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If you are trying to decide which metal detector from Garrett to buy, the target ID and discrimination explainer gives the technical grounding you need. Garrett is the American-made workhorse of the hobby, with a lineup that splits into five distinct families: ACE, AT, Vortex, Axiom, and Goldmaster 24K.
The brand has been building detectors in Garland, Texas since 1964, and today it still runs a single US factory with a 3-year warranty across its detector line. That heritage matters, but it also explains the central tension in this guide: Garrett's strength is durability and simplicity, while its multi-frequency technology arrived later than Minelab's.
This guide covers every current Garrett model tier by tier, with honest positioning, what each machine actually does in the field, and which models are worth buying now. It also corrects two common mistakes found in thinner roundups: the warranty is 3 years, not 2, and the Vortex line is VX5, VX7, and VX9 — there is no VX11 or VX13.
It is written for beginners deciding on a first detector, intermediate hunters weighing an AT Pro against a Vortex, and gold prospectors trying to figure out which Garrett can actually find nuggets.
Garrett's Philosophy — American-Made Workhorse with Real Roots
Garrett was founded in 1964 in Garland, Texas, and every detector in this guide is still made in the United States in that same Texas facility. The company backs its detectors with a 3-year warranty — a change that took effect on July 10, 2023 and applies retroactively to detectors already sold, though not to accessories. That warranty, plus a consistent parts and service network, is a large part of why Garrett remains the default recommendation for US-based detectorists who want a machine that can be repaired rather than replaced.
The brand also spans airport and event security. The same engineering DNA behind hobby detectors powers walk-through and handheld systems used by TSA and stadiums. In the hobby lineup, that translates to straightforward controls, durable construction, and fewer deep-software features than Minelab or XP. Garrett has historically led on build quality and US support; it has not led on simultaneous multi-frequency technology. That gap is the most important context for understanding the current lineup.
Entry-Level ACE Series — ACE 200, 300, and 400
The ACE series is Garrett's beginner line, built on single-frequency VLF platforms with simple controls. There are three current models, and the main upgrade path is better target ID, more discrimination control, and larger coils. Note that the "i" suffix used on Garrett's own site (200i, 300i, 400i) refers to the same products sold on Amazon under the legacy names.
Garrett ACE 200
- 6.5 kHz single-frequency VLF
- 6.5" x 9" concentric PROformance coil
- Digital Target ID graphic scale, 3 search modes, PWM audio
- Coil submersible, control box not submersible
- ~2.75 lb; made in USA; 3-year warranty
The ACE 200 is the true first detector for kids and casual beginners. It lacks notch discrimination and has only preset sensitivity levels, which is why forums consistently steer adults toward the ACE 300 or 400. It is best for a first taste of coin shooting in parks, not for serious relic or beach work.
Garrett ACE 300
- 8 kHz single-frequency VLF with adjustable frequency
- 7" x 10" PROformance DD coil
- 0–99 Digital Target ID
- 5 search modes, electronic pinpoint, notch discrimination, 8 sensitivity levels
- Coil submersible, control box not
- Made in USA; 3-year warranty
The ACE 300 is a popular first real detector in the US, along with the ACE 400. It adds full numeric target ID, notch discrimination, and electronic pinpointing. That makes it much better at separating trash from keepers than the ACE 200. Do not be misled by Amazon listings that call it a "Gold Metal Detector": it is a coin and relic machine, not a nugget prospecting tool.
Garrett ACE 400
- 10 kHz single-frequency VLF with adjustable frequency
- 8.5" x 11" PROformance DD coil — the same size coil used on the AT series
- 0–99 Digital Target ID
- Iron Audio, 5 search modes, 8 sensitivity levels
- Includes ClearSound headphones, coil cover, and control-box cover
- Coil submersible, control box not
- Made in USA; 3-year warranty
The ACE 400 is the machine most first-time buyers should get if they want to stay in the ACE line. The larger DD coil and Iron Audio bring it close to entry AT-series capability minus waterproofing. The addition of Iron Audio helps identify bottle caps and iron falsing, which is a genuine step up from the ACE 300.
Step-Up Multi-Frequency — ACE Apex
The ACE Apex is Garrett's first consumer multi-frequency machine, released in 2020. It uses Multi-Flex technology, which runs simultaneous multi-frequency plus four selectable single frequencies: 5, 10, 15, and 20 kHz, plus Multi-Frequency and Multi-Salt modes. That makes it the cheapest path to a Garrett that can handle wet salt beaches, where single-frequency machines often chatter.
The Apex ships with a 6" x 11" DD Viper coil and is compatible with the Ripper 5x8 and Raider 8.5x11 coils from the Multi-Flex family. Important: those Multi-Flex coils are not compatible with older ACE models or with the later Vortex series. The detector includes built-in Z-Lynk wireless audio, a 175-point ground balance, Iron Volume, and a rechargeable battery. The control box is weatherproof but not submersible, and the coil is submersible.
Community reception was mixed at launch. Detectorists praised the build quality, but many felt the Apex underperformed against similarly priced Minelab Vanquish and Equinox models on raw depth and target separation. That said, it remains a sensible step up from a single-frequency ACE for someone who specifically needs saltwater capability and frequency flexibility without moving to an AT-series price.
All-Terrain AT Series — AT Pro, AT Max, and the Discontinued AT Gold
The AT series is the classic Garrett middle ground: fully submersible, tough, and simple enough to run all day. Two models remain current, while the AT Gold has been discontinued. Some distributors now list the AT Pro and AT Max as special-order only following the Vortex launch, but both are still officially current.
Garrett AT Pro
- 15 kHz single-frequency VLF
- 8.5" x 11" PROformance DD coil
- Fully submersible to 10 ft (3 m)
- Pro Mode Audio with Proportional Audio and Tone Roll
- High-Resolution Iron Discrimination with 40 levels
- Digital Target ID, manual ground balance
- In production since 2010
- Made in USA; 3-year warranty
The AT Pro is the longtime intermediate workhorse, with more reported hours from longtime detectorists than almost any other machine in the range. It pairs extremely well with the optional 5x8 DD coil, which is widely considered the AT Pro's ideal coil for trashy parks and tight separation. Between the AT Pro and the AT Max, the Pro delivers roughly 90 percent of the performance for less money. For the full technical story on how the 0–99 ID scale, notch discrimination, and Iron Audio behave in the field, see the target ID and discrimination explainer.
Garrett AT Max
- 13.6 kHz single-frequency VLF
- 8.5" x 11" PROformance DD coil
- Built-in Z-Lynk wireless audio
- Backlit display, True All-Metal Mode, 8 sensitivity/depth levels
- Iron Audio
- Fully submersible to 10 ft
- Released 2017; ships with MS-3 wireless headphones
- Made in USA; 3-year warranty
The AT Max adds wireless audio, a backlight, and True All-Metal Mode over the AT Pro, plus a small depth advantage in some conditions. The frequency difference matters: the AT Max at 13.6 kHz is slightly less sensitive to small, low-conductivity targets than the AT Pro at 15 kHz. Most detectorists should choose the AT Pro unless they specifically want the integrated wireless setup.
Garrett AT Gold — Discontinued
- 18 kHz single-frequency VLF tuned for small gold
- True All-Metal Mode
- Submersible to 10 ft
- Discontinued, confirmed December 2024 alongside the ATX
- Still available as new-old-stock or used
The AT Gold was a strong all-rounder that also handled small gold and jewelry better than the AT Pro. It was discontinued at the end of the AT series refresh, so if you see one available, it is worth considering as a used or new-old-stock niche machine. But for current small-gold work, the Goldmaster 24K and Axiom are the cleaner paths.
Vortex Series — The New Multi-Frequency Flagship
The Vortex is Garrett's current flagship hobby platform and the most controversial machine the company has shipped in years. Announced in June 2024, with the VX9 reaching US dealers in November 2024, it is Garrett's first true simultaneous multi-frequency ground-search platform, called MD-MF.
The VX9 is the full version: 5, 9, 13, 18, and 25 kHz single frequencies, plus Multi and Multi-Salt simultaneous modes. The VX7 adds 5 kHz and Multi-Salt over the VX5, along with adjustable recovery speed. The VX5 is the entry version with 13 kHz plus Multi, a simplified target ID, and fixed recovery. All three are fully submersible to 16 ft, run on a USB-C rechargeable battery, include Z-Lynk wireless ready audio, and are made in the USA with a 3-year warranty.
The defining feature is that the VX5, VX7, and VX9 are transformable via paid software upgrades, so an owner can start with a VX5 and later unlock VX7 or VX9 capabilities without buying a new detector. The VX9 stock coil is the 8.5x11 Raider DD, and the Vortex family also takes the Ripper 5x8, Viper, and Reaper coils. Vortex coils are not compatible with any other Garrett detector line.
The firmware story is the biggest caveat. Early Vortex firmware versions had a documented issue with large or adjacent iron targets causing lock-ups, and the reset function did not fully clear settings. Garrett has released multiple free updates through firmware 9.13 as of February 13, 2026, and by most accounts the worst issues are resolved. However, several independent testers still report that the Vortex does not fully close the target-separation gap with the Nokta Legend, the main competitor in its class. Some owners report excellent results — one user's "silver magnet" and a 124-coin beach session under three hours — but the net community verdict is that the Vortex is promising and US-made, yet Garrett is still catching up on multi-frequency maturity.
There is no VX11 or VX13. If a roundup mentions those names, it is outdated.
Check Price on Amazon for the VX9. The VX5 and VX7 often ship through dealer bundles; find current stock via this Amazon search.
Garrett Pinpointers — Pro-Pointer AT, AT Z-Lynk, and Pro-Pointer II
The Pro-Pointer AT, nicknamed "the Carrot", is a widely popular pinpointer in the hobby, regardless of main detector brand. It is waterproof to 20 feet with an IP68 rating, offers three sensitivity levels, fast retune, proportional audio and vibration, 360-degree side scan, an LED flashlight, and a molded ruler. Weight is about 6.5 ounces.
The Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk adds built-in Z-Lynk wireless so the pinpointer's audio comes through paired Garrett wireless headphones. The Pro-Pointer II is the budget version: weatherproof to IP66 but not submersible, with a simpler feature set.
For most detectorists, the standard Pro-Pointer AT is the one to buy. The 20-foot waterproofing and side-scan sensitivity are the deciding features over the Pro-Pointer II. The Z-Lynk version is only worth the extra cost if you already use Garrett wireless headphones with an AT Max or Apex.
Check Price on Amazon for the Pro-Pointer AT, the Z-Lynk version, or the Pro-Pointer II.
Garrett Gold Detectors — Axiom, Axiom Lite, and Goldmaster 24K
For actual gold prospecting, Garrett has three genuine tools: the Axiom, the Axiom Lite, and the Goldmaster 24K. Everything else with "Gold" in the name is marketing.
The Axiom is a pulse induction platform positioned above the discontinued ATX. It runs four search modes — Fine, Normal, Large, and Salt — with four ground-track options and Terra-Scan dual-channel ground balance. The standard package includes the detector, MS-3 wireless headphones, a 13x11 DD coil, an 11x7 mono coil, a travel pack, and a battery booster. The Axiom Lite drops the extra coil and headphones for a lower entry point.
Steve Herschbach, founder of DetectorProspector and author of the Guide to Gold Nugget Detectors, has consistently called the Axiom a machine that goes head to head with the Minelab GPX 6000 and offers about 90 percent of its performance for roughly one third the price. In small-gold sensitivity tests by forum tester Lunk, the Axiom kept pace with the GPX 6000. Herschbach still names the GPX 6000 as the pure sensitivity pick, but he calls the Axiom his best value pick for a PI nugget detector. A smaller group of Australian prospectors argues you leave gold behind versus Minelab, so this is not unanimous.
The Goldmaster 24K is a 48 kHz high-frequency VLF designed for small gold. It is the only White's Metal Detectors model Garrett kept producing after acquiring White's in 2018. It includes Xtreme Ground Balance auto-tracking, manual Ground-Sync and TracLock, adjustable SAT, Iron/Hot-Rock cancel, and a 0–99 target ID. The stock 6x10 DD elliptical coil delivers roughly a 54 percent coil voltage increase over the old White's GMT. DetectorProspector consensus is that it is a genuinely hot 48 kHz small-gold machine, with Herschbach noting "there is no doubt the Goldmaster 24K can find the gold, and some really small gold at that."
If you are asking whether a Garrett ACE 300 or 400 marked "Gold Metal Detector" on Amazon can find gold nuggets, the honest answer is no. Those are coin and relic VLFs. They can find gold jewelry in parks, but they are not built for mineralized ground or sub-gram nuggets. The Vortex VX9 can detect gold at 18 or 25 kHz, but Garrett itself directs serious prospectors to the Axiom.
Check Price on Amazon for the full Axiom kit, or the Axiom Lite here. For the Goldmaster 24K, check current availability.
Garrett vs Minelab vs Nokta — The Honest Comparison
The dominant community framing is simple: Garrett wins on durability, US support, and control simplicity. Minelab wins on simultaneous multi-frequency technology. Nokta wins on value and feature bundles. XP wins on wireless and lightweight design.
That framing is backed by real history. Minelab introduced true simultaneous Multi-IQ with the Equinox 600 and 800 in 2017. Garrett's first multi-frequency detector was the Apex in 2020, and its first true simultaneous multi-frequency flagship, the Vortex, arrived in 2024. Both Garrett's Multi-Flex and MD-MF platforms are genuinely simultaneous multi-frequency designs according to Garrett and its authorized dealers, though no independent engineering teardown has verified that claim. The community nonetheless treats Garrett's multi-frequency as less mature than Minelab's, and the Vortex's rocky firmware rollout reinforced that view.
For dry-park coin shooting, the practical depth difference between a Garrett AT Pro or Vortex and a comparably priced Minelab or Nokta is often small, and Garrett's ergonomics and waterproofing can be more important. For saltwater beaches, mineralized ground, and small gold, Minelab's simultaneous multi-frequency and pulse induction platforms still lead in raw performance. The one-line verdict repeated across forums: "Minelab has the technology lead. Garrett has the durability lead."
| Strength | Garrett | Minelab | Nokta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build quality | High | High | Good |
| US support | Excellent | Good | Good |
| Multi-frequency maturity | Catching up | Leader | Strong value |
| Gold prospecting | Axiom/24K strong | GPX/GPZ leading | Gold Kruzer only |
| Beach performance | Vortex/AT capable | Equinox/Manticore excellent | Legend strong |
If a fully wireless alternative interests you, the XP Deus review breaks down how the other premium option differs from the Vortex and AT Max.
Which Garrett Should You Buy?
- Complete beginner or kid: ACE 200 is the cheapest real entry; the ACE 300 is the better first detector for an adult because it adds full target ID and notch discrimination.
- Beginner who wants room to grow: ACE 400. The larger coil and Iron Audio make it the strongest single-frequency ACE.
- Saltwater beach hunter on a budget: ACE Apex, thanks to Multi-Salt and selectable frequencies.
- All-terrain park and shallow water: AT Pro. The 5x8 coil turns it into a separation specialist, and it is the best value all-terrain Garrett.
- Wireless-first all-terrain: AT Max if integrated Z-Lynk audio and backlight matter enough to justify the step up.
- Current flagship buyer who wants upgradeability: Vortex VX9 — but factor in firmware maturity and test against a Nokta Legend if target separation matters most.
- Serious gold nugget hunter: Axiom or Axiom Lite for pulse induction depth in mineralized ground, or Goldmaster 24K for hot 48 kHz small-gold VLF work.
- Pinpointer: The Pro-Pointer AT is the default accessory for any detector brand; it is waterproof to 20 feet and belongs in every kit. The Z-Lynk version is worth it only with Garrett wireless headphones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the Garrett warranty 2 years or 3 years?
Garrett's detector warranty has been 3 years (36 months) since July 10, 2023. The extension is retroactive to detectors already sold, but it does not apply to accessories. Any article claiming a 2-year warranty is outdated.
Q: Which Garrett metal detectors can actually find gold nuggets?
The genuine gold-prospecting machines are the Garrett Axiom and Axiom Lite (pulse induction) and the Garrett Goldmaster 24K (48 kHz VLF). The discontinued AT Gold was also capable as a small-gold all-rounder. The ACE 300 and ACE 400 are sometimes labeled "Gold Metal Detector" on Amazon, but they are coin and relic VLFs, not nugget machines for mineralized ground.
Q: Is the Vortex firmware fixed now?
Garrett has released multiple free firmware updates, with version 9.13 arriving February 13, 2026. The worst early issues, including large-iron lock-ups, are mostly resolved. However, independent testers still report that the Vortex has not fully closed the target-separation gap with the Nokta Legend. It is a usable detector, but not a consensus class leader yet.
Q: Are Vortex coils compatible with ACE or AT detectors?
No. The Vortex coil family works only with Vortex detectors. The Apex Multi-Flex coils also do not interchange with older ACE, AT, or Vortex machines. Coil cross-compatibility is one of the most common buyer questions.
Q: Should I buy the AT Pro or the AT Max?
For most people, the AT Pro is the better value. It delivers roughly 90 percent of the AT Max's real-world performance, and its 15 kHz frequency gives it a slight edge on small low-conductive targets. Choose the AT Max only if integrated wireless audio and a backlit display are worth the extra money to you.
Q: Is the ACE Apex worth buying over the ACE 400?
The ACE Apex is worth it if you need saltwater beach stability or frequency flexibility, because Multi-Flex handles wet salt better than any single-frequency ACE. If you only hunt dry parks, the ACE 400 is simpler and nearly as effective for less money.
Q: Is Garrett still made in the USA?
Yes. Garrett builds its metal detectors in a single factory in Garland, Texas. Some accessories are globally sourced, but the detectors themselves are US-made, and that supports the brand's reputation for service and repair.
Q: Are there any current Garrett models to avoid?
The ACE 200 is fine for kids but limited for adults because it lacks notch discrimination. The AT Gold and ATX are discontinued, so buying one means new-old-stock or used. The Vortex VX5 is a reduced-feature entry point; it may be better to stretch to the VX7 or VX9 if you want the full multi-frequency experience.
Conclusion
Garrett's current lineup is easy to summarize: for a first detector, the ACE 300 or ACE 400 are the safe choices; for all-terrain, the AT Pro remains the durability value pick; for multi-frequency, the Vortex VX9 is the ambitious but still maturing flagship; and for gold, the Axiom and Goldmaster 24K are the only models that genuinely belong in a prospector's kit.
The honest brand verdict is unchanged: Garrett wins on build quality, US warranty, and long-term repairability. It loses on multi-frequency maturity compared with Minelab, and it does not bundle as many features per dollar as Nokta. But for many detectorists, especially in the US, the ability to get a machine fixed quickly and the confidence of a 3-year warranty outweigh raw technology. Minelab has the technology lead; Garrett has the durability lead.
If you want a deeper technical breakdown of how Garrett's discrimination and Target ID scales work in the field, read the target ID and discrimination explainer. If you are weighing a premium alternative, the XP Deus II review covers the wireless flagship side of the market. And for budget beginner options outside Garrett, the National Geographic metal detectors guide separates toy-grade from real starter machines.
