Apollo Air 2022 vs Apollo Air (2024): Same Name, Different Beasts - Which One Actually Deserves Your Commute?

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

The newer Apollo Air (2024) is the better overall scooter for most riders: it's better protected against bad weather, a bit more refined, has smarter safety touches like handlebar turn signals, and usually costs noticeably less than the Apollo Air 2022 while offering essentially the same real-world performance.

The Apollo Air 2022 still makes sense if you find it discounted and you like its slightly lighter weight and don't care as much about IP66-level weather protection or the latest tweaks.

If you want a comfy, "no drama" commuter that just works, go for the newer Air; if you're bargain-hunting and stumble on a good deal on the 2022 version, it can still be a reasonable choice.

Now let's get into the details that spec sheets don't tell you - the stuff you actually feel in your knees, wrists, and wallet.

When two scooters share almost the same name and near-identical spec sheets, confusion is practically guaranteed. That's exactly the case with the Apollo Air 2022 and the newer Apollo Air: both are single-motor, mid-range commuters from the same brand, with similar power, battery size, and geometry.

I've put real kilometres on both, over cracked city tarmac, rainy bike lanes, and the usual "shortcut" cobblestones you instantly regret. On paper, they look like twins. On the road, they feel like siblings: very similar DNA, but one has clearly benefitted from a couple more years of refinement.

If you're staring at two browser tabs wondering which "Air" to click Buy on, keep reading. The differences are subtle but important - and they decide which scooter will annoy you less six months from now.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

Both the Apollo Air 2022 and the newer Apollo Air live in the "premium commuter" class: single-motor, around-legal top speeds, range comfortable enough for most people's daily return commute, and build quality a step above rental-level toys.

They're aimed at riders who:

• want a proper vehicle, not a disposable gadget
• care more about comfort and safety than bragging about max speed
• ride mostly in the city, on bike lanes and average streets, not off-road trails

The reason they're worth comparing? They overlap heavily in performance but not in price and polish. One is essentially the "draft version" (2022), the other a cleaned-up revision (2024) - and right now the newer one often costs less. That's not a small detail.

Design & Build Quality

Pick up either scooter and the family resemblance is obvious: unibody-style aluminium frame, integrated stem display, internal cable routing, and that muted graphite look that says "I commute" rather than "I cosplay Tron at the weekend." Both feel more solid than a typical big-box-store scooter.

The Air 2022 already moved away from the generic folding-frame formula. The chassis feels like one cast piece, with very few rattles once you've tightened things initially. The cockpit is clean but fairly basic by modern Apollo standards. It still looks good leaning against an office wall - not toy-like, just slightly older-gen.

The newer Apollo Air takes that same idea and tidies it up. The stem latch feels a bit more mature, with an extra safety element, and the cockpit is cleaner: the controls, display and thumb levers feel slightly more cohesive and less "nice parts bolted together". The tubeless tyres and self-healing goop are also part of that design philosophy: more vehicle, less hobby project.

In the hands, both scooters feel decently premium for their class, but the newer Air has fewer rough edges - literally and figuratively. If you're picky about fit-and-finish, the newer Air is the one that looks like it came out of Apollo's later design meetings.

Ride Comfort & Handling

This is where these scooters justify their existence. Both share the same basic comfort recipe: proper front dual-fork suspension, large air-filled tyres, wide handlebars, and a generously sized deck. They are miles ahead of the "solid-tyre pogo sticks" you see everywhere.

On the Apollo Air 2022, the suspension is the highlight. Hit a series of rough paving stones and the front end actually works, instead of just pretending to. It eats the smaller chatter and takes the sharp edge off bigger hits. Coupled with the big pneumatic tyres, it turns trash pavement into something tolerable. After ten or fifteen kilometres, your knees still remember you're on a scooter, but they're not filing a formal complaint.

The newer Apollo Air feels familiar but a touch more grown-up. The front fork does the same job, but the tubeless tyres add a little extra compliance and a more planted feel in corners. There's still no rear suspension on either scooter, so big square-edged hits will remind you you're on a commuting tool, not a magic carpet. But in day-to-day use - bike lanes, patched tarmac, the odd curb cut - both ride comfortably enough that you stop thinking about the road surface and start thinking about your podcast again.

Handling-wise, both share those wide bars that give nice leverage. The 2022 Air feels very stable at its top speed; the newer Air is essentially the same, just a fraction more "together", especially under hard braking when the chassis, controls and regen system all feel slightly more coordinated.

Comfort verdict: they're both above average; the newer Air just smooths out a few of the 2022's rough edges and adds the mental comfort of puncture-resistant tubeless tyres.

Performance

Let's lower expectations appropriately: neither of these is a rocket. They're brisk commuters, not mini motorcycles - and that's exactly how they feel.

Both use a rear hub motor in the same power class. On the road, there's very little daylight between them. The Air 2022 pulls away from lights with enough urgency to clear the intersection ahead of bicycles and lazy cars, but it never feels like it's trying to rip the bars from your hands. Acceleration is smooth, predictable, and very beginner-friendly.

The newer Apollo Air adds a bit of polishing to the same story. The controller tuning feels slightly more refined: less of that "nothing-nothing-go" sensation some cheaper scooters have, and more of a continuous push as you roll on the thumb throttle. Peak power is a touch higher on paper, but in actual riding you mostly notice that it holds its speed just a bit more confidently on modest hills and when the battery is dipping towards empty.

Top speed? Both sit in that sweet "fast enough to be useful, slow enough to be sane" bracket. On private land or de-restricted, you're into the low-thirties km/h, which is about as much as you want on a smallish scooter chassis anyway. The difference between the two is more about feel than headline speed: the newer Air simply feels more controlled at the top of its envelope.

Hill climbing is serviceable on both. On typical city inclines, neither scooter embarrasses itself as long as you're not in the triple-digit kilo class. Steeper stuff will have both slowing noticeably; here the newer Air's slightly punchier motor tuning helps a bit, but it's still a commuter motor, not a hill-climb specialist.

Braking is where both scooters quietly shine. The Air 2022's combo of front drum and rear regen works better than it sounds on paper. You can do most of your slowing with the regen lever, which is smooth and predictable, leaving the drum to step in for emergency or steep downhill situations. The newer Air keeps the same basic formula but integrates it around the updated regen system ("Power RBS") and feels even more controllable when you modulate speed into corners. Neither has the drama of a squeaky cable disc; both offer confident, low-maintenance stopping.

Battery & Range

Battery-wise, the two scooters are effectively twins: same voltage, same capacity, same ballpark chemistry. Their range claims are generous, as always, but real-world results are remarkably consistent between them.

On the Apollo Air 2022, riding like a normal human - mixed modes, some hills, not babying the throttle - you're looking at roughly the low-thirties kilometres before you start getting nervous. Creep along in Eco mode and you can stretch it significantly further; hammer it in Sport and you'll be at the lower end of that band. As the battery dips below roughly a third, the 2022 Air definitely lets you know: acceleration softens and the top speed settles down a bit. It's not dangerous, just obvious.

The newer Apollo Air behaves almost identically in terms of distance: again, expect around that low-thirties comfort zone, with extra available if you ride gently. The difference is more in refinement than endurance. The power drop-off as the pack empties feels slightly less dramatic, and regen braking being properly tuned helps efficiency a little. But if you're hoping the newer model magically adds an entire extra commute on the same battery size, it doesn't - physics still applies.

Charging is where the newer Air quietly wins. The 2022 model's pack takes a working night's sleep to fill from empty; the newer Air usually finishes a bit sooner, making mid-day top-ups at the office more realistic if you're a heavy user. Not a deal-breaker either way, but over months of use you do notice how often you're waiting for that charge light to go green.

Range anxiety on both? For typical 5-15 km each-way commutes, basically a non-issue unless you forget to plug in. For riders doing epic weekend touring, you'll hit the limit on either scooter - this is not a long-distance cruiser class.

Portability & Practicality

This is where the "Air" name gets a bit cheeky. Neither of these is what I'd call light; they're in that "you can lift it, but you'll swear at it if you do it five times in a row" category.

The Apollo Air 2022 is the slightly lighter of the two on paper, and you do feel that tiny advantage when you're hauling it up stairs or into a car boot. The fold is straightforward: stem down, latch, done. The downside is width - the handlebars don't fold, so the folded package is short but fairly wide. Under a desk it's fine; on a packed metro at rush hour, it can be awkward.

The newer Air is a shade heavier. You notice that more if you're a smaller rider or you have to clear several flights of stairs; otherwise, it's in the same "just about manageable" class. Folding is similar in concept but the latch is that bit more secure and polished. Again, bars don't fold, so space requirements are similar. If you regularly have to manoeuvre through very narrow corridors or store your scooter in a tiny hallway, both will make you do a measuring tape session before buying.

In day-to-day practicality, the newer Air pulls ahead thanks to the weather rating and tyre choice. The IP66 protection means you don't have to baby it every time the forecast threatens a shower, and the self-healing tubeless tyres massively reduce the chances of a mid-week puncture ruining your schedule. The 2022 Air's tubed tyres ride well but are more susceptible to flats and valve-stem faff - not tragic, just more "admin".

Safety

Both scooters tick the big boxes: decent brakes, proper tyres, sensible geometry, and lights that mean you're not invisible. But the newer Air adds a couple of things that matter more than most spec sheets admit.

Braking systems are very similar in concept: front drum plus rear regen. On the road, both provide predictable, controlled stopping. Drum brakes don't have the bite of a high-end hydraulic, but for this class they're safer than a cheap mechanical disc that goes out of true every fortnight. The regen lever on both is genuinely useful, not just a marketing line.

Where the Apollo Air 2022 falls behind is in overall safety integration. Its lighting is fine for being seen in urban areas but borderline for properly lighting a dark, unlit bike path; I always recommend a separate bar or helmet light if you ride a lot at night. The IP54 water resistance is normal for the class but demands some respect for heavier rain.

The newer Apollo Air turns things up a notch. The handlebar-end turn signals are a surprisingly big upgrade; being able to indicate clearly without one-handed bar gymnastics is a real safety improvement in traffic. The IP66 rating means it laughs off typical European or British rain, and the UL certification for electrical safety is nice peace of mind for people who charge indoors. The headlight is still not a car headlamp, but with the rest of the package you feel more comfortable using it as an actual daily vehicle, not just a fair-weather toy.

Stability-wise, both benefit from those big 10-inch tyres and a low-mounted battery. They track predictably even over tram tracks and sloppy road repairs. At top speed they feel composed rather than skittish, assuming your tyres are properly inflated - on the 2022, let those tubes go soft and you'll feel the handling get vague faster than on the tubeless 2024 Air.

Community Feedback

Price & Value

This is where things get slightly awkward for the Apollo Air 2022. It launched as a "premium entry" scooter at comfortably north of the typical budget-clone pricing, and at that time its comfort and build quality partially justified the stretch.

Now the newer Apollo Air exists, usually at a noticeably lower ticket while giving you essentially the same motor and battery class, plus better water protection, tubeless tyres, turn signals, and faster charging. When you stack them side by side at today's street prices, the 2022 model has to rely heavily on discounts or leftover-stock deals to make sense.

If you find an Air 2022 significantly cheaper, it can still be decent value for a rider who just wants a comfy, solid commuter and isn't fussed about IP66 or self-healing tyres. At full historical pricing, though, the newer Air is simply the more rational purchase.

Service & Parts Availability

The good news: both scooters come from the same brand with a reasonably strong support reputation in Europe and North America. You've got official parts channels, documentation, and an active community for both generations.

The Apollo Air 2022 has been around longer, so there's plenty of knowledge out there - guides, forum posts, people who've torn one down and put it back together. Consumables like tyres, brake parts and decks are not hard to find. As the model ages, some cosmetic parts might eventually become "special order only", but nothing dramatic yet.

The newer Air benefits from being a current-generation product. That means priority in stock levels, firmware updates, app support, and brand focus. If Apollo decides to add features or refine tuning via software, it's the newer Air that will be at the front of the queue. From a long-term ownership perspective, that's worth considering.

In terms of DIY friendliness, both are mid-pack: not as modular as some enthusiast scooters, but not sealed black boxes either. The tubeless tyres on the newer Air are a bit more of a faff to mount if you ever fully change them, but you'll be doing that much less often than patching tubes on the 2022.

Pros & Cons Summary

Parameters Comparison

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

If you strip away the marketing and look at what you actually feel on the road, these two scooters are very similar: same broad performance envelope, same type of suspension, same commuting mission. The newer Apollo Air doesn't blow the 2022 model away on speed or range; it just quietly improves almost every practical detail around them.

For most riders, the newer Apollo Air is the clear choice. You get much better weather protection, far lower puncture anxiety, meaningful safety upgrades like handlebar turn signals, and quicker charging, usually for a lower purchase price. It is simply a more sensible, more up-to-date interpretation of the same idea: a comfortable, low-drama daily commuter.

The Apollo Air 2022 still has a place if you find it at a serious discount, or you just prefer its slightly lighter weight and don't often ride in heavy rain. Treated as a well-built but previous-generation commuter, it can still be a perfectly serviceable partner for city riding.

If you're buying new at today's prices, though, and you want the scooter that will quietly get on with its job with the fewest compromises, the newer Apollo Air is the one I'd park in my hallway.

Numbers Freaks Corner

These metrics put hard numbers to different trade-offs. Price-per-Wh and price-per-km/h show which scooter stretches your money further in battery size and speed. Weight-based metrics reveal which one is more energy- and carrying-efficient. Wh per km is classic energy efficiency, while power-to-speed and weight-to-power show how "strong" the scooter feels relative to its mass and speed. Charging speed simply tells you how quickly you get your full range back once you plug in.

Author's Category Battle

Overall Winner Declaration

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the APOLLO Air 2022 scores 6 points against the APOLLO Air's 4. In the Author's Category Battle, the APOLLO Air 2022 gets 20 ✅ versus 32 ✅ for APOLLO Air (with a few ties sprinkled in).

Totals: APOLLO Air 2022 scores 26, APOLLO Air scores 36.

Based on the scoring, the APOLLO Air is our overall winner. For me, the newer Apollo Air is the one that actually feels like a modern commuter scooter should: calm, reasonably comfortable, not trying to impress you with specs, just quietly getting everything a bit more right than its predecessor. It's the sort of scooter you stop thinking about and just use, which is exactly what a daily tool should be. The Apollo Air 2022 still rides decently, but next to the updated model it feels like the earlier draft - fine if you get it cheap, harder to love at full price. If you want to step onto a scooter that feels thought-through rather than just "good enough", the newer Air is the one that will keep you happier in the long run.

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.