What is a pinpointer and what do I need it for?

A pinpointer is a handy metal probe that is used after a signal from the main detector to locate the find in the spoil or in the hole to the millimetre. Without a pinpointer, you risk damaging valuable finds such as coins, brooches or jewellery with the spade.

Which pinpointer is the best all-rounder?

The Garrett Pro-Pointer AT is regarded as a worldwide bestseller: fully waterproof to 6 m, robust, with adjustable sensitivity, loss alarm and ~30 h battery life. This makes it ideal for use both on land and in water.

Which pinpointer is best for beginners?

At around €99, the Minelab Pro-Find 15 is the ideal entry point: simple one-button operation, ready to use immediately, compact and light. Perfect for hobby beginners and children.

Which pinpointer is suitable for diving?

Both the Garrett Pro-Pointer AT and the XP MI-6 are waterproof to 6 m and therefore fully suitable for diving. The Garrett impresses with its simple operation, the MI-6 with its high sensitivity and wireless pairing with the XP DEUS.

What should I look out for when buying a pinpointer?

Important buying criteria are: water protection (for beaches and streams), adjustable sensitivity (for mineralised ground), battery life, vibration mode, loss alarm and – for advanced users – iron discrimination or Bluetooth pairing with the main detector.

Pinpointer test & comparison 2026 – the best pinpointers

Big comparison test 2026

Pinpointer Comparison 2026

All 8 models from Garrett, Minelab, Nokta & XP – technical data, pros and cons at a glance

A Pinpointer is the indispensable hand tool of every detectorist: the compact handheld probe helps you locate metal objects precisely in the spoil or in the hole – without damaging valuable finds such as coins, brooches or jewellery with the spade. This comparison contains all the relevant technical data as well as an honest assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of each model in our range.

Technical Comparison of all models

← scroll the table horizontally →

Comparison table: technical data of all 8 pinpointer models in our range (as of 2026)
Feature	MinelabPro-Find 15→ View product	XPMI-4→ View product	MinelabPro-Find 35→ View product	GarrettPro-Pointer 2→ View product	GarrettPro-Pointer AT→ View product	XPMI-6→ View product	NoktaAccuPOINT→ View product	MinelabPro-Find 40→ View product
Price (approx.)	€99	€129	€129	€145	€165	€169	€169	€169
Technology	VLF	VLF 12 kHz	VLF	VLF	VLF	VLF 12 kHz	VLF 20 kHz	VLF
Power supply	9 V battery	Li battery (USB)	9 V battery	9 V battery	9 V battery	Li battery (USB)	Li battery (USB)	9 V battery
Battery life	~25 h	~30 h	~30 h	~30 h	~30 h	~80–90 h	~25 h	~30 h
Water protection	Splash-proof	to 5 m	to 3 m	Splash-proof	to 6 m	to 6 m	to 3 m	to 3 m
Sensitivity levels	1 (fixed)	3 levels + retune	5 levels	3 levels	3 levels	50 levels (via DEUS)	9 levels	5 levels
Iron discrimination	✗	✗	Ferrous Tone	✗	✗	✗	✓ 3 modes	Ferrous Tone
Display	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓ Colour LCD	✗
Bluetooth / wireless	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓ XP wireless	✓ BT 5.0	✗
LED torch	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Vibration mode	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Loss alarm	✗	✓ Auto-off 5 min.	✗	✓	✓	✓ via XP DEUS	✓	✓
Ground balance	Auto	Auto + manual	Auto	Auto	Auto + manual	Auto + manual	Auto + manual	Rapid Retune
360° detection	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Detector pairing	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓ XP DEUS	Nokta BT	✗
Weight (approx.)	100 g	170 g	100 g	185 g	185 g	170 g	135 g	110 g
Particularly suitable for	Beginners, children	Advanced	Advanced	Land searching	All-round	XP DEUS users	Professionals, diving	Advanced

Pros&cons in detail

Minelab

Pro-Find 15

€99

✓ Pros

Very low entry price
Ready to use immediately – no setting up required
Compact and light (≈ 100 g)
Simple one-button operation – ideal for children & beginners

✗ Cons

No adjustable sensitivity
No ferrous tone / no discrimination
Only splash-proof – not suitable for diving
Lowest detection depth in the comparison
No loss alarm

XP Metal Detectors

MI-4 pinpointer

€129

✓ Pros

Very long battery life (~30 h) – USB rechargeable
6 operating programs (3 with vibration, 3 audio only)
Auto switch-off after 5 min. – protects against loss
Manual retune for mineralised ground
Ergonomic rubber grip design, light
Waterproof to 5 m, LED light

✗ Cons

No detector pairing (unlike the MI-6)
No Bluetooth / wireless
No display, no iron discrimination

Minelab

Pro-Find 35

€129

✓ Pros

Ferrous Tone ID: distinguishes iron from non-ferrous
5 adjustable sensitivity levels
Ready to use immediately after switching on
Robust, proven design
Good detection depth for small objects

✗ Cons

9 V battery (no rechargeable battery / no USB)
Ferrous Tone not always reliable according to users
No loss alarm
No Bluetooth / display
Water protection only to 3 m

Garrett

Pro-Pointer 2

€145

✓ Pros

Very robust, field-proven design
Large, prominent on/off button – even with gloves
Proportional target indication – tone/vibration increases as you approach
Integrated loss alarm
~30 h running time with a 9 V battery

✗ Cons

Only splash-proof – not fully suitable for diving
No adjustable sensitivity
No iron discrimination, no display

Garrett

Pro-Pointer AT ★ bestseller

€165

✓ Pros

Fully waterproof to 6 m – truly suitable for diving
3 sensitivity levels + manual retune
Signal orange colour – immediately visible in water
Prominent push button – easy to operate with gloves
Strong vibration – clearly noticeable even underwater
Loss alarm & LED light
~30 h with a standard 9 V battery (available everywhere)
The world's best-selling pinpointer – proven over many years

✗ Cons

No Bluetooth / no wireless
No display, no iron discrimination
9 V battery costs more in the long run than a USB battery
Fewer sensitivity levels than the MI-6 or Nokta AccuPOINT

XP Metal Detectors

MI-6 pinpointer

€169

✓ Pros

Wireless connection with the XP DEUS – sound via the detector headphones
Unrivalled 50 sensitivity levels (via DEUS)
Enormous battery life of up to 90 h (prog. 7 + LED off)
Waterproof to a depth of 6 m
Ergonomic rubber grip design
Loss alarm: track down a lost MI-6 via the XP DEUS – even when switched off

✗ Cons

Detector pairing only with the XP DEUS – not a universal system
No display, no iron discrimination
Occasional false signals according to user forums
The tone signal takes some getting used to

Nokta

AccuPOINT

€169

✓ Pros

The only pinpointer with a colour LCD display in this class
Bluetooth 5.0 – connects to any BT headphones
True 3-mode discriminator: all metal / ferrous + non-ferrous / iron off
9 sensitivity levels, volume control
Loss alarm, replaceable tip

✗ Cons

Only waterproof to 3 m – no deep diving
Display adds complexity for simple use
USB rechargeable battery only – no battery operation possible

Minelab

Pro-Find 40

€169

✓ Pros

10 % more detection depth than the Pro-Find 35
Rapid Retune – fast ground balance
Improved stability in difficult terrain
Ferrous Tone ID for iron detection
Integrated loss alarm

✗ Cons

No Bluetooth – not added despite criticism after release
9 V battery instead of a modern USB battery
No display, only waterproof to 3 m
On/off button hard to feel in mud

Our Recommendations by area of use

What is a Pinpointer – and why do you need one?

A pinpointer is a handy handheld metal probethat is used after a signal from the main detector that is worth digging, to locate the object in the spoil or in the hole to the millimetre. Without a pinpointer, every time you dig you risk damaging valuable finds such as coins, brooches or jewellery with the spade.

When buying, it is worth paying attention above all to Water protection (for beaches & streams), Sensitivity levels (for mineralised ground), Battery life and Iron discrimination . Advanced users benefit from models with a display, Bluetooth pairing or detector integration.

Do you have questions about choosing the right pinpointer? Call us or write to us – our experts will be happy to help!

* All prices are guide prices according to our range. Technical data according to manufacturer information and official user manuals, as of 2026. Subject to change.

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