Apollo Explore 2.0 vs Segway Max G2: Which Should You Buy? (2026)
The Apollo Explore 2.0 and the Segway Max G2 land close enough on price and class to be genuine cross-shops — $849 against $750, and both sit in the commuter class. Every figure below is the manufacturer's published claim or a value we compute from it; where a maker leaves a spec unpublished we show a dash rather than guess, and a blank is never counted against a scooter. One habit to carry into any range comparison is to halve the claim. The Explore 2.0 claims 37 miles but realistically returns about 20–26; the Max G2's 43-mile claim works out to roughly 24–30. The sections that follow work through where each one leads, and the verdict above already names the pick for most buyers — the detail below is there to overturn it if your priorities differ.
Side by side
| Motor & speed | ||
| Top speed (claimed) | 25 mph✓ | 22 mph |
| Peak power | 1650 W✓ | 1000 W |
| Nominal power | — | 450 W |
| Drive | Single motor | Single motor |
| Max incline | 26.8%✓ | 22% |
| Battery & range | ||
| Claimed range | 37 mi | 43 mi✓ |
| Est. real-world range | 20–26 mi | 24–30 mi✓ |
| Battery | 648 Wh✓ | 551 Wh |
| Charge time | 8 h | 5 h✓ |
| Build | ||
| Weight | 60 lb | 53.5 lb✓ |
| Max load | 265 lb | 265 lb |
| Suspension | dual | — |
| Brakes | Front Drum + Power RBS™ (regenerative braking) | — |
| Water resistance | IP66 | IPX5 |
| Tyres | 10" tubeless | 10" tubeless |
| Features | ||
| Score (within category) | 62/100 | 62/100 |
| Price | $849 | $750✓ |
A green ✓ marks the better figure on that row. “—” means the manufacturer does not publish it; a blank is never counted as a loss. Scores compare each model within its own category.
What the makers don't publish
Apollo does not publish nominal power for the Apollo Explore 2.0 — 1 of the 15 specifications we track. Segway (Ninebot) does not publish suspension and brake hardware for the Segway Max G2 — 2 of the 15 specifications we track. We show a dash for each of those rather than estimate, and a missing figure is never counted against a scooter in our scoring — the component is dropped and the remaining weights renormalise. Because both sheets have holes, several rows of the table above cannot be compared at all, so treat this as a comparison of what is published rather than a complete picture. If one of the unpublished figures is the one your decision turns on, ask the seller in writing before you buy: a maker that measures a specification usually states it, and silence is a reasonable prompt to look harder.
Motor & speed
The Apollo Explore 2.0 is the faster of the pair, 25 mph against 22 mph — a 3 mph gap that shows on open stretches but rarely in traffic, where junctions and shared paths set the pace regardless of what the scooter can do. The Apollo Explore 2.0 carries more motor on paper, and that surplus shows up in acceleration and on climbs rather than in a higher cruising speed — the place a stronger motor actually earns its keep is the hill you take twice a day. Read any top-speed figure as a maximum reached under ideal conditions; rider weight and gradient both pull it down in the real world, so treat these numbers as a ceiling rather than a cruising promise.
Battery & range
Battery capacity is the honest way to compare range, because watt-hours cannot be marketed around: the Explore 2.0 holds 648 Wh and the Max G2 551 Wh. The Apollo Explore 2.0's 18% larger pack will out-last the other on the same route whatever the two brochures claim, and it is the single number to trust most in this section. Both claims deserve the usual discount. The Explore 2.0's 37-mile figure realistically works out to about 20–26 miles once you account for a normal rider at real speeds; the Max G2's 43 lands at roughly 24–30. Plan around the lower end of whichever band matters to you: if your daily round trip does not fit inside it with margin to spare, the range difference here is the deciding factor and you should pick the bigger battery. Recharging also differs: the Segway Max G2 is back to full in about 5 hours against 8, which matters if you top up between a morning and evening commute rather than overnight. Whichever you choose, remember that both figures assume a fresh battery; a pack loses roughly 20–30% of its capacity after a couple of years of daily cycling, so a used example of either will fall short of these numbers.
Build & ride
Weight is where the daily reality lives: 60 lb against 53.5 lb, a 6.5 lb difference. If you carry the scooter up stairs or onto a train, the lighter Segway Max G2 is the one you will actually keep using — the difference between a scooter that gets ridden and one that gathers dust is often a single flight of steps. Only the Apollo Explore 2.0 has suspension at both ends, the single upgrade that most changes how a scooter feels on cracked city pavement; the other leans on its tyres to take the edge off, which works but not as well. Each publishes a water-resistance rating (IP66 and IPX5); the higher of the two shrugs off heavier rain, though neither should be ridden through standing water or pressure-washed.
Price, score & value
The Segway Max G2 is the cheaper of the two, $750 against $849 — a $99 gap. Whether that gap is worth closing depends entirely on whether the pricier scooter's advantages above line up with your priorities. Our within-category score puts them level at 62/100, which is the model saying what the specs already suggest: this is a close call decided by fit, not by a clear winner. If value per dollar is your lens, use the cost-of-ownership calculator on this site: a slightly cheaper scooter with pneumatic tyres can cost more to run over a few years than a pricier one on solid tyres, and the sticker price alone hides that.
What the extra $99 buys
The Apollo Explore 2.0 costs $99 more. That buys:
- peak power: 1650 W vs 1000 W
- suspension: dual vs none
- system voltage: 48 V vs 36 V
- water resistance: IP66 vs IPX5
- max incline: 26.8% vs 22%
- battery capacity: 648 Wh vs 551 Wh
- top speed: 25 mph vs 22 mph
- charge time: 8 h vs 5 h
- claimed range: 43 mi vs 37 mi
- weight: 60 lb vs 53.5 lb
It does not buy:
- max load (both 265 lb)
- tyre type (both tubeless)
- tyre size (both 10")
- drive (both Single motor)
These two share more than they differ on. 4 published specifications are identical across both: max load (265 lb), tyre type (tubeless), tyre size (10"), drive (Single motor). That matters more than it first appears, because it narrows the decision to a short list: the 11 measures where they actually diverge — peak power, charge time, suspension and others — carry the whole choice. Anything on the identical list can be set aside: it will be the same experience whichever you buy, so it should not sway you either way.
Where the Explore 2.0 wins
The Apollo Explore 2.0 peaks higher (1650 W vs 1000 W), has more suspension (dual vs none), runs a higher-voltage system (48 V vs 36 V), is better sealed against water (IP66 vs IPX5), claims a steeper grade (26.8% vs 22%), carries the bigger battery (648 Wh vs 551 Wh), and is faster (25 mph vs 22 mph). That is a meaningful spread of advantages, not a single headline number.
Where the Max G2 wins
The Segway Max G2 recharges faster (5 h vs 8 h), claims more range (43 mi vs 37 mi), costs less ($750 vs $849), and is lighter to carry (53.5 lb vs 60 lb). Together those make it the stronger sheet in several areas.
What these numbers actually govern
Here is what each of these measures controls in general — both the ones that separate these two and the ones they share. These describe the measure, not a claim about how either scooter rides, which we have not tested.
- peak power
- Peak power is a short-burst figure — it describes acceleration headroom rather than what a motor can hold on a sustained climb.
- charge time
- Charge time matters most if you top up between a morning and an evening commute rather than overnight.
- suspension
- Suspension at both ends changes how a scooter handles broken pavement more than any other single component; a single unit covers one end only, and none leaves the tyres to do the work.
- system voltage
- Higher-voltage systems typically hold performance better under load — hills and heavier riders — with less sag at the same power draw.
- water resistance
- An IP rating describes water resistance, not immersion — it covers rain and splashes, never standing water or a pressure washer.
- Max load (both 265 lb)identical on both
- A load rating covers rider plus cargo, not the rider alone. Where both models publish the same limit, rider weight cannot separate them.
- Tyre type (both tubeless)identical on both
- Pneumatic and tubeless tyres absorb road imperfections that solid tyres pass into the deck; solid tyres trade that comfort for never puncturing. A shared construction means the same trade on both.
- Drive (both Single motor)identical on both
- A second motor adds traction and acceleration at the cost of weight and battery drain. Where both use the same arrangement, drive layout is not a separator.
Price & where to buy
Prices are snapshots from our tracker and can change. We may earn a commission on purchases made through these links — this never affects rankings.
Prices are snapshots from our tracker and can change. We may earn a commission on purchases made through these links — this never affects rankings.
Who should buy which
Buy the Apollo Explore 2.0 if you want more peak output (1650 W vs 1000 W — a decisive 39% edge), or your roads are rough (dual suspension vs none). Buy the Segway Max G2 if you top up between commutes rather than overnight (5 h vs 8 h), or your trips are longer and range decides it (43 mi vs 37 mi claimed — a modest 14% edge). Whichever you pick, 4 specifications are identical across both — max load, tyre type, tyre size — so those rows cannot decide it.
Bottom line: the Segway Max G2 is the safer default here — it recharges faster (5 h vs 8 h). The Apollo Explore 2.0 earns its place if higher (1650 W vs 1000 W) matters more to you. Every figure here is the manufacturer's published claim or a value we compute from it, linked back to each maker's own specification so you can check it yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Apollo Explore 2.0 or the Segway Max G2 better overall?
Within their category, the Segway Max G2 scores 62/100 and the Apollo Explore 2.0 scores 62/100. Our scores compare models within their own category, and the two are close enough here that your priorities — carry weight, range, price — should decide it rather than the raw number.
Which one has better real-world range?
Estimated at 55–70% of the claim, the Explore 2.0 works out to about 20–26 miles and the Max G2 to about 24–30. The one with the larger battery (648 Wh vs 551 Wh) holds its distance better under load.
Which is cheaper to buy?
The Segway Max G2 is the cheaper of the two at $750 against $849. Prices are tracked snapshots and can change — check the current figure on each model's page before buying.
Which is easier to carry and store?
The Segway Max G2 is lighter at 53.5 lb versus 60 lb, so it is the better pick if you carry a scooter up stairs or onto transit. Both fold for storage; weight is the deciding factor here, not folded size.
Can I ride either one in the rain?
Both publish a water rating — Explore 2.0 is IP66 and Max G2 is IPX5. Higher ratings (IPX6, IP66) handle sustained rain; IPX4–IPX5 covers light rain and splashes but not a downpour. Neither should be submerged or pressure-washed.
Full specifications and sources: Apollo Explore 2.0 · Segway Max G2

