Minelab X-Terra Elite Vs Xterra Pro Vs Nokta Score Series

Minelab X-Terra Elite Vs Xterra Pro Vs Nokta Score Series

Minelab and Nokta have taken their detector battle to absurdity. 

Minelab came out with a promo video for the X-terra Pro where words flashed across the screen stating: 

“I am… 

Multi IQ

I am… 

Affordable

Impossible?

I’m possible” 

As if that weren’t cheeky enough, Nokta came back with a rebuttal video where they said: 

“I am… Simultaneous Multi-Frequency

I am… Submersible 

I am Affordable 

Impossible? 

I am possible and… 

I already exist!”

In the midst of all this buyers are being marketed to like imbeciles who will buy any new machine that comes on the market. 

In this article we will break down just how different the X-terra Elite is vs the Nokta Score series and whether they are even worth it. 

Affordability

Score: $299 (was $499)

Double Score: $369 (was $549)

Triple Score Pro-Pack: $479

X-terra Elite: $479

X-terra Elite Expedition Pack: $599

 (NOTE IF YOU ARE ON A DESKTOP THERE IS A SLIDE-BAR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GRAPH)

In my opinion the most important of the crossover features are: 

• Tones
• Frequencies
• Target ID Scale
• Headphones
• Supplied Coil 

Tones are of the utmost importance because as you grow as a detectorist you hunt mainly by ear, relying on target ID as your second tool.

Without the ability to change what you hear and how you hear it, you are limited in certain detecting conditions. 

Because the Nokta Score 3 pro pack has the most tones it wins this category 

Frequencies are incredibly important because sometimes detecting in single frequency is more efficient than in multi-frequency. The opposite is also true. 

It is very interesting that the Score has 3-multi-frequency options for each mode (Park, Field, Beach), as well as a 15kHz single-frequency option. 

Due to the fact the Nokta Score has more frequency options, and thus more versatility, it wins this category. 

Target ID Scale is extremely important. The smaller the target ID scale your detector has, the more compressed it is. This means the detector’s processor has to combine targets into the same number category. 

As a result, you will have a more difficult time discriminating between targets under your coil. In my experience this makes for a noisier machine.

Because the Minelab X-terra has a TID scale of 0-99, and the Nokta Score has a TID Scale of 0-60, the X-Terra wins this category. 

Headphones are important for hearing subtle, deeper tones. Wireless headphones are convenient, and allow you to submerge your whole detector in the water while keeping your head out. 

As my boss says: they keep the kids away because you have the excuse: “What’s that? Sorry I can’t hear you!”

No sooner had I begun writing this Nokta released the “Triple Score”, which directly competes with the The Minelab X-Terra Elite Expedition Pack. The Triple score comes with Wireless (bluetooth AptX Low Latency) Headphones, and a 9.5X6” coil. 

In this case the Minelab X-Terra Elite Expedition Pack and the Nokta Triple Score Pro-Pack are tied. 

Supplied Coil. Both Minelab X-Terra Elite Expedition Pack and the Nokta Triple Score Pro-Pack are tied on this. 

If I were to recommend the best machine for the lowest price in this category it would be the Nokta Triple Score Pro-Pack. 

However, because all of these machines have just arrived on the market, I have not personally tested them in my test garden or the field to see how stable they are, and how deep they go. Keep that in mind as well.