Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)
The NAMI Stellar is the more compelling scooter overall if you care about ride quality, feel, and long-term satisfaction. It rides softer, feels more premium under your feet, and gives you that "mini hyper-scooter" experience without the insane weight or price.
The APOLLO City hits back with better water resistance, more range, and stronger hill-climbing thanks to its dual motors, making it the safer pick for very wet climates, long commutes, or seriously hilly cities.
If you want the smoothest, most refined everyday ride and your trips are reasonably short, go Stellar. If you're commuting far, often in the rain, or need serious torque on climbs, the City earns its place.
Stick around-this is one of those comparisons where the spec sheet only tells half the story, and the riding experience tells the rest.
There's a particular kind of rider looking at the NAMI Stellar and the APOLLO City: someone done with toy-level scooters, but not quite ready to daily a 40-kg missile. You want something serious, confidence-inspiring, and properly comfortable, but still manageable in real life.
On one side you've got the NAMI Stellar: a compact offspring of a hyper-scooter dynasty, built like a shrunken Burn-E and obsessed with suspension and controller smoothness. This is the scooter for people who think, "I want my commute to feel like cheating physics, not my spine."
On the other, the APOLLO City: a good-looking, app-connected, dual-motor commuter designed to be the sensible all-weather urban tool. It's for riders who say, "Just get me there, fast, safe, and without constant wrenching."
Both sit in the same broad price band, both call themselves premium commuters, and both promise comfort and refinement. They just take very different roads to get there-so let's see which road you actually want to ride.
Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?
Price-wise, the Stellar and the City live in that "serious commuter" zone: more expensive than rental-clone scooters, much cheaper than full-fat hyper-scooters. You buy one of these instead of owning a car for short trips-or at least instead of using it.
The NAMI Stellar targets riders who care more about chassis quality and ride comfort than max numbers. It's essentially NAMI saying: "What if we take our flagship DNA, but tune it for normal people with stairs in their life?" Single motor, compact frame, premium suspension.
The APOLLO City, especially in its dual-motor flavour, goes after the practical commuter who needs longer range, solid weather protection, and modern features like app tuning and good regen. Think of it as the comfortable, fully dressed city bike next to NAMI's stripped-down streetfighter.
They're natural rivals: similar money, similar top-speed bracket, both pitched as comfort-focused premium commuters. One leans toward feel and engineering purity, the other toward features and everyday usability. That makes this a genuinely tough-and interesting-choice.
Design & Build Quality
Pick up the NAMI Stellar and the first impression is "this is not a toy." The tubular aircraft-grade frame is classic NAMI-welded, exposed, and utterly unapologetic. You see the structure, the suspension arms, the hardware. It looks like a tool built by people who were angry at weak stems. No plastic shrouds pretending to be strength; it simply is strong.
The APOLLO City goes the other way: sleek, sculpted, almost appliance-like. Cables disappear inside the frame, the finish is automotive rather than industrial, and the integrated cockpit looks like it was sketched by someone who does smartphones for a living. In your hands, it feels dense and monolithic, less "garage-built performance machine" and more "designed product."
In terms of pure solidity on the road, both are excellent-no creaking stems, no unsettling flex. The Stellar, however, gives off more of that "overbuilt for its class" vibe. The welded tubular chassis feels like it could survive a mild war, while the City feels like it could survive a decade of commuting and countless rainy Mondays. Different flavours of robust-but the NAMI is the one that feels like a baby tank.
Ergonomically, the Stellar's cockpit is wide and familiar, with a big central display that you can read from basically any angle. The City's integrated matrix display is cleaner looks-wise but less legible in harsh sunlight. If you love the idea of "minimalist futuristic dash," you'll appreciate the City; if you want at-a-glance clarity and deep on-board tuning, the NAMI screen simply does the job better.
Ride Comfort & Handling
Comfort is where the NAMI Stellar quietly walks in, puts its feet on the table, and asks if anyone else wants to try.
The dual adjustable suspension on the Stellar is proper, grown-up scooter suspension. With realistic pre-load tuning, it shrugs off cobblestones, cracked tarmac, and tram tracks like background noise. You feel the surface, but without the punishment. On long, rough rides your knees and ankles just... don't complain. It's that good.
The APOLLO City isn't far behind. Its triple-spring system is well tuned for urban abuse, and combined with those 10-inch tubeless pneumatics, it delivers a very civilised ride. Expansion joints become a dull thud instead of a jolt, and it does an admirable job over the kind of broken bike lanes many European cities call "infrastructure."
Where they differ is finesse. On a battered route with mixed surfaces, the Stellar feels like it has more suspension travel and better isolation; it simply takes the edge off more completely. The City is comfy, but you're a bit more aware of sharper hits. If your daily commute is paved reasonably well, you'll be happy on either. If your council gave up on road maintenance years ago, the NAMI is the one that keeps your joints on speaking terms.
Handling-wise, both are stable and confidence-inspiring. The City's longer wheelbase and dual motors make it feel planted at higher speeds; it tracks straight and doesn't develop nasty wobbles easily. The Stellar, being slightly more compact with smaller wheels, feels a bit more nimble and playful in tighter spaces, though still very composed. For carving up bike lanes and weaving around pedestrians, the NAMI feels a touch more agile; for fast, straight-line cruising, the Apollo feels like a heavy, reassuring hand on your shoulder.
Performance
This is the category where spec sheets scream one story and the riding reality whispers another.
The NAMI Stellar runs a single rear motor that, on paper, sounds modest next to the City's dual motors. In practice, it's punchy enough to make you grin from the first throttle squeeze. Thanks to NAMI's sine-wave controller, power delivery is smooth and progressive. There's no on/off lurch-just a clean surge that lets you thread through traffic with precision. It doesn't try to rip your arms off; it just pulls confidently and predictably.
The APOLLO City in dual-motor form is undeniably stronger when it comes to raw acceleration and hill-climbing. Open it up from a standstill and you get that two-motor shove that quickly leaves slower commuters behind. On steep hills, the City wins, no contest. It holds speed where the Stellar eventually has to accept reality and slow a bit, especially with a heavier rider.
Top speed is very similar on both-solidly "fast enough" for urban use, and well into the zone where your helmet quality matters more than your bravado. The difference is how each scooter feels getting there. The Stellar is quieter, silkier, and almost stealthy. The City is still smooth and well tuned, but more about confident shove and less about that buttery feel.
Braking is a philosophical split. The Stellar uses mechanical discs plus strong regen. You get good bite and a progressive lever feel, with very effective electronic slowing when you roll off throttle or dial up regen. The City uses dual drums plus that now-famous regen paddle. For everyday stop-start city use, Apollo's system is more "clever" and lower maintenance, but the Stellar's discs give a more direct, mechanical feedback that some riders prefer, especially if you're used to proper bicycle or moto brakes.
If you live somewhere steep or carry a lot of weight, the APOLLO City is clearly the performance winner. If your terrain is mostly rolling and you value refinement over raw grunt, the Stellar doesn't feel lacking in daily use-it just plays in a different key.
Battery & Range
The NAMI Stellar is very honest about what it wants to be: a premium commuter, not a touring rig. Its battery is sized for typical urban riding-home, work, errands, home again. Ride at realistic city speeds with a bit of play and you'll comfortably cover the sort of daily distance most people actually do. Push top speed constantly or carry extra kilos, and your range shrinks into "home and back, then charge" territory. It's enough, but not generous.
The APOLLO City, especially in its bigger-battery dual-motor variant, stretches things noticeably further. In real life, used as an actual fun scooter and not a rolling Eco experiment, you get a solid extra chunk of range compared to the Stellar. It's the sort of difference where, on the City, you'll think "I can add a side trip after work" while on the NAMI you might eye the battery gauge and decide to head straight home.
Efficiency favours the Stellar slightly in gentler riding because of its single-motor setup and very refined controller, but once you factor in the bigger pack and regen tuning of the City, the Apollo becomes the less range-anxious choice overall. If you routinely do long round trips without charging in between, the City is simply the more comfortable option.
Charging is reasonably quick on both, with the City edging ahead thanks to its higher charging power relative to battery size. In practice, both will happily juice from empty to full within a working day at the office. You only really notice the difference if you regularly run them low and need quick turnarounds.
Portability & Practicality
Neither of these scooters is a featherweight. If your idea of portable is "carry it under your arm like a briefcase," stop reading and go look at something much smaller.
The NAMI Stellar sits in that "just about liftable without swearing too loudly" band. It's noticeably lighter than NAMI's big boys, and you can get it into a car boot or up a flight of stairs without regretting your life choices-assuming you don't do it ten times a day. The folding clamp is sturdy and reassuring; once locked, there's essentially no play in the stem. Folded, it's compact enough for most car boots and easy hallway storage.
The APOLLO City in dual-motor trim pushes things further into "this is a small vehicle, not a folding gadget" territory. The weight is closer to a heavy e-bike than a kick scooter. Short lifts are fine; regular stair hauls are a workout regime. It folds quickly and cleanly, and the locked stem-to-deck latch is secure, but the wide non-folding bars mean it still takes up a decent chunk of space on a train or in a narrow hallway.
Day-to-day practicality tilts slightly towards the City in bad weather and longer mileage (IP66, more range, self-healing tyres), and slightly towards the Stellar in mixed-modal scenarios or if you occasionally have to manhandle it into awkward spaces. If you have an elevator and ground-floor storage, both are fine. If you're on the third floor with no lift, the lighter NAMI is the one you're still on speaking terms with after a month.
Safety
On safety, this is a genuinely close contest-and a good sign of where the industry is going.
The NAMI Stellar brings serious lighting to the table. Its high-mounted headlight is one of the few stock lamps that actually let you ride at night without bolting half a bicycle shop to your handlebar. Combined with the strong chassis, wide deck, and very predictable handling, it feels rock-solid at commuter speeds. Mechanical discs plus well-tuned regen give you plenty of stopping authority. Add NFC lock and a proper electric horn, and it's clearly built with real traffic in mind.
The APOLLO City ups the safety ante on different fronts. The IP66 rating means rain becomes an inconvenience, not a threat to expensive electronics. For year-round commuters, that's huge. The regen paddle plus drum combo is extraordinarily effective and, crucially, very consistent in wet conditions. Integrated turn signals front and rear genuinely help in city traffic, especially on wide roads where you're mixing with cars. The lighting itself is decent-good for being seen, though the headlight is borderline for completely dark country paths.
Tyre-wise, both are on tubeless pneumatics, which is exactly what you want for grip and control. The City's self-healing sealant is a really practical touch; I'd still avoid broken glass, but it gives extra peace of mind. The Stellar's slightly smaller wheels demand a bit more vigilance over deep potholes, but its superb suspension compensates very well.
If you ride a lot in the rain and in mixed car traffic, the City's waterproofing and signals make a compelling case. If your conditions are mostly dry and you value raw visibility and precise brake feel, the NAMI shines just as brightly-literally and figuratively.
Community Feedback
| NAMI Stellar | APOLLO City |
|---|---|
| What riders love | What riders love |
|
Cloud-like adjustable suspension Ultra-smooth sine-wave acceleration Rigid tubular frame and "serious" feel Bright, feature-rich central display Powerful headlight and real horn Strong torque for a single motor Good water resistance for daily use Industrial, stealthy aesthetic |
Regen paddle braking system Comfortable triple-spring suspension Rattle-free, cohesive build IP66 water resistance confidence Sleek, cable-free design Low-maintenance drums & self-healing tyres App tuning and smart features Excellent hill-climbing with dual motors |
| What riders complain about | What riders complain about |
|
Screws loosening without thread locker Heavier than expected for a "compact" Wish for larger 10-inch tyres Single motor can struggle on very steep hills Kickstand stability on uneven ground Mechanical brakes need occasional adjustment Button ergonomics not perfect Occasional fender rattle if not tightened |
Heavy to carry upstairs Kickstand instability on some surfaces Headlight too weak for pitch-dark roads Charging port position slightly awkward Stock fenders short in heavy rain Display visibility in bright sun Turn signal controls take getting used to Pricey versus basic commuters |
Price & Value
The NAMI Stellar undercuts the dual-motor APOLLO City by a noticeable margin. You're paying less, yet you're getting proper premium suspension, a flagship-level display, and a frame design inherited from much more expensive models. On a "how good does this actually feel to ride for the money?" scale, the Stellar punches very hard.
The APOLLO City justifies its higher ask with extra range, stronger climbing, better waterproofing, and more integrated tech. If those things are mission-critical-long commutes, year-round rain, brutal hills-the price difference makes sense. If your commute is shorter and your climate more forgiving, you're effectively paying extra for capability you may rarely exploit.
Over the long term, the City will likely win slightly on running costs thanks to its very low-maintenance brake and tyre setup. The Stellar, meanwhile, feels like the better value from a rider's perspective: the ride quality and chassis feel are frankly overkill for its price bracket, in the best possible way.
Service & Parts Availability
NAMI leans heavily on a network of enthusiast-friendly dealers, especially in Europe. That's a good thing: you're more likely to end up talking to people who know the platform, stock the right parts, and understand that yes, you really can feel the difference between sloppy and well-tuned suspension. Parts like controllers and suspension components are shared with bigger NAMI models, which helps.
APOLLO, being a North American brand with a big online footprint, pushes a mixture of centralised support, how-to content, and dealer partners. They've had the usual growth pains, but have improved their documentation and support tools a lot. Consumables-tyres, controllers, brake parts-are easy to source, and their own ecosystem is pretty well documented.
In Europe, you'll want to check which brand has a stronger local presence in your country. In many EU markets, both now have decent dealer coverage, with NAMI often skewing more "specialist performance shop" and APOLLO more "mainstream commuter store." Both are serviceable choices; neither is a no-name Amazon special that becomes landfill after one failure.
Pros & Cons Summary
| NAMI Stellar | APOLLO City (Dual Motor) |
|---|---|
Pros
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Cons
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Cons
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Parameters Comparison
| Parameter | NAMI Stellar | APOLLO City (Dual Motor, big battery) |
|---|---|---|
| Motor configuration | Single rear motor | Dual motors |
| Rated motor power | 1.000 W | 2 x 500 W |
| Approx. top speed | ca. 45-50 km/h | ca. 50-51 km/h |
| Claimed range | bis 50 km | bis 69 km |
| Realistic range (mixed riding) | ca. 30-35 km | ca. 35-45 km |
| Battery capacity | ca. 811 Wh (52 V 15,6 Ah) | ca. 960 Wh (48 V 20 Ah) |
| Weight | ca. 26 kg | ca. 29,5 kg |
| Brakes | Mechanical discs + regen | Dual drums + regen paddle |
| Suspension | Front & rear adjustable coil | Front spring + dual rear springs |
| Tyres | 9" tubeless pneumatic | 10" tubeless pneumatic, self-healing |
| Max load | 110-120 kg | bis 120 kg |
| IP rating | IP55 | IP66 |
| Typical price | ca. 1.109 € | ca. 1.208 € |
Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?
If you strip away all the marketing and ride both back to back, the NAMI Stellar stands out as the more special scooter. It has that "this was built by enthusiasts" feel: the suspension is in another league for the size and price, the throttle is beautifully tuned, and the whole package feels like a refined, compact performance machine. For most urban riders with moderate distances and half-decent weather, it's simply the more joyful scooter to live with.
The APOLLO City, meanwhile, is the rational commuter's choice. Longer range, better rain protection, stronger hill performance, lower day-to-day maintenance-it's the scooter you buy when your commute is long, your skies are often grey, and you want something that just does the job, day after day, with minimal drama.
If your typical ride is under an hour, you care about comfort and ride feel more than raw spec one-upmanship, and you like the idea of owning a "shrunken hyper-scooter," go NAMI Stellar and don't look back. If you're battling long, wet, hilly commutes and want maximum practicality with strong tech integration, the APOLLO City earns its keep.
For me, as a rider, the Stellar is the one that I'd actually look forward to taking out every single morning. The City I respect a lot-but the NAMI I'd miss if it left the garage.
Numbers Freaks Corner
| Metric | NAMI Stellar | APOLLO City |
|---|---|---|
| Price per Wh (€/Wh) | ❌ 1,37 €/Wh | ✅ 1,26 €/Wh |
| Price per km/h of top speed (€/km/h) | ✅ 22,18 €/km/h | ❌ 23,69 €/km/h |
| Weight per Wh (g/Wh) | ❌ 32,06 g/Wh | ✅ 30,73 g/Wh |
| Weight per km/h (kg/km/h) | ✅ 0,52 kg/km/h | ❌ 0,58 kg/km/h |
| Price per km of real-world range (€/km) | ❌ 34,12 €/km | ✅ 30,20 €/km |
| Weight per km of real-world range (kg/km) | ❌ 0,80 kg/km | ✅ 0,74 kg/km |
| Wh per km efficiency (Wh/km) | ❌ 24,95 Wh/km | ✅ 24,00 Wh/km |
| Power to max speed ratio (W/km/h) | ✅ 20,00 W/km/h | ❌ 19,61 W/km/h |
| Weight to power ratio (kg/W) | ✅ 0,026 kg/W | ❌ 0,0295 kg/W |
| Average charging speed (W) | ❌ 147,45 W | ✅ 225,88 W |
These metrics answer slightly different questions: price-per-Wh and price-per-km show who gives more battery and range for your money, weight-based figures show how much "mass" you haul per unit of performance, efficiency (Wh/km) shows how thirsty each scooter is, and power/weight ratios tell you how much shove you get per kilo or per unit of speed. Charging speed is simply how quickly the battery refills in energy terms.
Author's Category Battle
| Category | NAMI Stellar | APOLLO City |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | ✅ Noticeably lighter overall | ❌ Heavier, bulkier to lift |
| Range | ❌ Adequate, not generous | ✅ Clearly goes further |
| Max Speed | ✅ Fast enough, well controlled | ❌ Barely higher, less refined |
| Power | ❌ Single motor limitation | ✅ Dual motors, stronger pull |
| Battery Size | ❌ Smaller commuter pack | ✅ Bigger, more reserves |
| Suspension | ✅ Plush, adjustable, outstanding | ❌ Good, but less sophisticated |
| Design | ✅ Industrial, purposeful character | ✅ Sleek, integrated, modern |
| Safety | ✅ Strong lights, solid chassis | ✅ IP66, signals, great braking |
| Practicality | ✅ Lighter, simpler hardware | ✅ Range, water, low maintenance |
| Comfort | ✅ Softer, more isolating ride | ❌ Comfortable but not as plush |
| Features | ❌ Fewer smart/app tricks | ✅ App, regen paddle, signals |
| Serviceability | ✅ Mechanical, easier home wrenching | ❌ More proprietary systems |
| Customer Support | ✅ Strong enthusiast dealer network | ✅ Mature brand support tools |
| Fun Factor | ✅ Playful, "mini hyper" feel | ❌ More serious, utilitarian |
| Build Quality | ✅ Overbuilt tubular frame | ✅ Solid, rattle-free assembly |
| Component Quality | ✅ High-end controllers, hardware | ✅ Quality tyres, brakes, frame |
| Brand Name | ✅ Performance-enthusiast credibility | ✅ Strong commuter reputation |
| Community | ✅ Enthusiast-focused, active groups | ✅ Large, mainstream user base |
| Lights (visibility) | ✅ Powerful headlight, horn | ✅ Signals, good overall package |
| Lights (illumination) | ✅ Very bright forward beam | ❌ Adequate, needs supplement |
| Acceleration | ❌ Strong, but single motor | ✅ Punchier dual-motor launch |
| Arrive with smile factor | ✅ Huge grin every ride | ❌ Respect more than adore |
| Arrive relaxed factor | ✅ Soft, low-fatigue chassis | ✅ Stable, low stress too |
| Charging speed | ❌ Slower refill overall | ✅ Faster charging per Wh |
| Reliability | ✅ Simple, proven layout | ✅ Weatherproof, low-maintenance |
| Folded practicality | ✅ Slightly smaller, lighter | ❌ Heavier, wide cockpit |
| Ease of transport | ✅ Less punishing to lift | ❌ Borderline for stairs |
| Handling | ✅ Nimble, communicative | ✅ Very stable at speed |
| Braking performance | ✅ Strong discs + regen | ✅ Excellent regen + drums |
| Riding position | ✅ Natural, wide cockpit | ✅ Ergonomic, roomy deck |
| Handlebar quality | ✅ Solid, traditional layout | ✅ Wide, swept, comfortable |
| Throttle response | ✅ Ultra-smooth sine control | ✅ Well tuned, app adjustable |
| Dashboard/Display | ✅ Bright, detailed TFT | ❌ Stylish, but less legible |
| Security (locking) | ✅ NFC start adds layer | ✅ App lock, motor resistance |
| Weather protection | ❌ Decent, but not extreme | ✅ IP66, rain specialist |
| Resale value | ✅ Strong NAMI desirability | ✅ Popular, recognised model |
| Tuning potential | ✅ Enthusiast-friendly platform | ❌ More locked-in ecosystem |
| Ease of maintenance | ✅ Mechanical brakes, open design | ✅ Few wear parts, sealed |
| Value for Money | ✅ Feels "richer" than price | ❌ Great, but pays for extras |
Overall Winner Declaration
In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the NAMI Stellar scores 4 points against the APOLLO City's 6. In the Author's Category Battle, the NAMI Stellar gets 32 ✅ versus 26 ✅ for APOLLO City (with a few ties sprinkled in).
Totals: NAMI Stellar scores 36, APOLLO City scores 32.
Based on the scoring, the NAMI Stellar is our overall winner. Between these two, the NAMI Stellar is the scooter that genuinely feels like a treat every time you step on-its suspension, throttle feel and solidity give it a character that sticks with you long after the ride. The APOLLO City earns a lot of respect as a hard-working, all-weather commuter, but it doesn't quite deliver the same emotional hit when you twist the throttle and float over broken streets. If you want your scooter to be more than just transport-to be the best part of your day rather than just the most efficient-the Stellar is the one that makes that happen.
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.