Buying guide
Pulse induction metal detectors
Pick a pulse induction detector by where you hunt: the GPX 6000 and Axiom suit dry ground. For water, Minelab rates the SDC 2300 to 10 ft and Nokta the PulseDive to 200 ft.
01
The picks
Four pulse induction detectors from three makers. Each frame shows three facts from the maker's page and one button to a listing whose title names the exact model.
1. Minelab GPX 6000
Minelab calls its technology GeoSense-PI, and the box holds a monoloop and a DD coil. It weighs 4.6 lb; only its coil is waterproof.
2. Garrett Axiom
Garrett's Ultra-Pulse detector weighs 4.2 lb with the 11-inch mono coil, and 4.7 lb with a 13-inch mono coil. Garrett lists up to 16 h built in, plus up to 6 h with the AA booster pack.
3. Minelab SDC 2300
The one you can submerge among the full-size picks: Minelab rates the whole detector to 10 ft (3 m). It has Normal and Salt modes and folds to 15.7 in (40 cm).
4. Nokta PulseDive
A handheld for scuba, rated IP68 to 200 ft (60 m). It is the one PI here that publishes a frequency, 3 kHz, and it weighs 550 g (19.4 oz) including the coil cover.
Sold as a 2-in-1 set: the listing names the scuba detector with a 5.5-inch coil, and a pointer.
02
Side by side
The same facts for every pick, read on each maker's page. Open a model for its full spec sheet.
| Model | Technology | Frequencies | Waterproofing | Weight | Coil | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minelab GPX 6000 | Pulse inductionGeoSense-PI | Not published | 3.3 ftCoil only, 1 m | 4.6 lb2.1 kg | 14-inchGPX14, round, DD, plus 1 more | 7.4 V 5833 mAh lithium-ion removable pack |
| Garrett Axiom | Pulse inductionUltra-Pulse | Not published | Not published | 4.2 lb1.9 kg | 13 x 11-inchelliptical, DD-FC, plus 1 more | Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion, plus AA booster pack |
| Minelab SDC 2300 | Pulse inductionMPF | Not published | 10 ftDetector, 3 m | 5.1 lb2.3 kg | 8-inchround, monoloop | 7.4 V 4200 mAh lithium-ion, or 4 x C cells |
| Nokta PulseDive | Pulse induction | 3 kHz | 200 ftDetector, IP68, 60 m | 19.4 oz550 g | 8-inchscuba coil, plus 1 more | 1650 mAh lithium polymer (about 2 h to charge) |
Facts from the pages of Minelab, Garrett and Nokta, read Oct. 16, 2026.
03
How to choose
Dry ground or water
Only two are rated as a whole: the SDC 2300 to 10 ft and the PulseDive to 200 ft. Minelab rates the GPX 6000 coil to 3.3 ft, and Garrett's Axiom product page states no rating.
Coils in the box
Minelab ships the GPX 6000 with an 11-inch monoloop and a 14-inch DD. Garrett pairs an 11 x 7 mono with a 13 x 11 DD-FC on the Axiom. One coil comes with the SDC 2300, a monoloop.
Weight on the arm
Full-size PI picks run heavy. The Axiom weighs 4.2 lb to 4.7 lb, depending on the coil. The GPX 6000 weighs 4.6 lb and the SDC 2300 5.1 lb. A VLF like the Gold Bug 2 weighs 2.9 lb.
04
What to know before you buy
None of the four makers lists a target ID scale for these models, so expect to dig more of what you hear. Our VLF vs PI page explains the trade.
Minelab's GPZ 7000 is not on this list. Minelab calls its technology ZVT (Zero Voltage Transmission), not pulse induction. It weighs 7.32 lb and has its own page.
We quote no depth: it depends on the target, the ground and the coil. One of the four listings is a set. When we checked on Oct. 16, 2026, a third-party seller held the Axiom listing, and a detecting dealer, Serious Detecting, held the other three.
05
Questions
Answered from the makers' pages, read Oct. 16, 2026.
A detector that sends pulses rather than a steady wave; our VLF vs PI page explains how the two work. All four picks here, from Minelab, Garrett and Nokta, are pulse induction.
Some are. The PulseDive is rated to 200 ft and the SDC 2300 to 10 ft. The GPX 6000 has a waterproof coil only.
Most makers publish none. Minelab gives no kHz value for the GPX 6000 or the SDC 2300, and Garrett none for the Axiom. Nokta gives the PulseDive 3 kHz.
06