Cheap Metal Detector Buyers Guide

Every buyer surely wanted to buy a reliable and cheap metal detector. Since its cheap, it saves them money but there are actually some risks involve. Not all cheap MDs can meet buyer's own expectations.

Today, there is a growing number of cheap MD products in the market that are made in China. The majority of these products have tempting low prices that attracts many buyers. 

Aside from the price, another marketing strategy used on this cheap products are their attractive housings.

You have to know that what importantly matters when it comes to metal detectors is that, it's all about the quality of their circuitry where it really delivers the features stated on the manufacturer's product descriptions (not the visual appearance)

Unfortunately, a lot of low quality imported products are now included on the market. And most likely, any unsuspecting beginner can be tempted to buy one.

Low quality cheap metal detectors products usually costs around $50 and below. Do not be fooled by the price especially when it's an imported product from China. 

A good and reliable metal detector with the cheapest price starts between $150 to $250.

I'm actually speaking through experience because I had once purchased a cheap imitation of MD made in China. 

I was very disappointed that it didn't met the depth-penetration as claimed by its manufacturer. Worst, it got broken in just a short period of time. It's just a total complete waste of money.

Finding the Right and Affordable MD


In order for you to find the right and cheap metal detector for you to buy, it is important for you to consider where you are going to use it. 

For example: if you intend to use it for underwater hunting, you should choose waterproof Metal Detectors.

Cheap Metal Detectors

Here are some other important aspects that you need to consider when choosing a MD to buy:

1. Features

The features of a certain MD are often indicated on the product's descriptions. It indicates all the interesting capabilities of what the MD can actually do. 

So if the product meets the criteria of what you need then proceed on the next aspect.

2. Durability

It would really be pointless when the MD that you just recently bought got broken in just a matter of few weeks or months. 

This is the reason why it is also important to check the durability of the product. Although, it may be hard to tell the durability of a MD unless some testing are performed right in-front your eyes before you buy. 

My best advice is to ask previous customers who bought the same type of product. Or, read user reviews about it.

3. Warranty

If you cannot confirm the durability of the product, at least make sure that the manufacturers offers a warranty. A few years of warranties is already good enough to cover most manufacturing defects.

Some manufacturers offers an amazing long period of warranties (some even offers life-time warranties) which could attract a lot of potential consumers. 

It is actually a marketing strategy. But to let you know, the warranty of any product will only remain active as long as the company is still running their business. 

If it went bankrupt then sorry, all warranties of their products will no longer be entertained.

Instead of focusing on the warranty of the MD, it's a lot much better to pay more attention into the quality. It's because a high-quality product ensures longevity of the MD.

Used or Secondhand MDs


Common to all technologies, their price tends to drop as new and better models are released by the manufacturers. Other than the age, used or secondhand items also affects the price.

Although, there are some risks involve when buying a used metal detector. It's because you will personally be dealing with the individual who owns the equipment. 

And, the most common medium today for transactions is through online.

The risk is that, you will have to send the payment first. If it happens that you made a deal from the wrong person, your item will never get delivered.

Top 3 Cheap MDs Recommendation


As I stated above, prices for reliable and cheap MDs ranges between $150 to $250. And, avoid those that are below $50 especially China products.

Here are the following top 3 cheap MDs on my list of recommendations:

1. Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV Metal Detector

The top number one on my recommended list is the "Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV". I made it as the first due to its user-friendly features and simplicity which are perfectly suitable for complete beginners.

Most MDs actually requires constant adjustments on their sensitivity settings in order to achieve good results. 

Adjusting the settings correctly is actually a skill gained only through experience in using the MD. Thus, a complete beginner who is seeking to achieve fast result will most likely get disappointed.

But when it comes to Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV, beginners won't have to face the trouble of adjusting the settings. 

It's because this MD has an automated circuitry that automatically does the adjustments.

Aside from its automatic setting adjustment feature, Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV offers three different modes of operation.

Motion All-Metals Mode
- All kinds of metals will be picked up.

Full Discrimination Mode
- Iron contents and other sorts of trash will be rejected.

Tone Discrimination Mode
- Signals an alert of either one or two audio tones of an array of different types of metals.

Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV is also perfect in detecting on shallow water. It's because the search coil and stem are made of waterproof materials.

And finally, the manufacturer claims that Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV is capable of detecting a 6 inches diameter can buried at a depth of 30 inches.

Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV is currently available on Amazon at a cheap price of only $90.33

2. Fisher F2 Metal Detector

Common to all complete beginners is that, when detecting, they tend to swing their detectors very fast in order to cover more grounds. 

This is a bad practice because most MDs requires time to receive the transmitted signal. Thus, MDs needs to be swept at a normal pace.

But when it comes to the Fisher F2 Metal Detector, it has an impressive fast target response. What this means is that, you can sweep the search coil at a faster pace without having a problem.

Other interesting feature of the Fisher F2 MD are its eight-segment visual target ID and four-tone audio ID. It's eight-segment visual target ID allows you to filter out the trash. 

As for its four-tone audio ID, it signals different audio alert levels which is dependent on the type of metal picked up by the MD.

Above all is the discriminating feature of Fisher F2 MD. It consists of two-digit numeric target ID which starts from 0 to 99. 

Through this ID system, you will be able to determine the type of metal that has been detected.

As for its ground penetration, the manufacturer claimed that Fisher F2 MD can easily pick up coins and other small objects at a depth of around 6 inches.

Fisher F2 Metal Detector can be purchased online via Amazon at a current price of only $200.96

3. Tesoro Silver uMax Metal Detector

Not all individuals prefer to use highly-advanced technologies where they would rather best settle down on the analogs or manually operated technologies. 

If you are one of them then I would like to recommend the "Tesoro Silver uMax Metal Detector".

I actually own a Tesoro uMax MD and based on my personal experience, it has a high accuracy of pinpointing the actual spot of the buried object. 

The buried spot is always 100% located at the center of the search coil. So if you are using this MD then there's no need for pin-pointers.

Tesoro uMax Metal Detector currently have a price of $254.15 and its available at Amazon.

Moreover, our technologies keeps on improving. Manufacturers will never stop searching for improvements on their products. 

As a result, new and improved models will soon be released out in the market to replace the old versions.

Thus, cheap MDs will always be available in the market. Although, you just have to choose wisely.