Description
Nokta Simplex Lite Waterproof Metal Detector
At a glance: The Nokta Simplex Lite is the entry model of the current Simplex line: a fully waterproof (IP68, fully submersible to 16 ft / 5 m) single-frequency 15 kHz detector with 4 search modes, target ID 01-99, and the SX24 9.5 in x 6 in / 24 x 15 cm waterproof DD search coil. It weighs 2.6 lb / 1.2 kg, runs about 12 hours per charge, includes a wired headphone adapter, and carries a 3-year warranty. It has no Bluetooth and no dedicated gold mode. Part 11000623.
If you want a first real detector, or a rugged backup you will not baby, the hard part is usually the settings and the fear of water. The Simplex Lite removes both. Nokta designed it to run in Field and Park without ground balancing on most ground, so it is a genuine turn-on-and-go machine you can hunt with the same afternoon, and because the whole detector is waterproof to IP68, rain, mud, wet sand, and shallow water are places you hunt rather than reasons to stop.
Why the Lite, and when to step up to the Ultra
The Lite runs the same waterproof 15 kHz engine as the rest of the Simplex family, with the same target ID range, the same 30 sensitivity levels, and the same vibration, pinpoint, notch, and frequency-shift tools. What it trims to hit a lower price is the extras: it has 4 modes (Field, Park, Beach, All Metal) rather than 6, it uses wired audio through the included 6.3 mm / quarter-inch adapter instead of Bluetooth, and it comes with the smaller SX24 9.5 in x 6 in / 24 x 15 cm coil on an aluminum and plastic shaft.
That trade is the whole point of the Lite: full waterproofing and honest 15 kHz performance for less. Step up to the Nokta Simplex Ultra when you want the two extra tone modes (4-Tone and 99-Tone), adjustable Recovery Speed and tone controls, wireless Bluetooth audio, a lighter carbon fiber shaft, and the larger 11 in / 28 cm coil. Both replace the older Simplex and Simplex+; the Lite is the affordable door into the line. See the full Ultra vs Lite comparison. Building out your machine? See everything that fits the Simplex Ultra and Lite.
Lite, BT or Ultra: which Simplex is this?
Nokta builds the new-generation Simplex in three versions on one 15 kHz platform: Lite, BT, and Ultra. Because they share a body and a manual, their specs are easy to mix up, and some Simplex Lite listings show Bluetooth or the BT's Park 1 and Park 2 modes. For the record, the Lite has 4 modes (Field, Park, Beach, All Metal), no Bluetooth, an aluminum and plastic shaft, and the SX24 coil. Nokta also packs a version of the Lite with the 11 in / 28 cm SX28 coil. This listing, part 11000623, is the standard SX24 version, and the Nokta SX28 11 in / 28 cm DD coil fits it when you want more coverage later.
| Spec | Nokta Simplex Lite (11000623) | What it means in the field |
|---|---|---|
| Operating frequency | 15 kHz, single frequency (VLF) | A general-purpose frequency for coins, relics, and jewelry. It is not a multi-frequency machine. |
| Search modes | 4: Field, Park, Beach, All Metal | Field for relics on cleaner sites, Park for trashy urban ground, Beach for wet salt sand, All Metal to hear every target over a threshold tone when discrimination does not matter. |
| Waterproof | IP68, fully submersible to 16 ft / 5 m (whole detector) | Rain, creeks, wading, and the surf line with no rain cover or bag. |
| Target ID | 01-99, Graphic LCD | Ferrous reads 01-14, non-ferrous 15-99, so you can judge a signal before you cut a plug. |
| Sensitivity / volume | 30 sensitivity levels; 5 volume levels | Back sensitivity off in noisy ground; push it up on quiet sites for depth. |
| Discrimination and noise tools | Notch, Iron Off, Ground Suppressor, frequency shift | Notch out pull-tab IDs, silence iron, calm false ground signals, and shift frequency away from power lines or a hunting partner's machine. |
| Ground balance | Automatic and manual | Field and Park run without ground balancing on most ground; balance for extra depth and stability in mineralized soil. All Metal needs a balance before you hunt. |
| Pinpoint and vibration | Pinpoint button; vibration alert on targets | Vibration helps underwater, in loud surf, and for hunters with hearing loss. |
| Lighting | LCD backlight, keypad backlight, LED flashlight | Dawn, dusk, and murky water without a headlamp. |
| Search coil | SX24 9.5 in x 6 in / 24 x 15 cm waterproof DD (included) + cover | A compact DD for tight spots and trashy ground; the SX28 11 in / 28 cm and SX35 13.5 in x 12.5 in / 35 x 31.5 cm fit for more coverage. |
| Audio | Speaker + wired via included 6.3 mm / quarter-inch adapter (no Bluetooth) | Use any wired headphones with a quarter-inch plug on land. |
| Weight / shaft | 2.6 lb / 1.2 kg with coil; aluminum and plastic retractable shaft, 25-52 in / 63-132 cm | Light enough for long hunts; retracts to 25 in / 63 cm for travel, storage, and diving. |
| Battery | 2300 mAh Li-Po, about 12 hours, USB charge (about 3 hours) | Charge from a USB charger or a powerbank (never underwater); an optional waterproof AA battery pack is sold separately. |
| Firmware | Updatable via USB; latest published System Software V7.01 (2023-11-09) | Firmware updates keep the detector current without a trip to a service center. |
| Warranty | 3 years (Nokta) | Backed by Nokta's 3-year warranty. |
Two settings to know on day one
First, Iron Off is active every time you switch the Lite on, so ferrous targets are silent in Field and Park. That keeps a trashy park quiet, but on an old homesite where you want to hear nails and iron relics, turn iron back on in the settings menu. Second, Beach mode balances across a wider ground range (0 to 99.9, compared with 20 to 99.9 for the other discrimination modes), notches out the ferrous IDs, and starts with Ground Suppressor at 5, and those defaults are why Beach is the mode for wet salt sand. All Metal needs a ground balance before you hunt: hold the Ground Balance button and pump the coil over clean ground, usually 2 to 4 pumps.
Who It's For
A strong fit: first-time detectorists who want a real waterproof machine without a complicated menu; beach and wading hunters on a budget; a young detectorist's first machine; experienced hunters who want a backup they can drop in a creek; and anyone who relies on the vibration alert because of hearing loss or loud surf.
Honest limits: no Bluetooth (wired audio only), no dedicated gold mode, and a single 15 kHz frequency rather than multi-frequency. Some best-for charts tick "gold" for this machine; it finds gold rings and jewelry, but it is not a nugget-prospecting detector. If you want wireless audio, tone controls, and Recovery Speed, the Simplex Ultra is the step up.
Can it find gold?
Yes for gold rings and jewelry, which the Simplex Lite handles like any capable 15 kHz VLF. Small nuggets can register too, but gold shares target-ID ranges with trash like foil and pull-tabs, so expect to dig some junk, and note the Lite has no dedicated gold mode. Serious nugget prospecting calls for a specialized gold machine rather than an all-round detector like this one.
What's in the box (factory package)
- Nokta Simplex Lite control box and shaft
- SX24 9.5 in x 6 in / 24 x 15 cm waterproof DD search coil and coil cover
- USB charging and data cable
- 6.3 mm / quarter-inch wired headphone adapter
- 3-year Nokta warranty
Questions before you buy?
Free shipping: the Simplex Lite ships free (orders of $199 or more). Not sure whether to start with the Lite or step up to the Ultra? Call (256) 284-2247. Everyone at History Seekers detects, and we will tell you honestly which one fits how you plan to hunt. We also price match: contact us with the competitor's current listing so we can verify it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Nokta Simplex Lite fully waterproof?
Yes. The whole detector is IP68 rated and fully submersible to 16 ft / 5 m, so rain, mud, wet sand, and shallow water are all fair game.
How is the Simplex Lite different from the Simplex Ultra?
The Lite runs the same waterproof 15 kHz engine, target ID range, and 30 sensitivity levels as the Ultra, but has 4 modes instead of 6, uses wired audio through the included 6.3 mm adapter instead of Bluetooth, comes with the smaller 9.5 in x 6 in / 24 x 15 cm coil, and has an aluminum and plastic shaft instead of the Ultra's fully carbon fiber shaft. It also lacks the Ultra's Recovery Speed and tone controls. It is the affordable way into the Simplex line.
Does the Simplex Lite have Bluetooth?
No. The Lite is wired-only and includes a 6.3 mm (quarter-inch) headphone adapter. Bluetooth wireless audio is found on the Nokta Simplex BT and Simplex Ultra; the Lite has neither Bluetooth nor the BT's Park 1 and Park 2 modes.
Can the Simplex Lite find gold?
It finds gold rings and jewelry like any capable 15 kHz VLF, and small nuggets can register, but gold shares target-ID ranges with trash so expect to dig some junk, and the Lite has no dedicated gold mode. Serious nugget prospecting calls for a specialized gold machine.
What coil comes with the Simplex Lite?
The SX24 9.5 in x 6 in / 24 x 15 cm waterproof DD search coil, with a coil cover. Nokta also packs a version of the Lite with the 11 in / 28 cm SX28 coil; this listing (part 11000623) is the standard SX24 version, and the Nokta SX28 coil fits it as an add-on.
What target ID range does the Simplex Lite use, and why don't I hear iron?
Target ID runs 01 to 99 on a two-digit display: ferrous targets read 01 to 14 and non-ferrous targets 15 to 99. Iron Off is active every time the detector powers on, so ferrous targets are silent in Field and Park until you switch Iron Off to on in the settings menu. Iron Off does not apply in All Metal or Beach mode.
Can I return the Simplex Lite?
Yes. As a standard consumer detector it carries our 14-day return, plus Nokta's 3-year warranty.
Is History Seekers an authorized Nokta dealer?
Yes. History Seekers Metal Detectors is an authorized Nokta dealer; every Simplex Lite we sell is new, sourced through Nokta's authorized US distributor, and carries the full 3-year Nokta warranty.
History Seekers Metal Detectors is an authorized Nokta dealer; every Simplex Lite we sell is new, sourced through Nokta's authorized US distributor, and carries the full 3-year Nokta warranty. Your questions get answered by detectorists who hunt with these machines, and we will help you set up your first modes and pick your next coil. Because at History Seekers, the story is more important than the artifact.
See everything that fits your machine:What Fits the Nokta Simplex Ultra and Lite