Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)
If you actually ride every day on real, imperfect streets, the Apollo Air is the better overall scooter: it feels more solid, more refined, and noticeably more comfortable and confidence-inspiring, especially in bad weather. The Hiboy S2 Pro fights back with a lower price and "never flat" solid tyres, making it tempting if your main priority is saving money and avoiding punctures rather than enjoying the ride.
Pick the Apollo Air if you want something that feels like a proper vehicle and you care about comfort, safety features and long-term quality. Go for the Hiboy S2 Pro if your roads are mostly smooth, your budget is tight, and you'd rather tolerate a harsher ride than ever learn how to fix a flat. Both will get you to work; only one feels like a scooter you'll still like in a year.
Now let's dig into how they really compare when you live with them day after day.
Urban commuters love to pretend all city kilometres are the same. They're not. Some days it's silky tarmac, other days it's cracked pavement, surprise potholes, wet tram tracks and a taxi that thinks your lane is also his parking spot. That's where the personality of a scooter really shows.
On paper, the Apollo Air and Hiboy S2 Pro look like they live in the same neighbourhood: similar motor class, similar claimed ranges, both pitched as "serious" commuters rather than toys. In practice, they solve the commuting problem in two very different ways. The Apollo Air aims to be the calm, composed daily partner; the Hiboy S2 Pro shows up shouting "look how cheap and fast I am!" and hopes you don't ask too many questions later.
The Air is for riders who want their scooter to feel like transport. The S2 Pro is for riders who want transport at the lowest possible cost and are willing to compromise to get it. If you're still undecided, keep reading-because how they differ on ride comfort, safety, and long-term ownership is where this comparison really gets interesting.
Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?
Both scooters sit in that popular sweet spot: faster and sturdier than toy-level rentals, but not in the "dual-motor rocket ship" league. They're aimed squarely at city commuters doing anything from a short station hop to a decent cross-town run.
The Apollo Air positions itself as a premium-feel commuter for people who want comfort, safety features, and a bit of tech polish without going into four-figure territory. Think: young professionals, daily office commuters, riders who've tried a cheap scooter and decided they want something that doesn't rattle like loose cutlery.
The Hiboy S2 Pro is the budget hero: more "how much scooter can I get for as little cash as possible?" It targets students, first-time buyers, and practical commuters who care less about finesse and more about: does it go, does it stop, and will it start in the morning without me checking tyre pressure.
They compete because if your budget allows an S2 Pro, with a bit of stretching you can reach the Apollo Air-and the question becomes: is that stretch worth it in daily life?
Design & Build Quality
Put the two side by side and they tell very different design stories.
The Apollo Air feels like a scooter that was designed as a whole object. The unibody frame in thick aluminium, internally routed cables, and integrated display give it a cohesive, almost automotive look. Nothing feels like an afterthought. The stem lock is chunky and reassuring, and once you're rolling there's very little rattle. The plastics and rubber parts feel like they'll age reasonably gracefully rather than going shiny and brittle after one winter.
The Hiboy S2 Pro is more "industrial functionalism." Flat black, red accents, the familiar Xiaomi-style silhouette. It's not ugly, just clearly built to hit a price. The frame is decent enough, welds look generally tidy, but you can tell it's a budget chassis: the hinge and stem area feel less overbuilt, and small rattles tend to appear sooner if you ride hard on rough surfaces. The metal bracket on the rear mudguard is a nice touch-Hiboy clearly learned from broken-fender horror stories-but overall it doesn't give the same solid, unified impression as the Air.
In the hand and under your feet, the Apollo feels like a "one-piece" vehicle; the Hiboy feels like a well-assembled kit. Both are rideable; only one really feels premium.
Ride Comfort & Handling
This is where the difference stops being subtle and starts being "you can feel it in five minutes."
The Apollo Air runs on large, tubeless pneumatic tyres with a front fork suspension. Hit a line of cracked pavement or a patch of rough cobblestones and the Air softens the chatter nicely. It's not magic-carpet suspension, but it turns ugly city surfaces into something your knees can tolerate day after day. The front fork takes the initial hit, the air in the tyres filters out the high-frequency buzz, and the wide bars give you calm, predictable steering. After a few kilometres of bad sidewalks, you still feel like riding.
The Hiboy S2 Pro goes for the opposite recipe: solid honeycomb tyres and a little rear suspension. The rear springs do take the sharp edge off bigger hits, but the tyres transmit far more of the road to your feet and legs. On smooth bike paths, it's fine-actually quite pleasant. The moment you venture onto patched, lumpy city streets, the vibrations go from "I can live with this" to "I should have worn thicker socks." Think more buzzing, more slap over expansion joints, and a general sense that your fillings are getting a workout.
In handling terms, both feel stable enough at their capped commuter speeds, but the Apollo's wider handlebars, planted front end and lower centre of gravity give you a bit more confidence, especially when you need to dodge potholes or dance around traffic. The Hiboy is nimble enough, but doesn't have that same "calm front wheel" feel on rougher stretches, and the solid tyres don't inspire much trust in sketchy conditions.
For comfort and controlled handling on real-world surfaces, the Air is the one you actually look forward to riding.
Performance
On paper, both scooters live in the same performance postcode: mid-class single motors, commuter-grade top speeds. In practice, they have slightly different personalities.
The Apollo Air's motor delivery is very deliberately tuned. It pulls away from lights briskly but never violently; the throttle mapping feels smooth and progressive. You can creep through crowds without that twitchy "all or nothing" behaviour you find on cheaper controllers, and when you open it up in Sport mode, it reaches its top speed in a measured, confident way rather than in a dramatic rush. Hill performance is respectable for a single-motor commuter: standard city inclines and bridges are fine if you're not at the upper end of the weight limit, steeper sustained climbs will make it breathe a bit harder.
The Hiboy S2 Pro has a slightly more eager character off the line. Coming from a 350 W budget scooter, it feels noticeably punchier. It gets to its capped speed with decent enthusiasm and tends to hold that speed reliably on the flat. The cruise control feature is a genuine blessing for longer straight commutes; once engaged you can give your thumb a rest and just steer. On moderate hills, it holds its own better than weaker budget models and doesn't instantly bog down, but it's not some hill-conquering monster either.
Braking is another subtle separator. The Apollo pairs a front drum with a dedicated regen thumb lever. Once you get used to it, you can ride entire commutes barely touching the mechanical brake, modulating speed very smoothly while trickling a bit of energy back into the battery. It feels controlled and, importantly, predictable. The Hiboy links a rear disc with front regen through a single lever, and it stops strongly enough, but the regen can feel a bit abrupt at higher settings. It's effective, just less refined.
In raw "gets from A to B at typical city speeds" terms, they're comparable. In how calm and controlled that performance feels, the Apollo quietly edges ahead.
Battery & Range
Both brands quote optimistic ranges, as is tradition in this industry. Real life is less generous.
The Apollo Air carries a slightly larger battery and matches it with efficient controller tuning and regenerative braking that's actually pleasant to use. In mixed riding-accelerating normally, using top mode when you feel like it, dealing with a few hills-you can expect commutes that sit comfortably in the mid double-digits of kilometres before you start looking for a socket. Ride gently in Eco and you can stretch it further; ride like you're late to everything and you'll still cover a respectable distance before range anxiety knocks.
The Hiboy S2 Pro's pack is smaller, and the scooter sits a little lower on claimed versus realistic distance. Typical real-world reports cluster around the mid-twenties of kilometres when used in its faster mode with stop-start city traffic. That's still enough for most there-and-back commutes in town, but the buffer is thinner. You become more aware of the percentage display if your daily route pushes the longer side of that range, especially in winter or with a heavier rider.
Charging is an overnight affair for both. The S2 Pro replenishes slightly quicker simply because the battery is smaller; the Air takes a bit longer to fill but also gives you a bit more real range in return. Neither is dramatically better; both slot well into the "plug it at home or work and forget" routine.
If you want more cushion against detours, headwinds and cold days, the Apollo's battery setup is the one that feels less tight on margin.
Portability & Practicality
Neither of these is a featherweight, but they're still firmly in "commuter manageable" territory.
The Hiboy S2 Pro is the slightly lighter of the two. Carrying it up one or two flights isn't fun, but it's doable if you're reasonably fit. The folding mechanism is quick and straightforward: drop the stem, hook it to the rear fender, and you've got a compact package that fits easily in a boot or under a desk. The non-folding bars keep things simple and solid but mean it's not as slim as some ultra-portable designs when stowed.
The Apollo Air weighs a bit more, and you notice that if you have to manhandle it up several flights of stairs. The folding latch is beefier and slightly more involved at first, but it becomes second nature after a few days. Once clicked into its rear-fender hook, it's also reasonably tidy to carry, and the extra kilos do at least translate into a more planted feel on the road. Where the Air really wins on practicality is its water resistance: proper high-level sealing means you can shrug at sudden rain instead of nervously babying the deck edges and charge port.
In daily use, both are perfectly usable commuters if you're mixing scootering with trains and lifts. If your routine involves a lot of carrying, the Hiboy's lower weight helps; if your routine involves unpredictable weather and you actually ride in the rain, the Apollo's robustness suddenly becomes very practical indeed.
Safety
Safety isn't just about brakes and lights; it's also about how much faith you have in the scooter when something unexpected happens in front of you.
The Apollo Air takes a very commuter-centric approach. The dual braking setup with the dedicated regen lever lets you manage speed with precision, and the front drum works well as a low-maintenance backup when you need harder stops. The big advantage, though, is overall stability: large air-filled tyres, a low-mounted battery, and a stiff stem give you a reassuringly planted platform. Add in the high water-resistance rating and UL electrical certification, and you've got a scooter that doesn't freak you out when the sky turns grey.
Lighting on the Apollo is also thoughtfully done. A high-mounted headlamp, a responsive rear light, and-importantly-handlebar-end turn indicators. Being able to signal without taking a hand off the bar feels like a small luxury at first; in heavy traffic, it starts to feel essential. Other riders actually notice them, which is more than you can say for most deck-level blinkers.
The Hiboy S2 Pro doesn't embarrass itself in the safety department, but it leans more on "good enough" solutions. Braking performance from the rear disc plus front regen is decent, and the complete lighting package-front, rear, and side lights-means you're not invisible in the dark. Where it stumbles is tyre grip and weather resilience. Solid rubber is simply worse in the wet: painted lines, metal covers and damp cobbles all demand cautious, upright riding. Combine that with only basic splash protection, and it's not a scooter you happily push in bad conditions.
If most of your riding is dry and on clean paths, both can be perfectly safe with sensible riding. If you commute in real cities with real weather, the Apollo's combination of traction, stability and visibility is noticeably more reassuring.
Community Feedback
| Apollo Air | Hiboy S2 Pro |
|---|---|
| What riders love Smooth, "floating" ride; solid build; great regen brake; strong water resistance; excellent app; handlebar turn signals; low maintenance drum + self-healing tyres; clean design; good reliability; comfy ergonomics. |
What riders love No flat tyres ever; strong value for price; surprisingly zippy; good uphill performance for class; bright lighting; app tuning; rear suspension; cruise control; sturdy fender bracket; easy out-of-box setup. |
| What riders complain about Heavier than some single-motor rivals; headlight a bit weak off-grid; folding clip fiddly at first; no rear suspension; app speed unlocking mildly confusing; kickstand angle; limited on very steep hills; pricier than generic 500 W scooters. |
What riders complain about Harsh ride on rough roads; poor wet grip from solid tyres; weight still noticeable on stairs; stem play developing over time; occasional app pairing issues; squeaky rear brake; dim display in bright sun; mixed customer service experiences. |
Price & Value
This is where the Hiboy S2 Pro scores its loudest point: it's simply cheaper. If your budget ceiling is hard and non-negotiable, the S2 Pro offers a lot of scooter for the money: usable speed, reasonable real-world range, and some features (app, rear suspension, solid tyres) that used to be rare in this price band.
The Apollo Air sits notably higher in price, and on a raw-spec sheet you could argue it doesn't look like a bargain: similar motor class, similar top speed territory, single motor only. Where your money actually goes is build quality, ride comfort, water resistance, safety certification, and a level of refinement you feel every day rather than read in a table once.
If you treat an e-scooter like fast fashion, the Hiboy will seem like tremendous value. If you treat it like your daily vehicle, the Apollo starts to look less like "expensive" and more like "sensible long-term spending," especially when you factor in fewer scary wet rides and less fatigue from harsh vibrations.
Service & Parts Availability
Apollo operates more like a proper vehicle brand: structured support channels, a focus on North American and European markets, and a clear push towards long-term product lines rather than churn. Parts for the Air-tyres, brake assemblies, controllers-are obtainable through official channels, and the active community means you'll find guides and troubleshooting help relatively easily. It's not perfect, but you feel like there's a brand standing behind the scooter.
Hiboy, as a high-volume budget player, lives heavily on online sales platforms. That keeps prices low but inevitably means support experiences vary. Many riders do get prompt replacement parts under warranty and decent email support; others report slower responses and more back-and-forth. The upside is a massive user base: there are countless third-party videos and forums showing you how to fix pretty much anything on an S2 Pro, and generic parts (like brake pads, tyres, etc.) are easy to source.
If you want a clean, brand-driven support experience, Apollo is the safer bet. If you're comfortable wielding tools and YouTube, Hiboy is workable-but you're assuming more of the "service department" yourself.
Pros & Cons Summary
| Apollo Air | Hiboy S2 Pro |
|---|---|
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Parameters Comparison
| Parameter | Apollo Air | Hiboy S2 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Motor power (nominal) | 500 W | 500 W |
| Top speed | ca. 34 km/h (region-limited lower) | ca. 30,6 km/h |
| Battery capacity | 540 Wh (36 V 15 Ah) | ca. 418 Wh (36 V 11,6 Ah) |
| Claimed range | bis ca. 54 km | bis ca. 40 km |
| Real-world range (mixed) | ca. 30-35 km | ca. 25-30 km |
| Weight | 18,6 kg | ca. 17,0 kg |
| Brakes | Front drum + rear regen lever | Rear disc + front regen (eABS) |
| Suspension | Front dual-fork | Rear dual shocks |
| Tyres | 10" tubeless pneumatic, self-healing | 10" solid honeycomb |
| Max load | 100 kg (empfohlen) | 100 kg |
| IP rating | IP66 | IPX4 |
| Approx. price | ca. 679 € | ca. 432 € |
Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?
If you take the long view-and you actually care about how your spine, your nerves and your confidence feel after months of commuting-the Apollo Air is the stronger overall choice. It rides more comfortably, copes better with bad surfaces and bad weather, and feels like a cohesive, well-thought-out vehicle rather than just a spec sheet brought to life. It's the scooter that makes you arrive both on time and in a reasonably good mood.
The Hiboy S2 Pro absolutely has its place. If your budget simply won't stretch further, your roads are mostly smooth, and the idea of never fixing a puncture is your personal definition of happiness, it can be a very practical first scooter. Just be honest with yourself: you're trading away comfort, wet grip and some refinement to save money up front.
For the everyday commuter who wants a scooter they can trust and actually enjoy riding, the Apollo Air edges this comparison. The Hiboy S2 Pro is the wallet-friendly workhorse; the Apollo Air is the one that feels more like a proper commuting companion.
Numbers Freaks Corner
| Metric | Apollo Air | Hiboy S2 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price per Wh (€/Wh) | ❌ 1,26 €/Wh | ✅ 1,03 €/Wh |
| Price per km/h of top speed (€/km/h) | ❌ 19,97 €/km/h | ✅ 14,13 €/km/h |
| Weight per Wh (g/Wh) | ✅ 34,44 g/Wh | ❌ 40,71 g/Wh |
| Weight per km/h (kg/km/h) | ✅ 0,55 kg/km/h | ❌ 0,56 kg/km/h |
| Price per km of real-world range (€/km) | ❌ 20,89 €/km | ✅ 15,71 €/km |
| Weight per km of real-world range (kg/km) | ✅ 0,57 kg/km | ❌ 0,62 kg/km |
| Wh per km efficiency (Wh/km) | ❌ 16,62 Wh/km | ✅ 15,20 Wh/km |
| Power to max speed ratio (W/km/h) | ❌ 14,71 W/km/h | ✅ 16,35 W/km/h |
| Weight to power ratio (kg/W) | ❌ 0,037 kg/W | ✅ 0,034 kg/W |
| Average charging speed (W) | ✅ 90,00 W | ❌ 75,02 W |
These metrics strip both scooters down to pure maths: cost against energy, weight against speed and range, and how efficiently each pack turns electrons into kilometres. Lower "per Wh" or "per km" values mean better value or lighter build for the same capacity; efficiency (Wh/km) hints at how far each scooter goes per unit of energy. Ratios like power-to-speed and weight-to-power show how "muscular" a scooter feels relative to its own limitations, while average charging speed tells you how quickly the battery fills in absolute terms.
Author's Category Battle
| Category | Apollo Air | Hiboy S2 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | ❌ Heavier to lug upstairs | ✅ Lighter, easier carries |
| Range | ✅ More real range buffer | ❌ Shorter practical distance |
| Max Speed | ✅ Slightly higher unlocked | ❌ Capped a bit lower |
| Power | ✅ Stronger feel up hills | ❌ Feels closer to limit |
| Battery Size | ✅ Larger capacity pack | ❌ Smaller energy reserve |
| Suspension | ✅ Front fork works better | ❌ Rear only, still harsh |
| Design | ✅ Cleaner, more cohesive look | ❌ Generic, budget aesthetic |
| Safety | ✅ Better grip, higher IP | ❌ Solid tyres, weaker sealing |
| Practicality | ✅ Weatherproof, low daily fuss | ❌ Wet riding more compromised |
| Comfort | ✅ Far smoother over bumps | ❌ Vibrates on rough roads |
| Features | ✅ Turn signals, regen lever, app | ❌ Fewer standout extras |
| Serviceability | ✅ Clear parts, decent support | ❌ More DIY, mixed guidance |
| Customer Support | ✅ More structured, responsive | ❌ Inconsistent experiences reported |
| Fun Factor | ✅ Plush, confidence-inspiring rides | ❌ Fun but fatiguing longer |
| Build Quality | ✅ Feels solid, fewer rattles | ❌ Hinge and stem less robust |
| Component Quality | ✅ Higher-grade, well chosen | ❌ More cost-cutting visible |
| Brand Name | ✅ Growing premium reputation | ❌ Budget marketplace image |
| Community | ✅ Engaged, brand-driven groups | ✅ Huge budget-user base |
| Lights (visibility) | ✅ Turn signals, good layout | ✅ Strong multi-point lighting |
| Lights (illumination) | ❌ Headlight slightly underwhelming | ✅ Brighter road coverage |
| Acceleration | ✅ Smooth yet brisk pull | ❌ Punchy but less refined |
| Arrive with smile factor | ✅ Comfortable, confidence ride | ❌ Can feel beaten up |
| Arrive relaxed factor | ✅ Less vibration, less stress | ❌ Buzzier, especially on rough |
| Charging speed | ✅ Faster per Wh charge | ❌ Slower relative charging |
| Reliability | ✅ Strong recent reliability | ❌ More latch, wobble complaints |
| Folded practicality | ❌ Slightly bulkier, heavier | ✅ Compact, light enough |
| Ease of transport | ❌ Less friendly on long carries | ✅ Friendlier for stairs, lifts |
| Handling | ✅ More planted, wider bars | ❌ Less confidence on rough |
| Braking performance | ✅ Very controllable regen combo | ❌ Strong but less nuanced |
| Riding position | ✅ Roomy deck, ergonomic bars | ❌ Adequate but less refined |
| Handlebar quality | ✅ Wider, ergonomic, solid | ❌ More basic feel |
| Throttle response | ✅ Smooth, customisable curve | ❌ Cruder, less adjustable feel |
| Dashboard/Display | ✅ Clean integrated cockpit | ❌ Simple, sun-wash issues |
| Security (locking) | ✅ App lock plus solid frame | ❌ Basic app lock, budget frame |
| Weather protection | ✅ High IP, wet-road capable | ❌ Limited IP, poor wet grip |
| Resale value | ✅ Holds value better | ❌ Budget gear depreciates faster |
| Tuning potential | ✅ App tuning, strong base | ❌ Limited beyond basics |
| Ease of maintenance | ✅ Drum, self-healing tyres help | ✅ No flats, simple hardware |
| Value for Money | ❌ Higher price, subtler value | ✅ Strong spec for budget |
Overall Winner Declaration
In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the APOLLO Air scores 4 points against the HIBOY S2 Pro's 6. In the Author's Category Battle, the APOLLO Air gets 34 ✅ versus 8 ✅ for HIBOY S2 Pro (with a few ties sprinkled in).
Totals: APOLLO Air scores 38, HIBOY S2 Pro scores 14.
Based on the scoring, the APOLLO Air is our overall winner. In the end, the Apollo Air feels like the more "grown-up" scooter: calmer, more comfortable, and easier to trust when the road or weather turns ugly. The Hiboy S2 Pro gives you a lot for not much money and will happily smash out straightforward commutes, but you're always aware of the compromises under your feet. If you can stretch to it, the Air is the scooter you're more likely to still enjoy riding a year from now. The S2 Pro is the pragmatic choice; the Apollo is the one that actually makes the daily grind feel a little less like a grind.
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.