Equinox 800 vs ACE 400i: premium depth or best-value starter?

Display

The Minelab Equinox 800 wins here, mainly because the information it presents is more relevant to real detecting. Its screen gives you multi-target ID, mode selection, sensitivity, recovery speed, and ground settings in a more advanced interface, which is useful when you are trying to separate a good target from iron chatter in a trashy field. The Garrett ACE 400i has a straightforward LCD with target ID, depth indication, sensitivity, and discrimination settings, and that simplicity is good for beginners. But if you want more nuanced control and faster interpretation in the field, the Equinox 800 is the better display experience.

Performance

This is the biggest gap, and the Minelab Equinox 800 wins decisively. It operates in Multi-IQ simultaneous multi-frequency, with selectable single frequencies around 5, 10, 15, 20, and 40 kHz, which gives it much better versatility across coins, relics, hammered silver, and small low-conductive targets. In UK conditions, especially mineralised ground or ploughed pasture, multi-frequency stability is a major advantage. The Garrett ACE 400i runs a single 10 kHz VLF platform, which is fine for general coin hunting and relic work, but it cannot match the Equinox for depth stability, target separation, or handling difficult ground. Ground balance is another major difference: the Equinox 800 offers automatic, manual, and tracking ground balance, while the ACE 400i uses Garrett’s ground balance system but with less flexibility and less precision. Discrimination also favours the Minelab, with more advanced tone options, better iron handling, and more refined target separation. In practical terms, the Equinox 800 will usually find more good targets and give you cleaner audio over iron and mineralisation. Winner: Minelab Equinox 800.

Build quality and design

Again, the Equinox 800 wins, though the ACE 400i is not a bad machine. The Minelab is built as a waterproof detector to 3 m, making it genuinely usable in rain, wet grass, shallow surf, and muddy conditions. It comes with an 11-inch Double-D coil, which is a strong all-round size for coverage and depth, and it is well suited to UK pasture and field work. The Garrett ACE 400i has an 8.5 x 11-inch concentric coil, which is easy to use and good for target centring, but concentric coils are generally less forgiving than Double-D designs in mineralised ground and do not handle difficult soil as well. The ACE 400i is lighter and simpler, which some users prefer, but the Equinox feels more modern and more capable overall. If you detect in wet weather, rough ground, or want a machine that can grow with you, the Minelab is the better-built platform. Winner: Minelab Equinox 800.

Battery life

The Garrett ACE 400i wins on convenience for some users, even though the Minelab is still strong. The ACE 400i uses 4 AA batteries, which are easy to swap anywhere and give roughly 20 to 25 hours depending on battery quality. The Equinox 800 has an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery with around 12 hours runtime, which is perfectly usable for a day out but less flexible if you forget to charge it. If you detect long sessions away from power, the Garrett’s replaceable AAs are simpler. If you prefer modern charging and waterproofing without a battery door, the Minelab is more elegant, but in pure runtime and field convenience the ACE 400i has the edge. Winner: Garrett ACE 400i.

Price and value for money

The Garrett ACE 400i wins this category by a huge margin. At £379.94, it is £1506.97 cheaper than the Equinox 800, and that difference is hard to ignore. For a newcomer who wants a capable detector for parks, fields, and general coin hunting, the ACE 400i offers strong value and a much lower financial commitment. The Equinox 800 at £1886.91 is expensive, but you are paying for a premium multi-frequency platform, waterproofing, better target separation, and far more flexibility. Value depends on what you need: if you will use those advanced features, the Minelab earns its price; if not, the Garrett is the smarter buy. Winner: Garrett ACE 400i.

Game library/features

The Minelab Equinox 800 wins comfortably. It offers 4 detect modes, wireless headphones included, multi-frequency operation, adjustable recovery speed, iron bias control, notch discrimination, multiple tone options, and superior ground handling. That makes it much more adaptable for coins, relics, beach work, and difficult UK soils. The ACE 400i has useful features like Iron Audio, notch discrimination, electronic pinpoint, and a simple interface, but it is fundamentally a more basic detector. For someone who wants to learn quickly and keep things simple, that can be a plus. For someone who wants a machine that can handle almost anything, the Equinox is in a different league. Winner: Minelab Equinox 800.

Overall user experience

For beginners, the Garrett ACE 400i is easier to pick up and less intimidating. It is straightforward, reliable, and affordable, with enough performance to enjoy the hobby without a steep learning curve. For experienced detectorists, the Minelab Equinox 800 is the stronger tool because it gives you more control, better target ID accuracy in challenging ground, and much better separation in iron. The 11-inch DD coil, multi-frequency platform, and waterproof design make it feel like a serious all-rounder rather than a compromise. In UK detecting conditions, that matters more than flashy extras. Overall, the Equinox 800 is the better detector, but the ACE 400i is the better buy for most people on a normal budget.

Overall summary: If you want the best-performing machine here and are willing to pay for it, choose the Minelab Equinox 800. If you want a proven, simpler detector that delivers solid results for far less money, the Garrett ACE 400i is the sensible choice.