The Minelab Vanquish 360 replaces the 340's Coin and Jewellery modes with Park and Beach, adds a Pinpoint mode, extends the Target ID scale from -9–40 to -19–99, and is fully waterproof to 5m on an internal rechargeable battery. The 340 remains the lowest-cost route to a capable Multi-IQ machine.
Two machines sit at the entry point of the Minelab multi-frequency range, and at £199 and £259 they are close enough in price that the decision deserves more than a spec sheet. The Vanquish 340 has been a dependable first detector for years. The Vanquish 360 is the newer arrival, and it changes more than the badge on the armrest.
This comparison is built from Minelab's own technical specifications and guidance passed directly to us as an Authorised UK Distributor. We have kept it honest: there are real reasons to buy either machine, and which one might be right for you depends on your circumstances and preferences. They are both excellent value metal detectors.
On this page
- Vanquish 340 vs 360 at a glance
- What are the search modes on the Vanquish 360?
- Do the Vanquish 360's Target IDs really make a difference?
- Is the Minelab Vanquish 360 waterproof?
- Pinpointing, batteries and build
- So which Minelab Vanquish should you buy?
- Where each machine sits in the Minelab range
- Frequently asked questions
Minelab Vanquish 340 vs 360 at a glance
| Specification | Vanquish 340 | Vanquish 360 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £199 (was £249) | £259 |
| Search modes | Coin, Jewellery, All Metal | Park, Beach, All Metal |
| Target ID range | -9 to +40 | -19 to 99 (119 Target IDs) |
| Discrimination segments | 5 | 6 |
| Pinpoint mode | No | Yes |
| Waterproofing | Coil only (to 1m) | Fully waterproof to 5m (16ft), IP68 |
| Power | 4 × AA batteries | Internal rechargeable lithium-ion, approx. 10 hours |
| Search coil | V10 10" elliptical | V10X 10" × 7" Double-D |
| Weight | 1.2kg (2.6lb) | 1.16kg (2.6lb) |
| Sensitivity levels | 4 | 5 |
| Target tones | 3 | 3 |
| Frequency technology | Multi-IQ | Multi-IQ |
Both machines run Minelab's Multi-IQ simultaneous multi-frequency technology, which is the single most important thing either of them does. Digest that bit again. They both have essentially the same brain so to speak, and that's a good thing as it's a really smart brain!
Neither is a single-frequency machine dressed up with marketing. That shared foundation is why the 340 is still worth buying, and why the gap between the two is about refinement rather than raw capability.
Minelab Vanquish 340 · Minelab Vanquish 360
What are the search modes on the Vanquish 360?
The Vanquish 360 runs three modes: Park, Beach and All Metal. The 340 runs Coin, Jewellery and All Metal.
That looks like a simple rename. It isn't, and this is the part of the comparison most reviews get wrong. So why have Minelab renamed the modes? We believe that Minelab moved away from names like jewellery and coin as there was a better understanding that particularly in the beginner space, and depending on what location you are in, that the detectorist might not know what they are searching for. Or should we say what exists in this location for them to find. For example setting your machine to find a coin might be all well and good if you're in the US and you're having fun in parks where there are mainly only coins to find, but if you are on a Roman site in the UK, you will have the chance of finding coins and all manner of other artefacts, so why would you optimise only for coins and potentially miss other items? With this in mind the modes are now based on the location/area you are detecting and are configured to optimise based on the common attributes of those areas.
How each mode actually behaves
Beach accepts all positive Target IDs and rejects iron. It is the broadest of the two discriminating modes, and despite the name it is not restricted to the coast. Beach modes on all machines typically use less power as the saline conditions and moisture often amplify and alter the information.
All Metal does what it says: nothing is rejected. For most UK detectorists working historical fields and pasture, this is the mode that stays selected.
Park rejects iron and also rejects Target IDs 1 to 20. That rejection band is deliberate — it removes foil, which is the dominant rubbish target in municipal parkland. It works extremely well for the use case it was designed around.
The bit UK detectorists need to know — breaking the rule we just told you
Park mode was designed with American park detecting in mind. Because it rejects Target IDs 1 to 20, it is less suitable for UK historical fields if you are hunting hammered coins, which frequently register in exactly that low ID band.
So, it is worth stating that using something like Beach can sometimes produce stronger results in the UK as this mode allows more of the low IDs to pass. Or, use All Metal — see below.
The short version for UK ground
If you detect UK fields and permissions, All Metal is your default. This means you will hear everything, but here in the UK we have a more complicated environment than most (which we're happy about as it means more finds) and so we need more information than in areas like the United States. You can still use Beach for the coast and for trashy ground where you want iron gone but nothing else sacrificed..
Why the new names matter for beginners
So remember, the older Coin and Jewellery labels described what you hoped to find. Park and Beach describe where you are standing — and that is the convention Minelab uses across its higher-level machines such as the X-TERRA Elite, Equinox 700 and Equinox 900.
Step up to a Minelab Equinox 700 and you will find Park, Field and Beach. The vocabulary a beginner learns on a Vanquish 360 carries straight across. It is a small thing, but it removes one layer of relearning at exactly the point where most people are already contending with a new machine and a new settings menu.
Do the Vanquish 360's Target IDs really make a difference?
This is the upgrade that will change how quickly you learn, and it is the one most easily overlooked on a spec sheet.
The Vanquish 340 reads targets on a -9 to +40 scale — 50 numbers. The Vanquish 360 reads on a -19 to 99 scale — 119 numbers.
More numbers means finer separation between targets that sit close together. On the 340, a Victorian penny and a large modern coin can land on the same ID. On the 360, they are more likely to be distinguishable before you dig.
The scale is the same one the Equinox uses
Here is the part that matters for anyone who expects to upgrade: -19 to 99 is the identical Target ID scale used by the Minelab Equinox series.
Everything you learn on a Vanquish 360 about what a given number means transfers directly. If a hammered silver reads a certain way on your 360, it reads the same way on an Equinox 700 or an Equinox 900. Two seasons of ID memory move with you instead of being discarded.
The 340's -9 to +40 scale has no such equivalence. It is perfectly workable, but the numbers you memorise on it are specific to that machine.
The 360 also carries six discrimination segments to the 340's five, giving you slightly more control over what gets rejected before the signal reaches your ears.
Is the Minelab Vanquish 360 waterproof?
Yes. The Vanquish 360 is fully waterproof to 5m (16ft) and rated IP68 — control box, shaft and coil.
The Vanquish 340 is not. Its coil is waterproof, which covers wet sand, rain and the occasional puddle, but the control box must stay dry. In most cases this is fine, but you do have to be mindful that you don't drop the machine.
The practical difference is access. With a 360 you can work the surf line, wade a stream on a permission, and stop thinking about weather. With a 340 you are a land detector who can get the coil wet. For anyone near the coast, or with river and stream permissions, this single specification will probably settle the decision on its own.
Browse waterproof metal detectors
What about pinpointing, batteries and build?
Pinpoint mode
The 360 has a Pinpoint mode. The 340 does not. On the previous generation you had to move up to the 440 to get it.
Minelab has moved the feature down the range, and the reasoning is sound: pinpointing is most useful to beginners. An experienced detectorist can locate a target by working the coil in a cross pattern almost without thinking. Someone in their first month cannot, and every minute spent widening a hole is a minute not spent detecting. Having it on the entry machine means smaller, tidier holes from day one, which matters for your permissions as much as your recovery time.
A handheld pinpointer is still a worthwhile addition to either machine, but the 360 gets you started without one.
Batteries
The 340 runs on 4 × AA batteries. The 360 has an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery giving roughly 10 hours per charge.
Both approaches have their advocates. AAs mean a flat battery is solved by a corner shop and never ends a day's detecting, and the RnB power pack was a genuinely good upgrade for 340 owners who wanted rechargeable convenience. An internal battery means no ongoing cost, no disposal, and no cell corrosion in a control box that has been in a shed over winter. Ten hours comfortably covers a full day out.
Build and styling
The 360 is the more current design. The 340 has always been a strong performer, but it looked a little dated even when it launched. The 360 sits at 1.16kg against the 340's 1.2kg, a negligible difference on paper, though the newer machine carries its weight better over a long session.
The 360 also ships with the V10X 10" × 7" Double-D coil in place of the 340's V10 10" elliptical. Both are sensible general-purpose sizes and both are very similar. Additional Vanquish search coils are available if you want to go smaller for trashy ground or larger for depth.
So which Minelab Vanquish should you buy?
Buy the Vanquish 340 if
- You want the absolute lowest outlay for a machine that genuinely finds good targets, not a toy
- You detect land only — fields, pasture, parks and permissions with no water
- You are not fussed about detailed features and want to switch on and swing
- You would rather put the £60 difference toward a decent digging tool and a pinpointer
- At £199, reduced from £249, it is the most capable Multi-IQ detector available at this price
Buy the Vanquish 360 if
- You want to start the hobby on a more up-to-date footing
- You might get into the surf, or streams on a permission — the 5m waterproofing is the clearest single reason to choose it
- You want the finer Target ID resolution and the faster learning curve that comes with it
- You expect to upgrade to an Equinox eventually and want what you learn to carry over
- You want Pinpoint mode built in and a rechargeable battery
The honest summary
The 340 is right for anyone who wants to spend the minimum to get a good machine, but who is not bothered about going into the water or about more detailed features.
The 360 is right for someone who wants a slightly more sophisticated entry into the hobby, who might like to get into the surf or streams, and who wants things ever so slightly easier.
At a £60 difference, most people who intend to stay in the hobby beyond a season will be better served by the 360. If the budget genuinely stops at £199, the 340 is not a compromise you will regret — it is the same core technology.
Still deciding? Our Best Metal Detectors UK 2026 buyer's guide sets both machines against the wider range, or call the Scunthorpe shop on 01724 845608 and talk it through with someone who uses these machines.
Where each machine sits in the Minelab range
The Vanquish 340 and 360 are the entry point. If your budget stretches further, or you are reading this having already outgrown a first detector, the path runs:
- Vanquish 340 / 360 — first machine, £199–£259
- Equinox 700 — the serious step up, Park/Field/Beach modes, £699
- Equinox 900 — Multi-IQ+, gold mode, more coil options
- Manticore — Minelab's flagship, Multi-IQ+ with the 2D target display
Everything a Vanquish 360 teaches you about Target IDs and mode selection applies at every step of that ladder. View the complete Minelab range.
Buying from Crawfords
We have been selling detectors since 1995 and we are an Authorised UK Distributor for Minelab, which means full UK warranty, genuine stock and someone on the end of the phone who has actually swung the machine you are asking about.
- Free UK delivery on orders over £99
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New to the hobby? Read our guide to detecting responsibly in the UK before your first outing.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Minelab Vanquish 360 waterproof?
Yes. The Vanquish 360 is fully waterproof to 5m (16ft) with an IP68 rating, so the whole machine can be submerged. The Vanquish 340 is not fully waterproof — only its coil is rated, to 1m.
What is the difference between the Vanquish 340 and 360 search modes?
The 340 offers Coin, Jewellery and All Metal. The 360 offers Park, Beach and All Metal. Beach accepts all positive Target IDs and rejects iron; Park additionally rejects IDs 1–20 to remove foil. For UK field detecting, All Metal is the recommended default on either machine.
Can the Vanquish 360 find hammered coins?
Yes, but use All Metal rather than Park. Park mode rejects Target IDs 1 to 20, and hammered coins frequently register in that band. All Metal rejects nothing and is what most UK detectorists use on historical fields.
Does the Vanquish 340 have a pinpoint mode?
No. Pinpoint mode is not fitted to the Vanquish 340 — on the previous generation you had to move up to the 440 to get it. The Vanquish 360 includes Pinpoint mode as standard.
Is the Vanquish 360 worth the extra £60 over the 340?
For most buyers, yes. The £60 buys full 5m waterproofing, Pinpoint mode, a rechargeable battery, and a Target ID scale of -19 to 99 that matches the Minelab Equinox series. If you detect land only and want the lowest possible outlay, the 340 remains an excellent machine running the same Multi-IQ technology.