency and single-frequency options
CONS
- ✗12-hour rechargeable battery requires planning
- ✗Significant learning curve to unlock full potential
- ✗Expensive but worth it
Frequently Asked Questions
Which should you buy?
Still weighing it up? Read both full reviews below, then back your gut.
