Quick Answer: The Garrett ACE 250 ($224.99) is Garrett’s older, budget-tier ACE model — a fixed 7.2 kHz frequency, a 6.5”x9” PROformance concentric coil, and a 12-segment graphic Target ID cursor instead of a digital 0-99 number. It’s about $45 cheaper than the ACE 300 and still capable on open ground, but it’s an aging design that’s increasingly hard to find in stock — worth buying on sale, not worth hunting for at full price when the ACE 300 exists.
Garrett’s ACE 250 was for years the default “first detector” recommendation in this hobby, and it still shows up in secondhand bins, estate sales, and the occasional dealer closeout at a real discount. But Garrett’s own lineup has moved on — the ACE 300 and ACE 400 are now the models the company actively pushes, and DetectorWarehouse currently lists the ACE 250 as sold out entirely. This review checks whether the 250 is still worth buying new in 2026, or whether it’s time to let the classic go.
7.2 kHz fixed frequency and the 6.5”x9” concentric coil
The ACE 250 runs a fixed 7.2 kHz frequency — no adjustable frequency shift like the ACE 300’s 8 kHz — paired with a 6.5”x9” PROformance concentric coil, smaller than the 300’s 7”x10”. A smaller concentric coil is easy to control for a first-time swinger and still separates targets cleanly on open ground, but it covers less area per sweep and can’t be swapped for the frequency headroom a trashier or more mineralized site sometimes needs. Garrett pairs the coil with five preset-but-adjustable search modes (All-Metal, Jewelry, Custom, Relics, Coins) plus electronic pinpointing — the same basic workflow as the rest of the ACE line, just without a way to nudge the frequency itself.
The 12-segment Target ID cursor vs. digital numbers
The single biggest practical difference between the ACE 250 and every newer Garrett ACE model is how target ID is displayed. The 250 shows a 12-segment graphic Target ID cursor that moves across an icon legend on the LCD — a visual band, not a number. The ACE 300 and ACE 400 both read out a 0-99 digital target ID number instead, which is easier to log, compare against online ID charts, and use to judge a borderline target before digging. The 250 backs its cursor with a three-tone audio ID and 12-segment notch discrimination, which is genuinely enough resolution for a beginner on open grass — but it’s the clearest reason serious first-time buyers now lean toward the 300 instead.
Availability: why the ACE 250 is getting harder to find
DetectorWarehouse currently lists the ACE 250 as sold out, while High Plains Prospectors still carries the base unit at $224.99 (15% off a $264.65 list price) and bundle options up to $281.91 with a carry bag, hat, digger, and gloves included. Garrett’s own site still markets the 250 as “Big Features, Unbeatable Price,” but the pattern across dealers points the same direction: this is a detector Garrett is winding down in favor of the ACE 300 and 400, not one it’s actively restocking. Buy it if you find a genuine discount; don’t wait on a restock if the ACE 300 is in stock at a similar price.
| Spec | Garrett ACE 250 |
|---|---|
| Price | $224.99 (High Plains Prospectors; sold out at DetectorWarehouse) |
| Frequency | 7.2 kHz, fixed |
| Target ID | 12-segment graphic cursor + 3-tone audio ID |
| Coil included | 6.5"x9" PROformance concentric |
| Search modes | 5 preset (adjustable), plus electronic pinpointing |
| Waterproofing | Coil only — control box not rated |
| Weight | 2.7 lb |
| Battery | 4 AA (included) |
| Warranty | 3 years parts and labor (authorized dealers) |
| Best for | Budget first detector, open dry-land ground |
Garrett ACE 250
- Fixed 7.2 kHz frequency with 5 adjustable search modes plus electronic pinpointing, and a 6.5"x9" concentric coil that's light and easy to control for a first-time swinger.
- 12-segment graphic Target ID cursor with 3-tone audio ID and 12-segment notch discrimination — enough resolution to separate coins from common trash on open ground.
- 2.7 lb, 4 AA batteries, and Garrett's 3-year parts-and-labor warranty through authorized dealers.
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Garrett ACE 250 vs ACE 300: is the $45 saving worth it?
| Garrett ACE 250 | Garrett ACE 300 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $224.99 | $269.99 |
| Frequency | 7.2 kHz, fixed | 8 kHz, adjustable |
| Coil | 6.5"x9" concentric | 7"x10" concentric |
| Target ID | 12-segment graphic cursor | 0-99 digital number |
| Weight | 2.7 lb | 2.8 lb |
| Availability | Limited, sold out at some dealers | Widely in stock |
For $45 less, the ACE 250 gives up digital target ID, a slightly smaller coil, and adjustable frequency — real differences, but not disqualifying ones for a first detector used on open lawns and parks. Where it actually loses is availability: if a dealer is out of stock, chasing the 250 costs more time than the $45 saves. Our beginner guide and cheap-detector roundup cover the full sub-$300 tier if budget is the deciding factor.
Who should buy the Garrett ACE 250
- Budget-first buyers who find real stock at a discount — $224.99 (or less on a closeout) with a 3-year warranty is still a legitimate first “real” detector.
- Detectorists who don’t need digital target ID — the 12-segment cursor and 3-tone audio ID are enough on open grass and simple yards, per our coin guide.
- Anyone who wants the lightest possible ACE — 2.7 lb beats every other model in the line.
- Not shoppers who need it now. With DetectorWarehouse sold out, the ACE 300 is the safer buy if in-stock availability matters more than $45.
- Verify the seller before buying. Garrett’s warranty runs through authorized dealers — check the “Sold by” line on any Amazon listing before checkout.
The bottom line
The Garrett ACE 250 is still a legitimate budget detector at $224.99 — a fixed 7.2 kHz frequency, a 6.5”x9” concentric coil, and a 12-segment Target ID cursor cover coins and casual yard hunting without complication. But it’s an aging design Garrett is visibly winding down, and unless you land a real discount or the ACE 300 is out of your budget entirely, the extra $45 for digital target ID and adjustable frequency is worth paying. Settle the brand question for good in our Garrett vs Minelab comparison, and once you’re out digging, our foil vs. gold target ID guide explains how to get the most out of the ACE 250’s discrimination segments.