Legend 2 vs Equinox 900 compared on UK ground: SMF vs Multi-IQ+, target ID, recovery speed, audio and value — with a clear recommendation for each buyer.
The simultaneous multi-frequency arms race has produced two of the most capable machines ever offered to UK detectorists at sensible money. Nokta’s Legend 2 attacks on price and feature count; Minelab’s Equinox 900 defends with the battle-hardened Multi-IQ+ engine and a decade of platform refinement.
On ordinary pasture the honest finding is that both find the same targets. The differences appear at the margins: on wet salt sand the Equinox 900’s beach modes hold stable where the Legend 2 needs careful setup; in dense iron the 900’s ID stability gives more confident dig-or-walk decisions. The Legend 2 answers with a spec sheet — wireless audio, waterproofing, customisation — at a price Minelab does not match.
Full reviews: Nokta Legend 2 · Minelab Equinox 900.
| Nokta Legend 2 | Minelab Equinox 900 | |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | SMF simultaneous multi-frequency | Multi-IQ+ simultaneous multi-frequency |
| Waterproofing | IP68 fully submersible | Submersible to 5m |
| Ease of use | Deep menus, needs tuning (3.8) | Logical, learn in an afternoon (4.4) |
| Wet salt sand | Capable with careful setup | Class-leading beach modes |
| Value | 4.8 — highest on our board | 4.6 |
| Editorial score | 4.2 | 4.6 |
Maximum features per pound is the brief, you enjoy tuning a machine to your ground, and the saving matters. It is the best pure value on our leaderboard.
Legend 2 at CrawfordsYou want the machine that is simply better more often — especially on beaches — and will hold its edge as your skills grow. It is our all-terrain benchmark for a reason.
Equinox 900 at CrawfordsCrawfords Metal Detectors is an authorised Minelab dealer and an official stockist of XP and Nokta. We test and sell the products we review.
