Equinox 800 vs Simplex+: premium depth or unbeatable value?

Display

The Equinox 800 wins here. Its screen is more information-rich, with clearer target ID presentation, more nuanced recovery settings, and a better interface for switching between its 4 Detect Modes and custom profiles. You also get a more advanced control layout that suits experienced users who want to tune the machine properly. The Simplex+ has a straightforward, easy-to-read display that is excellent for beginners, but it is simpler and less configurable. If you want a machine that gives you more control over discrimination, sensitivity, and target separation feedback, the Minelab takes this category.

Performance

This is the biggest deciding factor, and the Equinox 800 is the clear winner. It runs Multi-IQ simultaneous multi-frequency operation, with selectable single frequencies around 5, 10, 15, 20 and 40 kHz depending on mode, which gives it a major edge in mineralised UK soil, iron contamination, and mixed ground. In ploughed fields, pasture with hot rocks, or wet salt conditions, the Equinox is simply more adaptable and more likely to produce stable target IDs on deep or awkward targets. The Simplex+ is a single-frequency detector at 12 kHz, which is a sensible general-purpose frequency and can do a solid job on coins, jewellery and relics, but it cannot match multi-frequency for depth consistency, iron handling, or saltwater performance. In real-world use, the Equinox separates targets better in trash, handles masking more confidently, and gives stronger target ID accuracy on borderline finds. For experienced detectorists, that performance gap is the reason the Minelab costs so much more.

Build quality and design

Both are waterproof and field-ready, but the Simplex+ wins on practicality for the money. It is a simpler, rugged, no-nonsense detector with a lighter bill of ownership and a design that feels less precious to throw in the truck, use in rain, or hand to a newcomer. The Equinox 800 is also waterproof to 3 metres and has a more premium feel overall, but it is the more complex machine and its higher-end electronics and accessories make it a more expensive proposition if anything goes wrong. Coil-wise, the Equinox 800 package includes the 11-inch Double-D Smart Coil, which gives a strong blend of coverage and separation; the Simplex+ typically comes with a 11-inch DD coil as well, but without the same level of signal processing behind it. For pure build-versus-cost value, the Nokta wins; for refinement and capability, the Minelab wins.

Battery life

The Simplex+ wins this round on headline convenience, even though both are perfectly usable for long UK outings. The Simplex+ uses a built-in rechargeable battery and is known for strong runtime, often around 10 to 14 hours depending on settings and backlight use. The Equinox 800 also uses an internal rechargeable battery, but in real field use its runtime is usually more modest, especially if you are using wireless audio, higher sensitivity, or more demanding multi-frequency modes. For a dawn-to-dusk dig, both can get the job done, but the Nokta is the easier machine to live with if you want fewer charging worries and more hours per session. If battery endurance matters more than raw detection performance, Simplex+ has the edge.

Price and value for money

The Simplex+ wins by a landslide. At £274.76 versus £1886.91, it is £1612.15 cheaper, and that is not a small gap you can hand-wave away. The Equinox 800 offers far superior capability, but its price only makes sense if you will actually use its multi-frequency strengths, advanced discrimination, better target separation, and improved performance in difficult ground. For a newcomer buying their first proper detector, the Simplex+ is far easier to justify: it is affordable, waterproof, simple to learn, and capable enough to find plenty. For an experienced detectorist chasing maximum performance in UK conditions, the Equinox can still be worth it, but only if the extra spend is realistic for your budget and detecting goals.

Game library/features

Using the gaming-style category in practical detector terms, the Equinox 800 wins because it has the richer feature set. It offers 4 Detect Modes, wireless headphones included in this package, multi-frequency operation, more advanced ground balancing options, stronger discrimination control, and better target ID resolution across different soils. That flexibility matters when you move from a clean pasture to iron-infested medieval ground or damp sand. The Simplex+ is much more streamlined: fewer modes, fewer tuning options, and a simpler learning curve. That simplicity is a feature for beginners, but it is not as versatile. If you want a detector that can grow with you and cover more scenarios, the Minelab is the better-equipped machine.

Overall user experience

For newcomers, the Simplex+ is easier to pick up and far less intimidating. It is the sort of detector that lets you get out detecting quickly without getting lost in settings, and it performs well enough that you are not immediately limited by it. For experienced detectorists, though, the Equinox 800 is the better tool: it is more responsive, more versatile, and more effective when the ground gets difficult or the targets get masked. Its target ID accuracy is more trustworthy on deeper and mixed targets, and its multi-frequency engine gives it a real-world advantage that shows up in finds, not just spec sheets. The Simplex+ is the better buy if you want value, simplicity, and solid all-round performance. The Equinox 800 is the better buy if you want the best detecting performance of the two and are willing to pay for it.

Overall summary: the Minelab Equinox 800 is the superior detector in performance, target separation, target ID accuracy, and adaptability to UK ground. The Nokta Makro Simplex+ is the better-value purchase by a huge margin, with easier use and far lower cost. If your question is which is the better detector, the Equinox 800 wins. If your question is which is the better buy for most people, the Simplex+ is the smarter choice.