#1 best metal detectors

Rank #1 in Best Metal Detectors 2026: 10 Ranked, and the Coil Spec That Says 12cm

Minelab X-Terra Elite All-Terrain Waterproof Metal Detector

Rating
4.6
Ratings
85
Rank
#1
Price at Amazon £479.00

Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.

The Minelab X-Terra Elite is the most expensive detector in this guide at £479.00, and it finishes first. It is a fully waterproof Multi-IQ machine with an LCD display, a 30.48 cm search coil and an IP68 rating, and the spec table answers 'Are Batteries Required: Yes'.

Its listing is tidier than the cheaper ones in the guide, and the slips that are there are easy to check. The fifth bullet reads 'X-TERRA PRO weighs only 2.9 lb and packs down to a mere 25 inches' — that is the name of a different model in the same range, not the Elite. The spec table gives one operating frequency of 93 KHz, while the bullets describe Minelab's Multi-IQ as 'the combined power of multiple detectors in one'. And the rating is 4.6 from 85 ratings, but the star breakdown in the same listing data (82 five-star, 7 four-star, 6 three-star, 1 two-star and 4 one-star) adds up to 100. Everything on this page comes from the Amazon listing, not from a test by us.

How those 85 ratings break down

An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.6 stars.

5 star
82%
4 star
7%
3 star
6%
2 star
1%
1 star
4%

Specification

Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.

Price £479.00
Rating 4.6 out of 5, from 85 ratings (as listed)
Rating breakdown 82 five-star, 7 four-star, 6 three-star, 1 two-star, 4 one-star — a total of 100
Search coil size 30.48 Centimetres
Operating Frequency 93 KHz (as listed)
Item Weight 1.27 kg
International Protection Rating IP68
Model Number 3707-0002

What it is up against

The rivals it was ranked against in Best Metal Detectors 2026: 10 Ranked, and the Coil Spec That Says 12cm.

Questions people ask

How much does the Minelab X-Terra Elite cost?

The listing price is £479.00, and the same listing gives a rating of 4.6 from 85 ratings.

What size search coil does the X-Terra Elite have?

The specification table lists the search coil size as 30.48 Centimetres. The bullets do not give a coil measurement of their own.

Which model do the X-Terra Elite bullets describe?

The fifth bullet says 'X-TERRA PRO weighs only 2.9 lb and packs down to a mere 25 inches', which names the X-TERRA PRO rather than the Elite.

How many frequencies does the X-Terra Elite run on?

The bullets describe Minelab's Multi-IQ as 'the combined power of multiple detectors in one', while the specification table gives a single figure: 93 KHz.

Is the Minelab X-Terra Elite waterproof?

Yes. The product name describes it as fully waterproof and the specification table gives an International Protection Rating of IP68.

Does the Minelab X-Terra Elite need batteries?

The specification table answers 'Are Batteries Required: Yes' and lists the power source as Battery Powered. The listing does not name a battery type.

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