Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)
The Acer ES Series 5 is the better overall scooter for most commuters: it goes dramatically further on a charge, feels more grown-up and stable, and comes across as the more sorted everyday machine. The Hiboy MAX V2 fights back with a lower price and a livelier top speed, but you pay for that upfront saving with shorter range, harsher ride and a generally more "budget" feel. Choose the Hiboy only if your rides are short, flat and you care more about speed-per-euro than long-term comfort and refinement. If you actually depend on your scooter day in, day out, the Acer is the safer, calmer bet.
Stick around for the full breakdown - the differences become very clear once you imagine living with each of these for a year, not just for a quick test ride.
Electric scooters have reached the stage where you no longer have to choose between flimsy toys and second-hand cars. In the middle sit machines like the Acer ES Series 5 and the Hiboy MAX V2: both pitched as sensible, affordable commuters with enough power to feel modern and enough features to look serious.
I've spent time with both: the Acer feels like a tech company's idea of a "no-drama" daily tool, while the Hiboy comes across as the classic budget overachiever that shouts its spec sheet a bit louder than its real-world manners justify. The Acer is for the rider who wants to forget about the scooter most of the time; the Hiboy is for the rider who wants the cheapest way into "proper" speed and full suspension and is willing to live with compromises.
On paper, they look like close rivals. On the road, they're very different personalities. Let's dig into where each shines, where they creak, and which one will actually make your commute better rather than just marginally faster.
Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?
Both scooters live in that popular mid-commuter bracket: not toy-cheap, not enthusiast-expensive. They share similar motor ratings, both cap out around the typical European speed expectations (with the Hiboy stretching its legs a bit more), both promise "maintenance-light" ownership thanks to solid-style tyres, and both throw in apps and suspension to look grown-up.
The Acer ES Series 5 targets the rider with longer daily mileage - the sort of person who actually replaces a bus pass or short car journeys with a scooter. It's a range-first, peace-of-mind machine that would rather get you home reliably than win traffic-light drag races.
The Hiboy MAX V2 is more of a budget gateway drug into scootering. It's for students, short-hop commuters and bargain hunters who want something clearly faster and better-specced than rental scooters without blowing the monthly rent. In practice, you'll probably cross-shop them if you want "a real scooter with suspension and no flats" and are hovering around this price zone.
Design & Build Quality
Pick them up and the design philosophies are obvious. The Acer feels like consumer electronics that happens to have wheels: clean lines, internally routed cables, a tidy stem and a deck that looks like it was actually drawn by a designer rather than assembled from a spare-parts catalogue. The matte finish with subtle green accents makes it look business-ready, not like something borrowed from a teenager.
The Hiboy goes for a more industrial, bolted-together look. The dual rear shocks are very visible, the angles are sharper, and nothing is trying too hard to hide its budget origins. It's not ugly - in fact, the long, wide deck is a big ergonomic plus - but it does feel more "Amazon special" than "tech-brand product". Panel gaps are a touch larger, the suspension hardware is visually and audibly more basic, and over time you're more likely to hear little rattles and clanks appearing.
On the handlebars, the Acer's cockpit feels more refined. The central display is nicely integrated and legible in bright daylight, the cabling is kept in order, and the brake/throttle controls are where you instinctively expect them to be. On the Hiboy, the LED display does the job but can become hard to read in strong sun, and the overall bar area feels more utilitarian than polished.
Fold both scooters and the gap widens slightly. The Acer's folding latch engages with a reassuringly solid click and the stem feels well anchored when locked upright. The Hiboy's one-step mechanism works quickly and is perfectly fine, but the joint and rear hook feel more in line with its budget roots. Long-term, the Acer simply feels like the one that will stay tight and squeak-free for longer - not perfect, but more grown-up.
Ride Comfort & Handling
Both scooters try to square the same tricky circle: solid or semi-solid tyres for zero flats, plus suspension to keep your teeth inside your head. They tackle it very differently.
The Acer rides on larger foam-filled wheels with rear suspension only. Those bigger wheels roll over city junk - expansion joints, paving edges, shallow potholes - with more confidence, and the rear shock works away quietly, rounding off the sharper hits. You still feel the texture of the road; you're not floating. But after a few kilometres of patchy pavement, your knees and wrists are merely aware of the ride, not actively complaining about it.
The Hiboy, by contrast, uses smaller solid tyres but throws more hardware at the problem: front spring plus twin rear shocks. On smooth tarmac the result is surprisingly pleasant, and that long deck lets you shift your stance and act as your own additional suspension. Once the surface deteriorates, though, the solid tyres remind you who's boss. The suspension clanks and chatters over repeated bumps, and on rougher city streets the whole scooter starts to sound busier than it really should. It's still better than a rigid, solid-tyre scooter - but not by a huge margin on bad surfaces.
In corners, the Acer feels calmer and more planted, helped by the larger wheels and slightly more mature chassis. The Hiboy turns in eagerly but can feel a bit twitchier at higher speed on imperfect ground. Standing on each for a half-hour ride, the Acer is the one that leaves you stepping off feeling like you've simply...stood for a while. The Hiboy leaves you more aware that you've been on a budget full-suspension experiment.
Performance
Both scooters share similar motor ratings on paper, but they deliver their power with different personalities.
The Acer is the classic sensible commuter tune. From a standstill it eases into motion smoothly, with a very linear, predictable pull. You reach its capped top speed on the flat without drama, then it just hums along. It's the sort of acceleration that makes nervous first-time riders happy and seasoned riders slightly bored - but boredom and safety often travel together on commuter routes. On typical city inclines, it copes; on steep hills, especially with heavier riders, it starts to plead for mercy and you may find yourself adding a foot or two of "manual assist".
The Hiboy feels livelier at the top end. Once it gets going, it pushes on a bit further than many entry-level scooters, which makes flowing with faster bicycle traffic easier and does add a smile or two. The catch is that its initial surge off the line is still quite gentle. It takes its time getting up to its headline speed, especially if you're closer to the upper end of its load rating or climbing. In other words, you buy it partly for the number on the box, not for any genuine "hot hatch" feeling out of the blocks.
Braking on both is a combination of electronic front braking plus mechanical rear disc. The Acer's setup feels slightly more sorted: the lever modulation is more predictable, and the scooter stays composed under a firm grab. The Hiboy stops well enough, but the front electronic brake and rear hardware can feel a touch less coordinated, especially when the suspension is simultaneously clattering its protest over rough ground.
Battery & Range
This is where the comparison stops being close and turns into a one-sided conversation.
The Acer carries a battery that wouldn't look out of place in a more expensive machine. In real commuting use - full-speed riding, stop-start traffic, an average-weight adult - you can genuinely treat it as a "charge every few days" scooter. Longer cross-city runs, detours, errands after work: it shrugs and carries on. Range anxiety becomes range curiosity: you start wondering when you last actually plugged it in.
The Hiboy, meanwhile, is very much a "plan your day" scooter. In gentle Eco mode with a light rider on flat ground you can nurse it a fair distance, but as soon as you ride it the way most people will - top mode, stop-go city, a rider who isn't made of feathers - the real-world range drops into the short-to-medium bracket. For short hops to the station or campus, that's fine. For longer commutes, you start doing mental arithmetic every time the battery indicator loses another segment.
Charging reflects their battery sizes: the Acer needs a proper overnight to refill from near empty, whereas the Hiboy can claw its way back to full in a long workday or an evening. But given the Acer doesn't need daily charging for many users, the slower fill rate is easy to live with. With the Hiboy you're more likely to be tethering it to a socket whenever there's a convenient plug, just to keep your options open.
Portability & Practicality
Neither of these is a featherweight, but they sit on different sides of the "I can just about carry this" line.
The Hiboy is the easier of the two to live with if you must haul it regularly. It's lighter, and the fold is quick and reasonably compact. Carrying it up one or two flights of stairs is doable without ruining your day, and popping it into a car boot or onto a train is straightforward, assuming you're not in London at 17:00 trying to board with half of Zone 1.
The Acer's big battery and chunkier structure show up the moment you have to lift it. For most adults, a few steps, into a lift, onto a train - manageable. Anything beyond that and you will become intimately aware of every gram. It's portable in the sense that a medium suitcase is portable: fine on occasion, but not what you want as your daily gym routine.
In return, the Acer gives you a more spacious, solid-feeling deck and that longer range, which boosts its overall practicality if your primary use is riding, not carrying. The Hiboy pays you back with easier handling off the bike lane: it's the friendlier option for those with stairs, small flats, and no lifts in their lives.
Safety
On the safety front, both scooters tick the basics, but they emphasise different strengths.
The Acer feels like it was designed by someone who actually rides in traffic. The braking balance is good, the larger wheels and stable chassis make quick avoidance manoeuvres less nerve-wracking, and its lighting - especially with models that include indicators - gives you a fighting chance of clearly communicating your intentions. Water resistance is decent enough that the odd shower or wet street doesn't feel like a threat to the electronics, though you still shouldn't treat it like a jet ski.
The Hiboy leans strongly on visibility. Between its headlight, brake light and side or deck lighting, you are very much a moving light show at night - in a good way. For urban evenings, that side profile illumination is genuinely valuable. On the flip side, its smaller solid tyres offer less mechanical grip in the wet than quality pneumatic rubber, and their harshness means the scooter skips and chatters more over rough patches, which is not ideal when you're braking hard or turning.
Neither scooter has catastrophic safety flaws for its class, but if you asked me which I'd rather be on when a car does something stupid in front of me at dusk on patchy tarmac, I'd quietly reach for the Acer's handlebars.
Community Feedback
| Acer ES Series 5 | Hiboy MAX V2 |
|---|---|
| What riders love | What riders love |
| Very strong real-world range; no-flat tyres plus rear suspension; stable, confidence-inspiring ride; clean design and cable routing; big, grippy deck; useful app with lock and cruise control; solid overall build; good lighting; the "set it and forget it" ownership feel; brand trust from a known tech company. | Zero puncture worries; higher top speed than many budget rivals; having both front and rear suspension at this price; strong night-time visibility with extra lighting; sturdy frame; long, comfortable deck; app connectivity and cruise control; easy folding; good first-scooter experience; very attractive purchase price. |
| What riders complain about | What riders complain about |
| Heavier than expected for carrying; modest hill-climbing for heavier riders; long recharge time; occasional app connection quirks; still a bit firm on bad cobbles due to solid-style tyres; handlebar height not ideal for very tall riders; brake lever feel could be more progressive; limited speed cap for thrill-seekers. | Harshness and vibration on rough roads; noisy, "clanky" suspension; underwhelming acceleration for some; real-world range falling notably short of claims in Sport mode; weight still noticeable on stairs; fixed handlebar height; middling wet grip from solid tyres; display difficult to see in strong sun; charge time not impressive for the battery size. |
Price & Value
The Hiboy's sticker price is its headline act. It undercuts the Acer by a decent margin and still offers dual suspension, app features and a higher top speed than many similarly priced scooters. If your rides are short and you're counting every euro, it looks like a bargain - and for some riders, it genuinely is. For a first dip into scootering, it's hard to argue that you're not getting a lot of features for the cash.
The Acer asks you to pay noticeably more, but it quietly returns the favour every day you ride it. The huge difference in usable range transforms the ownership experience; you start treating it like actual transport rather than a powered toy. Factor in the generally better chassis feel, slicker design and the comfort of dealing with a mainstream tech brand, and the value curve bends back in its favour if you ride regularly and for more than just a couple of kilometres at a time.
In short: the Hiboy wins the "cheapest working solution" game; the Acer wins the "keeps making sense a year later" game.
Service & Parts Availability
Acer may be new to scooters, but they're not new to customer support. Big-box retailers, established service channels and the simple fact that Acer already has a footprint across Europe give you a layer of reassurance. You're unlikely to be hunting down obscure replacement parts on sketchy marketplaces - at least for the electronics and major assemblies.
Hiboy, conversely, lives and dies on its reputation in the budget space. To their credit, they've built a sizable user base and an ecosystem of spares and how-to content. Parts are generally obtainable, and community knowledge is abundant. That said, you're still working with a value-focused brand: support can be decent, but it's not the same experience as walking into a mainstream electronics retailer and pointing at a warranty card.
If you like to tinker and don't mind getting your hands a bit dirty, the Hiboy ecosystem won't scare you. If you want as little after-sales hassle as possible, the Acer brand backing is the more reassuring pillow.
Pros & Cons Summary
| Acer ES Series 5 | Hiboy MAX V2 |
|---|---|
Pros
|
Pros
|
Cons
|
Cons
|
Parameters Comparison
| Parameter | Acer ES Series 5 | Hiboy MAX V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Motor power (rated) | 350 W front hub | 350 W front hub |
| Top speed | ca. 25 km/h (region dependent) | ca. 30 km/h |
| Claimed range | ca. 60 km | ca. 27,4 km |
| Realistic range (commuter use) | ca. 40-45 km | ca. 18-22 km |
| Battery | ca. 540 Wh (36 V, 15 Ah) | ca. 270 Wh (36 V) |
| Weight | 18,5 kg | 16,4 kg |
| Brakes | Front electronic, rear disc | Front electronic, rear disc |
| Suspension | Rear suspension | Front spring + dual rear shocks |
| Tyres | 10" foam-filled, puncture-proof | 8,5" solid (airless) |
| Max load | 100 kg | 120 kg |
| Water resistance | IPX4 / IPX5 (region dependent) | Not specified / basic splash resistance |
| Charging time | ca. 8 h | ca. 6 h |
| Price (approx.) | 613 € | 450 € |
Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?
If you stripped away the stickers and just rode both back to back for a week of real commuting, the Acer ES Series 5 would quietly win more hearts. It's not exciting, but it's composed. It goes much further on a charge, feels more planted under you, looks tidier, and generally behaves like a product a grown adult can rely on rather than a toy they have to manage. For regular commuters, especially those with medium to long daily distances, it's the clearly better tool.
The Hiboy MAX V2 is more of a calculated compromise. You get into scootering for less money, you get a little extra top speed and the bragging rights of "full suspension", but you accept that the ride is harsher, the range is short, and the overall feel is more budget than refined. For short, flat urban hops where price trumps polish, that may be an acceptable trade. If you can stretch your budget and actually intend to use your scooter as primary transport rather than a toy, the Acer is the one that will still feel like a good decision a year from now.
Numbers Freaks Corner
| Metric | Acer ES Series 5 | Hiboy MAX V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price per Wh (€/Wh) | ✅ 1,14 €/Wh | ❌ 1,67 €/Wh |
| Price per km/h of top speed (€/km/h) | ❌ 24,52 €/km/h | ✅ 15,00 €/km/h |
| Weight per Wh (g/Wh) | ✅ 34,26 g/Wh | ❌ 60,74 g/Wh |
| Weight per km/h (kg/km/h) | ❌ 0,74 kg/km/h | ✅ 0,55 kg/km/h |
| Price per km of real-world range (€/km) | ✅ 14,60 €/km | ❌ 22,50 €/km |
| Weight per km of real-world range (kg/km) | ✅ 0,44 kg/km | ❌ 0,82 kg/km |
| Wh per km efficiency (Wh/km) | ✅ 12,86 Wh/km | ❌ 13,50 Wh/km |
| Power to max speed ratio (W/km/h) | ✅ 14,00 W/km/h | ❌ 11,67 W/km/h |
| Weight to power ratio (kg/W) | ❌ 0,053 kg/W | ✅ 0,047 kg/W |
| Average charging speed (W) | ✅ 67,50 W | ❌ 45,00 W |
These metrics put raw arithmetic to the comparison. Price-per-Wh and price-per-kilometre show how much usable energy and range you buy for each euro. Weight-related metrics tell you how efficiently each scooter uses its mass to deliver speed, range and power. Wh per kilometre reflects real-world energy efficiency. Power-to-speed and weight-to-power hint at how "stressed" the motor is for its top speed and weight. Finally, average charging speed reveals how quickly each scooter can refill its battery relative to its capacity.
Author's Category Battle
| Category | Acer ES Series 5 | Hiboy MAX V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | ❌ Heavier, harder to carry | ✅ Lighter, more portable |
| Range | ✅ Easily outlasts daily commutes | ❌ Shorter, plan carefully |
| Max Speed | ❌ Tamer top speed | ✅ Faster, keeps up better |
| Power | ✅ Feels adequate, efficient | ❌ Stressed at higher speeds |
| Battery Size | ✅ Much larger capacity | ❌ Small pack, limited |
| Suspension | ❌ Single rear only | ✅ Front and rear setup |
| Design | ✅ Cleaner, more refined | ❌ More industrial, budget |
| Safety | ✅ Calmer chassis, tyres | ❌ Harsher, less composed |
| Practicality | ✅ Great for real commuting | ❌ Suits only short hops |
| Comfort | ✅ Smoother overall ride | ❌ Harsher, more vibration |
| Features | ✅ Strong app, indicators option | ❌ Fewer genuinely useful extras |
| Serviceability | ✅ Big-brand infrastructure | ❌ More DIY, online sourcing |
| Customer Support | ✅ Established retail channels | ❌ Budget-brand expectations |
| Fun Factor | ❌ Sensible, slightly boring | ✅ Faster, perkier feel |
| Build Quality | ✅ Tighter, more cohesive | ❌ Clankier over time |
| Component Quality | ✅ Feels a notch higher | ❌ Very budget-oriented |
| Brand Name | ✅ Mainstream tech reputation | ❌ Smaller, value brand |
| Community | ❌ Newer, smaller base | ✅ Large budget-user community |
| Lights (visibility) | ✅ Good front/rear presence | ✅ Excellent, strong side profile |
| Lights (illumination) | ✅ Higher, useful headlight | ❌ Adequate but less focused |
| Acceleration | ✅ Smooth, predictable pull | ❌ Feels sluggish off line |
| Arrive with smile factor | ❌ Calm, not thrilling | ✅ Speed and lights fun |
| Arrive relaxed factor | ✅ Less fatigue, more stable | ❌ Harsher, more tiring |
| Charging speed (experience) | ❌ Longer overnight routine | ✅ Shorter, office-friendly |
| Reliability | ✅ Feels solid, under-stressed | ❌ More marginal components |
| Folded practicality | ❌ Heavier, bulkier folded | ✅ Easier to stash, lift |
| Ease of transport | ❌ Not stair-friendly | ✅ Manageable occasional stairs |
| Handling | ✅ Stable, predictable steering | ❌ Twitchier on rough ground |
| Braking performance | ✅ More composed, confidence | ❌ Fine, but less refined |
| Riding position | ✅ Spacious, natural stance | ✅ Long deck helps comfort |
| Handlebar quality | ✅ Better integration, feel | ❌ More basic cockpit |
| Throttle response | ✅ Nicely tuned, predictable | ❌ Laggy for sporty riders |
| Dashboard/Display | ✅ Clearer in bright light | ❌ Harder to read sometimes |
| Security (locking) | ✅ App lock, solid feel | ❌ Basic, relies on user |
| Weather protection | ✅ Better rated, reassuring | ❌ More unknown, basic |
| Resale value | ✅ Brand helps second-hand | ❌ Budget stigma hits resale |
| Tuning potential | ❌ Less mod-focused community | ✅ Active modder base |
| Ease of maintenance | ✅ Simple, robust layout | ❌ More fiddly suspension |
| Value for Money | ✅ Better long-term value | ❌ Cheap, but compromised |
Overall Winner Declaration
In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the ACER ES Series 5 scores 7 points against the HIBOY MAX V2's 3. In the Author's Category Battle, the ACER ES Series 5 gets 29 ✅ versus 12 ✅ for HIBOY MAX V2.
Totals: ACER ES Series 5 scores 36, HIBOY MAX V2 scores 15.
Based on the scoring, the ACER ES Series 5 is our overall winner. As a scooter you actually live with, the Acer ES Series 5 just feels more complete: calmer under your feet, far more relaxed on range, and built in a way that makes you trust it to quietly get on with the job. The Hiboy MAX V2 has its charms - especially if your budget is tight and your rides are short - but its compromises show up early once you start depending on it. If you can stretch the extra cash, the Acer is the one that will keep you stepping off at your destination thinking less about what the scooter did, and more about the day you're about to have - which is exactly what a good commuter should do.
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.