XP ICON Metal Detectors

What Is the XP ICON Metal Detector?

The XP ICON metal detector is a wireless, IP68 waterproof, simultaneous multi-frequency detector designed and manufactured in France. It runs XP's FMF (Fast Multi Frequency) platform, the same processing engine that drives the DEUS II, in a tighter feature package built for fast setup and lower total weight. At 843 g (1.86 lb) with the remote attached, the standard ICON is among the lightest fully wireless multi-frequency machines XP has shipped.

We see the ICON working in two roles. It is the entry point into the XP ecosystem at a price below the DEUS II, and it is a serious lightweight backup detector for hunters who already own a DEUS II and want a second wireless rig for travel, light swing days, or cross-training a hunting partner on XP audio. Both machines share the FMF platform, the wireless coils, the same MI-6 pinpointer, and the same WSA-ST headphone family, so the ICON earns its slot in a kit without forcing a parallel accessory inventory.

ICON vs ICON-X: What Changes Between the Two

XP ships the line in two configurations. The standard ICON includes 3 factory programs and 3 user-customizable slots, full FMF multi-frequency mode plus two mono frequencies (4 kHz and 14 kHz), 5 levels of reactivity, the S-Telescopic Lite fiberglass stem, and discrimination across 28 segments with 1-point steps from -6 to 10. Total weight with remote is 843 g (~735 g coil-and-stem only).

The ICON-X adds the controls experienced hunters reach for. 6 factory programs and 6 user slots, a third mono frequency (28 kHz) for small gold and high-conductor targets, 7 levels of reactivity (0 through 6), 0.5-point discrimination steps for finer notch work, and the S-Telescopic Lite Carbon stem, which drops total weight to 830 g (~710 g coil-and-stem only) while adding stiffness over the fiberglass version. We recommend the ICON-X for hunters who want fine reactivity tuning, who target small gold jewelry, or who plan long days on the swing where stem stiffness matters.

FMF Multi-Frequency and the DEUS II Connection

The ICON runs XP's Fast Multi Frequency (FMF) platform with automatic and manual frequency shift, which is the same simultaneous multi-frequency processing the DEUS II uses. Both ICON and ICON-X are compatible with the existing DEUS II FMF coil family and the HF2 coil, so an existing XP user can move coils between detectors without buying a duplicate coil inventory.

Cross-compatibility is the strongest practical argument for the ICON as a second machine in an XP-loyal kit. Customers running a DEUS II with an 11-inch FMF coil for cache and relic ground can add an ICON-X with a 9-inch FMF for park and beach work, and both detectors share coils, headphones, and pinpointer hardware. The XP wireless ecosystem does not lock to a single detector model.

Field Performance and Where the ICON Fits

The ICON range is built for fields, parks, beaches, forests, and shallow water. The IP68 rating runs to 5 meters (16 feet), which covers wet sand, surf zones, rain hunts, and shallow wading. For full underwater use, XP requires the optional bone-conduction headset, also IP68 rated to 5 m. The standard WSA-ST wireless headphones are weather-resistant for dry-land conditions but are not designed for submersion.

Detection behavior leans on FMF processing in the field. Pre-release demos and XP factory testing show stable target ID in mineralized wet beach conditions where a single-frequency machine has to be reset between the dry sand and the surf line. The 14 kHz mono mode on both ICON and ICON-X is the right call for most general coin and jewelry work in moderate ground. The ICON-X's 28 kHz mono mode opens up small gold and other high-conductor targets that the standard ICON cannot reach.

Reactivity tuning matters in trashy ground. The standard ICON's 5-level reactivity is enough for most park and field sites, but the ICON-X's 7-level scale with finer steps is the better choice for iron-saturated relic sites, old pasture, and trashy beach zones where target separation gets crowded. Hunters who work heavy iron should budget for the ICON-X.

Wireless Ecosystem and Compatibility

The ICON uses XP's digital wireless protocol at roughly 4 ms latency across 36 auto channels for interference handling. Coil, remote, and headphones synchronize on power-up with no manual pairing step. Audio output switches automatically among the internal speaker, wired headphones, bone conduction, and wireless headphones based on what the operator connects, which means we are not toggling output sources in a menu mid-target.

Both ICON models pair with the XP MI-6 wireless pinpointer for clean target recovery and with the XP Go Terrain app for session tracking, find logging, and GPS route mapping from a smartphone. Battery runtime is about 11 hours across remote, headphones, and coil, with a roughly 3-hour USB-C charge cycle. Stem assembled length runs 58 cm folded to 130 cm extended.