Hiboy S2 Pro vs Joyor F5S+: Two "Value Kings" Enter, Only One Commutes Home a Winner

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

If you want the more serious, grown-up commuter, the JOYOR F5S+ is the overall winner: it rides better, goes further in the real world, climbs hills with less drama, and stays surprisingly portable for its power and battery size. It feels more like a long-term tool than an impulse-buy gadget.

The HIBOY S2 Pro still makes sense if you are laser-focused on low purchase price, hate the idea of punctures, and mostly ride short distances on smooth city tarmac. It is the "cheap to buy, cheap to run" pick, with some comfort and refinement compromises.

If you care about daily comfort, range and all-round usability, keep reading-the differences between these two become very clear once you imagine living with them for a year, not just for the first weekend.

Electric scooters in this price bracket all shout the same promises: "great range!", "strong motor!", "lightweight!", "maintenance-free!". After a few thousand kilometres on test scooters, you learn to raise an eyebrow at most of that marketing.

The HIBOY S2 Pro and JOYOR F5S+ are a perfect example. On paper, they look like close cousins: similar motor power, commuter-oriented, mid-budget price tags. In practice, they take very different approaches to comfort, portability, and long-term ownership-and both cut corners in places you will feel after a few months, not just a few rides.

The Hiboy is the budget bulldog that hates punctures and loves straight, smooth bike lanes. The Joyor is the lean commuter that tries to give you "big scooter" range and punch in a body you can still carry up the stairs. Let's dig in and see which compromises you're really signing up for.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

Both scooters sit in that awkward middle ground between rental-grade toys and proper performance machines. They're aimed at riders who want something faster and more capable than a typical shared scooter, but who draw the line at dragging a 25 kg monster through a metro station.

The HIBOY S2 Pro is squarely a budget commuter: you get a bit more punch than an entry-level Xiaomi, solid tyres so you can forget about flats, and just enough suspension to say "yes, we considered your spine". It's pitched at first-time buyers and students who want a simple, low-upkeep ride at the lowest possible price.

The JOYOR F5S+ costs a chunk more, but moves you into what I'd call "serious daily commuter" territory: a higher-voltage battery, genuinely usable range for longer city hops, proper front and rear suspension, and a more refined folding and cockpit setup. It's for riders who've either hated their first cheap scooter, or don't fancy repeating other people's mistakes.

They compete because they both promise a "real vehicle" feel without needing gym membership to lift them, and they're both marketed as all-round commuters. The question is which one actually behaves like a partner, not a project.

Design & Build Quality

Visually, the Hiboy S2 Pro borrows heavily from the now-classic Xiaomi layout: straight stem, black frame, red accents. Up close, it feels a bit chunkier and more heavy-duty, almost like someone took the original Xiaomi and hit it with the "reinforce" tool. The frame feels reassuringly solid underfoot, and the additional rear fender brace is a welcome response to a very common failure point on this style of scooter.

However, some of that beefiness hides fairly average component quality. The hinge hardware, stem latch and brake components work, but they don't exactly whisper "precision engineering". Long-term owners often end up chasing little rattles and stem play. It's not disastrous, but it feels like a scooter built to a price rather than to a standard.

The Joyor F5S+ goes in a different direction: more industrial, less sleek, with a frame that frankly looks a bit dated now. But the aluminium chassis itself feels tight and rigid, and the overall impression is of a deliberately utilitarian tool rather than a fashion item. The folding handlebars and telescopic stem introduce extra joints that can rattle if neglected, yet when everything is tightened properly the scooter feels more "engineered" than the Hiboy, not less.

Quality of little details tilts towards Joyor: the deck grip tape bites nicely, the display and controls feel slightly more upmarket, and the general fit and finish matches its higher price better than the Hiboy's does its budget badge. Neither is premium, but Joyor feels like it cut fewer corners on the bits that matter for daily use.

Ride Comfort & Handling

This is where the two scooters really part ways.

The Hiboy's 10-inch solid honeycomb tyres are a blessing in theory and a curse in practice. On brand-new asphalt, it's perfectly pleasant; roll into real-world city surfaces-cracks, brickwork, patched tarmac-and you quickly understand why pneumatic tyres exist. The rear dual springs help take the sting out of bigger hits, but they can't fully mask the constant buzz of solid rubber. After several kilometres on rougher paths, your knees and hands will remind you exactly how cheap flats-free convenience can feel.

Handling on the S2 Pro is otherwise decent: the larger wheel diameter helps stability, the deck is long enough for a natural stance, and the stem angle feels familiar if you've ever ridden a Xiaomi. In corners, grip is adequate when dry, but those solid tyres demand real respect in the rain; the margin between "fine" and "slid a little wider than planned" is not generous.

The Joyor F5S+ rolls on smaller 8-inch wheels, which are never a comfort advantage, but it compensates with a full suspension setup: springs up front and a dual system at the rear. Combined with the pneumatic front tyre, the front end tracks tarmac with much more composure than the Hiboy, especially over cracked or tiled surfaces. The solid rear is still there to remind you this is a compromise, but the suspension works harder and more effectively than the Hiboy's to keep the harshness under control.

In fast bends, the Joyor actually feels more planted despite its smaller wheels, mainly because the front end communicates grip better and doesn't skip as easily over mid-corner imperfections. You still won't want to attack cobbles at full speed, but you'll arrive less rattled and with fewer mysterious rattles in the scooter.

Performance

Both scooters advertise a similar motor rating, and on paper you'd think they'd feel almost identical. On the road, the story is more nuanced.

The HIBOY S2 Pro's rear motor gives a lively shove off the line. From a standing start at traffic lights, it gets up to typical city speeds confidently enough that you don't feel bullied by cyclists. Acceleration is smooth and fairly linear; it never quite "kicks", but for new riders that's probably a blessing. On flat ground it will happily sit at its top speed, and the cruise control means you can give your thumb a rest on long straight bike paths.

Where the Hiboy begins to sweat is on steeper inclines and with heavier riders. It will still climb, but you feel the motor working hard and the speed bleeding off. It's the classic feeling of a 36 V commuter being asked for just a bit more than it wants to give; it copes, but doesn't exactly enjoy it.

The JOYOR F5S+ shares the same nominal motor rating, but its higher-voltage system and lighter frame make it feel noticeably more eager. Acceleration has more snap, especially from mid-speed roll-ons where the Hiboy is already starting to feel breathless. Unlocked on private property, it has higher speed headroom, but even if you obey local limits, that electrical overhead translates into a motor that isn't constantly at its limit just to keep up a brisk pace.

Hill climbing is where Joyor's setup pays off most clearly. On the kinds of city ramps and bridges that make lower-powered scooters sulk, the F5S+ keeps a healthier pace and feels less strained. You still won't be flying up alpine roads, but if your commute involves regular climbs, the Joyor simply copes better and feels happier doing it. Braking performance on both is "commuter adequate" rather than "sporty": the Hiboy's mix of mechanical disc and regen provides decent bite, while the Joyor's drum is softer but nicely predictable.

Battery & Range

Range claims on websites are like politicians' promises: theoretically interesting, practically optimistic. What matters is what happens when a normal adult rides at realistic speeds on mixed terrain.

The Hiboy S2 Pro's battery sits in the typical mid-budget commuter class. In real life, ridden briskly in its faster mode, you're usually looking at something like a couple of decent cross-town trips before the gauge starts to feel uncomfortably low. For a short to medium commute-say, out and back with a bit of detouring-it's enough, but you're unlikely to go days without charging if you ride daily and don't baby the throttle.

The Joyor F5S+ uses a larger, higher-voltage pack, and the difference on the road is obvious. You can stretch multiple city days out of a charge if your daily distance is modest, or comfortably do a longer multi-leg commute with margin to spare. Even ridden enthusiastically, it tends to outlast the Hiboy by a clear chunk, and more importantly, it keeps stronger performance deeper into the discharge rather than turning sluggish when the battery drops.

Charging times are broadly similar: both are overnight or "office-day" devices, not something you top up in a coffee break. But in terms of how often you must plug in and how much you think about the battery while riding, the Joyor is the one that lets you relax and stop calculating every detour.

Portability & Practicality

Neither scooter is feather-light, but the way they package their weight is very different.

The Hiboy S2 Pro is a classic single-hinge fold: stem down, hook to the rear fender, done. Simple, reasonably quick, and the overall folded package is short but still quite tall and wide thanks to the fixed handlebars. Carrying it up a flight of stairs is doable, but you're aware you're lugging something closer to a small moped than a kick scooter. In cramped flats or car boots, its awkward volume, more than its mass, is what gets annoying.

The Joyor F5S+ plays the portability game properly. The stem folds, the handlebars fold, and the telescopic column slides down. Once collapsed, it becomes a surprisingly compact block that disappears under train seats or office desks in a way the Hiboy can't quite match. The slightly lower weight helps, but it's really the shape that makes the difference: you can carry it like a bulky briefcase rather than wrestling a mini streetlamp.

On day-to-day practicality, the Hiboy scores back some points with its solid tyres: no pumps, no puncture repair kits, no arriving late because of a surprise flat. Joyor's hybrid setup narrows that gap-the rear, motor-bearing wheel is also solid-but you still have a front tube to potentially deal with. If "absolutely no tyre faff, ever" is your religion, the Hiboy is the simpler faith, at the cost of comfort.

Safety

Safety is a cocktail of brakes, grip, stability and visibility-and both scooters manage a pass, with caveats.

The Hiboy's brake setup of rear disc plus front electronic regen delivers respectable stopping for its speed class. You can provoke some squeal from the mechanical disc, and the regen can feel grabby in its strongest setting until you get used to it, but the overall deceleration is confident enough for urban riding. Lighting is actually one of Hiboy's stronger suits: high-mounted headlight, rear light that brightens under braking, and those side "fender" lights that do a surprisingly good job of making you visible in traffic at night.

The weak spot is, again, those solid tyres. In the dry, you'll be fine as long as you ride like a commuter, not a racer. In the wet, especially over paint and metal covers, you need to dial your ambition right back. Many owners learn this lesson the slightly sideways way once; better to be the boring rider who never does.

The Joyor F5S+ takes a more conservative approach. A single rear drum brake doesn't sound exciting, but it is consistent, low-maintenance and less prone to sudden locking than some cheaply set-up discs. Paired with regen, it gives predictable, controllable deceleration, though it lacks that instant "bite" you get from a well-tuned disc. Grip is better balanced than on the Hiboy: the pneumatic front does the steering and most of the emergency grip work, while the stiffer rear tyre can still step out if you ask too much of it in the wet.

Lighting on the Joyor is functional: basic integrated front and rear units plus reflectors. The front light's low mounting position is great for spotting potholes just in front of you, but not ideal for being seen at distance. For serious night riding, an extra handlebar or helmet lamp is strongly recommended-more so than on the Hiboy.

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Price & Value

The Hiboy S2 Pro undercuts the Joyor significantly, and you do feel that in the wallet. For someone on a strict budget who just wants a reasonably quick, puncture-proof commuter, it's an appealing proposition. You get more speed and torque than the cheapest big-brand scooters, integrated lights, an app, and a frame that doesn't feel like it will snap in half on the first kerb drop.

But once you look beyond the sticker price and think about your daily experience, the value picture changes. The Joyor F5S+ demands more upfront, yet gives you a higher-voltage system, more real-world range, better multi-stage suspension, more thoughtful folding, and generally more room to grow as a rider. It feels like something you can keep for years without constantly wishing you'd spent a bit more.

If your budget is absolutely fixed at the Hiboy level, it remains a defensible choice, especially on smooth, short urban hops. If you can stretch to the Joyor, the extra spend buys noticeably more scooter in all the ways that actually matter over time.

Service & Parts Availability

HIBOY operates largely as a direct-to-consumer brand, leaning on online channels and big marketplaces. The upside: aggressive pricing and a huge user base producing tutorials and hacks. The downside: customer service stories are all over the place-from "they sent me a replacement part instantly" to "weeks of emails for a simple issue". Parts are available, but you're often dealing with shipping from warehouses rather than walking into a local shop.

JOYOR, by contrast, has a more traditional European footprint with dealers and distributors. That doesn't turn every shop into a spa, but it does mean you're more likely to find someone who's actually seen your scooter before if something goes wrong. Spares like tyres, controllers and batteries are relatively easy to source, and the mechanical simplicity of the F5S+ makes it straightforward to service, either yourself or via a generic e-bike workshop.

Neither brand is perfect, but if I had to bet on which one will still have easy parts availability in a few years in Europe, I'd put my money-cautiously-on Joyor.

Pros & Cons Summary

Parameters Comparison

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

Between these two, the JOYOR F5S+ is the more rounded commuter. It rides better on real streets, has more usable range, climbs more confidently, and folds into a shape that actually suits public transport and small flats. It feels like it was designed by people who actually commute on scooters, not just read a spec sheet. Yes, you pay more, but you get a scooter that is less likely to annoy you in six months' time.

The HIBOY S2 Pro has its place: if your budget has a hard ceiling and you value "no flats, ever" above all else, it is still a respectable choice. For mostly smooth, dry, short-to-medium rides where you rarely have to carry it, it does the job and throws in decent speed and lighting for the money. Just be honest with yourself about your roads and your back; those solid tyres are not shy about reminding you where the savings came from.

If you can stretch to it, the Joyor is the scooter you are more likely to still appreciate a year down the line. The Hiboy is the one you buy to test the waters-and quite possibly the one that convinces you what to look for in your next, better scooter.

Numbers Freaks Corner

These metrics look purely at maths: how much battery or speed you get for your money, how heavy the scooter is relative to its energy and power, and how efficiently it turns battery capacity into distance. Lower cost per Wh or per kilometre means better "value density"; lower Wh per km means better electrical efficiency; better weight ratios indicate more performance or range for less mass. Remember, though, that none of this captures comfort, build quality or how the scooter actually feels beneath your feet.

Author's Category Battle

Overall Winner Declaration

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the HIBOY S2 Pro scores 4 points against the JOYOR F5S+'s 6. In the Author's Category Battle, the HIBOY S2 Pro gets 9 ✅ versus 31 ✅ for JOYOR F5S+.

Totals: HIBOY S2 Pro scores 13, JOYOR F5S+ scores 37.

Based on the scoring, the JOYOR F5S+ is our overall winner. On the road, the JOYOR F5S+ simply feels like the more complete partner: it glides more comfortably over the broken bits of city, shrugs off longer rides, and folds out of your way when you're not using it. It's the scooter that quietly does the job day after day without constantly reminding you where the savings were made. The HIBOY S2 Pro gives you a taste of electric commuting for less money, but its harsher ride and more basic overall feel make it harder to love long-term. If you can afford to think beyond the initial price tag, the Joyor is the one that will keep you looking forward to your commute instead of just tolerating it.

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.