If you’re shopping in the professional waterproof detector category, you’ve likely come across two strong contenders: Garrett’s Vortex VX9 and the Nokta Legend 2. Both are fully submersible, multi-frequency machines built for serious hunters who want performance in the field, on the beach, or underwater. Here’s how they stack up, section by section.
At a Glance
| Feature | Garrett Vortex VX9 | Nokta Legend 2 |
| Frequency Tech | MD-MF (5 single freqs plus Simultaneous Multi and Multi-Salt) | SMF plus 5 selectable single freqs |
| Target ID Scale | 3-tiered MD-MF scale | 99-segment scale (00 to 99) |
| Audio (Tones) | Choice of 2, 3, 5 Tones | Choice of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 99, and Tone Pitch options |
| Search Modes | 7 | 5 main search modes, plus sub-modes under Field and Beach modes, effectively 8 search mode options |
| Waterproofing | 16 ft (5m) submersible | IP68, 16 ft (5m) submersible |
| Weight | 2.9 lbs (3.05 lbs w/ coil cover) | 2.6 lbs |
| Battery | Up to 15 hrs | 8 to 20 hrs |
| Wireless & Audio Extras | Built-in Z-Lynk wireless | Bluetooth aptX LL headphones, vibration mode |
| Coils Included | 1 (8.5″x11″ DD) | 2 (11″ and 8.5″) |
| Price | $599.99 | $999.99 |
Both machines land in the same general category: fully waterproof, simultaneous multi-frequency detectors aimed at serious hobbyists and pros. The real differences show up once you start digging into how each one handles ground conditions, target separation, and day-to-day use, which is where the next sections come in.
Frequency Tech
The Vortex VX9 runs on Garrett’s Multi-Dimensional Multi-Frequency (MD-MF) technology. It offers five selectable single frequencies (5, 9, 13, 18, and 25 kHz), plus a dedicated Simultaneous Multi-Frequency mode and a Multi-Salt mode built specifically for saltwater hunting. It’s backed by a high-resolution, 175-point ground balance system designed to handle heavily mineralized soil.
The Legend 2 also runs simultaneous multi-frequency detection, offering five selectable single frequencies (4, 10, 15, 20, and 40 kHz) along with 19 frequency shift channels for EMI resistance. It’s a solid, modern SMF setup. Garrett’s MD-MF includes a much finer ground balance resolution, which matters most once you’re hunting in genuinely difficult ground.
Winner: Garrett Vortex VX9. The finer ground balance resolution gives it an edge in mineralized or saltwater conditions.
Target ID Scale
The VX9 uses a three-tiered MD-MF Target ID system: a central non-ferrous scale paired with two separate ferrous scales. That structure is meant to give you clearer separation between valuable targets and iron trash, rather than a single blended number.
| Feature | Garrett Vortex VX9 | Nokta Legend 2 |
| Scale Type | 3-tiered (1 non-ferrous, 2 ferrous) | Single linear scale |
| Range | Tiered categories | 00 to 99 |
| Purpose | Faster trash separation | Granular numeric ID |
The Legend 2’s 99-segment scale gives you the same numeric target range width as VX9f. Instead of multiple scales to view ferrous vs non-ferrous properties, the user sees the level of ferrous or non-ferrous properties on two meters on the Legends 2.
Winner: Tie. Both detectors have 99 points of Target ID and various scales to indicate ferrous vs non-ferrous content of the detected target.
Audio (Tones)
The VX9 offers audible target ID with choices of 2, 3, or 5 tones, paired with adjustable Iron Discrimination, Bottlecap Reject, and Iron Boundary controls that let you fine-tune exactly where junk signals get filtered out. That’s particularly useful on sites loaded with bottlecaps and foil. The VX9 also includes a 6-setting Bottlecap Reject feature for extra control over flat iron.
The Legend 2 offers more options of audible tones, giving you more distinct tonal categories to listen for. More tones can help some hunters separate target types by ear, though usability ultimately comes down to how distinct those tones feel in real hunting conditions, not just the raw count.
Winner: Legend 2. The Legend 2 has more audible tone options, including ability to change the tone’s frequency and pitch.
Search Modes
The VX9 ships with seven dedicated search modes:
- Zero, a clean baseline setting
- Standard, for general all-purpose hunting
- USA Coins, tuned for common U.S. coin hunting
- Thin Coins, optimized for small or thin clad coins
- Custom, for hunters who want to build their own settings
- Beach, built for salt and wet sand conditions
- Fast, for high-trash areas needing quicker recovery
That lineup gives hunters several purpose-built starting points right out of the box, rather than a handful of broad, catch-all settings. The Legend 2 offers five modes: Park, Field (3 options), Beach (2 options), Relic, and Gold, which is a straightforward set covering the major hunting environments most people search.
Winner: Tie. Both detectors offer a nice array of preset and custom search programs for the user.
Waterproofing
Both detectors are rated fully submersible to 16 feet (5 meters). Either machine can be taken into the water with confidence, and this is one area where the specs line up exactly. Both carry an IP 68 rating.
Winner: Tie. Both detectors meet the same depth rating, so this category comes down to personal preference rather than a real performance gap.
Weight
The Legend 2 weighs 2.6 lbs, while the VX9 weighs 2.9 lbs (3.05 lbs with its included coil cover). That difference is noticeable if you’re hunting long sessions and want to shave every ounce possible. On size, the VX9 collapses to 24.75 inches and extends to 56.75 inches, while the Legend 2 collapses to 25 inches, a minor edge for the VX9 in storage and transport.
Winner: Nokta Legend 2. It’s the lighter machine of the two, which matters for hunters logging long hours in the field.
Battery
The VX9’s built-in lithium-ion battery delivers up to 15 hours per charge, regardless of which mode or frequency setting is in use. The Legend 2’s 6700 mAh battery offers a wider 8 to 20 hour range depending on settings, which means more potential runtime in lighter-use modes, but also a noticeably lower floor when running more demanding features.
Winner: Garrett Vortex VX9. A flat, predictable 15 hours is more dependable across a full day of hunting than a range that can drop to 8 hours under heavier use.
Wireless & Audio Extras
The VX9 includes Garrett’s built-in Z-Lynk wireless technology, meaning wireless audio is part of the detector itself with nothing extra to charge or pair separately. More importantly, Garrett’s Z-Lynk wireless audio system is up to 6x faster than standard Bluetooth wireless, and about 2x faster than Bluetooth Aptx Low Latency wireless systems, which is what Legend 2 employs. This means the reaction time to hearing a target as your coil passes over it is two times faster with the Garrett detector than the Nokta. Vortex VX9 offers almost no delay in audio latency, making finding and pinpointing a target more accurate.
The Legend 2 wireless system has a less impressive audio latency rate, but Nokta does offer two interesting benefits with the Legend 2:
- Bluetooth aptX Low Latency headphones, included in the box
- A vibration mode, useful for underwater hunting or hearing-impaired users
That’s a genuinely useful set of extras from Nokta. If you don’t already own a pair of detecting headphones, having them included out of the box adds real, tangible value to the purchase.
Winner: Garrett Vortex VX9. Including headphones and a vibration mode in the box is a meaningful value-add for Legend 2. Garrett offers wireless headphones as a separate purchase. But, the speed of Garrett’s wireless transmission is roughly 2x faster than the system offered by Nokta, which can be a real game changer when you are searching through trashy areas with numerous targets. Advantage Garrett on detection ability.
Coils Included
| Garrett Vortex VX9 | Nokta Legend 2 | |
| Coils Included | 1 | 2 |
| Sizes | 8.5″ x 11″ DD | 11″ and 8.5″ |
| Coil Cover | Included | Not specified |
The Legend 2 ships with two coils, giving hunters the flexibility to switch between depth and sensitivity depending on the site. The VX9 ships with a single 8.5 by 11 inch DD coil and an included coil cover, a size chosen as a versatile middle ground for general hunting, coin and relic sites, and tighter trash-strewn ground.
Winner: Nokta Legend 2. Two coils in the box gives hunters more flexibility without an extra purchase, even though the VX9’s single coil is a capable all-rounder.
Price
The Vortex VX9 carries an MSRP of $599.99, putting it squarely in the professional-tier price range. The Legend 2 carries a notably higher MSRP of $999.99, despite the two machines sharing a similar overall feature set and waterproof rating.
That roughly $400 gap is a significant factor for most buyers, especially when the VX9 matches or beats the Legend 2 across several core categories. Garrett’s price also comes backed by a long history of detector engineering, an established support network, and wide parts and accessory availability for long-term ownership.
Winner: Garrett Vortex VX9. A lower price point combined with comparable or better performance in most categories makes it the stronger value by a wide margin.
The Verdict: Garrett Vortex VX9 vs. Nokta Legend 2
Both detectors are genuinely strong picks in the submersible, multi-frequency category. The Legend 2 holds real advantages in weight, included coils, and out-of-box extras like Bluetooth headphones and a vibration mode.
But across frequency technology, battery consistency, and price, the Vortex VX9 comes out ahead more often, all while costing roughly $400 less. Here’s the full breakdown of every category covered above:
| Category | Winner |
| Frequency Tech | Garrett Vortex VX9 |
| Target ID Scale | Tie |
| Audio (Tones) | Legend 2 |
| Search Modes | Tie |
| Waterproofing | Tie |
| Weight | Nokta Legend 2 |
| Battery | Garrett Vortex VX9 |
| Wireless & Audio Extras | Garrett Vortex VX9 |
| Coils Included | Nokta Legend 2 |
| Price | Garrett Vortex VX9 |
The tally lands at 4 wins for the Vortex VX9, 3 for the Legend 2, and 3 ties. The Legend 2 is a worthy machine that holds its own in weight, coil count, and included extras, but the VX9 takes the majority of categories that matter most day to day, including detection technology, target ID, and price, making it the more well-rounded choice for hunters who want dependable, field-ready performance without paying a premium.
Ready to see the Vortex VX9 in action? With seven dedicated search modes, MD-MF technology, and a 175-point ground balance system, it’s built to handle everything from coin-rich parks to mineralized beach sand. Whether you’re chasing rings, relics, or gold, the VX9 gives you the tools to find more and dig less. Shop the Vortex VX9 or contact our team at Garrett for more info.