Head-to-head · Updated August 6, 2026
Minelab Equinox 800 vs Minelab Equinox 900
In Equinox 800 vs 900, the 900 is the better machine — brighter screen, better grip, wider target ID range — but the detecting performance is close enough that a discounted 800 is often the smarter purchase. Short version: buy the 900 if the price gap is small, the 800 if it isn't.
This is a refresh, not a redesign. Both run Multi-IQ, both are submersible to 10 feet, and both will find the same targets in the same ground.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through a link here I earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. It pays for coil covers and gas money, and it never changes a verdict. Full disclosure.
01The two machines
Minelab Equinox 800
One detector to cover coins, jewelry, beach, and the occasional gold hunt — without compromising on any of them.
See current priceMinelab Equinox 900
One machine for everything — parks, relics, salt beach, and gold — with the ergonomics sorted out.
See current price02Side by side
| Spec | Equinox 800 | Equinox 900 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Multi-IQ | Multi-IQ+ |
| Waterproof | 10 ft | 10 ft |
| Target ID range | −19 to 40 | −19 to 99 |
| Stock coil | 11" DD | 11" × 6" DD |
| Screen | Backlit, lower contrast | Backlit, high contrast |
| Grip & armrest | Original | Revised, more comfortable |
| Weight | 2.96 lbs | 2.98 lbs |
| Availability | Discontinued, discounted | Current model |
03The differences that matter
What actually changed
The screen is the biggest practical improvement — the 800's was genuinely hard to read at dawn and dusk, which is exactly when the good hunting happens. The 900's is high-contrast and legible.
The grip and armrest geometry were revised, and the target ID scale widened from 40 to 99 points, which gives finer separation between similar targets.
What didn't change
Depth and core detecting ability are very close. Multi-IQ+ is cleaner in bad ground, but in normal dirt you would struggle to tell the two apart blind.
Both are submersible to 10 feet, both have the same learning curve, and both still lack a field battery swap.
The price gap is the whole decision
The 800 is discontinued and discounted, and new stock is thinning. The 900 is the current model with full coil, accessory, and firmware support behind it.
If the difference is small, take the 900 — you get the ergonomics and the longer support runway. If the 800 is significantly cheaper, take it and spend the difference on a small coil and a good pinpointer, which will find you more targets than the upgrade would.
04Who should buy which
Buy the Equinox 800 if…
Buy the Equinox 800 if it's meaningfully discounted, or if you're shopping used. You give up screen contrast and grip comfort, not detecting ability — and the savings buy real accessories.
See current priceBuy the Equinox 900 if…
Buy the Equinox 900 if you're buying new today and the gap is modest. Better screen, better grip, current support. If you already own an 800, don't upgrade — there's no honest case for it.
See current priceThe verdict
The 900 is the better machine and the right new purchase. The 800 is the better value while stock lasts, and nobody who owns one needs to upgrade.
Read the full Equinox 900 review →05FAQ
- Is the Equinox 900 worth the upgrade from the 800?
- Not if you already own an 800. The improvements are ergonomic and cosmetic rather than performance-based, and your money is better spent on a small coil, a pinpointer, and more hours in the field.
- Is the Equinox 800 or 900 better for a beginner?
- Whichever is cheaper. The learning curve is identical, and so is the detecting performance. The 900's better screen is a genuine quality-of-life gain, but it isn't worth a large premium to a beginner.
- Is the Equinox 800 still worth buying?
- Yes, especially discounted. It still outperforms most machines in its price class, and the 900 replaced it without obsoleting it. A well-cared-for used 800 is a strong buy.
Keep reading
The full reviews
- Minelab Equinox 800 review
One detector to cover coins, jewelry, beach, and the occasional gold hunt — without compromising on any of them.
- Minelab Equinox 900 review
One machine for everything — parks, relics, salt beach, and gold — with the ergonomics sorted out.
Other comparisons
- Minelab Equinox 800 vs Garrett Ace 400
Head-to-head, spec by spec.
Buying guides
- Best Pinpointers for Metal Detecting
The best pinpointer for metal detecting is the Garrett Pro-Pointer AT — waterproof, adjustable, and hard to lose. Probes compared for dirt, water, and gold.
- Best Pinpointer Metal Detector for Gold
The best pinpointer for gold is the Falcon MD20 — a very high frequency probe that finds flakes in quartz standard pinpointers miss. Gold probes compared.
- Best Metal Detector for Kids
The best metal detector for kids is the Nokta Mini Hoard — light enough for a small child and capable enough to find real coins. Picks by age, from 5 to teenager.