Nokta Metal Detector Review: Tested By Shopping Editors

By Marisa Hillman

Tested by Annamarie Higley and Sydney Manning

Published on Oct. 22, 2024

Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, the Nokta metal detector is one of the best models you can buy.

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These days, hunting for buried treasure doesn’t require a compass and an old map. The best metal detectors make it easy and fun to unearth hidden treasure, whether you’re out on an adventure or simply walking your own property line. Metal detectors can run anywhere from $100 for an entry-level model to well over $1,000. The best metal detectors, like the Nokta Legend Metal Detector, detect the presence of metallic objects including gold, copper and aluminum.

Our expert product testers put several metal detectors to the test including the Nokta metal detector. They paid careful attention to details including how easy it was to assemble, its ergonomics and its overall performance. They even brought it to a local beach and were impressed to discover that this model was able to detect gold from farther away than most of its competitors. Here’s everything you need to know about the Nokta metal detector.

The Nokta metal detector is a multi-purpose metal detector. It features a 12-inch waterproof coil, digital display and rechargeable battery. It weighs just 3.05 pounds, making it extremely lightweight and easy to maneuver.

This metal detector is loaded with useful features including a built-in flashlight, bluetooth capabilities, vibration feedback for underwater use and hearing impaired users, multi IQ frequency and personalized settings for up to four users. Additionally, it has multiple terrain-based presets and completely customizable discrimination patterns.

Priced at $595, the Nokta metal detector is on the higher end. But given its features and overall ease of use, our product testers agree that it’s worth the splurge.

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A waterproof coil, digital display and abundance of features make this metal detector one of our top picks.

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The Nokta metal detector is fully submersible up to five meters (16.4 feet). It vibrates when it detects something underwater.

Choose from All Metal, Ferrous Off, Ground Effect Off and Custom (Notch Discrimination) settings. There are also four terrain-based presets including park, beach, field and gold field.

The unit vibrates when an object is detected. This is ideal for underwater use and individuals with hearing impairment.

Create up to four user profiles on the machine for personalized settings and functionality.

The backlit digital display and built-in flashlight allow you to use the Nokta metal detector day or night.

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Product testers Annamarie Higley and Sydney Manning led the charge and set out to see what the Nokta metal detector was really capable of. They began by assembling the unit, a process they described as easy and simple since there were only a couple parts to put together. Manning only had to reference the manual once or twice.

After it was fully assembled, our testers were impressed by the overall quality of the Nokta metal detector. They also appreciated how easy it was to carry.

“The shape of the handle is ergonomic, plus it has a rubber grip that wraps all the way around the handle,” explains Manning. “The tough carbon fiber telescoping shaft is lightweight and it doesn’t feel heavy in use.” They did point out, however, that while the cuff fit snugly on Annamarie’s arm, the Velcro itself is quite thin. Additionally, our testers felt that the coil head was floppier than others they tested. Fortunately, neither of these things seemed to affect the Nokta’s performance.

Once the Nokta metal detector was securely on Annamarie’s arm, it was time to see what it could do. Our testers began by performing an air test. This is a standard basic functionality test that many companies recommend prior to first use. To perform this test, our team placed the Nokta metal detector on non-metal surface outside and proceeded to wave a selection of metal items in front of the coils. These items included a pair of 10k gold earrings, a copper pipe, aluminum foil, pull tabs, bottle caps, a screw and a nail. It was able to detect all of our items from a foot away or less. It detected gold from about 8 inches away.

Our testers pointed out that the machine’s noises change and increase in volume as the target nears. However, they found the machine to be very quiet overall and adjusted the volume accordingly. “Annamarie turned up the volume to max, which helped,” explains Manning. “But because the volume of the ping depends on the depth of the item, some pings were a little quiet for our liking.” Additionally, they heard a constant humming or chatting noise in the gold mode, even as they adjusted the frequency.

During testing, Higley’s only complaint was that the buttons, which are are simply raised and all black, were hard to see. “Although the black buttons are a little hard to see with sunglasses on or in the shade, the screen—with all its super-helpful information—fortunately, has high visibility,” she says.

Overall, our testers agree that the Nokta metal detector is a worthy splurge. “The user-friendly FerroCheck bar, which identifies whether a target is ferrous, never once failed us,” raves Higley.

At Family Handyman, we know how important it is to find quality products that make your life easier and won’t leave you with a bad case of buyer’s remorse. Of course our goal is to help you with everything you should know about your home, but we enjoy helping you enjoy your hobbies, too. Whether you’re into metalworking, woodworking or treasure hunting, we’re here to help. Our editors and testers have years of experience testing products and we will only recommend a product if we believe it’ll enhance your own experience as it did ours.

In order to help you make an informed buying decision, our product testing experts on the product testing team spent approximately 80 hours in our lab getting up close and personal with 11 metal detectors. Several of those hours were spent actively testing the Nokta metal detector. We performed 13 tests on each metal detector and collected roughly 600 data points overall.

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Yes! In fact, the makers are so confident in their products that they offer a three-year warranty. Moreover, every part of the Nokta metal detector can be repaired. If something breaks, you won’t have to replace the whole thing.

The Nokta Legend is fully submersible up to five meters, or 16.4 feet.

Nokta Detectors is headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey.

Though this Nokta metal detector doesn’t have a ton of reviews, the ones that are there are overwhelmingly positive.

Verified Amazon user P-Town insists that the Nokta metal detector is great for beginners. They write, “If you’re just starting out, you are starting off with a very good detector. This is perfect for your entire family to use because it’s so easy to set and go. Found a few items at my local park and even in my yard. I cannot wait to go to beach and use it. Instead of trying to buy a very expensive one like I did, just buy something like this one and see if you even have the patience for metal detecting. It’s a nice hobby once you put the time and effort into it.”

Angel, another five-star reviewer, had great luck on their first try. “First day and I got lots of coins and a ring at beach,” they rave. “Ferrous cancel is awesome!”

And Amazon user Billy Bob couldn’t be happier with his upgraded metal detector. “It’s way better than my Garrett AT Gold. It has tons of bells and whistles that I’ve yet to play with,” he writes. “Anything you would want to customize, you can. The basics are pretty easy to get down.”

Our experts on the product testing team tested 11 metal detectors. The Nokta Legend and the Minelab X-Terra Elite have comparable features and are similarly priced at $595 and $479, respectively.

Both metal detectors are lightweight and waterproof. They both have vibration alert, customizable discrimination settings and terrain-based presets. That said, the Nokta metal detector has more settings and customization options than the Minelab metal detector. The Nokta metal detector also allows you to create up to four user profiles.

When it comes to performance, both metal detectors are suitable for beginners and were able to detect gold from about eight inches away. As mentioned above, our testers found the Nokta metal detector to be quieter than they would have liked and had trouble seeing the all-black buttons. Overall, they preferred the Minelab metal detector’s screen and sounds.

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If you’re in the market for a metal detector, then this Nokta metal detector is a no brainer. And if you’re not in the market for a metal detector, go ahead and add this one to your cart anyway. You may discover a new hobby or finally find that piece of jewelry you lost all those years ago. And who knows? Since it detects objects 12-inches away or less, maybe you’ll even come across some real buried treasure. One thing is for sure: you’ll have fun getting out there and seeing what you can find. Happy hunting!

The Nokta metal detector is available for $595 on Amazon. You can even bundle it with a pair of wireless headphones for $679. The bundle is also available on Kellyco Metal Detectors.

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The Nokta metal detector can detect objects from 12 inches away or less.

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