Apollo City 2022 vs KingSong KS-N14 - Which "Almost-Premium" Commuter Scooter Actually Deserves Your Money?

APOLLO City 2022 🏆 Winner
APOLLO

City 2022

1 145 € View full specs →
VS
KINGSONG KS-N14
KINGSONG

KS-N14

658 € View full specs →
Parameter APOLLO City 2022 KINGSONG KS-N14
Price 1 145 € 658 €
🏎 Top Speed 44 km/h 40 km/h
🔋 Range 45 km 40 km
Weight 26.0 kg 21.7 kg
Power 2000 W 900 W
🔌 Voltage 48 V 48 V
🔋 Battery 650 Wh 500 Wh
Wheel Size 10 " 10 "
👤 Max Load 100 kg 120 kg
Speed Comparison

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

The overall winner here is the KingSong KS-N14 - it delivers a smoother value equation: solid performance, proper dual suspension, and serious safety hardware at a noticeably lower price. It feels like a no-nonsense commuter tool that just happens to ride quite nicely.

The Apollo City 2022 (Pro) makes sense if you genuinely need stronger acceleration, better water protection, and a more integrated, polished design - and you are willing to pay extra and live with more weight. It's the more "techy" and refined of the two, but also the pricier gamble.

If your budget has hard edges and you mostly ride typical urban distances on normal roads, the KingSong is the smarter buy. If you want a sleeker, more feature-rich scooter and don't mind paying near "premium" money for mid-tier performance, the Apollo has its charm.

Stick around - the real differences only appear once we talk ride feel, hills, knees, and daily annoyances.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

APOLLO City 2022KINGSONG KS-N14

Both the Apollo City 2022 and the KingSong KS-N14 live in that "serious commuter" class: big enough to feel like real vehicles, small enough to fold under a desk, powerful enough to keep up with busy bike lanes without turning you into a YouTube crash compilation.

The Apollo City 2022 Pro version aims at the upper mid-range commuter who wants something that looks slick in an office lobby, shrugs off rain, and has the punch to tackle steeper hills without grumbling. Think: ex-Xiaomi rider with a bit more budget and a taste for design and app features.

The KingSong KS-N14 plays the "value adult" card: proper 48 V system, dual suspension, strong brakes, and a respectable top speed - all at a price where many brands are still selling rigid frames and weak motors. It's for riders who want comfort and competence more than they want bragging rights.

They overlap heavily in target use case - daily commuting of roughly a dozen kilometres each way - which makes them natural rivals. On paper they're in different price leagues, but in the real world they're two answers to the same question: "What do I buy after I outgrow my rental scooter?"

Design & Build Quality

Specs Comparison

Park them side by side and the Apollo looks like the designer scooter, the KingSong like the engineer's scooter.

The Apollo City 2022 goes hard on integration. The frame flows in one continuous line, cables are mostly hidden, the deck is a single rubberised slab you can wipe clean with a paper towel, and even the display is neatly sunk into the cockpit. It feels like a consumer product designed from scratch, not a catalogue frame with parts bolted on. In the hands, it's dense, with very little flex and a reassuringly overbuilt stem latch.

The KingSong KS-N14 looks more conventional but not cheap. Matte aluminium, visible yet tidy cabling and a practical, wide deck with embedded rubber grip. It doesn't try to wow you, it just quietly does the fundamentals right: no creaks, minimal play in the folding joint, and a cockpit that feels more "tool" than "gadget". If the Apollo is the modern smartphone of scooters, the KingSong is the sturdy work phone that bounces once when you drop it and shrugs it off.

In the hand, the Apollo feels more premium, but also more proprietary - a lot of what you see is Apollo-specific hardware. The KingSong feels slightly more generic but also more straightforward to live with if you ever need third-party parts or DIY fixes.

Ride Comfort & Handling

Both scooters promise comfort, and both deliver - but with slightly different flavours.

The Apollo City 2022 leans into that "floating" marketing line, and to be fair, it's not entirely hyperbole. With a sprung setup at both ends and chunky self-healing tubeless tyres, it takes the sting out of potholes and the chatter out of old asphalt. On typical city bike lanes, you get that gentle bobbing sensation, not the teeth-rattling thumps of cheap commuters. The wide handlebars and long-ish wheelbase give it a planted, grown-up feel when you start leaning into corners.

The KingSong KS-N14 is perhaps less "plush sofa", more "good mid-range car". Its dual spring suspension genuinely works - you can see and feel it compressing over manhole covers and curb lips - and the 10-inch pneumatic tyres soak up a lot of micro-vibration. On broken pavements or cobblestones, the N14 holds its own surprisingly well; you notice more movement in the chassis than on the Apollo, but not in a bad way. It just feels a touch less damped, a bit more straightforwardly mechanical.

Handling wise, the Apollo feels slightly more refined at higher speeds - the long deck and wider cockpit encourage confident carving. The KingSong is nimble and predictable, with a nice neutral steering feel, but you're more aware that you're on a mid-weight, single-motor commuter rather than something edging into "mini-moto" territory. On tight urban slaloms around pedestrians and parked cars, the N14's slightly lower weight actually makes it the easier scooter to thread through gaps.

Performance

Let's talk about how they actually move, not what the spec sheets shout.

In dual-motor Apollo City Pro form, you get that immediate "oh, okay" moment when you punch the throttle. The scooter lunges forward with proper intent, the kind of pull that snaps you out of Monday morning mode and reminds you your helmet strap should really be tight. At city speeds it has plenty in reserve - overtaking cyclists and slower scooters takes a light flick of the thumb, not a prayer and a headwind calculation. On steeper climbs it doesn't exactly laugh, but it keeps a solid pace without drama.

The KingSong KS-N14 is more measured but still lively. Its motor wakes up quickly off the line - no rental-style hesitation - and up to the mid-20s km/h it feels eager, almost sprightly. Push beyond that and you feel it gradually working harder; it will stretch into the higher thirties when unlocked, but it's more "confident commuter" than "secret street racer". On medium hills it holds a reasonable tempo; on sustained steep grades you'll feel it slow but not surrender, as long as you're not pushing the weight limit.

Braking is where both scooters impress, albeit differently. Apollo uses dual drum brakes with a dedicated regen thumb control. In practice, you mostly ride with one finger on the throttle and one thumb on the regen, adjusting your speed almost like a one-pedal EV. It's smooth, predictable, and saves the mechanical drums for real emergencies. Stopping power is strong enough to make anything loose in your backpack lurch forwards.

The KingSong counters with a hybrid system: front drum, rear disc, plus electronic ABS. Grab a big handful of lever and the scooter scrubs speed in a surprisingly controlled, drama-free way. The ABS is subtle but noticeable if you brake hard on slick surfaces - instead of a sudden tyre chirp and a sideways twitch, you get a pulsing, controlled slowdown. It feels "engineered" rather than just "bolted on more brakes".

Overall, the Apollo clearly wins on sheer grunt and high-speed stability; the KingSong delivers "enough" performance for legal city use and feels calmer and more honest about its limits.

Battery & Range

Range is where spec sheets turn into fairy tales, so let's stay in the real world.

The Apollo City 2022 Pro carries a noticeably chunkier battery. In real commuting - proper speeds, some hills, a normal-sized rider, no Eco cosplay - you're looking at a solid "there and back" for typical daily urban distances, with enough left to detour for groceries without nervously eyeing the battery bars. Ride hard in the fastest mode and you burn through it at a healthy clip, but the pack is big enough that you rarely get true range anxiety unless you try to do tourism and commuting on one charge.

The KingSong KS-N14 is more modest. Treated like most riders treat their scooters - lots of full-throttle sprints, start-stop traffic - you can expect a comfortable one-way plus return commute within the city, but you start thinking about the charger if you add extra detours. For the majority of riders doing around a dozen kilometres each way, it's fine; for those dreaming of all-day exploring at high speed, you'll be planning your route around outlets.

Charging slightly favours the Apollo in terms of turnaround speed for the battery size. You can realistically top it off during a workday lunch plus afternoon, effectively doubling your usable range. The KingSong, with its smaller pack and longer charge window, is more "overnight and forget about it". It's not slow enough to be annoying, but it doesn't feel particularly fast either.

In pure capacity and high-speed endurance, Apollo has the edge. In "does it cover my normal day without drama for less money?", the KingSong actually holds up surprisingly well if your daily loop isn't huge.

Portability & Practicality

Here's where dreams of "just carrying it up a few stairs" die.

The Apollo City 2022 Pro is heavy. Once you cross into the high-twenties kg range, every staircase becomes a little life choice. The folding mechanism itself is solid and fairly quick; the stem locks down to the deck, and the package is tidy enough for a car boot or office corner. But carrying it more than a flight or two is a mini workout, and the hook for carrying isn't the most confidence-inspiring when you're juggling doors and keys. For lift-to-train commuters, it's borderline; for ground-floor to bike-lane, it's fine.

The KingSong KS-N14 shaves off several kilos, and you feel every one of them. It's still not "one-hand up a spiral staircase while holding a coffee" light, but it's far more manageable. This is the scooter I'm less annoyed at when the lift is out of service. Folded size is compact, the stem-to-fender latch is straightforward, and it tucks under a desk without demanding its own office chair. If your routine involves mixing scooters with trains, trams or lugging it upstairs occasionally, the N14 is clearly the more realistic partner.

Day-to-day practicality also leans slightly toward KingSong's no-nonsense approach: simple, accessible hardware, a standard-feeling deck, and less "special" stuff that could complicate repairs. The Apollo counters with higher water protection and lower routine maintenance thanks to self-healing tyres and sealed drums, which is its own kind of practicality if you'd rather ride than wrench.

Safety

Both scooters take safety more seriously than the usual budget suspects, just with different emphases.

The Apollo City 2022 scores highly on controllability and weather resilience. Dual drums plus regen give you strong, predictable braking even when it's wet and grimy, and there's no exposed disc to bend or glaze. The frame feels rock-solid at speed, and that relatively high water-resistance rating means you're not riding a nervous calculator error when clouds appear. Lighting is integrated and decent for urban use, with turn signals and a high-mounted headlight, though the beam starts to feel marginal if you're hammering down completely unlit paths.

The KingSong KS-N14 takes a more obvious safety-feature list: front drum, rear disc, E-ABS, proper indicators, a bright headlight aimed sensibly at the road and a brake light that actually reacts when you slow. The scooter feels planted thanks to its low centre of gravity and wide tyres, and the ABS adds a layer of forgiveness when you inevitably grab too much brake on slick manhole covers. On rough or loose surfaces, that combination of good suspension and tyres gives you a sense that the chassis always has one more trick up its sleeve before it lets go.

In bad weather, the Apollo's sealing and fully enclosed drums are reassuring. In mixed traffic, the KingSong's stronger lighting logic and braking mix inspire a bit more confidence. Neither is a death wish - quite the opposite - but if you ride a lot at night in busy city streets, the KS-N14 has the more communicative safety package out of the box.

Community Feedback

Aspect APOLLO City 2022 KINGSONG KS-N14
What riders love Very smooth, "gliding" ride; integrated regen brake; clean, premium design; low-maintenance drum brakes and self-healing tyres; strong dual-motor punch (Pro); good water protection; solid, wobble-free stem. Comfortable dual suspension; strong hybrid braking with E-ABS; sturdy, rattle-free frame; lively acceleration for a single motor; great value for the spec; good lighting and indicators; useful app.
What riders complain about Heavy to carry; folding hook not always secure when lifted; headlight weak for fast riding on dark paths; early QC hiccups like throttle quirks; price feels high to some; weight underestimated by new owners. Still heavy for frequent stairs; real-world range shorter than optimistic ads; factory speed limits irritating in some regions; slows on very steep hills; minor fender rattles if not maintained; charging port and tyre valves a bit fiddly.

Price & Value

This is where the gap between them stops being theoretical.

The Apollo City 2022 Pro sits firmly in the upper mid-range; you pay near-premium money for what is, in raw performance terms, a competent but not earth-shattering commuter. You're largely paying for refinement: integrated design, app tuning, better sealing, self-healing tyres, and an overall "finished product" vibe. For riders who want a relatively fuss-free, feature-rich scooter and can comfortably swallow the asking price, it can justify itself - but you do have to be the sort of person who actually appreciates those details.

The KingSong KS-N14 undercuts it quite dramatically. For what many brands charge for a barebones rigid scooter, you get dual suspension, a healthy 48 V drive train, proper braking, lighting and an app. It's not a unicorn - the battery is on the smaller side and the weight is still very real - but the price-to-hardware ratio is hard to argue with. For most commuters counting their euros as well as their kilometres, the N14 offers more obvious "value per ride".

If money is tight or you're simply pragmatic, the KingSong makes the Apollo look a bit aspirational. If budget is looser and you care about polish and weather-proofness as much as you care about euros, the Apollo doesn't look outrageous - just not exactly a bargain.

Service & Parts Availability

Apollo has built a visible brand and is pushing hard on after-sales support, with documentation, how-to videos, and a reasonably active help ecosystem. That said, the very integration that makes the City 2022 look slick can also make it slightly more awkward when you do have to replace proprietary parts. You're generally going through Apollo channels for anything major.

KingSong comes from the electric unicycle world, where DIY repairs and community knowledge are the norm. The KS-N14 benefits from that culture: lots of technical users, familiar components, and distributors in Europe used to keeping parts on hand. The layout is more conventional, which often means generic or cross-compatible parts are easier to source when you're out of warranty or far from an official dealer.

In short: Apollo feels more like dealing with a modern consumer electronics brand; KingSong feels more like buying into a slightly nerdy enthusiast ecosystem where replacement hardware and tips are never too far away.

Pros & Cons Summary

APOLLO City 2022 (Pro) KINGSONG KS-N14
Pros
  • Strong dual-motor acceleration and hill climbing
  • Very comfortable, refined suspension feel
  • Clean integrated design and cable routing
  • Low-maintenance drum brakes and self-healing tyres
  • High water-resistance rating for wet climates
  • Good app customisation and regen control
  • Excellent value for money in its class
  • Comfortable dual suspension and 10-inch tyres
  • Strong hybrid braking with E-ABS
  • Sturdy, confidence-inspiring frame feel
  • Decent acceleration for a single motor
  • Good lighting and practical indicators
Cons
  • Heavy and awkward to carry upstairs
  • Pricey compared to similar-class options
  • Headlight underwhelming for fast night riding
  • Folding hook not ideal for carrying
  • Early units had some QC niggles
  • Still quite heavy for daily stairs
  • Real-world range modest at full speed
  • Factory speed limits can be annoying
  • Single motor slows on very steep hills
  • Small quirks like fender rattle and valve access

Parameters Comparison

Parameter APOLLO City 2022 Pro KINGSONG KS-N14
Motor configuration / rated power Dual hub motors, 500 W each (1.000 W total rated) Single hub motor, 500 W rated
Peak power 2.000 W 900 W
Top speed (unlocked) circa 51,5 km/h circa 40 km/h
Battery capacity 48 V 18 Ah (864 Wh) 48 V 10,4 Ah (≈500 Wh)
Claimed range up to 61 km up to 60 km (optimistic)
Realistic range (fast riding, mixed) ≈ 35-40 km ≈ 25-30 km
Weight ≈ 29,5 kg ≈ 21,7 kg
Brakes Dual drum + regenerative thumb brake Front drum + rear disc + E-ABS
Suspension Triple spring system (front + dual rear) Front and rear spring suspension
Tyres 10-inch tubeless self-healing pneumatic 10-inch pneumatic
Max load 120 kg 120 kg
Water resistance IP56 Not specified (good basic sealing)
Charging time ≈ 4 h ≈ 5-6 h
Typical street price ≈ 1.145 € ≈ 658 €

 

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

If you strip away the marketing gloss, this comes down to a simple split: do you want more scooter, or do you want a better deal?

The Apollo City 2022 Pro is the choice for riders who value design, refinement and weather-proofness enough to pay for them. It's the more powerful machine, it feels more sorted at higher speeds, and it demands almost no day-to-day tinkering thanks to its self-healing tyres and sealed drums. If you regularly tackle steeper hills, ride in foul weather, and have ground-floor storage, the Apollo will feel like a comfortable, capable, polished commuting appliance - if a slightly overpriced one.

The KingSong KS-N14, on the other hand, is the commuter's pragmatist pick. It does the important things well: comfort, braking, stability, and enough speed to keep things interesting. It avoids most gimmicks, gives you a decent app, and comes in at a price where its compromises on battery size and motor count feel fair rather than stingy. For the average urban rider who simply wants a reliable, comfortable scooter that won't annihilate their budget, the N14 is the more sensible, satisfying choice.

If I had to live with one of them as a daily tool, I'd lean towards the KingSong KS-N14 for its balance of cost and competence. If you know you'll actually exploit the Apollo's extra muscle and wet-weather credentials - and your stairs tolerance is above average - the City 2022 Pro can still be worth the premium. But for most people, the KingSong quietly wins the real-world commute.

Numbers Freaks Corner

Metric APOLLO City 2022 Pro KINGSONG KS-N14
Price per Wh (€/Wh) ❌ 1,33 €/Wh ✅ 1,32 €/Wh
Price per km/h of top speed (€/km/h) ❌ 22,23 €/km/h ✅ 16,45 €/km/h
Weight per Wh (g/Wh) ✅ 34,15 g/Wh ❌ 43,40 g/Wh
Weight per km/h (kg/km/h) ❌ 0,57 kg/km/h ✅ 0,54 kg/km/h
Price per km of real-world range (€/km) ❌ 30,53 €/km ✅ 23,93 €/km
Weight per km of real-world range (kg/km) ✅ 0,79 kg/km ✅ 0,79 kg/km
Wh per km efficiency (Wh/km) ❌ 23,04 Wh/km ✅ 18,18 Wh/km
Power to max speed ratio (W/km/h) ✅ 38,83 W/km/h ❌ 22,50 W/km/h
Weight to power ratio (kg/W) ✅ 0,0148 kg/W ❌ 0,0241 kg/W
Average charging speed (W) ✅ 216,00 W ❌ 90,91 W

These metrics look at different efficiency angles: how much battery or speed you get per euro, how much scooter mass you carry per unit of energy or performance, and how quickly you can put energy back in. Lower cost metrics favour budget-friendly designs, while power-to-speed and charging metrics highlight raw performance and turnaround convenience. Efficiency in Wh/km tells you how thirsty the scooter is when ridden realistically.

Author's Category Battle

Category APOLLO City 2022 Pro KINGSONG KS-N14
Weight ❌ Noticeably heavier overall ✅ Lighter, easier to haul
Range ✅ Bigger pack, goes further ❌ Shorter high-speed range
Max Speed ✅ Higher unlocked top end ❌ Slower, more modest
Power ✅ Dual motors, strong pull ❌ Single motor, less grunt
Battery Size ✅ Larger capacity battery ❌ Smaller battery pack
Suspension ✅ More refined damping feel ❌ Good but simpler feel
Design ✅ Sleek, integrated aesthetics ❌ More utilitarian look
Safety ✅ Great wet-weather robustness ✅ Excellent brakes, indicators
Practicality ❌ Heavy for stairs, bulky ✅ Easier daily handling
Comfort ✅ Very plush at speed ✅ Really comfy for price
Features ✅ Regen throttle, self-healing ❌ Fewer fancy touches
Serviceability ❌ More proprietary hardware ✅ Simpler, easier to wrench
Customer Support ✅ Strong brand-run support ❌ Depends on local dealer
Fun Factor ✅ Extra punch, playful ❌ Calmer, less aggressive
Build Quality ✅ Very solid, well finished ✅ Robust, "tank-like" feel
Component Quality ✅ Nice cockpit, tyres, latch ❌ Decent but less premium
Brand Name ✅ Strong scooter-specific brand ✅ Respected EUC heritage
Community ✅ Active scooter community ✅ Big EUC-crossover community
Lights (visibility) ✅ Good integration, signals ✅ Bright, reactive indicators
Lights (illumination) ❌ Weak for dark fast runs ✅ Better road illumination
Acceleration ✅ Much stronger off the line ❌ Respectable but milder
Arrive with smile factor ✅ Punchy, plush, engaging ✅ Smooth, relaxed enjoyment
Arrive relaxed factor ✅ Great comfort, stable ✅ Soft, de-stressing ride
Charging speed ✅ Faster turnaround charging ❌ Slower for its capacity
Reliability ✅ Mature design, sealed bits ✅ Proven, simple components
Folded practicality ❌ Heavier, hook less secure ✅ Easier to stash, carry
Ease of transport ❌ Hard work on stairs ✅ Manageable for mixed travel
Handling ✅ Very planted at speed ✅ Nimble, confidence-inspiring
Braking performance ✅ Strong, consistent, low-maintenance ✅ Powerful with helpful E-ABS
Riding position ✅ Spacious deck, good stance ✅ Comfortable, natural posture
Handlebar quality ✅ Integrated, ergonomic bar ❌ Simpler, more basic bar
Throttle response ✅ Very smooth, tuneable ✅ Linear, predictable feel
Dashboard / Display ✅ Clean, integrated display ❌ Functional but less fancy
Security (locking) ✅ App lock, motor resistance ✅ App lock, standard layout
Weather protection ✅ High IP rating confidence ❌ OK, but less protected
Resale value ✅ Strong brand, desirable ❌ Less hype, lower demand
Tuning potential ❌ Proprietary limits modding ✅ Easier to tweak, mod
Ease of maintenance ❌ Integrated, more involved ✅ Straightforward fasteners, parts
Value for Money ❌ Pricey for what you get ✅ Strong bang for buck

Overall Winner Declaration

Winner

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the APOLLO City 2022 scores 5 points against the KINGSONG KS-N14's 6. In the Author's Category Battle, the APOLLO City 2022 gets 30 ✅ versus 23 ✅ for KINGSONG KS-N14 (with a few ties sprinkled in).

Totals: APOLLO City 2022 scores 35, KINGSONG KS-N14 scores 29.

Based on the scoring, the APOLLO City 2022 is our overall winner. Living with both, the KingSong KS-N14 feels like the scooter that quietly earns your respect: it doesn't shout, it just gets you there comfortably, safely and without murdering your bank account. The Apollo City 2022 Pro is more dramatic and more polished, but it asks a lot in return - in money, in weight, and in expectations. If I were handing one set of keys to a typical city rider, it would be the KingSong's. It simply strikes a nicer balance between enjoyment and practicality, leaving your wallet - and your back - a bit less abused.

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.