Nokta Legend vs Legend 2: What’s Changed & What to Expect
Metal detectorists always want to know: when a new version arrives, is it worth upgrading, or is the older model still good enough? With the Nokta Legend and the newer Nokta Legend 2, there are enough differences to make that decision interesting. Below, I’ll break down the specifications, user experience, strengths and limitations to help you decide which detector better fits the places you hunt.
Overview
- Nokta Legend: Nokta’s proven simultaneous multi-frequency detector with excellent depth, discrimination, flexibility and an established LG-series coil selection.
- Nokta Legend 2: Builds on the original with 99 Target IDs, additional frequency-shift channels, wireless updates, lower weight, longer battery life and a new LD-series coil system.
Key Specification and Feature Differences
- Target ID: The Legend uses a 60-point scale; the Legend 2 expands that to 99.
- Frequency Shift: The Legend provides 13 manual channels; the Legend 2 provides 19 for dealing with electrical interference.
- Target ID in Pinpoint: The original Legend does not display it; the Legend 2 does.
- Keypad Backlight: Not included on the Legend; included on the Legend 2.
- Battery: Legend uses a 5050 mAh lithium-polymer battery; the Legend 2 uses a 6700 mAh lithium-ion battery.
- Wireless Updates: The Legend requires a wired connection; the Legend 2 supports wired and wireless firmware updates.
- Bone-Conduction Headphones: Not supported by the Legend; supported by the Legend 2.
- Weight: Legend weighs approximately 3 pounds; the Legend 2 weighs approximately 2.6 pounds.
- Search Coils: Legend uses LG-series coils; the Legend 2 uses the newer LD21, LD22, LD28 and LD38 coils.
| Feature | Nokta Legend | Nokta Legend 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Search Modes | Park, Field, Beach, Gold, Beast | Park, Field, Beach, Relic, Gold |
| Single Frequencies | 4, 10, 15, 20 and 40 kHz | 4, 10, 15, 20 and 40 kHz |
| Multi-Frequency Profiles | M1, M2, M3, MD, MW and M | M1, M2, M3, MD, MW and M |
| Manual Frequency Shift | 13 channels | 19 channels |
| Automatic Noise Cancel | Yes | Yes |
| Ground Balance | Automatic, manual and tracking | Automatic, manual and tracking |
| Target ID in Pinpoint Mode | No | Yes |
| Target ID Scale | 1–60 | 1–99 |
| Tone Options | 1, 2, 4, 6, 60 and Pitch | 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 99 and Pitch |
| Saved User Profiles | 4 total | 15 total—3 saved profiles per search mode |
| Display Backlight / Automatic Backlight | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes |
| Keypad Backlight | No | Yes |
| Flashlight / Vibration | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Clock / Time Tracking | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes |
| Mineralization Indicator | Yes | Yes |
| Mute Function | Yes | Yes |
| FerroCheck | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Indicator / Charging LED | Yes / No | Yes / Yes |
| Battery | 5050 mAh lithium polymer | 6700 mAh lithium ion |
| Wired Software Updates | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless Firmware Updates | No | Yes |
| Bone-Conduction Headphone Compatibility | No | Yes |
| Waterproof Rating | IP68—up to 16 feet / 5 meters | IP68—up to 16 feet / 5 meters |
| Keypad | Rubber keys | Membrane keypad |
| Compatible Search Coils | LG15, LG24, LG28, LG30 and LG35 | LD21, LD22, LD28 and LD38 |
| Weight | Approximately 3 pounds / 1.3 kilograms | Approximately 2.6 pounds / 1.2 kilograms |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years |
Legend 2 LD-Series Search Coils
The Legend 2 uses Nokta’s newer LD-series search coils. These coils are not compatible with the original Legend, and the original Legend’s LG-series coils will not fit the Legend 2. The Legend 2 package already includes the compact LD21 and general-purpose LD28, while the optional LD22 and LD38 give owners two distinctly different ways to expand the detector.
LD22 9-Inch Waterproof DD Coil
The round 9-inch LD22 sits between the compact LD21 and the standard 11-inch LD28. It is a good choice for parks, yards, wooded locations and moderately trashy sites where you want easier control without moving all the way down to the smallest coil.
LD38 15 × 12-Inch Waterproof DD Coil
The larger LD38 is designed for covering open fields, beaches and other unobstructed ground efficiently. Its broad footprint makes it better suited to wide sweeps and larger or deeper targets than to tight spaces or locations containing closely packed trash.
Performance and User Experience
- Target information: The Legend 2’s expanded 99-point Target ID scale gives users more identification segments for evaluating signals. Target IDs can still change with depth, soil, corrosion, target angle and nearby metal.
- Electrical interference: Both detectors include automatic noise cancellation, but the Legend 2 increases the number of manual frequency-shift channels from 13 to 19.
- Beach and wet ground: Both detectors provide simultaneous multi-frequency operation and waterproof construction for wet sand and shallow-water hunting.
- Ergonomics: The Legend 2 is approximately 0.4 pound lighter and uses a redesigned membrane keypad, making it more comfortable during longer hunts.
- Battery and updates: The larger 6700 mAh battery, charging LED and wireless firmware-update capability improve convenience without changing the basic charging routine.
- Accessories: Bone-conduction headphone compatibility and the expanded LD-series coil selection give Legend 2 owners additional ways to configure the detector.
Who Should Choose the Legend 2?
Choose the Nokta Legend 2 if you:
- Want the lighter detector and newer physical design.
- Prefer the expanded 1–99 Target ID scale.
- Regularly hunt around electrical interference and want more frequency-shift channels.
- Want wireless firmware updates and bone-conduction headphone compatibility.
- Plan to use the newer LD-series search coils.
Who Should Keep or Choose the Original Legend?
Stay with the original Nokta Legend if you:
- Already own one and are satisfied with its performance.
- Have invested in LG-series search coils that will not transfer to the Legend 2.
- Primarily hunt ordinary parks, fields or beaches and do not need the newer convenience features.
- Want proven simultaneous multi-frequency performance at a lower overall cost.
Is the Nokta Legend 2 Worth the Upgrade?
The answer depends heavily on what you already own. A new buyer who wants Nokta’s latest design, lighter weight and newer coil system has a strong reason to choose the Legend 2. An existing Legend owner should look more carefully at the practical benefits, especially if several LG-series coils are already part of the setup.
The Legend 2 offers meaningful improvements, but that does not make the original Legend obsolete. The original remains a capable simultaneous multi-frequency detector. The upgrade makes the most sense for hunters who value the lighter build, expanded identification scale, longer battery life, wireless updates and access to the LD-series coil lineup.
Conclusion
The Nokta Legend remains one of the better values in simultaneous multi-frequency detecting. The Nokta Legend 2 moves the platform forward with 99 Target IDs, additional frequency-shift channels, lower weight, a larger battery, wireless updates and the new LD-series coils.
If you are unsure which one fits the places you hunt, call or text Bart at 405-206-9010. Tell me what detector you currently use, where you normally hunt and what you want to find, and I’ll give you an honest recommendation.
—Bart Davis, Owner of Big Boys Hobbies Metal Detectors