Budget reach or proven performance: Hazlewolke DD90 vs Simplex+

Display

The Hazlewolke DD90 has the cheaper-looking but still useful backlit LCD style display, and on paper it gives you the basics: mode selection, target information and a pinpointer function. The Simplex+ has a much more polished interface, with a clearer screen, better menu logic and a layout that feels designed by people who actually detect. In wet UK conditions, a screen that is readable in dull light and easy to interpret with muddy hands matters more than flashy graphics. Winner: Nokta Makro Simplex+.

Performance

This is the biggest gap. The Hazlewolke is marketed around a 14-inch Double-D waterproof coil and high sensitivity, but there is no convincing evidence of the sort of stable target ID, ground handling and separation you get from a reputable detector. The Simplex+ runs at 12 kHz, which is a very practical single frequency for coins, relics and general detecting, and it has proper adjustable ground balance, discrimination, notch rejection and sensitivity control. In real UK ground, that means the Simplex+ will usually cope better with mineralisation, wet soil and iron contamination, and it will give more repeatable IDs on deeper targets. The Hazlewolke may look more feature-rich on the listing, but the Simplex+ is the one you can trust when the field is noisy and the targets are mixed. Winner: Nokta Makro Simplex+.

Build quality and design

The Hazlewolke’s selling point is the big 14-inch DD coil, but a larger coil is not automatically better. In ploughed fields and trashy permissions, a 14-inch coil can be unwieldy, more fatiguing and less precise around iron, stones and modern junk. The Simplex+ has a more balanced design, a reputation for being robust, and it is fully waterproof to 5 metres, which is a huge advantage if you detect beaches, riversides or want to work through heavy rain without worrying. Weight and ergonomics also matter: the Simplex+ is around 1.3 kg, which is manageable for long sessions; the Hazlewolke’s exact weight is less clearly established, which is not a great sign. Winner: Nokta Makro Simplex+.

Battery life

The Simplex+ uses a built-in rechargeable battery with around 12 hours runtime, which is plenty for a full day’s detecting and easy to top up from USB. That’s a practical advantage because you are not constantly buying batteries or carrying spares. The Hazlewolke battery specification is less transparent, and that lack of clarity is a problem in itself. If you want predictable all-day use, the Simplex+ is the safer bet. Winner: Nokta Makro Simplex+.

Price and value for money

This is the one area where the Hazlewolke wins on pure sticker price. At £179.99, it is £94.76 cheaper than the Simplex+ at £274.75. If your budget is tight and you just want to get started, that lower entry cost is tempting. But value is not just about what you pay today; it is about how often the detector performs well enough to keep you using it. The Simplex+ costs more, but it is a known quantity with stronger resale value, better support and a much better chance of staying useful as you improve. Winner: tie on budget, Nokta Makro Simplex+ on long-term value.

Features and discrimination

The Hazlewolke advertises 4 modes, high sensitivity and a pinpointer function, which sounds good for beginners. The Simplex+ gives you more meaningful control: Park, Field, Beach and All Metal modes, adjustable iron volume, notch discrimination, ground balance and a proper target ID system. For UK detecting, that matters because you need to separate hammered silver, copper coins and small relics from endless bits of iron and foil. The Simplex+’s discrimination is more trustworthy, and its target ID is generally more consistent than you would expect from a budget-branded machine. Winner: Nokta Makro Simplex+.

Overall user experience

The Hazlewolke is the kind of detector that can appeal on paper: big coil, lots of claims, lower price. For a complete newcomer who wants an inexpensive way into the hobby, it may be enough for casual park or dry-field use. But for anyone who actually wants to learn the signals, dig less rubbish and get better finds, the Simplex+ is simply the better machine to live with. It is easier to set up, more dependable in UK conditions and far more likely to reward your time in the field. Winner: Nokta Makro Simplex+.

Overall summary: the Hazlewolke DD90 is the cheaper buy and offers an attractive spec list, but the Nokta Makro Simplex+ is the detector I would trust to perform properly in British soil. If you want the safest, most capable choice, buy the Simplex+. If you are shopping strictly on price and can accept more uncertainty, the Hazlewolke is the budget gamble.