Head-To-Head Comparison
Minelab Equinox 800 vs XP Deus
A quick, honest look at how the Minelab Equinox 800 and the XP Deus compare on specs, depth, price and real-world performance.
🏆 Our Top Pick
Equinox 800
It’s close and controversial, that much so I was scared to publish this, but IMO the Minelab Equinox 800 just takes this one, scoring 9.2/10 versus 8.3/10 for the XP Deus, especially for coins detecting. With a £100 price gap, value is a factor worth weighing. The Minelab Equinox 800 delivers better all-round performance for most UK detectorists. It’s a strong pick for advanced detectorists.
Side-By-Side Specs
Pros & Cons
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
XP Deus
PROS
- ✓Lightest professional detector at 2.0 lbs
- ✓Fully wireless (coil + remote + headphones)
- ✓99 user programmes
- ✓Fast and highly adaptable
- ✓Unmatched in iron-infested sites
CONS
- ✗Steep learning curve , 99 programmes can overwhelm
- ✗Not waterproof (coil only)
- ✗Expensive for original Deus
- ✗Superseded by Deus II
Frequently Asked Questions
Which should you buy?
Still weighing it up? Read both full reviews below, then back your gut.
