XP ICON X vs Minelab Manticore compared: Multi-IQ+ vs FMF, target information, coils, waterproofing and price — which UK detector deserves your investment?
An unusual head-to-head: XP’s newest release against the highest score we have ever awarded. It is not a fair fight on performance — the Manticore’s 2D target trace and Multi-IQ+ engine give it more to say about every target, and on mineralised or iron-heavy ground that information wins hunts. It is, however, a very fair fight on money.
The ICON X brings XP’s defining virtues — wireless architecture, featherweight handling, fast recovery — down the price ladder, backed by XP’s 5-year manufacturer warranty. For a large group of buyers the honest question is not “which is better?” but “do I need what the extra spend buys?” If your ground is ordinary and your sessions long, the XP’s weight advantage is worth more than the Minelab’s trace display.
Full reviews: XP ICON X (early verdict) · Minelab Manticore.
| XP ICON X | Minelab Manticore | |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | FMF fast multi-frequency | Multi-IQ+ simultaneous multi-frequency |
| Target information | Numeric ID | 2D target trace + numeric ID |
| Platform | Fully wireless, featherweight | Wired coil, standard weight |
| Waterproof | XP platform rating | Submersible to 5m |
| Warranty | 5-year XP manufacturer warranty | 3-year Minelab manufacturer warranty |
| Editorial score | 4.2 (early verdict) | 4.8 |
You want XP’s wireless, lightweight character and FMF multi-frequency at a friendlier price, and you are comfortable with a new release whose long-term record is still being written.
ICON X at CrawfordsYou hunt difficult ground and want the most target information available. It is the best machine we have ever scored, and the premium buys real capability, not a badge.
Manticore 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.
