Ask a room full of Aussie prospectors which high-end all-round detector they would want to buy and you'll get a heated debate. Half will swear by the wireless French XP, the other half by the home-grown Minelab.
So we've lined up XP Deus 2 vs Minelab Manticore on the stuff that matters out here: frequencies, weight, battery, waterproofing, and price. Every figure comes from XP and Minelab's own published specs.
The XP Deus 2 and the Minelab Manticore, two of the most popular multi-frequency detectors in Australia.
The Deus 2 is lighter (from 815 g with the remote and 9" coil vs 1.3 kg), fully wireless and waterproof to 20 m.
The Manticore packs a 2D target ID map, 10 search modes and plenty of grunt, but it's rated to 5 m underwater.
Both run simultaneous multi-frequency and handle beaches and mineralised ground well. Your choice comes down to weight, water and how you like to read targets.
| Spec | XP Deus 2 | Minelab Manticore |
|---|---|---|
| Price (AUD) | $2,449 (9" or 11" coil bundle with headphones) | Check current pricing |
| Technology | FMF simultaneous multi-frequency | Multi-IQ+ simultaneous multi-frequency |
| Single frequencies | 49, from 4 to 45 kHz | 5 (5, 10, 15, 20 and 40 kHz) |
| Weight | From 815 g (remote on belt, 9" coil); from 750 g in the WS6-only setup | 1.3 kg |
| Waterproofing | IP68 to 20 m (coil and remote) | IP68 to 5 m |
| Battery life* | Coil approx. 12 h multi-frequency (8–20 h depending on program); remote 15–30 h | Approx. 10 h |
| Charge time | Approx. 3 h | Approx. 7 h |
| Programs / modes | 12 factory + 12 custom | 10 search modes (All-Terrain, Beach, Goldfield) |
| Recovery speed | Reactivity, 9 levels (0–5) | 0–8 |
| Target ID | Numeric ID up to 99, notch and multi-notch | 2D ID map, 0–99 with ferrous indication |
| Standard coil | 9" (22.5 cm) or 11" (28 cm) DD, wireless | 11" DD (M11) |
| Headphones | WSA II wireless (included) | ML 105 low-latency wireless (included) |
| Warranty | 5 years (batteries, chargers and connectors 2 years) | 3 years (control box and coil) |
*Manufacturer figures; real runtime depends on program, frequency and backlight. Deus 2 specs from XP and our product page, Manticore specs from minelab.com and the Minelab instruction manual. Prices at time of writing.
Both detectors transmit several frequencies at once, which is why they far exceed the ability of their single-frequency detector family. The XP Deus 2 uses XP's Fast Multi Frequency (FMF) and adds 49 single frequencies from 4 to 45 kHz. The Minelab Manticore runs Multi-IQ+, which Minelab says delivers up to 50% more power than the Equinox, plus five single frequencies up to 40 kHz.
After four hours on a hillside, weight is everything. The Deus 2's wireless coil, S-telescopic stem and remote keep it at 815 g with the 9" coil, and there's no cable to snag in the scrub. in addition to its light weight the screen is able to completely detach from the detector and be strapped to the other arm for further balance.
The Manticore weighs 1.3 kg, but it collapses down to 63 cm on its carbon-fibre shaft, which is handy in a swag or backpack.
Detector Weight (kg)
Manufacturer figures. Orange = XP Deus 2, teal = Minelab Manticore. The Deus 2's 11" coil weighs 125 g more than the 9".
XP quotes about 12 hours for the Deus 2 coil in most multi-frequency programs, dropping to 8 hours in Deep High Conductor or Diving, with the remote lasting 15–30 hours. It recharges in around three hours. Minelab quotes approximately 10 hours for the Manticore, about an hour less in All-Terrain High Conductors, and a full charge takes about seven hours.
Typical Battery Life (hours)
Manufacturer figures. Orange = XP Deus 2, teal = Minelab Manticore. Runtime varies with program and settings.
Both are IP68, but the Deus 2 coil and remote are rated to 20 m against the Manticore's 5 m. For wading the surf or a creek, either will do. If you want to snorkel or dive, the Deus 2 is the clear pick (use the supplied antenna when the coil is under).
On the beach, the Manticore has four dedicated Beach modes, while the Deus 2 has two beach programs (Beach and Beach Sens) plus a Diving program.
Mineralised Aussie goldfields are hard on any VLF. The Deus 2's Gold Field program is built for highly mineralised ground and runs up to 40 kHz on the standard coil, or 88 kHz with the XP Deus 2 HF2 coil for small nuggets. The Manticore has one Goldfield mode, and its highest single frequency is 40 kHz. For big nuggets in hot ground, a pulse induction detector still goes deeper than either.
The Manticore's 2D ID map plots ferrous and conductive readings together, which helps you pick iron from good targets in trashy parks. The Deus 2 relies on a numeric ID with notch and multi-notch, plus nine reactivity levels to separate close targets. The Manticore's recovery speed runs from 0 to 8.
The XP Deus 2 is $2,449 with either the 9" or 11" coil and WSA II headphones, and it's backed by a five-year warranty.
Minelab covers the Manticore's control box and coil for three years, so check current pricing with an authorised dealer before you compare.
XP Deus 2 if you want the lightest, fully wireless setup, diving to 20 m, a quick 3-hour charge and a 5-year warranty.
Minelab Manticore if a 2D target map and dedicated beach modes matter more to you than weight.
Chasing small gold? The Deus 2 with the HF2 coil is the more flexible.
New to detecting? Start with our beginner's guide to metal detectors.
The Deus 2. It starts from 815 g with the remote and 9" coil, while the Manticore weighs 1.3 kg.
Yes, to 5 m. The Deus 2 coil and remote are rated to 20 m.
In most states, yes. Victoria requires a Miner's Right and WA a Miner's Right permit, so check your state's rules before heading bush.
Both are top-shelf machines, but for Aussie goldfields and anyone who wants to swing light all day, the Deus 2 is hard to beat. Browse our range of:
Got questions? Call us on 1300 902 361, Monday to Saturday, 8am–9pm AEST, and we'll help you pick the right detector.
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