Nokta Simplex LITE Waterproof Beginner Metal Detector

The Nokta Simplex LITE is a waterproof 15 kHz metal detector for coins, jewelry and relics in parks, yards, fields and on freshwater beaches. It is the entry model of Nokta's Simplex New Generation line, with four search modes (Field, Park, Beach and All Metal), a 01 to 99 target ID, 30 sensitivity levels, automatic and manual ground balance and notch discrimination. Nokta rates the whole detector IP68, submersible to 5 meters (16 feet), lists it at 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) including the search coil and ships it with the SX24 9.5 x 6 inch waterproof Double-D coil and a built-in rechargeable battery.

Who the Nokta Simplex LITE is for

What we appreciate about the Simplex LITE is that Nokta has not stripped away the features that matter most just to make the detector more affordable. You still get a fully waterproof detector, a rechargeable battery, automatic and manual ground balance, target identification and useful search modes. For someone buying a first serious metal detector, that is a strong foundation.

We do not recommend the Simplex LITE because it is the least expensive Simplex. We recommend it because it provides the important fundamentals without asking a beginner to learn adjustments they do not need yet. In our experience it suits parks, residential yards, freshwater beaches and general coin and jewelry hunting. Not everyone needs adjustable recovery speed, advanced audio customization or multiple operating frequencies, and we would rather see someone buy a detector they enjoy using than spend more for features they never learn.

If you expect to spend a lot of time on iron-heavy historical sites, look at the Nokta Simplex ULTRA, which adds adjustable recovery speed and more audio settings.

Why the Simplex LITE comes with the smaller SX24 coil

The standard Simplex LITE ships with Nokta's SX24, a 24 x 15 cm (9.5 x 6 inch) waterproof Double-D coil. That is smaller than the SX28 11 inch coil on the Simplex ULTRA, and some customers assume a larger coil is automatically better. It depends on where you detect. Around playground equipment, picnic tables, trees and landscaping, a smaller coil is easier to maneuver, and its smaller detection footprint helps when targets sit close together. For someone who mostly searches parks and residential yards, we think that is useful.

The trade-off is that the SX24 covers less ground with each sweep, so someone searching large, open fields may prefer an 11 inch coil. Nokta also offers a Simplex LITE configuration with the SX28 coil, so make sure you know which version you are buying; the Simplex LITE on this page is the SX24 version. Nokta lists the SX24, SX28 and SX35 (13.5 x 12.5 inch) coils for the Simplex LITE; see our Simplex LITE coils.

Nokta Simplex LITE search modes

The Simplex LITE has four search modes, and we think that is a sensible selection for a first detector.

• Park: three tones. Ferrous targets (01 to 14) give a low tone, 15 to 41 a medium tone and 42 to 99 a high tone. We would start here in an ordinary park or yard.
• Field: Nokta recommends it especially for relic hunting on clean sites. Ferrous targets give a low tone, and non-ferrous targets (15 to 99) a higher tone that rises in pitch as the coil gets closer.
• Beach: for conductive ground such as wet salty sand. Target IDs 0 to 14 are notched out by default and cannot be changed, and every other target gives one medium tone.
• All Metal: no discrimination, so you hear a broader range of metal responses, with an adjustable threshold hum. Iron Off is not available in All Metal or Beach.

Our advice for a new owner: start in Park mode in an ordinary park or yard and learn how common targets respond before experimenting with every mode. The goal is to get familiar with the detector rather than constantly changing settings. Notch discrimination lets you reject ID ranges, two IDs per box on the scale.

Ground balance and frequency shift on the Simplex LITE

The Simplex LITE has automatic and manual ground balance, which is an important feature at this level. If you detect in a mild park and then move to more mineralized soil, the detector may start responding to the ground rather than buried metal. For automatic ground balance you pump the coil from about 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 inches) down to about 3 cm (1 inch) above the ground; manual ground balance runs from 0 to 99.9. We encourage beginners to learn the automatic procedure, because it is a skill that carries over to more advanced detectors. Ground balance does not add depth on its own: it helps the detector manage the ground's response. When you move onto different ground, ground balance again.

The Simplex LITE runs a single 15 kHz frequency and adds frequency shift in three small steps (F1, F2 and F3, with F2 the central frequency). If another detector or electrical equipment causes interference, a small shift can bring back stability; Nokta suggests trying it before lowering sensitivity. Frequency shift does not turn the LITE into a multi-frequency detector. A Ground Suppressor setting can also help remove false ground signals in tough terrain.

Reading target IDs as a beginner

One of the biggest challenges for new detectorists is not finding a detector with enough features; it is learning to interpret what the detector is telling them. Picture someone searching their backyard for the first time: they get a signal, see a target ID number, assume it is a coin and dig up a piece of aluminum. That is normal. Target IDs are estimates based on the object's response, not guarantees. We encourage beginners to focus on repeatable signals, consistent coil movement and checking targets from different directions. The Simplex LITE gives you enough information to learn those skills without overwhelming you. The 5-level depth indicator is based on a 2.5 cm (1 inch) coin, so treat it as a guide.

One mistake we would warn about is swinging the coil too high above the ground. In a grassy park, a coil held several inches up adds distance between the coil and buried targets and weakens the response. Keep the coil reasonably close to the ground with a smooth, controlled sweep, without striking rocks or dragging it. In our experience consistent coil control does more than constantly changing sensitivity.

Simplex LITE waterproofing, battery, lights and vibration

Nokta rates the Simplex LITE IP68, fully submersible to 5 meters (16 feet). That is a real benefit for shorelines, freshwater beaches and shallow water; after a busy holiday weekend at a lake you might find coins, fishing weights, aluminum trash and lost jewelry. The detector's rating does not automatically apply to every headphone or charging accessory. For underwater audio Nokta lists its Nokta Waterproof Headphones for the Simplex LITE, and Nokta says not to use the detector underwater while it is connected to a power bank. After salt water, rinse the system box, shaft and coil with tap water.

The built-in 2300 mAh lithium polymer battery runs about 12 hours and charges in about 3 hours from a USB charging adapter or power bank, using the cable in the box. We would still charge it before each trip, and in our experience it is better not to store it for long periods completely flat. Vibration gives you another way to recognize target responses, which helps on a windy beach where the speaker is hard to hear, underwater, or for someone with hearing difficulties. The display backlight, keypad backlight and LED flashlight make an early-morning beach hunt easier; the flashlight does not work with the detector switched off. None of these are depth upgrades, but they make the detector more convenient to use.

What is in the box with the Nokta Simplex LITE

Nokta's standard contents

• Nokta Simplex LITE system box with aluminum and plastic shaft
• SX24 waterproof DD search coil, 24 x 15 cm (9.5 x 6 inches), with coil cover
• USB charging and data cable
• 6.3 mm (1/4 inch) headphone adapter for wired headphones

The Simplex LITE has a built-in speaker and one socket for wired headphones and charging; the adapter lets you plug in your own wired headphones on land. See our Simplex LITE headphones.

Where the Simplex LITE works well, and where it does not

The Simplex LITE can find relics, and for occasional relic hunting it may be perfectly adequate. Around an old farmhouse with nails scattered through the ground, though, the Simplex ULTRA's adjustable recovery speed and audio settings give you more ways to work closely spaced targets. The LITE can still find coins and relics in iron; it just gives you fewer ways to adjust its responses.

We would also be cautious about ocean beaches. Beach mode helps manage wet saltwater sand, but the LITE runs a single 15 kHz frequency and is not equivalent to a simultaneous multi-frequency detector. For freshwater beaches we think it is a sensible option. If you regularly search wet ocean sand or the surf, consider a simultaneous multi-frequency detector such as the Nokta Score series.

Nokta Simplex LITE vs Simplex ULTRA vs FINDX Pro

Our advice: buy the Simplex LITE for parks, yards, freshwater beaches and general coin and jewelry hunting, when you want the features a beginner actually needs without becoming an expert in detector settings first. Choose the Simplex ULTRA if you expect to spend substantial time on difficult iron-contaminated sites. For the rest of the range, see our Nokta metal detector buying guide.

Nokta Simplex LITE specifications

Nokta covers the Simplex LITE system box, search coil, shaft and handle with a 3-year warranty. Serious Detecting is an authorized Nokta dealer.