Minelab Equinox 800 vs 900: The 800 Is Discontinued, Should You Upgrade?

The Minelab Equinox 800 is out of production. That changes what an equinox 800 vs 900 comparison is actually for. This is no longer a question of which one to buy off the shelf, because only one of them is still on the shelf. It is a question for two groups of people: detectorists who already own an 800 and want to know whether the upgrade is worth it, and shoppers eyeing a used 800 to save a few hundred dollars.

We sold a lot of 800s. It earned its reputation. So this is not going to be a piece that pretends the 800 was mediocre all along, because it was not. Here is an honest account of what the 800 still does well, what the Equinox 900 genuinely adds, and how to decide which side of that line you belong on.

Where Things Stand in 2026

Minelab discontinued the 800 when the 900 launched. New stock is gone from the dealer network. What is left on the used market is running roughly 60 to 75 percent of what a new 900 costs, depending on condition, coils, and whether the seller still has the wireless module.

That price gap is the whole argument for the used 800, and it is a narrower gap than most people expect once you account for what the 900 includes in the box.

What the Equinox 800 Still Does Well

The 800 runs Multi-IQ, Minelab's simultaneous multi-frequency engine. That is the same core technology in the 900, and it is the reason the 800 remains a legitimately strong detector in 2026 rather than a relic.

It transmits 5, 10, 15, 20, and 40 kHz plus Multi. It has eight search profiles across Park, Field, Beach, and Gold. Recovery speed adjusts 1 to 8. Iron bias is adjustable. It is waterproof to 3 meters, weighs just under 3 pounds, and holds a target ID in mineralized soil far better than any single frequency VLF in its price class ever did.

An 800 in good condition, run by someone who knows it, will still clean out a park or a wet beach. Depth on the same coil in the same dirt is close enough to the 900 that nobody should upgrade expecting a dramatic gain in raw range. That is not where the 900 wins.

Minelab Equinox 800 vs 900: Specifications

What the Equinox 900 Actually Adds

Four changes matter. The rest is refinement.

1. Target ID Resolution More Than Doubles

The 800 sorts targets into 50 segments. The 900 sorts them into 119. This is the upgrade that changes how you hunt, and it is the one people underestimate on a spec sheet.

On the 800, a wide range of targets share the same ID number. Foil, small gold, and certain aluminum all pile into the same narrow band, and you either dig the band or skip it. On the 900, those same targets spread across more than twice as many segments. After a season on the machine you learn that your local pull tabs live at a specific number and the ring you want reads two or three numbers off it.

That does not find deeper targets. It stops you from walking past good ones and from digging trash you could have identified. In a hunted-out park, that difference compounds over a season.

2. Waterproof to 16 Feet Instead of 10

The 800 is rated to 3 meters. The 900 is rated to 5 meters at IP68. For wading and surf work, both are fine. The difference matters if you snorkel, if you work deeper water, or if you simply want more margin when a wave puts the control pod under.

3. Two Coils in the Box

The 900 ships with the 11 inch EQX11 and the 6 inch EQX06. The 800 shipped with the 11 inch only.

Do the math before you decide the used 800 is cheaper. A 6 inch coil bought separately is a real expense, and it is the single most useful accessory for anyone hunting iron-dense parks or old foundations. If you were going to buy one anyway, the 900's bundle absorbs a chunk of the price difference immediately.

4. Wireless Audio Without the Module

The 800 handled wireless through the WM 08, a separate module you clipped to your person and paired to headphones. It worked, but it was one more thing to charge, one more thing to lose, and one more point of failure.

The 900 has low-latency wireless built into the control pod and pairs the ML 85 headphones directly. Fewer parts, less setup, nothing extra to keep track of.

Beyond those four, the 900 adds a display backlight, a control pod flashlight, handgrip vibration, a 4 kHz single frequency option for deep high-conductive targets, a slightly wider sensitivity range, a carbon fiber shaft that collapses to 24 inches for travel, and about two ounces less weight.

Buying a Used Equinox 800: What to Check

Plenty of people will still buy a used 800, and for some of them it is the right call. If that is you, go in with clear eyes.

• Warranty is almost certainly gone. Minelab's coverage runs three years. The 800 has been out of production long enough that most units on the market are past it. A used 800 is a machine you own outright, repairs included.
• Confirm the WM 08 module is included. Without it there is no wireless audio, and replacing it costs real money.
• Ask about the coil ears. The mounting ears on Equinox coils are the known weak point. Cracked ears are common on hard-used machines and a coil replacement is not cheap.
• Check the charging port and cable. The 800 uses a proprietary magnetic connector. If the seller lost the cable, sourcing one is an errand.
• Verify the firmware. Later 800 firmware improved iron bias behavior. An unupdated machine is not running its best version.
• Price it honestly. A used 800 with one coil, no warranty, and no module is not a bargain against a new 900 with two coils, wireless headphones, and three years of coverage. Run those numbers before you commit.

If your goal is the lowest price on a machine that still carries dealer support, look at demo and open box units instead. Those are current-generation detectors at a discount, inspected before they ship, and they do not carry the unknowns a private-party used 800 does. For most bargain hunters, that is the smarter version of the same instinct.

The Verdict: Upgrade If, Hold Off If

Upgrade to the Equinox 900 if:

• You hunt sites you have already worked hard, where finer target ID is what separates a dug coin from a skipped signal.
• You hunt trashy ground and do not already own a 6 inch coil.
• You work water deeper than wading, or you want more margin in the surf.
• Your 800 is out of warranty and you would rather not carry the repair risk.
• Your WM 08 module has failed or gone missing.
• You travel with your detector and the 24 inch collapsed length would actually change how you pack.
• You are shopping used purely on price and have not yet compared the true cost of a used 800 against a new 900 with two coils and a warranty.

Hold off if:

• Your 800 is running well, still under warranty, and you already own the 6 inch coil.
• You hunt mostly clean, low-trash ground where 50 target ID segments are enough to sort what you find.
• You stay out of deep water.
• You are within a year or two of jumping to a higher tier machine. In that case, save toward it rather than making a lateral move.
• You have not yet learned everything your 800 can do. A detectorist who has mastered an 800 will outhunt someone still guessing at a 900.

The honest summary: this is a worthwhile upgrade, not an urgent one. Nobody with a working 800 is missing targets so badly that they need to act this week. But if you are buying anything today, buy the 900, because a new machine with two coils, integrated wireless, and three years of coverage beats a used one with none of that at a price gap smaller than it looks.

Common Questions

Is the Equinox 800 still worth buying in 2026?

Used, at the right price, with the WM 08 module and healthy coil ears, yes. It runs the same Multi-IQ engine and remains capable. But once you add a 6 inch coil and accept that the warranty is gone, the savings against a new 900 shrink fast.

Is the Equinox 900 deeper than the 800?

Not meaningfully on the same coil in the same soil. Most equinox 900 vs 800 comparisons lead with depth, and that is the wrong axis. The 900's advantage is target ID resolution, waterproof depth, and the hardware around the detector, not raw range. Anyone selling the upgrade purely on depth is overstating it.

Do Equinox 800 coils fit the 900?

Yes. EQX Smart Coils are shared across the Equinox line, so coils you already own carry over when you upgrade. That lowers the real cost of moving to the 900 if you have built up a coil collection.

What replaced the Equinox 800?

The Equinox 900 sits directly above it, and the Equinox 700 covers the ground the 600 used to. If you want the full picture of where each model lands, our Minelab buying guide lays out the current lineup.

Is the 900 harder to learn than the 800?

No. The interface and mode structure carry over almost directly. An 800 owner will be hunting confidently with a 900 inside a single session.

Where to Go From Here

If you have settled on the upgrade, the full Equinox 900 lineup including coils and accessories is the place to start. Bargain hunters should work through demo and open box inventory first, since that is where current-generation machines show up below list.

Still weighing options across brands? Compare the field in multi-frequency detectors, browse everything in all metal detectors, or read our complete Minelab buying guide for how the whole range stacks up.

If you own an 800 and want a straight answer about your specific sites, call us. We would rather tell you to keep hunting the machine you have than sell you one you do not need.