What is the difference between a Pre Engaged starter and Non Pre Engaged starter.
How do I tell what I have currently and what are the benefits of one over the other.

Sorry to be a pain but I just don't know ?

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If starter is round it's a bendix drive.
If it has a solenoid box attached with wires on it, it is pre-engaged.
Like this one-

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

No solenoid.
Just a big fat round Lucas starter with the +ive cable attached to the end of it.
I have a push button floor starter switch.

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preingaged tend not to chew ring gears as much.

If you fit a pre-engaged one (Gemini, etc) they mesh in from the front (ie engine side), will work fine even if the existing ring gear is looking second hand.
Also, if the engine gives a few isolated kicks when being cranked, it won't throw the pinion out of mesh like the old Lucas does.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

So if it is Pre-engaged, what does that actually mean ?

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Pre-engaged means the gear on the starter motor is in mesh with the flywheel ring gear before the starter motor starts to spin.

A bendix starter motor is already spinning as it is engaging with the ring gear on the flywheel.

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1963 Morris 850

Thanks mini0998
So what pushes the pinion out into mesh with the ring gear. I presume then that contacts are made that then starts the starter motor rotating.
Sorry to be a pest but I just like to understand these things. Helps to then diagnose problems when you have one.

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In basic terms the solenoid on top of the starter, once engergised, pushes the starter gear out via an arm, into the ring gear of the flywheel. Once that happens the starter then spins.

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1963 Morris 850

With a standard bendix drive Lucas starter the inertia of the starter throws the pinion into mesh, a spring inside the pinion helps return it when you release the key or button.
A pre-engaged starter has a solenoid (sort of electro/mechanical relay) which firstly engages the pinion into the ring gear, THEN spins the starter motor. When you release the key it de-energises the starter motor and retracts the pinion out of mesh.
They cost more, which is why cheapo British cars like Morris, Austin, Ford and Hillman got the old standard Lucas.

Hell, even the old Fiat Nuova 500 back in the early 60s has a pre-engaged starter. Was mechanically actuated, no solenoid to save $$.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

So my old Lucas (which has no solenoid on it) is an inertia starter motor.

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Yes.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.