ELJET Argos vs SIMATE S2 - Which Kid's E-Scooter Actually Deserves Your Money?

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

The SIMATE S2 is the overall winner: it offers more speed, better safety features, real lighting, suspension, and a wider growth window for kids, all while costing less than the ELJET Argos. The Argos fights back with featherweight portability and extreme simplicity, but feels overpriced and under-specced once you compare it directly to the S2.

Pick the SIMATE S2 if you want a proper "first real e-scooter" that can carry a child comfortably for several years and handle more varied use. Choose the ELJET Argos only if your top priorities are ultra-low weight, very low speed, and a minimal, toy-like feel for younger or more cautious riders.

If you care where your money goes - and how happy your kid will be after the third ride - keep reading; the differences become very clear in real-world use.

Children's e-scooters used to be flimsy toys with optimistic stickers and even more optimistic range claims. Those days are (mostly) gone. Now we've got machines that borrow real technology from adult commuters, just toned down for smaller feet and more nervous parents.

In that crowded junior arena, the ELJET Argos and SIMATE S2 are often cross-shopped: both are light, both are relatively affordable, and both promise to be "the perfect first electric scooter". On paper, they look like cousins. On the pavement, they feel like they were designed for quite different families.

The Argos is best summed up as "a powered kick scooter that happens to have a battery". The SIMATE S2 is more "small scooter, big features" - still a kids' toy, but with ideas stolen from grown-up commuters. The devil, as always, is in the details, so let's dig in.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

Both scooters live in the junior category and the sub-200 € price bracket, so it's no surprise parents end up comparing them when browsing for birthday presents. But their target riders aren't truly identical.

The ELJET Argos is clearly built for smaller, lighter kids - roughly early primary school. It tops out at walking-pace-plus, carries little weight, and feels more like "training wheels for electric mobility" than a long-term companion.

The SIMATE S2 stretches higher: it will happily carry kids up to mid-teens size, runs noticeably faster, and has the ergonomics to match taller riders. It's pitched as a scooter that can survive siblings and hand-me-downs, not just one growth spurt.

They compete because the prices overlap and the job description looks the same: a safe, simple, first e-scooter. Once you ride both, though, you realise one is much closer to a "real" scooter than the other.

Design & Build Quality

Pick up the Argos and the first reaction is usually, "Is that it?" The low weight is shocking, almost toy-like. The frame feels decently put together, but very much focused on shaving grams: slim tubing, small deck, no extra metal where marketing couldn't justify it. It looks clean and tidy, but also a bit bare - like someone built the minimum viable scooter and stopped there.

The SIMATE S2, by contrast, feels more grown-up in the hands. The aluminium frame has more substance to it, the welds look reassuring, and the folding stem locks together with a confidence that suggests it's ready for more than just driveway loops. You also get a proper LCD display seamlessly integrated into the cockpit, lights tucked into the design rather than stuck on as an afterthought, and overall a sense that a product designer - not just an accountant - had a say.

Ergonomically, Argos is basic but serviceable: telescopic bars, simple deck, no electronics cluttering the view. Fine for small kids, but older ones will quickly notice the lack of "stuff" - no speed readout, no buttons to play with, nothing to interact with beyond the throttle and brake. The S2's cockpit, with its display and lever brake, looks and feels like a mini commuter scooter, which matters a lot when your rider is comparing it to what adults have.

In short: Argos is minimalist and light, but veers close to "nice toy". SIMATE S2 feels more like a scaled-down proper scooter, with build quality and design touches that justify being called a vehicle, not just a gadget.

Ride Comfort & Handling

Comfort is where the family walks either stay peaceful or devolve into "My feet hurt, can we go home?" After a few kilometres of typical pavements, the Argos starts to show its compromises. With no suspension at all and small solid wheels, every expansion joint and rough tile is transmitted straight to the rider's knees. On smooth park paths, it's perfectly fine; on older city sidewalks, kids start doing the "micro-hop" to dodge cracks.

The deck on the Argos is reasonably sized for smaller feet and nicely grippy, but the whole stance feels compact. Younger, lighter kids will be fine; put a taller pre-teen on it and the geometry begins to feel like they're riding a scooter from the "little kids" aisle.

The SIMATE S2 makes a noticeably better effort at comfort. The solid tyres are still on the firm side, but the basic front/rear suspension does take the sting out of the worst chatter. It won't magically turn cobblestones into silk, yet the difference between the two scooters on the same broken pavement is clear - on the Argos, kids brace for every crack; on the S2, they mostly ignore them.

The S2's wider deck also invites a more relaxed stance, especially for older children who naturally spread their feet more. Combined with the adjustable handlebar range, you can dial in a riding position that doesn't force weird arm or back angles. Handling is light and predictable on both, but the SIMATE's slightly longer wheelbase and broader bars give a touch more stability when you're near its top speed.

If your regular terrain is billiard-smooth, both are acceptable. If you know your pavements are "municipal-neglect spec", the S2's rudimentary suspension and roomier stance simply make the ride less fatiguing and a lot less rattly.

Performance

Let's be honest: neither of these is going to blow the doors off the local bike lane. But kids absolutely feel the difference between "helpful push" and "this actually moves".

The ELJET Argos sits firmly in the first camp. Its small motor nudges the scooter along at a speed that a reasonably fit adult can match with a steady jog. Acceleration is deliberately gentle; even a nervous seven-year-old won't feel overwhelmed. That's good for safety, but it also means that once the novelty wears off, slightly older kids tend to start asking where the rest of the power went.

Hill performance on the Argos is very much "participation required". Gentle inclines are okay for lighter riders, but steeper suburban slopes quickly turn it into a kick scooter with a moral-support motor. That's not necessarily tragic for younger children - it keeps them engaged - but it does limit where they can ride without grumbling.

The SIMATE S2, with its slightly stronger motor and higher speed ceiling, moves into "this feels like a real vehicle" territory. Launch is still soft enough for beginners, especially if you select the gentler mode, but in full power it picks up more eagerly and maintains a brisk, bike-like pace that older kids will enjoy. It doesn't rocket away - it's for children, not track days - yet it definitely has more "go" than the Argos.

On hills, the S2 copes better, especially with mid-weight riders. Short driveways and gentle slopes are handled without drama; steeper ramps still need the occasional kick, but you're not instantly down to walking pace at the first hint of an incline. And crucially, the extra speed headroom means that when the road opens up - a long park path, for instance - the scooter doesn't feel artificially strangled.

Braking performance also divides them. Argos relies solely on the classic rear fender foot brake. Familiar, simple, but entirely down to rider strength and technique. The SIMATE S2 combines an electronic brake at the wheel with that same rear fender backup. It's smoother, more controllable, and - importantly for small hands - doesn't demand a heroic stomp every time you want to stop quickly.

Battery & Range

Both scooters have modest batteries; we're talking "family outing" range, not "cross-town commute". But there are differences in how far they get and how they feel as the charge drops.

The Argos runs a very small battery, sized to keep weight low rather than to unlock epic distances. In ideal conditions with a light child and flat ground, it manages a short park loop plus the ride back home. Throw in a few hills, a heavier rider, or colder weather, and you'll be encouraging the kid to use it as a plain kick scooter sooner than you'd like. On the plus side, that tiny pack recharges fairly quickly, so topping it up between sessions isn't a big deal.

The SIMATE S2 carries a bit more energy, and pairs it with a motor that's well matched to the pack. In real life, that translates into rides that comfortably cover a longer neighbourhood loop or extended park laps before kids start complaining about low battery. It still isn't a marathon machine, but it gives a useful buffer beyond "to the playground and straight back".

Where SIMATE really scores is charging speed. Because the battery is compact and uses a decently rated charger, a full refill takes only a couple of hours. For family life, that means: morning ride, lunch and charge, afternoon ride. Argos can do something similar, but with less range in each chunk, so you're spending more of that battery on "getting there" and less on carefree play.

Range anxiety, kid version, looks like "Dad, is it going to die?" With the S2's display and slightly larger tank, you get clearer information and a bit more real-world freedom before the nervous glances at the battery indicator begin.

Portability & Practicality

This is the one category where the ELJET Argos really wants to be the hero - and to be fair, it does a good job. It's featherweight. Carrying it up stairs with one hand while wrestling another child with the other is absolutely doable. If you live in a walk-up apartment or constantly chuck scooters into the boot "just in case", the Argos is the definition of low-effort.

The folding mechanism on the Argos is straightforward, and the resulting package is tiny. It will disappear into the corner of a hallway or under a bed without starting domestic negotiations about storage space. For pure carry-ability, it's hard to beat.

The SIMATE S2 is still light - impressively so, given all the extra bits bolted on - but you do feel the extra kilo and a half or so compared to the Argos. It's more "light object" than "feather", yet still within the range most school-age kids can lift themselves for a few steps. The fold is genuinely quick and tidy; the stem locks down neatly, and the scooter is compact enough for car boots and cupboards alike.

Where practicality tilts towards SIMATE is in day-to-day use rather than raw weight: proper lighting means you don't have to pack up and go home the moment the sun thinks about setting. The clear display avoids "surprise flat battery" moments at the furthest point from home. Zero-maintenance tyres mean you don't suddenly discover a flaccid front wheel just as you're leaving. The Argos keeps life simple by leaving features out; the S2 keeps life simple by actually solving some small but meaningful problems.

Safety

With kids on electric vehicles, safety isn't a bullet point - it's the whole game. Both scooters make attempts here, but one takes it more seriously in a modern sense.

The Argos keeps things safe mostly by being slow and simple. The very low top speed means that even a full-throttle panic moment doesn't build up frightening momentum. The rear foot brake is a known quantity for kids who already use kick scooters. Acceleration is soft and predictable, and the deck has decent grip. It's the "do as little harm as possible" approach: limit everything and hope for the best.

The SIMATE S2 uses a more layered safety strategy. The kick-to-start throttle logic is excellent - the motor simply refuses to engage until the scooter is already rolling. That alone prevents a lot of classic "I pressed this thing and the scooter ran away without me" incidents. Dual braking gives both an easy hand-operated stop and the familiar fender stomp as backup.

Lighting is the big differentiator. Argos offers reflectors, and that's about it. Daytime in a park? Fine. Anything approaching dusk or a shaded street? You're relying on other people's imagination. The SIMATE S2, on the other hand, is actively visible: a front headlight to see and be seen, and bright LEDs along the deck that turn the scooter into a rolling highlight marker. It's fun for kids and genuinely helpful for parents trying to keep visual contact in low light.

Add in the S2's certifications and wider, more stable deck, and you end up with a scooter that doesn't just feel low-risk because it's slow, but because it actively helps prevent the common mistake scenarios.

Community Feedback

Price & Value

Here's where things get uncomfortable for the Argos. It costs more than the SIMATE S2 while offering less power, less range, fewer features, and a significantly lower weight limit. You're essentially paying a premium for minimalism and lightness - admirable goals, but hard to justify when the direct competitor brings more real-world utility for less money.

The Argos isn't outrageously priced by itself; in isolation it feels like a fair deal for a safe first e-scooter for small kids. The problem is that once you know the S2 exists at a lower price, with better equipment and a wider age range, the Argos starts to look like yesterday's design with a modern price tag.

The SIMATE S2 lands in that "sensible middle" where you're not paying for silly gimmicks, but you are getting things that actually matter: proper brakes, lights, suspension, a decent battery and a frame that will handle a child growing from little kid to near-teen. Cost over its realistic lifetime use is simply better, especially in families where it will hand down from one sibling to another.

Service & Parts Availability

ELJET has the advantage of being a known European brand with a presence in Central Europe and a reputation for decent support and spare parts. That matters - batteries age, kids crash, and things bend. Being able to get an OEM part without trawling dubious marketplaces is a big plus.

SIMATE, meanwhile, leans on its broader family-mobility portfolio and multi-warehouse setup. The S2 benefits from this: customer support is fairly responsive, and warranty handling doesn't sound like a horror story from user reports. While it doesn't have quite the same "local brand" aura in some countries, its logistics footprint is solid enough that you aren't buying a disposable mystery product.

Between the two, support quality is roughly on par. ELJET might edge it slightly in specific Central European markets where they're well entrenched; SIMATE counters with a more global, online-friendly approach. Neither is a red flag, which already puts them ahead of half the kids' scooter market.

Pros & Cons Summary

Parameters Comparison

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

If we strip this down to the essentials, the SIMATE S2 is the more complete, future-proof scooter. It rides better, stops better, shows you what it's doing, and lets your child grow with it for longer, all while asking less from your wallet. It feels like a thought-through small scooter for kids, not just a kick scooter that someone bolted a little motor onto.

The ELJET Argos has its place: very young, lightweight riders; parents who are deeply uncomfortable with anything faster than a brisk jog; families where every extra kilo is a deal-breaker because of stairs or constant carrying. In those narrow use cases, its extreme lightness and gentle demeanour are assets.

For everyone else, especially if your child is already pushing towards the taller end of primary school, the SIMATE S2 simply offers a much better mix of fun, safety, and longevity. Your kid is less likely to outgrow it in three months, and you're less likely to stand there thinking, "We paid how much for this?" after comparing it with what else is on the path.

Numbers Freaks Corner

These metrics look purely at maths, not emotions. Price per Wh and per km/h show how much you pay for energy capacity and speed. Weight-related metrics tell you how "light" the scooter is relative to its battery and performance. Efficiency (Wh/km) reveals how gently each scooter sips its battery in realistic use. Power and weight ratios indicate how strong the motor is compared to the scooter's mass. Finally, average charging speed reflects how quickly the battery fills back up - crucial for impatient kids.

Author's Category Battle

Overall Winner Declaration

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the ELJET Argos scores 4 points against the SIMATE S2's 6. In the Author's Category Battle, the ELJET Argos gets 10 ✅ versus 30 ✅ for SIMATE S2 (with a few ties sprinkled in).

Totals: ELJET Argos scores 14, SIMATE S2 scores 36.

Based on the scoring, the SIMATE S2 is our overall winner. Riding both back-to-back, the SIMATE S2 simply feels like the more complete story: it's the scooter that keeps kids grinning longer, keeps parents calmer, and doesn't feel outgrown the moment legs get a bit longer. It behaves like a shrunken-down commuter rather than an overachieving toy. The ELJET Argos has charm in its extreme lightness and gentle manners, but once you've seen what the S2 delivers for less money, it's hard to escape the feeling that Argos asks you to give up too much. If I were buying for my own hypothetical small rider, I'd put my money - and their first real e-scooter memories - on the SIMATE S2.

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.