Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)
The Apollo Air 2022 is the overall winner: it rides more comfortably, feels more solid, brakes more confidently and simply behaves more like a "real vehicle" than a budget gadget. If you care about daily comfort, stability in the wet, and long-term peace of mind, this is the one that will age better under you.
The Hiboy MAX V2 makes sense only if price is absolutely king and your rides are short, smooth and low-stress: you trade comfort, refinement and range for a much lower entry ticket and zero-flat solid tyres. It's a "good enough" starter, not a scooter you fall in love with.
If you can stretch your budget, go Apollo and thank yourself every morning; if you really can't, the Hiboy can still do the job-just with more compromises. Now let's dig into how they actually feel on the road, because that's where the story gets interesting.
Electric scooters have reached the point where spec sheets all look vaguely impressive, yet real-world rides can feel wildly different. The Apollo Air 2022 and Hiboy MAX V2 are a perfect example of this: on paper they're both single-motor city commuters with suspension, app connectivity and respectable speed. In practice, one feels like a grown-up urban vehicle, the other like a clever budget workaround.
I've spent plenty of kilometres on both: commuting in drizzle, dodging potholes, hopping kerbs I probably shouldn't, and doing the usual "how far until I start pushing it home" experiments. Along the way, some clear personalities emerged.
The Apollo Air 2022 is best summed up as: commuter for adults who want to arrive intact. The Hiboy MAX V2 is: starter scooter for bargain hunters who can live with compromises. If that already sounds like a tough choice, keep reading-because the devil, as always, lives in the details your local webshop doesn't tell you about.
Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?
These two square off in the "serious but not insane" commuter category. Both live in the everyday-usable zone: no dual motors, no 50 km/h lunacy, no 30 kg monsters that need their own gym membership.
The Apollo Air 2022 sits at the premium end of the commuter spectrum: more money, more polish, better ride, and a clear focus on comfort and stability over headline speed. It's for people who are replacing daily public transport or short car trips, not just playing on weekends.
The Hiboy MAX V2 comes from the opposite direction: it's very much a budget warrior. You get enticing features for the price-suspension, app, lights-but everything is tuned to hit a low price tag first and refine later. It's the "first real scooter" for a lot of riders.
They compete because for many buyers the question is blunt: do I spend roughly half as much for the Hiboy, or double for the Apollo and hope it's actually twice as good? On the road, the answer is less about numbers and more about how much daily compromise you're willing to accept.
Design & Build Quality
Pick up the Apollo Air 2022 and it immediately feels like one solid piece of metal. The frame is a single casting, cables are neatly tucked away, and nothing rattles when you bounce it on the ground (yes, I do that). The matte finish and clean cockpit look like something designed, not just assembled from a parts bin. It's not exotic, but it does give off "adult commuter" rather than "toy upgraded with a bigger battery."
The Hiboy MAX V2, by contrast, looks more conventional. Angular, matte black, with a longer deck and visible suspension hardware-it has that budget-industrial vibe. Nothing outrageous, nothing particularly refined either. The folding joint is pretty decent for the price, but you can tell this is built to a cost: more exposed bolts, more visible wiring, and the typical "if it starts creaking you'll be getting your tools out" feeling.
Ergonomically, Apollo wins by design intent. The Air's wider bars and rubber deck mat feel purpose-built; standing on it, you feel like part of the chassis. The Hiboy's long, wide deck is genuinely nice, especially for big feet, but the overall package lacks that baked-in stiffness. Over time, I'd bet on the Apollo staying tight and quiet longer, while the Hiboy will slowly acquire a vocabulary of squeaks and clanks.
Ride Comfort & Handling
Five kilometres of battered city pavement is a quick honesty test for any scooter. On the Apollo Air 2022, that run is surprisingly civilised. The combination of large pneumatic tyres and proper front fork suspension irons out the chatter. You still feel the road, but your knees don't file a complaint and your hands aren't buzzing when you arrive. Hit a manhole cover mid-corner and it shrugs rather than panics.
The Hiboy MAX V2 takes a different path: solid tyres plus front and rear suspension. The suspension does work-you can see and feel it moving-but there's only so much it can do when the tyres themselves are unforgiving rubber. On smooth tarmac, it's fine. Once you add broken asphalt, cobbles or patchwork repairs, you start to feel every edge. The phrase "acceptable for the price" comes up a lot with this scooter.
Handling-wise, the Apollo feels more planted. The wider bars give you leverage, the larger tyres track better, and the overall weight gives it a confident, slightly "heavier scooter" character. It's calmer at higher speeds and more predictable when you have to dodge that taxi door that mysteriously appears in your lane.
The Hiboy is nimble but more nervous. Shorter wheelbase, smaller solid tyres and lighter weight mean it darts around easily, but the front wheel skitters more on rough or wet surfaces. On clean bike lanes it's playful; on scruffy city streets, you end up riding more cautiously than the speedometer alone would suggest.
Performance
Neither of these scooters is trying to rip your arms off, but they approach performance differently.
The Apollo Air 2022 has a motor with enough punch to feel lively without getting silly. Pulling away from lights, it steps ahead of bicycles easily and slots into traffic with confidence. The power delivery is smooth and linear; no dead zones, no surprise kicks. Its top-end feels well-matched to its chassis-fast enough that you're glad it's stable, but not so fast that you start regretting not wearing body armour.
On hills, the Apollo does a respectable job. Normal city gradients are handled at reasonable speeds, you feel it working but not suffering. Heavier riders will notice it slow on steeper inclines, but it doesn't feel overwhelmed. It's very much a "get there without drama" scooter.
The Hiboy MAX V2's motor is weaker on paper and feels it in practice. On flat ground, once you're up to pace, it actually cruises quite happily, and that slightly-below-Apollo top speed is perfectly usable in city bike lanes. But getting there takes more patience. Acceleration is gentle: great if you're nervous, slightly dull if you've ridden anything stronger. In busy traffic you sometimes wish it had just a little more punch to clear intersections decisively.
Hills are where the MAX V2 starts negotiating with gravity. Gentle slopes are fine, but throw it at a serious climb with a heavier rider and you'll watch the speed needle walk backwards. You can help it along with a kick or two, but this is clearly a scooter happiest on flattish urban terrain.
Battery & Range
Range is where these two stop pretending to be similar. The Apollo Air 2022 carries a noticeably larger battery, and you feel it in day-to-day use. Ridden like a sane commuter-mix of modes, realistic speeds, some stops-you can cover a decent round-trip commute with margin left for detours and "oh, I forgot to get bread" stops. You start the day with the comfortable knowledge that you're not going to be nursing the last bars home unless you really go hunting for distance.
The Hiboy MAX V2 lives in a shorter-radius orbit. Its advertised range looks okay on a product page, but once you ride it at full tilt with a normal adult on board, you end up planning around a noticeably smaller radius. A basic inner-city commute is fine; stretch it, and range anxiety becomes part of the experience. That last chunk of battery comes with the usual performance drop-speed and acceleration gently fade as voltage sags.
Charging times are in the same "overnight or office-day" ballpark, but the Apollo's bigger pack logically takes a bit longer to refill. The flip side is obvious: you're getting more usable kilometres per plug-in. With the Hiboy, frequent chargers become part of your life if you do more than short hops.
Portability & Practicality
Both scooters live in that awkward "portable if you must" weight class. You can carry either up a couple of flights of stairs; doing it every day is your new gym membership.
The Apollo Air 2022 is a touch heavier and its handlebars don't fold, which means it occupies a fair bit of width when stowed. Under a desk it's... optimistic unless you have generous office furniture. The folding latch is secure but a bit low and fiddly; you do more bending than you'd like, but once locked, the stem feels rock solid.
The Hiboy MAX V2 is slightly lighter and folds a bit more neatly. The quick-fold hinge and hook-into-fender system form a tidy, carryable package that works better in cramped hallways, car boots and train aisles. If you're juggling the scooter with a backpack and coffee, the Hiboy is the one that annoys you a little less.
On maintenance, the story flips. Apollo's pneumatic tyres will need air and occasionally tubes, but the rest of the package is low-fuss, and the drum-plus-regen brake setup is wonderfully hands-off. The Hiboy's solid tyres remove flats from your life-undeniably relaxing-but pass the cost on to your spine. You also live with more mechanical noise from the suspension and the general "budget scooter" wear-and-tear over time.
Safety
Safety is a mix of hardware, stability and how relaxed you feel when something goes wrong.
The Apollo Air 2022 does well here. The mechanical drum up front, backed by smooth regenerative braking at the rear, gives predictable, progressive stopping with very little tinkering required. The large pneumatic tyres offer far better grip in the wet than solid rubber, and the chassis feels composed when you brake hard or swerve around surprises. Its lighting is decent for being seen, though for serious night riding I'd still add an auxiliary front light.
The Hiboy MAX V2's braking package looks good on paper: electronic front brake plus rear disc. In practice, it stops the scooter well enough, and the redundancy is reassuring. Where it loses ground is traction and composure. Solid tyres simply don't dig into wet tarmac the way air-filled ones do, and the smaller diameter makes potholes and sharp edges more of a threat. Add in a suspension that can clank and unsettle the chassis under hard hits, and you get a scooter that you ride more cautiously when conditions deteriorate.
In terms of visibility, the Hiboy actually fights back nicely. The side/deck lighting gives it a strong presence at night, and that's genuinely valuable in city traffic. Apollo's setup is cleaner but less showy; you're visible, but you don't glow like a Tron extra. If your commute is heavily night-biased, you might actually appreciate the Hiboy's light show-just be aware that seeing the road and being seen by cars are two different issues.
Community Feedback
| Apollo Air 2022 | Hiboy MAX V2 |
|---|---|
| What riders love | What riders love |
| Plush ride for a commuter class scooter; very solid, rattle-free frame; smooth regenerative braking that feels premium; stable wide handlebars; clean, grown-up design; app customisation; low overall maintenance; good wet-weather confidence. | Never getting flats; respectable top speed for the money; having both front and rear suspension at this price; bright and flashy lights; sturdy-feeling frame; long, roomy deck; app with cruise control; easy fold-and-carry; strong sense of "great first scooter" value. |
| What riders complain about | What riders complain about |
| Heavier than the name "Air" suggests; folding latch stiff and awkwardly placed; stock headlight too weak for dark paths; bars too wide for tight doorways; tyre valve access fiddly; noticeable performance drop on low battery; app-required speed unlock annoys some. | Harsh ride on rough surfaces despite suspension; noisy, "clanky" rear shocks; slow-ish acceleration; real range falling well short of claims for heavier riders; weight borderline for daily stair-carry; weaker wet grip from solid tyres; non-adjustable bar height; not the quietest or most refined scooter as it ages. |
Price & Value
On sticker price alone, the Hiboy MAX V2 has an obvious story: for a very modest outlay, you get a scooter that's faster than rental toys, has suspension, lights, an app and zero-flat tyres. If your budget ceiling is tight and you just need something functional for short hops, the value feels strong. It's hard to beat the sheer amount of "stuff" Hiboy squeezed in at this price.
The Apollo Air 2022, meanwhile, asks for roughly double. If you reduce value to watts and watt-hours per euro, you start wondering why. But that misses the point. The Apollo's extra money buys you better materials, much nicer ride quality, stronger real-world range, superior braking feel, better grip and a more mature ownership experience. Day-in, day-out, it behaves less like a gadget and more like a dependable vehicle.
The key question is timeframe: if you're not sure you'll still be scootering in a year, the Hiboy is a cheap way to test the waters. If you already know this will be your daily commute machine, the Apollo's higher purchase price amortises nicely over time-and is much kinder to your nerves and joints.
Service & Parts Availability
Apollo has built a reputation for decent support and parts logistics, especially in North America, with improving coverage via partners in Europe. You can actually get official spares, documentation and help. Community groups are active, and there's a shared sense of "this is a brand that will still exist next year," which matters when you bend a fork or crack a fender.
Hiboy sits more in the big-budget-brand bucket: spares exist, support exists, but it's not exactly boutique. You're more likely to lean on generic parts, DIY fixes and YouTube tutorials. To Hiboy's credit, their user base is huge, so there's plenty of crowd-sourced knowledge. Still, if you want something that feels more like a supported product and less like a nice Amazon score, Apollo has the edge.
Pros & Cons Summary
| Apollo Air 2022 | Hiboy MAX V2 |
|---|---|
| Pros | Pros |
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| Cons | Cons |
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Parameters Comparison
| Parameter | Apollo Air 2022 | Hiboy MAX V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Motor power (rated) | 500 W front hub | 350 W front hub |
| Top speed | ca. 32-35 km/h | ca. 30 km/h |
| Advertised range | ca. 50 km | ca. 27,4 km |
| Realistic range (mixed riding) | ca. 30-37 km | ca. 18-22 km |
| Battery | 36 V 15 Ah (540 Wh) | 36 V ca. 7,5 Ah (270 Wh) |
| Weight | 17,6 kg | 16,4 kg |
| Brakes | Front drum + rear regen | Front electronic + rear disc |
| Suspension | Front dual fork | Front spring + dual rear shocks |
| Tyres | 10" pneumatic (inner tube) | 8,5" solid (airless) |
| Max load | ca. 100-120 kg | 120 kg |
| IP rating | IP54 | Not specified / basic splash |
| Charging time | ca. 7-9 h | ca. 6 h |
| Price (typical street) | ca. 919 € | ca. 450 € |
Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?
If you strip away the marketing and ride these back to back, the decision becomes fairly straightforward. The Apollo Air 2022 is the more complete, grown-up scooter. It rides better, feels safer, has more usable range and is simply more pleasant to live with. It's not perfect-heavier than ideal, a bit pricey, and not the fastest in a straight line-but as a daily commuter it does almost everything you actually need, with a level of refinement many rivals miss.
The Hiboy MAX V2 is more of a calculated compromise. For the money, it gives you a decent turn of speed, a taste of suspension, and the sweet relief of never dealing with flats. But you pay in other currencies: comfort, refinement, grip, and real-world range. It's a decent starter scooter for flat, fairly smooth city use and short distances, especially if you're nervous about maintenance and cash outlay.
If your commute is more than a quick hop, involves patchy surfaces or wet weather, and you see yourself riding most days of the week, the Apollo Air 2022 is the smarter long-term choice even if it stings the wallet upfront. If your budget drawbridge is firmly closed and you just need the cheapest reasonably capable machine to replace a few short bus rides, the Hiboy MAX V2 can do the job-as long as you understand where it cuts corners to get there.
Numbers Freaks Corner
| Metric | Apollo Air 2022 | Hiboy MAX V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price per Wh (€/Wh) | ❌ 1,70 €/Wh | ✅ 1,67 €/Wh |
| Price per km/h of top speed (€/km/h) | ❌ 26,26 €/km/h | ✅ 15,00 €/km/h |
| Weight per Wh (g/Wh) | ✅ 32,59 g/Wh | ❌ 60,74 g/Wh |
| Weight per km/h (kg/km/h) | ✅ 0,50 kg/km/h | ❌ 0,55 kg/km/h |
| Price per km of real-world range (€/km) | ❌ 27,44 €/km | ✅ 22,50 €/km |
| Weight per km of real-world range (kg/km) | ✅ 0,53 kg/km | ❌ 0,82 kg/km |
| Wh per km efficiency (Wh/km) | ❌ 16,12 Wh/km | ✅ 13,50 Wh/km |
| Power to max speed ratio (W/km/h) | ✅ 14,29 W/km/h | ❌ 11,67 W/km/h |
| Weight to power ratio (kg/W) | ✅ 0,0352 kg/W | ❌ 0,0469 kg/W |
| Average charging speed (W) | ✅ 67,50 W | ❌ 45,00 W |
These metrics look purely at how efficiently each scooter converts weight, money and energy into speed, range and power. Lower cost per Wh or per kilometre favours budget efficiency; lower weight per Wh or per km/h shows which scooter packs performance into less mass. Wh per km reflects how gently a scooter sips its battery, while weight-to-power and power-to-speed expose how muscular the drivetrain feels relative to the chassis. Charging speed simply tells you how quickly a completely empty battery is likely to be ready again.
Author's Category Battle
| Category | Apollo Air 2022 | Hiboy MAX V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | ❌ Slightly heavier overall | ✅ Bit lighter to lift |
| Range | ✅ Easily longer real range | ❌ Short daily radius |
| Max Speed | ✅ Slightly higher top end | ❌ A notch slower |
| Power | ✅ Stronger, more confident pull | ❌ Noticeably weaker motor |
| Battery Size | ✅ Much larger capacity | ❌ Small pack, short legs |
| Suspension | ✅ More controlled, refined front | ❌ Clanky, budget-feel shocks |
| Design | ✅ Clean, integrated, grown-up | ❌ Generic, more utilitarian |
| Safety | ✅ Better grip and stability | ❌ Solid tyres, less traction |
| Practicality | ❌ Bulkier, harder to stash | ✅ Easier to fold and store |
| Comfort | ✅ Noticeably smoother ride | ❌ Harsher, more vibration |
| Features | ✅ App, regen, good basics | ✅ App, lights, cruise |
| Serviceability | ✅ Better documented, supported | ❌ More DIY, budget support |
| Customer Support | ✅ Stronger brand-side help | ❌ Acceptable, but weaker |
| Fun Factor | ✅ Plush, confidence-inspiring fun | ❌ Fun but limited, buzzy |
| Build Quality | ✅ Solid, low-rattle chassis | ❌ Feels cheaper, loosens sooner |
| Component Quality | ✅ Better chosen components | ❌ More cost-cutting evident |
| Brand Name | ✅ Premium, enthusiast-respected | ❌ Mass-budget perception |
| Community | ✅ Strong, active owner base | ✅ Large, mod-happy user base |
| Lights (visibility) | ❌ Basic, nothing flashy | ✅ Excellent side visibility |
| Lights (illumination) | ❌ Adequate, needs supplementing | ❌ Also needs extra front light |
| Acceleration | ✅ Brisk, confidence-building | ❌ Gentle, somewhat sluggish |
| Arrive with smile factor | ✅ Smooth, composed happiness | ❌ Smile mostly from savings |
| Arrive relaxed factor | ✅ Less fatigue, more zen | ❌ More buzz, more tension |
| Charging speed (experience) | ❌ Longer for full refill | ✅ Slightly quicker turnaround |
| Reliability | ✅ Strong chassis, sane loads | ❌ More wear, more clanks |
| Folded practicality | ❌ Wide bars, awkward shape | ✅ Compact triangle package |
| Ease of transport | ❌ Heavier, bulkier carry | ✅ Easier on stairs, trains |
| Handling | ✅ Stable, confidence-inspiring | ❌ Twitchier on bad surfaces |
| Braking performance | ✅ Strong, predictable, low fuss | ❌ Adequate, less refined |
| Riding position | ✅ Comfortable stance, good bars | ❌ Fixed height limits comfort |
| Handlebar quality | ✅ Wide, solid, ergonomic | ❌ More basic, less planted |
| Throttle response | ✅ Linear, well-tuned curve | ❌ Bland, somewhat dulled |
| Dashboard/Display | ✅ Clean, well integrated | ❌ Harder to read in sun |
| Security (locking) | ✅ Good frame points, app | ✅ App lock, lockable frame |
| Weather protection | ✅ IP54, safer in drizzle | ❌ Less clearly protected |
| Resale value | ✅ Holds value reasonably | ❌ Budget scooter depreciation |
| Tuning potential | ✅ Enthusiast community tweaks | ❌ Limited worthwhile upgrades |
| Ease of maintenance | ✅ Drum + regen, simple care | ✅ No flats, easy basics |
| Value for Money | ✅ Worth premium for commuters | ✅ Strong for tight budgets |
Overall Winner Declaration
In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the APOLLO Air 2022 scores 6 points against the HIBOY MAX V2's 4. In the Author's Category Battle, the APOLLO Air 2022 gets 32 ✅ versus 11 ✅ for HIBOY MAX V2 (with a few ties sprinkled in).
Totals: APOLLO Air 2022 scores 38, HIBOY MAX V2 scores 15.
Based on the scoring, the APOLLO Air 2022 is our overall winner. Between these two, the Apollo Air 2022 simply feels more like a partner in your daily routine: calmer, sturdier, more assured when the road or the weather misbehaves. It's the scooter you grow into rather than grow out of, even if it never quite sets your hair on fire. The Hiboy MAX V2 earns respect for making electric scootering accessible, but once you've tasted something as composed as the Apollo, it's hard to go back. If you can swing the extra cost, your future self-knees, nerves and all-will be happier on the Apollo.
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.