Apollo Air 2022 vs Joyor F5S+: Plush Premium Commuter Takes on the "Spec Monster" Underdog

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

The Apollo Air 2022 is the better overall scooter for most everyday commuters: it rides more comfortably, feels more solid, and inspires noticeably more confidence at speed and in bad pavement than the Joyor F5S+. If your priority is a calm, comfortable, "real vehicle" feel, the Apollo is the safer bet.

The Joyor F5S+ suits riders who obsess over range, power and price efficiency in a light, compact package and are willing to accept harsher ride quality, smaller wheels and some compromises in refinement. It's tempting on paper and for stairs + public transport, less convincing if your city's roads look like they lost a war.

If you can, read on before deciding - the spec sheets tell one story, but how these two actually feel on the road is a very different tale.

Electric scooter buyers love a good dilemma, and this one is classic: on one side, the Apollo Air 2022, a "premium commuter" that promises car-like composure in a relatively compact body. On the other, the Joyor F5S+, a lightweight 48 V hotshot that shouts "value" and waves a very persuasive spec sheet.

I've spent time on both of these on the same set of urban routes: broken bike lanes, patchy tarmac, cobbles, tram tracks, and the occasional "how is this legally a road?" backstreet. One of them makes those kilometres melt away. The other feels more like you're constantly checking the dash, wondering if that good deal was maybe a bit too good.

Both are pitched at serious commuters, not weekend toy riders - but they go about that mission in very different ways. Let's dig in and see which one actually deserves to live in your hallway.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

On paper, these two scooters occupy the same broad commuter segment. Both sit in the mid-range price zone: the Apollo Air 2022 in the upper half, the Joyor F5S+ in the budget-friendly but not bottom-barrel camp. Both offer similar motor power, very usable top speeds, and ranges that will comfortably cover a typical city day.

The Apollo Air clearly aims to be a "grown-up" daily vehicle - something you ride instead of public transport, not just to it. It's for riders who care more about how the scooter feels on rough surfaces and during emergency manoeuvres than about shaving that last couple of kilos or euros.

The Joyor F5S+ goes after a slightly different dream: keep the weight low, keep the price lower, but still deliver proper 48 V punch and respectable range. It's pitched as the multi-modal commuter's secret weapon - foldable, stashable, and quick off the line.

They overlap on the same customer: someone who wants a capable commuter that isn't a 25 kg monster. But how they balance comfort, safety, portability and value is almost opposite - which is exactly why this comparison matters.

Design & Build Quality

Pick up the Apollo Air 2022 and the first impression is very "single piece of metal". The chassis casting, hidden cables and tidy stem give it a cohesive, almost automotive look. It feels like a product that went through actual design meetings rather than a catalogue. The rubber deck, integrated display and solid latch all add to that "finished" feel.

With the Joyor F5S+, the vibe is more "honest hardware". Aviation-grade aluminium, yes, but the overall styling is utilitarian: straight tubes, visible bolts, a telescopic stem and folding bars - practical, slightly old-school, not exactly something you'd display in a modern lobby. It doesn't feel flimsy, but there's less of that premium density and more of the familiar mid-range scooter creak if you start hunting for flex.

In hand, the Apollo's cockpit feels cleaner and more solid. The wide, non-folding handlebar inspires confidence; the grips and controls feel made for daily use. Joyor's folding bars and telescopic stem add versatility but also more potential play points. After a few hundred kilometres, it's usually the Joyor where you start chasing little rattles with an Allen key.

Design philosophy in a sentence: Apollo sets out to feel like a compact vehicle; Joyor sets out to be a clever tool. Both succeed at their goals, but the Apollo simply feels more sorted and future-proof when you look closely.

Ride Comfort & Handling

This is where the gap between them really opens up.

The Apollo Air's front fork suspension combined with big air-filled tyres gives it a genuinely plush character. Hit a patch of cracked asphalt at full speed and you feel the impact, but your knees don't immediately file a complaint. The wide bar and stable geometry make it easy to pick a line and hold it, even when the bike lane starts resembling a cheese grater. Long rides stay surprisingly civilised.

The Joyor F5S+ fights a tougher physics battle: smaller wheels, a mixed tyre setup with a solid rear, and a shorter, lighter chassis. The triple-point suspension (front plus twin rear) works hard and does better than you'd expect from such a compact machine, but it can't fully hide the fact you've only got 8-inch rubber dealing with real-world potholes. On smooth tarmac it's almost silky; on cobbles or broken concrete you're very aware of the surface. The rear solid tyre, even with suspension, sends more sharpness into the deck than the Apollo's fully pneumatic setup.

In terms of handling, both turn willingly, but the character is different. The Apollo feels planted and progressive - lean in, it tracks your input calmly. On the Joyor, the steering is quicker and a touch twitchier at higher speed; the shorter wheelbase and narrower deck keep it nimble but also more "busy" under you. Fine when you're fresh, less relaxing after a long day and a long ride.

If your city is mostly smooth and you value agility in tight spaces, the Joyor is acceptable. If your commute includes broken paths, tram tracks or dodgy repairs, the Apollo is kinder to both nerves and joints by a noticeable margin.

Performance

Both scooters share similar nominal motor power, but they express it very differently.

The Joyor's 48 V system and light frame give it a snappy, eager feel. From a traffic light, it jumps off the line with real enthusiasm; on flat ground it happily cruises at its upper speed range when unlocked, and it holds pace better than you'd expect on moderate hills. For a compact commuter, it actually feels a bit mischievous - there's that "oh, this pulls better than it looks" moment the first time you open it up.

The Apollo Air, running a lower-voltage system but with a more mature tune, feels less dramatic and more composed. Acceleration is still brisk enough to beat bicycles and keep up with the flow, but power delivery is smoother and more linear. It doesn't shove, it pushes. Hill performance is respectable for typical city gradients, though the Joyor does feel a bit more willing on steeper ramps when both are fully charged.

Top-speed sensation is another interesting contrast. On the Apollo, approaching its upper speed range feels controlled; the chassis and big tyres keep everything stable enough that you're focusing on traffic, not on keeping the scooter in a straight line. On the Joyor, those same speeds feel more "busy": the small wheels, narrower stance and light weight mean every crack and gust of wind makes more of an appearance in your hands.

Braking performance reflects the same story. Apollo's combo of front drum and strong, well-tuned regen in the rear gives you progressive, predictable stops. On the Joyor you get a basic rear drum and some regen help - adequate for the scooter's size, but it doesn't generate quite the same "I can stop on a dime if I need to" confidence, especially in emergency situations or wet surfaces.

Battery & Range

Range anxiety is where the Joyor F5S+ looks very tempting. For its weight, its real-world range is impressive: it will comfortably do a medium commute both ways with some detours, without nudging the panic threshold. Commuters with 10-12 km each way will likely survive a day of errands plus the ride home without sweating the gauge.

The Apollo Air's battery is larger in absolute capacity, and in realistic use it sits in the same ballpark for daily practicality: most riders will see a solid commuting day out of it, especially if they're not running flat-out the entire time. Push it hard in sport mode on hilly terrain and you'll see the upper half of the charge vanish faster than the brochure implies, but that's hardly unique to Apollo.

Efficiency-wise, the Joyor does a decent job thanks to its 48 V system and lighter frame, but the smaller wheel diameter, more aggressive riding style it encourages, and that solid rear tyre mean you don't magically double your autonomy versus the Apollo. In real life, both will satisfy typical urban users; the Joyor might eke out a bit more distance per charge if ridden gently, but the margin isn't as dramatic as the marketing suggests.

Charging times are broadly similar overnight affairs. You plug either one in after work and wake up to a full tank. The Joyor's slightly smaller battery charges a bit quicker, but not enough to be a life-changing difference.

Portability & Practicality

Here the Joyor F5S+ has a very real advantage, at least on paper and when you're on stairs.

Its lower weight and clever folding package make it easy to live with in tight spaces. The stem collapses, the bars fold, and suddenly you're holding a compact bundle that actually fits under a train seat or in a wardrobe. Carrying it up a couple of flights is manageable for most adults; carrying it across a big station is tiring but doable.

The Apollo Air 2022, despite the "Air" name, is not exactly feathery. Carrying it up one or two flights is fine; doing that daily with groceries becomes a gym routine you didn't plan for. The non-folding handlebars also mean the folded package is quite long and wide - under some desks or in crowded trains it's simply awkward. You feel you're bringing a small vehicle, not luggage.

Day-to-day practicality, though, is more nuanced. On the road, the Apollo's bigger wheels and more stable chassis are simply easier to live with when surfaces are poor. You spend less time swerving around small defects and more time just... riding. On the Joyor, you must pay more attention to potholes, lips and tram tracks - that constant micro-management is mental load, and it adds up over hundreds of kilometres.

If your commute is multi-modal - stairs, metro, office corridors - the Joyor has the edge. If you mostly roll from front door to destination on your own wheels and rarely need to carry the scooter, the Apollo's "bulk" quickly becomes a non-issue compared to its ride comfort.

Safety

Safety is where the Apollo quietly justifies a big part of its price tag.

The combination of larger pneumatic tyres, front suspension, wide bar and dual braking system gives it a safety margin you can feel. Emergency braking feels controlled; the regen plus drum setup helps keep the scooter straight. The chassis doesn't twist or shudder when you grab a fistful of lever. At night, the high-mounted front light is placed where other road users actually expect headlights to be, which helps more than the lumen rating suggests (though serious night riders will still appreciate an extra light).

The Joyor is not unsafe, but the compromises are more obvious. The rear solid tyre has fantastic puncture resistance but is less forgiving on wet metal, paint and polished stone - it will step out earlier than a pneumatic. The single rear drum is fine in normal use, but it doesn't have the same authority when you really need to scrub speed in a hurry. The front light, mounted low, does a decent job of lighting the road close ahead but isn't as visible to drivers in taller vehicles.

Stability at speed is the big separator. The Apollo's geometry and wheel size make its top speed feel well within its comfort zone. On the Joyor, you're more aware of your speed in a slightly "I should keep both hands firmly on the bar now" way. It's not terrifying, but it doesn't encourage complacency - which some might argue is a feature, but for commuting I prefer calm predictability over constant awareness of the scooter's limits.

Community Feedback

Price & Value

The Joyor F5S+ is undeniably cheaper at the till and looks astonishingly good on a spec-per-euro spreadsheet. Higher system voltage, similar power, decent range, full suspension and light weight - all for a mid-range price that undercuts the Apollo by a healthy margin. If you're counting euros first and foremost, it's easy to be seduced.

The Apollo Air 2022 asks you to pay a clear premium for something much harder to quantify in a catalogue: refinement. The frame quality, the feeling of solidity, the calmer handling, the better brake tuning, the more mature ergonomics - none of these explode off a spec sheet, but you notice them every time you ride in less-than-perfect conditions.

In the short term, the Joyor maximises numbers for the price. In the medium to long term, the Apollo's more robust construction, better out-of-the-box ride and stronger brand support make it feel like the safer "daily vehicle" investment, especially if you're clocking serious annual mileage.

Service & Parts Availability

Apollo and Joyor both have a much better support presence than nameless online brands, but they play to different strengths.

Apollo has invested heavily in after-sales infrastructure and community. Parts availability, documentation and user communities are strong, and their higher-end positioning usually translates into more attentive customer service - particularly in markets where they've built brand presence. For European riders, support often goes via partners, but the structure is there.

Joyor, meanwhile, is well established in Europe with local dealers and parts floating around for their F-series. Mechanically, the scooters are straightforward: simple electrics, basic controllers, standard-sized tyres and brakes. Any competent scooter shop can keep an F5S+ running, and spares aren't hard to track down.

Both are far better bets than buying a random white-label clone. Between the two, Apollo edges it on "polished" support experience; Joyor counters with simple, easily fixable hardware that doesn't tend to be fussy - though it can also feel a generation behind in refinement.

Pros & Cons Summary

Parameters Comparison

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

If I strip this down to ride feel, confidence and daily livability on real city streets, the Apollo Air 2022 comes out ahead. It's not exciting on paper, but it's quietly competent in a way that matters when you're riding tired, in the rain, or dodging traffic. The bigger tyres, calmer chassis and better brake setup make it feel like a scooter designed to look after you, not just impress your spreadsheet.

The Joyor F5S+ is the better choice for a very specific rider: someone with a tight budget who still wants decent performance, lives in a flat city with mainly good surfaces, and regularly has to carry the scooter up stairs or onto trains. In that scenario, the light weight and compact fold make genuine sense, and the dynamic, 48 V punch keeps the rides enjoyable - as long as you respect its smaller wheels and more basic braking.

For everyone else - especially riders dealing with rough roads, wet weather or longer, faster commutes - the Apollo Air 2022 is the more complete, confidence-inspiring package. It may not be the spec monster in this pairing, but it's the scooter I'd rather stand on when things get messy.

Numbers Freaks Corner

These metrics strip away feelings and focus purely on arithmetic. Price-per-Wh and price-per-km/h tell you how much performance and battery you get for each euro. Weight-related metrics show how efficiently each scooter turns mass into speed and range. Wh/km reflects energy efficiency in the real world. Power-to-speed and weight-to-power ratios hint at how "stressed" the motor is at its top speed. Finally, average charging speed shows which scooter adds range faster while plugged in - useful if you often recharge on a schedule.

Author's Category Battle

Overall Winner Declaration

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the APOLLO Air 2022 scores 2 points against the JOYOR F5S+'s 8. In the Author's Category Battle, the APOLLO Air 2022 gets 26 ✅ versus 17 ✅ for JOYOR F5S+ (with a few ties sprinkled in).

Totals: APOLLO Air 2022 scores 28, JOYOR F5S+ scores 25.

Based on the scoring, the APOLLO Air 2022 is our overall winner. For me as a rider, the Apollo Air 2022 is the scooter that feels more like a trustworthy companion and less like a clever compromise. It's calmer, more solid underfoot, and lets you forget about the scooter and just ride - even when the road or weather aren't playing nice. The Joyor F5S+ has its charms and makes a strong case if money and portability sit at the top of your list, but once you've spent real time on both, the Apollo simply feels like the more complete, confidence-inspiring machine to live with every day.

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.