Apollo Explore 20 vs ANGWATT F1 NEW - Premium Polish or Budget Muscle Car?

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

The ANGWATT F1 NEW is the overall winner here: for roughly half the money, it delivers more punch, more battery, and very comparable comfort, making it the obvious choice for riders who care about performance and range per euro. The Apollo Explore 20 fights back with better water protection, stronger software integration, and a more refined, low-maintenance ownership experience-but you pay dearly for those niceties.

Choose the ANGWATT if you want maximum thrill and distance on a tight budget and you don't mind doing the occasional bolt check and brake tweak. Choose the Apollo if you're a daily commuter who rides in all weather, values polish over raw stats, and is willing to pay for a more "finished" ecosystem. Both are serious machines; which is "better" depends whether your wallet or your inner perfectionist is in charge.

If you want the full story-the ride feel, the compromises, and who each scooter really suits in day-to-day life-read on.

Electric scooters in this weight and speed class are where commuting ends and "this is getting slightly ridiculous" begins. The Apollo Explore 20 (Explore 2.0) arrives as the respectable grown-up: polished app, fancy regen throttle, waterproofing, the lot. The ANGWATT F1 NEW rolls up like a budget muscle car: less refinement, far more attitude per euro.

I've lived with both long enough to know their tricks and tantrums. One is built to impress your colleagues in the office garage; the other is built to make you grin whenever you pin the throttle and remember what you paid. Let's dig into where they differ, where they surprisingly overlap, and which one you should actually ride away on.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

Both scooters sit in the "serious single-motor commuter" class: big batteries, real suspension, proper brakes, and top speeds that will have city legislators frowning. They weigh about the same, carry similar rider loads, and are aimed at people who see a scooter as a vehicle, not a folding toy.

The twist is in the positioning. Apollo wants the Explore 20 to be your premium, app-connected daily companion: weatherproof, low-maintenance, refined. ANGWATT pitches the F1 NEW as the value brawler: similar size and comfort, noticeably more performance and battery for a dramatically lower price. On paper they're direct rivals; in philosophy they couldn't be more different-that's exactly why this comparison matters.

Design & Build Quality

Pick up the Apollo Explore 20 and the first impression is: this feels like a product, not a project. The tubular frame wraps neatly around the deck, welds look tidy, and cable routing is clean and mostly internal. The folding joint feels like it was engineered first and styled later-chunky, overbuilt, and unapologetically industrial. The finish is good, the branding is confident, and nothing screams "rebranded OEM". In the hands, it's dense and cohesive.

The ANGWATT F1 NEW, by contrast, wears its "factory-direct" origin on its sleeve. The frame is a mix of iron and aluminium with that slightly brutal, bolted-together aesthetic. You'll find more exposed bolts, more visible wiring, and paint that feels more workhorse than showroom. It's not messy, but it doesn't have that same "designed in Montreal" sheen. Think well-sorted kit car rather than German saloon.

In terms of actual robustness, though, they're surprisingly close. Both frames shrug off heavy riders and bad roads. The Apollo feels a bit more solidly integrated-less creak, fewer little parasitic noises once things are bedded in. The ANGWATT can develop the occasional stem creak or kickstand drama if you ignore basic maintenance. But with a proper pre-delivery bolt check, the F1 NEW holds up better than its price suggests.

If you care how things look parked outside a café, the Apollo wins. If you care mostly that the frame will take abuse and you're not fussed about boutique touches, the ANGWATT is absolutely acceptable-and the money you "save" on design niceties goes straight into motor and battery.

Ride Comfort & Handling

On rough city streets, both scooters are at that magical point where you stop dodging every crack like a maniac and start actually looking ahead at traffic.

The Explore 20 uses a triple-spring setup-one spring up front, two out back-paired with chunky tubeless tyres with a self-healing layer. The overall feel is plush and slightly floaty. It smooths out high-frequency chatter from cobbles and broken tarmac well, and the deck stays composed even when you hit a nasty pothole you didn't see coming. Apollo has tuned this for "comfort commuter", and you can feel it: long rides are easy on the knees and wrists.

The ANGWATT F1 NEW counters with a front hydraulic shock plus spring and a stout rear spring unit. That front oil damper is the star. When you drop off a curb or hit a big expansion joint, the front doesn't pogo-you get a single, controlled compression and you're done. Paired with the large, tubeless tyres, the F1 NEW feels a touch more controlled over big hits, a bit less sofa-like but more "properly damped". On broken asphalt at higher speeds, I actually trust the ANGWATT's front end more.

Handling wise, both have wide decks and fairly wide bars. The Apollo's cockpit feels a bit more refined and ergonomic, with grips and controls in all the right places. The frame gives a slightly more "one-piece" feel in high-speed sweepers. The ANGWATT is stable too, thanks to a long wheelbase and big tyres, but its wider, more aggressive stance and heavier front can feel more like a mini-moto than a scooter, especially with those off-roadish tyres.

For pure comfort on bad city surfaces, it's a close call: the Apollo is more plush and isolating, the ANGWATT more controlled and "sport-suspension" in spirit. If you like the sense of riding on a magic carpet, you'll favour the Apollo. If you appreciate that bit of hydraulic discipline up front, the ANGWATT quietly edges it.

Performance

This is where their personalities really separate.

The Apollo Explore 20 runs a single rear motor tuned for smoothness. Off the line it's brisk but civilised-enough to beat traffic away from the lights, not enough to tear your arms off. It climbs proper urban hills with determination rather than drama, and its "Ludo" mode livens things up nicely without turning the scooter into a handful. Top speed is very much in the "sensible urban" bracket: fast enough to mix with city flows, nowhere near the point where your helmet starts feeling like decorative optimism.

The ANGWATT F1 NEW, meanwhile, has that extra dose of caffeine. That stronger rear motor and more aggressive controller give it a proper shove off the line. It's not dual-motor savage, but you definitely notice that it's playing in a higher league than typical commuters. It pulls harder, hangs onto speed better, and keeps pushing until you're at a velocity that, frankly, a lot of bike lanes were never designed for. On hills, it maintains speed more confidently, especially with heavier riders.

Braking is another philosophical split. Apollo went all-in on dual drums plus a dedicated regen throttle. In use, you end up doing most of your slowing with your left thumb-the regen is smooth, predictable and nicely tuneable in the app. The drums then handle serious stops, with the big advantages of being sealed, low-maintenance and immune to bent rotors. They stop the scooter fine at its intended speeds, but they lack the initial bite that aggressive riders crave.

The ANGWATT brings cable discs front and rear with electronic assist. They're not high-end, but they bite harder than drums when set up correctly, and you can feel that extra abrupt stopping potential when you have to scrub speed quickly from its higher cruising pace. You do, however, inherit the usual disc-brake baggage: potential squeaks, occasional tweaks, keeping rotors true.

In simple riding terms: the Apollo's performance feels curated and grown-up, never intimidating. The ANGWATT feels more alive, more energetic-and more honest about how much scooter you're actually straddling.

Battery & Range

On the spec sheet the story is simple: the ANGWATT is carrying a meaningfully larger tank. You feel that in day-to-day riding.

The Apollo Explore 20 has a battery that, in the real world, delivers a solid mid-thirties of fast, mixed riding for an average-weight rider, and can stretch into the forties if you behave yourself and keep it to more relaxed modes. That's enough for most commutes with a generous safety buffer. Efficiency is respectable, and Apollo's controllers manage power drop-off nicely-you don't get sudden death at the end, just a gentle softening.

The ANGWATT's bigger pack gives you a clear step up. Ride it like a hooligan and you're still in the same rough real-world ballpark as the Apollo-just a bit better. Ride it sensibly in a mid mode and it will outlast the Explore by a comfortable margin. Heavier riders benefit especially; where many mid-tier scooters watch their range evaporate with triple-digit rider weights, the F1 NEW keeps delivering realistic two-way commutes without mid-day top-ups.

Charging is an overnight affair on both. The Apollo's pack fills slightly quicker in proportion to its capacity, but we're talking shades of grey in "plug it in before bed, it's done by morning" land. The kicker is price per kilometre of real-world range: the ANGWATT absolutely trounces the Apollo here.

Range anxiety? On the Apollo, you plan your week. On the ANGWATT, you mostly stop thinking about it unless you're trying to set personal distance records.

Portability & Practicality

Neither of these scooters is what I'd call "shoulder-friendly". They both weigh in the high-twenties in kilos, and your back will tell you immediately if you try to pretend otherwise. Stairs? Doable, but not something you'll willingly repeat twice a day.

The Apollo Explore 20 folds down into a neat, reasonably compact package lengthwise, but the non-folding bars make it a bit of a wide plank to stash in narrow hallways or tiny boots. The upside is rock-solid bar feel when riding; the downside is playing Tetris in smaller car trunks. The folding latch is heavy-duty and reassuring once you get used to its slightly clunky operation.

The ANGWATT F1 NEW folds similarly low and long, and its dimensions are very comparable. The frame feels hefty when you pick it up; the iron components give it a slightly more "dead weight" feel than the Apollo's more optimised chassis. The big central display and cockpit hardware also add a bit of bulk when manoeuvring it in tight indoor spaces.

For "roll it out of the garage, ride, roll it back in" use, they're both totally fine. For multi-modal commutes involving trains or daily stair climbs, they're both over the line into "this is a vehicle, not a laptop". The Apollo feels marginally more polished in how everything locks together when folded; the ANGWATT feels more like a solid chunk of scooter you just happen to be able to hinge in the middle.

Safety

Safety is more than brakes and lights-though both do reasonably well there.

The Apollo Explore 20 wins visibility hands down. The high-mounted stem light puts a bright patch of light at driver eye level, and the deck and rear lighting give very decent 360-degree presence. Integrated indicators and the overall lighting choreography feel like they were designed as a system, not bolted on as an afterthought. Add to that a very serious water-resistance rating, and you get a scooter that shrugs off rain both electrically and in terms of tyre grip, thanks to those tubeless, puncture-resistant tyres.

The ANGWATT F1 NEW also comes with a generous lighting suite: headlight, side running lights, turn signals, and a reactive brake light. It absolutely makes itself seen at night, though the headlight is mounted lower, focusing more on illuminating the road than on meeting drivers at eye level. The indicators, like on many budget scooters, sit a bit low to be your only signal-use hand gestures if you value your collarbones. Water protection is the one real chink in its armour: "light rain is probably fine" is not the same as "IP-rated confidence". If you commute somewhere where showers are a way of life, that matters.

Tyre grip and stability at speed are strong on both. The Apollo feels slightly more planted in horrible weather, while the ANGWATT feels more planted at its higher dry-weather cruising speeds thanks to that stout front end and wider rubber.

If your riding involves frequent night commutes and foul weather, the Apollo is plainly the safer, more reassuring choice. If you're mostly fair-weather and dry-road, the ANGWATT's stronger brakes and more assertive performance don't feel out of their depth.

Community Feedback

Price & Value

This is the elephant in the room: the Explore 20 costs not far off double the ANGWATT F1 NEW.

For that extra money, Apollo gives you a better-integrated product: stronger water protection, more polished app and software, quiet drum brakes, premium-feeling frame, clever regen, and a very sorted "daily driver" experience. If you view your scooter like a small car-something you depend on year-round-those qualities matter.

ANGWATT, on the other hand, delivers more motor, more battery, and comparable comfort and stability for a budget-commuter price. In terms of "how much scooter" you get for your euro, the F1 NEW frankly makes the Apollo look expensive. You accept some rough edges-occasional wrench time, imperfect waterproofing, and a bit less brand polish-in exchange for a dramatically better power-and-range-per-euro story.

If money is even slightly a factor-and for most people it is-the ANGWATT is the obvious value winner. The Apollo has to justify itself on refinement and ecosystem, not raw economics.

Service & Parts Availability

Apollo has done the homework here. Being a recognised brand with dedicated support channels, European parts pipelines, and an active official community means getting spares and answers is reasonably straightforward. Need a new regen throttle or display? You'll find a proper part number, documentation, and a support agent who knows what it is.

ANGWATT operates through large online retailers, so your "dealer" is effectively the platform. The upside: cheap replacement parts are relatively easy to source, and the community has already figured out many cross-compatible components. The downside: you are more likely to be mailing parts to yourself and doing the labour, or relying on generic repair shops rather than branded service centres. Warranty processes can be a little more... email-heavy.

If you want a recognisable brand with a formal support structure and don't fancy spanners, the Apollo is safer. If you're comfortable turning a hex key and following forum guides, the ANGWATT ecosystem is surprisingly workable-and cheaper to keep on the road.

Pros & Cons Summary

Parameters Comparison

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

Both scooters are genuinely capable, and both feel like "real vehicles" rather than toys. But they answer different questions.

If you're a daily, all-weather commuter who wants something that just works with minimal tinkering, the Apollo Explore 20 makes a strong case. Its water resistance, low-maintenance braking system, polished lighting, and well-sorted chassis combine into a scooter that feels easy to live with long term. You're paying for refinement, safety in miserable weather, and a cohesive ecosystem. If that gives you peace of mind on a cold, wet Tuesday morning, the premium may be worth it.

If, however, you look at the price tags and wince, the ANGWATT F1 NEW is very hard to ignore. It offers stronger performance, a chunkier battery, and comfort that's at least in the same league, at a price where most competitors are still arguing over whether you deserve suspension at all. You will need to be a little more hands-on, and you should treat heavy rain with more caution, but in return you get the sort of speed and range that usually require a significantly bigger budget.

Put simply: the Apollo is the sensible grown-up that wants to be a small car; the ANGWATT is the budget muscle scooter that gives you a lot of grin for not much cash. Unless you specifically need the Apollo's weatherproofing and higher level of polish, the F1 NEW is the more compelling choice for most riders.

Numbers Freaks Corner

These metrics put hard numbers on different aspects of value and performance. Price-per-Wh and price-per-km/h show how much you pay for energy and speed. Weight-related metrics tell you how efficiently each scooter uses its mass to deliver capacity, speed and power. Wh per km highlights energy efficiency: the Apollo converts stored energy into distance more frugally, while the ANGWATT trades some efficiency for performance. The power-to-speed and weight-to-power ratios quantify how muscular each scooter is relative to its top speed and mass, and average charging speed gives a sense of how quickly they refill their batteries relative to their capacity.

Author's Category Battle

Overall Winner Declaration

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the APOLLO Explore 20 scores 3 points against the ANGWATT F1 NEW's 7. In the Author's Category Battle, the APOLLO Explore 20 gets 27 ✅ versus 13 ✅ for ANGWATT F1 NEW.

Totals: APOLLO Explore 20 scores 30, ANGWATT F1 NEW scores 20.

Based on the scoring, the APOLLO Explore 20 is our overall winner. Over many kilometres, the ANGWATT F1 NEW simply feels like the more exciting, less guilt-inducing choice: you get speed, range and a proper big-scooter feel without your bank account filing for divorce. The Apollo Explore 20 is undeniably more refined and reassuring in foul weather, but its price and relatively modest performance leave it feeling a little too sensible for its own good. If you want the scooter that makes every commute feel like a minor adventure, go ANGWATT; if you want the one that behaves like a small, very polite car, the Apollo will treat you well-as long as you're happy paying for its manners.

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.