Rank #4 in Best Metal Detectors 2026: 10 Ranked, and the Coil Spec That Says 12cm
SUNPOW Metal Detector for Adults, 5 Modes, 30cm Coil Claim
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
The SUNPOW Metal Detector for Adults Professional is at number four in this guide at £79.98. It is a battery-powered detector with a digital display, an adjustable shaft of 50 cm to 150 cm, five detection modes and a 4.4-out-of-five rating from 4,527 ratings. It also has a specification table that gives the search coil size as 12 Centimetres.
The same £79.98 listing describes that coil three ways. The title advertises a "30cm Waterproof Coil". The bullet points promise a "12-inch search coil". The specification table says 12 Centimetres. That is a 2.5x spread between the largest and the smallest figure, all attached to one coil on one page. There is a second mismatch in the identifiers: the page carries Model Number OT-MD17 next to Manufacturer Part Number OT-MD14. The rating breakdown shown with the listing totals 100 responses — 66 five-star, 19 four-star, 7 three-star, 2 two-star and 6 one-star — which is a sample, not the 4,527 ratings quoted above it. Everything on this page comes from the Amazon listing as it stands, not from any testing we have carried out.
How those 4,527 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.4 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Price | £79.98 |
|---|---|
| Customer rating | 4.4 out of 5 from 4,527 ratings |
| Search coil size, specification table | 12 Centimetres |
| Search coil size, product title | 30cm |
| Search coil size, bullet points | 12-inch |
| Detection depth, bullet points | 10 inches |
| Model Number / Manufacturer Part Number | OT-MD17 / OT-MD14 |
| Best Sellers Rank | 13 in Metal Detectors |
What buyers actually say
Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon
Verified purchase“Great fun on the beach. Mostly bottle tops and about £1.30 in small change discovered on our first go. Very easy to use. And it comes with a little trowel sized folding shovel, and a carry bag which is all fits into, which is very useful.Amusingly you do get quite a few passers-by enquiring about what you have found so far. My lad and I were also fortunate enough to bump into an experienced practitioner of the hobby who provided us with some top-tips for noobs like us. Mostly related to cable winding setup and sweeping technique.The device itself is adjustable in length so it can be comfortably used by myself (6ft), my 10yr old lad and my darling wife. It's surprisingly lighter than a toy metal detector my lad went around the garden with a couple of years ago. The handle is adjustable, sliding along the pole with a locking clip, and the arm brace at the rear makes holding and using the device feel natural.All in all great value for a fun gadget, creating lasting memories and providing a wholesome activity when it's too cloudy to sunbathe at the beach.”
Verified purchase“Brilliant product. I bought this as a Christmas gift and it works perfectly just as stated. Found lots of old trinkets and interesting stuff (expect I've now got lots of potholes at my home from the kids having an awesome Christmas with it LOL).Can't fault this product, it's great.”
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 big is the search coil on this SUNPOW metal detector?
The listing gives three answers. The title says "30cm Waterproof Coil", the bullet points say "12-inch search coil", and the specification table says 12 Centimetres. That is a 2.5x spread between the largest and smallest figure given for the same part.
Is the search coil waterproof?
The title calls it a "30cm Waterproof Coil" and the bullet points give the coil an IP68 waterproof rating, describing use on sandy beaches and in dense forests. The specification table does not repeat the IP68 rating.
How deep will the SUNPOW OT-MD17 detect?
The bullet points state a 10-inch detection depth. The specification table gives no detection depth figure at all.
Does it need batteries?
The specification table says "Are Batteries Required: Yes" and lists the power source as Battery Powered. No battery size, type or quantity is given anywhere on the page.
How long is the detector when extended?
The title gives an adjustable length of 50 cm to 150 cm. The bullet points give 19 inches to 59 inches. Both describe the same adjustable shaft.
What model number is this detector?
The specification table lists Model Number OT-MD17 and Manufacturer Part Number OT-MD14 — two different identifiers, one digit apart, on the same listing.
Comments
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