Fast Answer for Busy Riders β‘ (TL;DR)
The Kaabo Skywalker 8S is the stronger performer on paper - it pulls harder, climbs hills with far more authority, and will happily sit at speeds where the Apollo Air starts to feel like it's working for a living. But for everyday commuting, the Apollo Air is the more rounded, confidence-inspiring scooter: better weather protection, nicer ride quality, higher refinement, and fewer annoying quirks.
Pick the Apollo Air if you want a "real vehicle" feel, ride in mixed weather, value comfort and safety tech, and don't obsess over brutal acceleration. Choose the Kaabo Skywalker 8S if you're power-hungry, deal with serious hills, have somewhere easy to store a heavier scooter, and don't mind a slightly rougher, more old-school experience.
Both can work as daily commuters, but they deliver very different lifestyles. Stick around and we'll unpack which one actually fits yours.
Electric scooters in this price band have grown up. We're no longer choosing between rattly toys and bank-breaking monsters - we're choosing personalities. On one side you've got the Apollo Air, the "grown-up" commuter that wants to be your sensible daily transport. On the other, the Kaabo Skywalker 8S, the compact hot hatch of the scooter world, loudly insisting that commuting should be at least a little bit unwise.
I've spent real kilometres on both: dodging tram tracks, climbing nasty city hills, and discovering exactly how many stairs you regret with each. The Air is the scooter for people who want their life to get easier. The Skywalker 8S is for people who secretly wish rush hour was a time trial.
They cost similar money, they target similar riders, and yet they could not feel more different. Let's dig into where each one shines - and where the marketing gloss starts to crack.
Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?
Both scooters live in the "serious commuter, not total lunatic" class: more expensive and capable than rental-style scooters, but not yet in the land of giant dual-motor beasts that need their own bedroom and a chiropractor.
The Apollo Air is built for the urban commuter who values polish: smooth controls, proper water resistance, predictable handling, and a sense that nothing is about to fall off. It's for the rider who wants their scooter to feel like a small, civilised vehicle, not a science experiment.
The Kaabo Skywalker 8S is aimed at riders who've already tried something milder and found it... boring. It answers the "I need more power, but I still need to fold it and take it inside" brief. Think of it as a compact, slightly over-powered city scooter with a clear bias toward hills and speed.
They overlap heavily on use-case - daily commuting, 5-15 km each way, mostly tarmac, mixed traffic - which is exactly why this comparison matters. On paper they're "alternatives". On the road, they deliver very different days.
Design & Build Quality
Put them side by side and the philosophy clash is obvious.
The Apollo Air looks like it was designed as a whole object: smooth unibody frame, internal cable routing, a neatly integrated display in the stem, and a clean cockpit with that extra left thumb lever for regenerative braking. It's very much "modern gadget meets vehicle", with a restrained grey finish and a few tasteful colour touches. In the hands, it feels solid, with a reassuring lack of creaks or flex.
The Kaabo Skywalker 8S, by contrast, looks like a tool. It's matte, angular, with visible bolts and a standard trigger-throttle LCD combo you've probably seen on half a dozen performance scooters. Cables are wrapped but not hidden, the deck is a big flat plank, and the whole thing exudes "function first". It feels sturdy and rigid underfoot, but there's less of that cohesive, premium vibe and more of the "replaceable parts on a metal frame" aesthetic.
Where the Kaabo does quietly win is in practical design touches: the folding handlebars and adjustable stem make it a Tetris champion in tight hallways or car boots. The Apollo's fixed bar width looks better and feels more stable, but it's definitely less adaptable for storage.
Overall, the Air feels more refined and better finished; the Skywalker 8S feels overbuilt in the old-school Kaabo way, but not particularly modern. One looks like it belongs in a design magazine, the other looks like it wants to live in a workshop - and that sums them up quite well.
Ride Comfort & Handling
This is where they really start to separate.
The Apollo Air runs large 10-inch tubeless pneumatic tyres with a decent volume of air, plus a front fork suspension. No rear suspension, but the big, soft tyres do a lot of work. On typical city rubbish - expansion joints, cracked asphalt, mild cobbles - the Air floats along with that "did I just roll over that?" calm. After several kilometres of broken pavements, my knees and wrists were still in a good mood, which is more than I can say for plenty of similarly sized scooters.
Steering is stable rather than sharp. The wide bars give you plenty of leverage, and the geometry plus low battery placement keep it composed in quick lane changes. At commuter speeds it feels almost boringly predictable - which is exactly what you want when someone steps out in front of you with a latte and zero awareness.
The Skywalker 8S plays a different game. It has suspension at both ends, but sits on smaller 8-inch wheels and a hybrid tyre setup: air-filled at the front, solid at the rear. At low and medium speeds on half-decent tarmac, it's actually very plush. The dual shocks turn manhole covers and joints into mild events, and the wide deck lets you shift your weight to work with the suspension.
The catch? That solid rear tyre. On rougher surfaces and at higher speeds, the back end is noticeably harsher and more skittish than the front. Hit a patch of worn cobblestones and the front glides while the rear politely reminds you that rubber without air transmits everything. It's not spine-destroying, but over several kilometres of bad surface, you'll know. The smaller wheel diameter also makes it less forgiving over sharp edges and deeper potholes than the Apollo's 10-inch setup.
In corners, the Kaabo feels nimble and eager, but on wet or dusty surfaces you're very aware that the rear tyre grips differently from the front. The Air, with its matched pneumatic tyres, feels more consistent and confidence-inspiring, especially for newer riders.
If your city is mostly smooth and you want that "sporty" feel, the Kaabo is fun. If your city planners hate you and love potholes, the Apollo is kinder to your body and your nerves.
Performance
Here's where the Skywalker 8S puts its foot down and doesn't really lift it.
The Apollo Air's motor delivers a very civilised shove. Off the line, it pulls cleanly but never violently. It's quick enough to beat cyclists and keep you ahead of buses without drama, but you're not exactly tearing the fabric of space-time. The controller tuning is nicely linear; you can creep through pedestrians without jerks, and there's a sensible ramp-up as you switch to the sportier mode. On moderate hills it copes, especially for average-weight riders, but on long or steep climbs you feel it slowly giving up the fight, settling into "we'll get there eventually" rather than "hold my drink".
The Kaabo's rear motor, on the other hand, absolutely changes the mood. The first time you pull the trigger fully from a standstill, you get that unmistakable "oh, this one actually goes" moment. It launches harder, reaches its higher cruising speed faster, and keeps pushing on hills where the Apollo is already panting. On steep city climbs that made the Air work, the Skywalker 8S simply powered up at respectable speed, even with a heavier rider on board.
Unlocked, the Skywalker runs noticeably faster than the Air. On empty stretches it will happily hum along at a pace where you start to really appreciate its stiff frame - and also its braking limitations, which we'll get to. The Air, by comparison, feels content in the legal commuter band; once you approach its upper range, it stops feeling like its natural habitat.
One thing in the Apollo's favour: despite the lower outright muscle, it feels more polished in how it delivers power. The Kaabo has that traditional trigger-throttle snappiness - fun, but a bit all-or-nothing until you get used to feathering it. If you're new to stronger scooters, the Skywalker's first few rides will demand some respect from your right index finger.
If raw urge, hill power, and "traffic light launches" matter to you, the Kaabo wins by a clear margin. If you prefer relaxed, predictable pace with smoother control, the Apollo is the calmer companion.
Battery & Range
On paper, their claimed ranges look similar. In the real world, they behave slightly differently but end up in the same ballpark.
The Apollo Air carries a medium-sized battery on a 36 V system that's tuned for efficiency rather than fireworks. Ride in mixed modes, with a sensible mix of eco and sport, and you're looking at a comfortable urban loop with a bit left in the tank. Push it hard in sport all the time and you'll erode that margin, but it still feels like a proper commuter, not something you're constantly nursing home at walking pace.
The regenerative braking on the Air does help a bit in stop-and-go traffic - not miraculous, but enough that you feel you're not wasting every deceleration as pure heat. More importantly, the power delivery stays reasonably consistent until lower down the battery, which keeps it feeling "normal" for most of the ride.
The Skywalker 8S runs a slightly larger battery on a higher-voltage system, which is part of why it hits harder. In everyday use, ridden briskly but not like a teenager on their first scooter, you'll get similar real-world range to the Apollo. The catch is that if you actually use all that extra power - full-throttle blasts, lots of hills, constant high-speed cruising - you'll chew through the battery noticeably faster. It's very easy to ride this scooter in a way that shortens your theoretical range.
Charging times are comparable, though the Kaabo edges ahead slightly in how quickly it refills from empty. Neither supports crazy fast-charging, but both are perfectly happy being charged overnight or during a workday.
In practice: if you ride like a grown-up, both will comfortably handle a normal commute and errands. If you ride the Skywalker like a toy, don't be surprised when it demands the charger sooner than the specs suggested.
Portability & Practicality
Neither of these is a featherweight. The question is what kind of heavy you can live with.
The Apollo Air sits in that "just about carryable" zone. Short flights of stairs? Fine. Into a car boot? Fine. Up several floors every day? You'll start bargaining with yourself about leg day. The folding mechanism is sturdy and secure, though not the quickest I've ever used. When folded, the overall package is clean but the wide, non-folding bars make it a bit awkward in very narrow spaces.
The Skywalker 8S is heavier again and you feel every extra kilogram when lifting it. The difference between "oof" and "are we sure about this?" is not dramatic on paper, but your back absolutely notices it in the real world, especially if you do it more than once a day. On the other hand, once it's folded, it's surprisingly compact: the folding handlebars and slimmer deck width let it disappear under desks, behind doors or in small car boots in a way the Apollo simply cannot match.
For multi-modal commuting (bus or train plus a bit of scooting), I found the Apollo marginally less annoying to manhandle, but the Kaabo easier to actually stash once on board. And if you live in a building with a lift, the extra mass on the Skywalker is less of a problem; if you live in a top-floor walk-up, it becomes a daily reminder of your life choices.
On pure practicality, it really comes down to your stairs and storage: Air is easier to carry; Skywalker 8S is easier to hide.
Safety
This is where the Apollo Air quietly pulls ahead in the "feels like a real vehicle" stakes.
The Air's braking setup combines a front drum brake with a dedicated rear regenerative lever on the left. In daily use, you'll find yourself using that regen lever most of the time - it's smooth, predictable, and lets you modulate speed with very little drama. When you do need a harder stop, the drum engages without the grabby, squealy nonsense so common in cheap disc setups. The result is controlled deceleration that feels well matched to the scooter's performance.
The Kaabo relies on a single rear mechanical disc, assisted by electronic braking through the motor. When it's properly adjusted, it stops respectably, but you're doing all your serious braking from the back wheel of a powerful rear-drive scooter that can go quite a bit faster than the Apollo. Add the smaller wheels and the solid rear tyre, and you have a package that works but never feels as confidence-βinspiring in an emergency stop as a dual-braked, pneumatic-tyred commuter would. You very much want that brake kept in top form.
Lighting is another clear differentiator. The Apollo gives you a high-mounted headlight, a responsive brake light, and - crucially - handlebar-end indicators that are actually visible and usable without yoga moves. Combined with its strong water-resistance rating, it feels designed for real commuting in real weather and traffic.
The Skywalker's lighting is passable but basic: a low-mounted front light, deck lighting and a rear brake light. Fine for being seen in town, not fine for barreling down a dark cycle path at speed without an extra bar-mounted torch. Its wet-weather behaviour is also compromised by that solid rear tyre: grip is okay when you're sensible, but it will spin up or slide earlier than a pneumatic tyre would on slick surfaces.
If you ride in rain, in busy traffic, or at night, the Apollo has a clear safety edge. On dry, well-lit streets at sensible speeds, the Kaabo is adequate - but you're relying more on your own restraint and maintenance habits.
Community Feedback
| Apollo Air | Kaabo Skywalker 8S |
|---|---|
| What riders love | What riders love |
| Smooth, "gliding" ride quality; solid, rattle-free chassis; excellent regen brake; high water resistance; self-healing tubeless tyres; slick app; clear turn signals; low maintenance; modern design; strong reliability. | Punchy acceleration; strong hill-climbing; compact folded size; dual suspension; wide, stable deck; adjustable stem; no rear flats; sturdy feel; perceived "performance for the money". |
| What riders complain about | What riders complain about |
| Heavier than expected for a commuter; headlight too weak for dark routes; no rear suspension; folding latch takes getting used to; kickstand angle; slower on steep hills with heavier riders; price vs generic models. | Hefty weight; reliance on single rear brake; slippery rear tyre in wet; low, weak headlight; occasional port and fender niggles; trigger-throttle finger fatigue; speed unlock menus; some rattles over time. |
Price & Value
Pricing is where the Skywalker 8S tries to make its big argument: for only a few hundred euro more than the Apollo Air, you're getting substantially more motor and a higher-voltage system. On a spec sheet, that looks like a slam dunk - especially if you've been traumatised by underpowered rental scooters on hills.
But value isn't just "watts per euro". The Apollo quietly gives you things that don't shout in marketing: serious water resistance, UL-grade safety certification, tubeless self-healing tyres, a better thought-out lighting and signalling package, and an app that actually adds useful functionality rather than just existing to look modern.
The Kaabo gives you raw performance and a suspension system that, on decent surfaces, feels properly plush for the money. What you trade away is refinement, wet-weather assurance, braking redundancy, and some long-term comfort. There's also the reality that using its extra performance makes its real-world range less generous than the catalogue suggests.
If your main priority is "I want power and I'm not stretching to a dual-motor", the Skywalker 8S can look like very good value. If your priority is a reliable, low-drama daily vehicle that won't nag you with little compromises, the Apollo Air's price starts to make more sense the longer you own it.
Service & Parts Availability
Apollo has invested heavily in the whole "brand plus ecosystem" thing: documentation, app support, active community, and improving service channels in Europe and North America. Parts like tyres, brakes, and stems are specific but obtainable, and there's a clear sense that the Air is a current, supported product rather than last year's leftover.
Kaabo, to their credit, has a strong global footprint and a very active enthusiast community. Skywalker parts - especially shared components like throttles, controllers, and shocks - are relatively easy to track down, and there's no shortage of third-party guides on adjustment and repair. However, support quality can vary heavily by distributor, and the 8S sits in that slightly awkward space of being neither a flagship nor truly "new". It's still supported, but it doesn't feel like the poster child of the range anymore.
If you're comfortable doing your own basic maintenance, either is workable. If you want stronger, brand-managed after-sales structure - especially in wetter, regulation-heavier European markets - the Apollo ecosystem has the edge.
Pros & Cons Summary
| Apollo Air | Kaabo Skywalker 8S |
|---|---|
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Cons
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Parameters Comparison
| Parameter | Apollo Air | Kaabo Skywalker 8S |
|---|---|---|
| Motor power (nominal) | 500 W front hub | 800 W rear hub |
| Top speed (unlocked, approx.) | Ca. 34 km/h | Ca. 40 km/h |
| Realistic range | Ca. 30-35 km | Ca. 30-35 km |
| Battery | 36 V 15 Ah (540 Wh) | 48 V 13 Ah (624 Wh) |
| Weight | 18,6 kg | 22,0 kg |
| Brakes | Front drum + rear regen | Rear disc + E-ABS |
| Suspension | Front fork | Front & rear spring shocks |
| Tyres | 10" tubeless pneumatic, both wheels | Front 8" pneumatic, rear 8" solid |
| Max load | Ca. 100 kg | Ca. 120 kg |
| IP rating | IP66 | Not officially specified / lower |
| Price (approx.) | Ca. 679 β¬ | Ca. 869 β¬ |
Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?
After living with both, this is one of those "head versus gut" comparisons.
The Kaabo Skywalker 8S absolutely appeals to the gut: it's the quicker, stronger, more eager scooter. If your life involves steep hills, heavier loads, or you simply find most commuter scooters boring, it delivers the kind of shove that makes even dull routes more engaging. It folds down small, feels tough, and gives you plenty of upgrade paths if you enjoy tinkering.
The Apollo Air, on the other hand, quietly wins the grown-up contest. It rides more comfortably on real city surfaces, behaves better in the wet, stops more reassuringly, and integrates safety and usability features that you appreciate more with every week of ownership. It's less thrilling, yes, but far more rounded as a day-in, day-out transport tool.
If you're a performance-leaning rider with minimal stairs, mostly dry riding, and a love of torque, the Skywalker 8S will make you grin. But if I had to recommend one scooter to the average urban commuter - the person who just wants something that feels safe, sorted and relatively stress-free - the Apollo Air is the one I'd actually put under them.
Numbers Freaks Corner
| Metric | Apollo Air | Kaabo Skywalker 8S |
|---|---|---|
| Price per Wh (β¬/Wh) | β 1,26 β¬/Wh | β 1,39 β¬/Wh |
| Price per km/h of top speed (β¬/km/h) | β 20,00 β¬/km/h | β 21,73 β¬/km/h |
| Weight per Wh (g/Wh) | β 34,44 g/Wh | β 35,26 g/Wh |
| Weight per km/h (kg/km/h) | β 0,55 kg/km/h | β 0,55 kg/km/h |
| Price per km of real-world range (β¬/km) | β 21,22 β¬/km | β 27,16 β¬/km |
| Weight per km of real-world range (kg/km) | β 0,58 kg/km | β 0,69 kg/km |
| Wh per km efficiency (Wh/km) | β 16,88 Wh/km | β 19,50 Wh/km |
| Power to max speed ratio (W/km/h) | β 14,71 W/km/h | β 20,00 W/km/h |
| Weight to power ratio (kg/W) | β 0,0372 kg/W | β 0,0275 kg/W |
| Average charging speed (W) | β 90 W | β 125 W |
These metrics put numbers to different efficiency and performance angles. Price-per-Wh and price-per-km/h show how much you're paying for energy storage and speed potential. Weight-related metrics reveal how "dense" each scooter is in terms of battery and performance per kilogram. Wh per km gives you a feel for how frugal each scooter is in real use. Power-to-speed and weight-to-power ratios highlight how aggressively a scooter is set up for performance, while average charging speed hints at how quickly you can realistically get back on the road.
Author's Category Battle
| Category | Apollo Air | Kaabo Skywalker 8S |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | β Lighter, easier to haul | β Noticeably heavier overall |
| Range | β Efficient, realistic range | β Similar real-world distance |
| Max Speed | β Lower top cruising speed | β Faster when unlocked |
| Power | β Adequate, not thrilling | β Stronger motor, more shove |
| Battery Size | β Slightly smaller capacity | β Larger, higher voltage |
| Suspension | β Front only, no rear | β Dual suspension system |
| Design | β Modern, integrated aesthetics | β More utilitarian, dated |
| Safety | β Better brakes, signals, IP | β Single brake, weaker wet grip |
| Practicality | β Great daily commuter bias | β Heavier, more compromises |
| Comfort | β 10" pneumatics, very plush | β Solid rear, small wheels |
| Features | β App, regen lever, signals | β Basic display, fewer extras |
| Serviceability | β Clean layout, mainstream parts | β Simple, modular, common parts |
| Customer Support | β Strong brand-led support | β Heavily dealer-dependent |
| Fun Factor | β Calm, sensible character | β Punchy, playful torque |
| Build Quality | β Solid, refined construction | β Sturdy, rugged frame |
| Component Quality | β Thoughtful, higher-spec details | β More generic, cost-cut bits |
| Brand Name | β Strong commuter reputation | β Big name in performance |
| Community | β Active, commuter-focused | β Large, enthusiast community |
| Lights (visibility) | β Turn signals, high mounting | β Low headlight, basic setup |
| Lights (illumination) | β Needs extra for dark paths | β Also needs added light |
| Acceleration | β Gentle, controlled pull | β Much stronger off the line |
| Arrive with smile factor | β Smooth, stress-free journeys | β Grins from brisk performance |
| Arrive relaxed factor | β Very relaxed, predictable | β More demanding at speed |
| Charging speed | β Slower to refill | β Faster full recharge |
| Reliability | β Strong track record | β Generally robust platform |
| Folded practicality | β Wide bars limit options | β Folds very compact |
| Ease of transport | β Lighter, easier to lift | β Heavy, awkward upstairs |
| Handling | β Stable, confidence-inspiring | β Rear grip less consistent |
| Braking performance | β Dual system, very controlled | β Single rear, more marginal |
| Riding position | β Natural stance, good ergonomics | β Adjustable height helps fit |
| Handlebar quality | β Wide, ergonomic, solid | β Folding joints, more flex |
| Throttle response | β Smooth, well-tuned curve | β Snappier, less refined |
| Dashboard/Display | β Integrated, clean look | β Generic trigger display |
| Security (locking) | β App lock plus physical | β No integrated digital lock |
| Weather protection | β High IP, rain-capable | β Less robust in heavy rain |
| Resale value | β Desirable commuter platform | β Niche, older-style model |
| Tuning potential | β More closed ecosystem | β Common parts, tweak-friendly |
| Ease of maintenance | β Tubeless, drum, low fuss | β Solid tyre harsh, disc setup |
| Value for Money | β Strong overall package | β Performance good, compromises big |
Overall Winner Declaration
In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the APOLLO Air scores 7 points against the KAABO Skywalker 8S's 4. In the Author's Category Battle, the APOLLO Air gets 29 β versus 17 β for KAABO Skywalker 8S (with a few ties sprinkled in).
Totals: APOLLO Air scores 36, KAABO Skywalker 8S scores 21.
Based on the scoring, the APOLLO Air is our overall winner. Between these two, the Apollo Air simply feels more like a complete, well-resolved everyday vehicle, even if it never tries to impress you with drama. The Skywalker 8S brings the fireworks, but also asks you to live with more compromises, more quirks, and a bit more vigilance. If you want your scooter to quietly make your life easier while still being enjoyable, the Air is the one that will keep earning its place. The Kaabo will absolutely make you grin on the right roads - but the Apollo is the one I'd trust for the boring, important rides in between.
That's our verdict when we try to stay objective β but hey, riding is mostly about emotions anyway, so pick the one that will make you look forward to your commute every single day.