Acer ES Series 4 Select vs 5 Select - Same DNA, Very Different Commutes

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

The ACER ES Series 5 Select is the better all-round scooter for most people: more real-world range, smoother comfort thanks to rear suspension, and still reasonably portable. It suits riders with medium to longer commutes who want to charge once, then forget about it for a couple of days.

The ACER ES Series 4 Select makes more sense if you value a slightly stronger punch off the line, prefer grippy pneumatic tyres, and your daily distance is modest enough that range isn't your main worry. It's also the one I'd pick for very wet cities, thanks to its tubeless air tyres and front suspension working together.

If you want a calmer, distance-eating commuter, lean toward the Series 5. If your rides are shorter, hillier and you care more about road feel than all-day endurance, the Series 4 still has a place.

Stick around for the full breakdown-the differences are subtle on paper, but quite obvious once you've ridden both back-to-back.

Most people still hear "Acer" and think of spreadsheets, not speed bumps. Yet here we are, comparing two of their mid-range scooters that feel less like gadgets and more like slightly sensible transport appliances.

The ES Series 4 Select and ES Series 5 Select sit right on that line between "toy you bought on a whim" and "tool you rely on every day". On spec sheets they look like brothers: similar size, similar power class, similar price. But out on the street they solve commuting in slightly different ways-and neither is flawless.

The Series 4 is your shorter-range, punchier feeling city hopper. The Series 5 is the laid-back range mule that will quietly gobble distance while asking very little from you. Let's dig in and see which one actually deserves that precious space in your hallway.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

Both scooters live in the mid-price commuter bracket, the territory where you've grown out of rental scooters and Xiaomi clones but aren't ready to remortgage the flat for a dual-motor monster.

The ES Series 4 Select goes after riders with typical urban commutes-think a few kilometres each way, reasonable hills, mixed surfaces, and a desire for something sturdier than the usual wobble-fest. It offers a beefier motor and front suspension with pneumatic tyres, aiming at comfort and control over shorter to medium distances.

The ES Series 5 Select is pitched as the "maximum commuter" version: more battery, rear suspension, and slightly lower weight. It's for riders with longer daily routes, or those who want to charge once and forget about it for a couple of days.

Why compare them? Because price-wise and feature-wise they overlap so much that buying one without checking the other would be... optimistic. They're essentially two interpretations of the same mid-range Acer formula.

Design & Build Quality

Both scooters share the same design language: matte black frames, integrated cabling, and that "I belong in an office lobby" aesthetic. Nothing screams for attention, which is honestly a relief in a world full of RGB scooters trying to cosplay as gaming PCs.

The ES 4 feels like a straightforward, slightly utilitarian commuter. Aluminium frame, tidy cable routing, and a clean stem. It's solid in the hand, no obvious flex, no cheap plastic drama. The deck is rubberised and practical, if not exactly luxurious. Think well-built appliance rather than object of desire.

The ES 5 nudges things a little more upmarket in feel. Still aluminium, still clean, but the proportions and finishing touches give it a slightly more "designed" vibe. The cockpit is a bit more integrated, the stem and deck lines feel more cohesive, and overall it gives off a more refined impression when you first unfold it.

In terms of pure robustness, they're broadly similar: both feel tight, well assembled and mercifully rattle-free when new. The ES 4 has a slightly chunkier "built like a brick" vibe; the ES 5 feels a bit more balanced and grown-up, even if neither is truly premium in the high-end scooter sense.

If you care more about visual polish and a coherent design, the ES 5 edges ahead. If you just want something that looks modern and unobtrusive, either will do the job without embarrassing you at the office bike rack.

Ride Comfort & Handling

This is where the two scooters finally stop pretending to be identical cousins.

The ES 4 uses front fork suspension combined with 10-inch tubeless pneumatic tyres. On typical city streets-potholes, manhole covers, rough tarmac-that combo does a decent job at taking the sting out. The front end softens impacts nicely, and the air in the tyres mops up the small chatter. The rear end, though, is unsuspended, so your knees are still doing some work on really broken surfaces.

The ES 5 flips the script: no front suspension, but a rear shock, paired with large tyres that are often foam-filled or solid. On paper that sounds like a recipe for a bone-shaker. In practice, the rear suspension works surprisingly well to keep your legs and lower back from hating you, and the big wheels help more than you'd expect. The trade-off is more vibration in the handlebars compared with the ES 4, especially on really bad surfaces.

Handling wise, both are stable at their legal-ish top speeds. The ES 4 feels slightly more planted at the front thanks to the fork and pneumatic rubber, giving you a little more confidence when you dive into turns or hit uneven paving mid-corner. The ES 5, with its rear suspension, feels a touch more relaxed and forgiving over longer distances-less jarring over time, but more buzz through the bars on rough pavement.

Short version: ES 4 is better if your city has nasty front-wheel hits (kerbs, sharp potholes, brick paths). ES 5 wins if your daily route is longer and your priority is finishing the ride with legs that don't feel like they've done squats.

Performance

Neither of these is going to yank your arms off, and that's fine-they're commuters, not hill-climb race entries.

The ES 4 runs a rear-hub motor rated slightly higher than the ES 5's front motor. On the road, you feel that as a bit more eagerness off the line and stronger push on inclines. Rear-wheel drive also gives you better traction when accelerating on loose or wet surfaces; it feels more natural when you lean on the throttle out of a junction. It's not wild, but it does feel a little more assertive than its spec would suggest.

The ES 5's front motor is tuned for smoothness rather than drama. Acceleration is gentle and predictable, almost as if someone at Acer specifically asked, "How do we keep this thing from scaring first-time riders?" It comes up to its capped speed calmly and holds it there with less noticeable fade as the battery drains. On rolling terrain it's absolutely fine; on steeper climbs you'll feel it working harder than the ES 4, especially if you're nearer the upper end of the weight limit.

Both scooters top out in the same ballpark when fully unlocked, though depending on your local laws you'll be limited to lower speeds anyway. In day-to-day use, neither feels "slow" in the city-you'll keep up with bike-lane traffic just fine. But if you're heavier, or your route includes nasty hills, the ES 4's extra rear-wheel shove makes life a bit easier.

Braking is a mixed bag. The ES 4 uses a front disc plus rear electronic braking, with ABS-style control. It gives strong, confidence-inspiring stops without that terrifying front-wheel grab that sends you thinking about dental insurance. The ES 5 flips that around: electronic braking on the front, mechanical disc on the rear. Stopping distances are good on both when set up properly, but the ES 4's layout feels slightly more intuitive and balanced when you really need to haul the scooter down quickly.

Battery & Range

Here the ES 5 doesn't just win, it brings a bigger battery to the argument and walks away whistling.

The ES 4's pack sits in the low-to-mid commuter class-fine for typical city use, but not spectacular. Manufacturer claims are, as usual, optimistic. In the real world, riding at sensible speeds with a mix of Eco and faster modes, you're looking at a comfortable there-and-back for most short commutes, plus a bit of buffer. If you pin it in the sportiest mode and weigh more than a broomstick, you'll be refuelling more often than you'd like.

The ES 5, with its noticeably larger battery, stretches that envelope considerably. Real-world riders report being able to do several decent rides between charges-think multiple days of commuting for many people. Even ridden with less restraint, it still pushes significantly further than the ES 4 before the battery gauge starts giving you side-eye.

The downside? Charging time. The ES 4 refills in a typical workday or overnight window. The ES 5, thanks to that bigger pack, takes appreciably longer-definitely an overnight job from low charge. So you trade frequency of charging for duration: the ES 4 wants the charger more often but finishes earlier; the ES 5 visits the charger less often but hogs the socket for longer.

If you're the sort of rider who routinely empties batteries, the ES 5 is the obvious pick. If your commute is genuinely short and you don't mind charging often, the ES 4 is adequate-but only just.

Portability & Practicality

On paper, both scooters sit in the "you can carry this, but you won't love it" category. In real life, that's about right.

The ES 4 tips the scales slightly heavier, and you feel that when hauling it upstairs or onto a train. It's not ludicrously heavy, but doing several flights daily will have you questioning your life choices. The fold is straightforward, the latch feels secure, and once folded it's reasonably compact-but not compact enough to disappear in a tiny hallway.

The ES 5 is marginally lighter, and while we're not talking night-and-day difference, that small reduction does help when you're swinging it into a car boot or over a doorstep. The folded footprint is similar, the mechanism is quick and familiar, and living with it day-to-day is slightly less of a chore if you have to move it around a lot off the wheels.

Both scooters store neatly under a desk or in the corner of a room. Both have decent kickstands that mostly do their job, though neither is immune to being knocked if someone boots it in a crowded bike room. Acer's app-based motor lock on both adds a basic layer of security for quick café stops-useful, but not a replacement for a real lock.

If you regularly drag your scooter up stairs, the ES 5 is the one that will annoy you slightly less. If your scooter mostly rolls from lift to street and back, portability isn't a strong differentiator; they're both "medium faff" rather than "easy breezy".

Safety

To Acer's credit, both models take safety more seriously than many mid-range rivals.

Lighting is solid on both: stem-mounted front light, rear brake light, and-crucially-indicators. Having turn signals at this price point is still not universal, and being able to show your intentions without taking a hand off the bar is a genuine safety upgrade. The ES 5's light output draws more complaints from riders who frequent dark, unlit paths, but in lit urban environments both are acceptable, if not spectacular.

Braking confidence is slightly in favour of the ES 4 for me. The front disc plus rear e-brake with anti-lock logic gives a reassuring, progressive stop, especially in the wet. The ES 5's split system (front electronic, rear disc) works well when tuned, but feels a bit less natural when you really clamp down in a panic stop.

Tyre grip is where they diverge: the ES 4's tubeless pneumatic tyres offer better wet-weather feel and feedback. You can feel them deform slightly over imperfections and bite into dodgy surfaces in a way that inspires confidence. The ES 5's puncture-proof tyres trade some grip and feel for the comfort of never fixing a flat. Perfectly adequate in the dry, just a touch less communicative on the limit.

Both share IPX5 water resistance, meaning normal rain and puddles aren't an issue if you're sensible. Frame stability at speed is decent on both; neither feels sketchy at their unlocked top speeds, assuming proper tyre pressure (or condition, in the ES 5's case).

If you ride a lot in the rain or on slippery surfaces, the ES 4 has the edge. If your priority is never, ever patching a tube, the ES 5's safety is more about reliability than ultimate grip.

Community Feedback

Price & Value

Both scooters sit in almost the same price window, which makes things refreshingly easy: you're not choosing based on cost, you're choosing based on priorities.

The ES 4 gives you a slightly stronger motor, front suspension and proper pneumatic tyres, but a smaller battery. You're paying for "feel" and traction rather than sheer endurance. For shorter commutes where you'll never touch the bottom of the pack, that's not unreasonable-but it doesn't feel like a screaming bargain either, more like "appropriate for what you get".

The ES 5, with its considerably larger battery and rear suspension, feels like the better deal on paper. That much range and a proper shock at this price is still fairly rare from a mainstream brand. If you measure value as "how much commuting can I squeeze out of a charge and a euro", the ES 5 comes out ahead.

Neither is a category killer, but in the current mid-range market the ES 5 does offer a more convincing bang-for-buck story for most riders.

Service & Parts Availability

Here, both scooters benefit from the same badge. Acer isn't some mysterious warehouse brand that vanishes once you find a fault; they have established service centres, warranty protocols and distribution across Europe.

In practice, this means getting warranty work sorted is far less of a lottery than with generic imports. Turnaround times will vary by country and store, but at least there is a legitimate channel to shout at if something goes wrong.

Parts availability for wear items-tyres, brakes, grips-is standard. Specific plastics and proprietary bits obviously depend on Acer's stock cycles, but as scooters go, these are about as safe a bet as you'll get in the mid-range space short of Segway or Xiaomi. Neither ES 4 nor ES 5 has a particularly strong DIY modding community, but they don't seem to be problem children either.

Pros & Cons Summary

Parameters Comparison

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

After living with both, the ES Series 5 Select comes out as the more complete commuter for most riders. The extra range, rear suspension comfort, and slightly lower weight make your daily grind noticeably easier, especially if you're clocking up longer distances or don't want to think about charging every evening. It's not exciting, but it is quietly capable-and that's exactly what a commuter scooter should be.

The ES Series 4 Select, meanwhile, feels like the better choice for shorter, slightly more demanding routes where road surface and wet grip matter more than battery capacity. Its rear-wheel drive, pneumatic tyres and front suspension package give you more confidence on rough, slippery city streets, at the cost of needing the charger more often and hauling a bit more mass.

If your commute is under, say, a dozen kilometres a day and includes nasty tarmac, steep ramps or a lot of wet weather, you won't regret choosing the ES 4. But if you just want a scooter that quietly gets on with the job, eats distance, and is easier to live with overall, the ES 5 is the one that edges ahead-by a sensible margin rather than a knockout punch.

Numbers Freaks Corner

These metrics quantify how much scooter you get for each euro, kilogram and watt. Cost-per-Wh and cost-per-km/h show raw value for battery and speed, while weight-based metrics show how efficiently each scooter converts mass into performance and range. Wh per km is a straight energy-efficiency comparison. Power-to-speed and weight-to-power reveal how "muscular" each scooter is for its speed class, and average charging speed indicates how quickly each pack refills relative to its size.

Author's Category Battle

Overall Winner Declaration

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the ACER ES Series 4 Select scores 4 points against the ACER ES Series 5 Select's 6. In the Author's Category Battle, the ACER ES Series 4 Select gets 25 ✅ versus 24 ✅ for ACER ES Series 5 Select (with a few ties sprinkled in).

Totals: ACER ES Series 4 Select scores 29, ACER ES Series 5 Select scores 30.

Based on the scoring, the ACER ES Series 5 Select is our overall winner. Between these two, the ES Series 5 Select is the scooter I'd rather live with: it might not be thrilling, but it quietly reduces stress with its longer range, softer rear end and slightly easier manners off the bike lane. The ES Series 4 Select has its charms-especially in how it grips and punches out of junctions-but it feels more like a competent stopgap than a scooter you grow into. If you want your daily ride to fade into the background and just work, the Series 5 gets you there with fewer compromises. The Series 4 is the one you pick if your roads are rough, your hills are sharp, and you're willing to trade a little practicality for a bit more feel under your feet.

That's our verdict when we try to stay objective – but hey, riding is mostly about emotions anyway, so pick the one that will make you look forward to your commute every single day.