Apollo Phantom V3 Review
Scores, Tests, Measurements
Pros
- State-of-the-art controller
- Strong yet balanced performance
- Excellent build quality
- Great design and finishing
- Perfect ride experience
- Great brakes
- Great lights
Cons
- Pricey
- Possibly slippery deck
- Good suspension but not hydraulic
When to buy
The Apollo Phantom V3 stands out as the ideal high-quality scooter. Its exceptional build quality, smooth ride experience, and ample performance make it a top choice for the majority of riders. Given its attributes, the price is reasonable. I recommend the Apollo Phantom V3 as the perfect upgrade scooter for those progressing from a budget commuter or anyone aiming to skip cheaper models and opt for top-tier quality.
When not to buy
It’s challenging not to recommend the Apollo Phantom V3, as it lacks obvious downsides, and that’s a rare statement from me. The only reasons not to buy are affordability and seeking off-road capability due to standard road tires. Otherwise, the Apollo Phantom V3 is an excellent choice for most riders.
This will be a detailed review of Apollo Phantom V3, aka the Apollo Phantom 2023, one of the most highly-anticipated premium electric scooters ever.
Specifications
Apollo Phantom V3 Specifications
| Top speed | 66 kmh |
| Top speed | 41 mph |
| Range | 64 km |
| Range | 40 mi |
| Motors | dual hub BLDC |
| Power | 2400 W real, 3200 W peak |
| Climb angle | 25 ° |
| Battery | 1216.8 Wh, 52 V |
| Battery type | 126 x 18650 (23 400mah) lithium battery units, smart power management, protection from short circuit, overcurrent, undervoltage auto-sleep, double protection from overcharging, temperature resistance |
| Charging time | 12 h |
| Ingress protection (IP) | IP54 |
| Weight | 35 kg |
| Weight | 77 lbs |
| Weight limit | 136 kg |
| Weight limit | 300 lbs |
| Tire size | 10 in |
| Tire type | pneumatic |
| Foldable | yes |
| Foldable handlebars | no |
| Build material | aerospace grade aluminum |
| Terrains | urban |
| Brakes | chosen when buying (front and rear disk, or front and rear hydraulic), regenerative braking |
| Shock absorbers | adjustable quadruple spring suspension |
| Lights | front and rear LED, front and rear LED turn signals, brake light |
| Control | proprietary Apollo V3 display, thumb throttle |
| Speed modes | 3 |
| App | yes |
| Warranty | 12 months |
| Return period | 14 days |
Apollo Phantom V2 vs Apollo Phantom V2
The main difference between the V3 and the V2 is in the controller. The V3 comes with the proprietary MACH1 controller, which was used in other, more powerful versions of the Apollo line.
Thanks to this controller, the V3 can reach a top speed of 41 mph / 66 kmh, which is 3 mph / 5 kmh faster than the V2, while only having a voltage of 52 V.
Additionally, the controller enables the V3 to accelerate in a smoother way but also faster at the same time, and also break and reduce the speed in the same manner.
Another interesting addition to the V3 is the regenerative braking function, which is not often found in scooters this powerful.
The screen of the V3 is also much better, at least in my opinion. It is definitely brighter, and it has a quicker refresh rate, making it easier to monitor, especially on brighter days.
Finally, the V3 comes with front turn signals, a feature that was much needed in the V2.
User experience
The Apollo Phantom V3 provides a completely astonishing experience, and that’s not an overstatement.
Unboxing and assembly
The scooter arrives in a double box (a plain brown box, with the Apollo box inside of it), which includes:
- the scooter
- the charger
- the user manual
- the Apollo toolkit
There is a bit of assembly required at first, mainly connecting the handlebars to the steering column and screwing it in with 4 screws, connecting the brakes, connecting the headlight and screwing it in, and also checking if the tires are inflated, the brakes work correctly, and the scooter powers up.
Build quality and design
Build quality is definitely one of the strongest points of the Apollo Phantom V3. Apollo as a brand is known for excellent build quality in general, and I think they’ve even outdone themselves with the Phantom V3.
The deck is very tough and can handle a lot of punishment, while the stem is very strong and very stable. The scooter itself feels very sturdy and robust.
Everyday use
The Apollo Phantom V3 is intended for urban environments. It will have absolutely no problems handling any urban terrain, from poorly-maintained streets, to uneven pavements, to sidewalks and bumps. That’s mostly thanks to the combination of great build quality and strong suspension.
Performance
Let’s see how the Apollo Phantom V3 performs.
Motors and power
The scooter comes with dual brushless hub motors, one in each wheel. Each of them has a real power level of 1200 Watts, and a peak power level of 1500 Watts, for a combined peak power of 3000 Watts, which almost makes this a true power scooter.
Speed and acceleration
The top speed of the Apollo Phantom V3 is 41 mph / 66 kmh. To reach it, you need to activate the scooter’s LUDO mode.
There are three speed modes, and when not in LUDO mode, their limits are:
- gear 1: 4 mph / 6 kmh
- gear 2: 10 mph / 15 kmh
- gear 3: 12 mph / 20 kmh
Thanks to the new MACH1 controller, acceleration is both very quick, and yet, somehow, it doesn’t feel jumpy at all.
Hill climb
Similar to previous Apollo Phantom versions, the V3 can climb hills of up to 25 degrees. That will be more than enough to conquer most hills in most places.
Battery
The battery of the V3 is simply brilliant. The lithium battery configuration comes with a cutting-edge smart management system that includes protection against short circuit, overcurrent, undercurrent, overvoltage, undervoltage, auto-sleep, and overcharging.
Range
The absolutely maximum range that you can get with the Apollo Phantom V3 will be 40 mi / 64 km (at least that was my experience). You’ll have to ride at very slow speeds for that, however. Riding at something close to regular cruising speeds such as 15 mph / 25 kmh will get you a range of around 30 mi / 48 km.
Charging
Charging the scooter took eleven and a half to twelve hours by using a single charger. However, the scooter has two charging ports, so that time can be almost cut in half by using a second charger.
Weight limit
The weight limit of the Apollo Phantom V3 remains the same as in the versions – 300 lbs / 136 kg. This is more than the industry’s standard of 265 lbs / 120 kg, and it will be enough to support heavier adults.
Features
Let’s now examine all of the different features of the Apollo Phantom V3.
Brakes
The brakes are probably my favorite thing about this scooter, especially the hydraulic setup.
They provide a very short stopping distance, while not being too rigid jerky or too jerky. It’s almost impossible how the Apollo team has managed this (I believe the controller actually plays an important part here).
The brakes also include a very innovative regenerative braking function that not only refills the battery every time you use it, but also makes the braking even smoother.
Suspension
The quadruple spring suspension of the Apollo Phantom V3 does a pretty good job of absorbing the majority of impacts caused by bumps on the road.
That said, it’s still not as good as full hydraulic suspension.
Would it have been possible for Apollo to include full hydraulic suspension in the V3 at this price point? It’s hard to tell, but my guess is probably not, since the V3 already has many improvements over the V2, and a hydraulic suspension would have raised the price by about $200-$300.
Tires and wheels
The V3 comes with 10-inch pneumatic road tires.
When it comes to size, the tires are fairly standard.
When it comes to durability and quality, however, the tires are well above the average. There are 10-inch tire scooters for half the price of this one, and their wheels and tires are nowhere near as durable as the one of the V3.
You will probably not suffer a lot of flats with this scooter, if any.
Deck
The deck is very tough-looking and sturdy, and it will provide a lot of space for even the riders with bigger feet and bigger frames. It might be slippery at times, however, which may be one of the few weak points of this scooter.
Cockpit and controls
The display of the scooter is both simple and beautiful, in my opinion. It shows all the essential information such as the speed, the gear, the battery level, and the time it’s been turned on. Additionally, it can show a few other details, including whether the scooter’s in the LUDO mode, the lock status, the bluetooth status, the lights indicator, the trip meter, the odometer, etc.
The bright blue colors are easily visible both during the day and the night.
The throttle is another very strong point of the Apollo Phantom V3. Apollo has customized it based on the feedback of thousands of riders, and has made it bigger and more ergonomic.
Waterproofing
The IP54 is the gold standard for ingress protection in electric scooters, and that’s exactly what the V3 has.
This will be enough to handle some rain, although it’s still recommended to avoid wet weather as much as you can.
Lights
One thing is for sure – the Apollo Phantom V3 definitely doesn’t lack lighting.
The main LED headlight is super-strong, one of the best in the game probably. The rear also features a strong LED light and a brake light.
Additionally, the V3 comes with turn signals on both the front and the rear, which was one of the most demanded features in previous models.
Weight and dimensions
One of the best things about the Apollo Phantom V3, in my opinion, is that it manages to provide world-class performance while still coming with a manageable weight of 77 lbs / 35 kg, and dimensions that are quite portable and will fit pretty much everywhere you need to fit the scooter.
The scooter will fit in the majority of car trunks.
Accessories
Most Apollo scooters will natively fit most of the Apollo accessories, and that’s pretty much the case with the V3 as well. I would recommend the Apollo bag and the Apollo horn as essentials. Don’t forget to use my special coupon code NE28PN5KFW to get $50 worth of accessories, and check my guide on the best electric scooter accessories for some other cool products that you can’t find in the Apollo store.
Since this is a more expensive scooter, the Apollo anti-theft alarm is a good idea, but you may find even better locks in my guide on the best scooter locks ever.
And since this is a pretty fast scooter, you will definitely want a high-quality scooter helmet, probably even a full-face one.
App
The V3 comes with bluetooth capabilities, and it can support the Apollo app available for both iPhone and Android. The app may have some connectivity issues, but don’t let the poor ratings fool you – it will work fine for most users, and it is packed with cool features.
Additionally, I recommend the EScooterNerds universal scooter app, which is also available for both iPhone and Android.
When not to buy the Apollo Phantom V3?
Honestly, it’s somewhat hard not to recommend the Apollo Phantom V3. It doesn’t really have any obvious downsides (and if you’re a frequent reader of this website, you know I rarely say that).
One person who should definitely not buy the Apollo Phantom V3 is someone who can’t afford it. If that’s you, see my guides on the best electric scooters under $1000 and the best electric scooters under $500.
On the other hand, this scooter may not be powerful enough for some, in which case you will want to check out my guides on the fastest electric scooters or the longest-range electric scooters.
Finally, the scooter only comes with standard road tires, which means it won’t be good for off-road rides. See my guide on the best off-road electric scooters if that’s what you’re after.
For pretty much everyone else, the Apollo Phantom V3 is great.
Verdict
To put it simply, if you want the best electric scooter for around $2000, then don’t think twice about getting the Apollo Phantom V3.
It comes with excellent build quality, more than enough performance in all the most important aspects – speed, range, climbing angle, weight limit, brakes, suspension, and it comes from one of the best electric scooter brands currently.
Worldwide: Apollo (discount code: NE28PN5KFW for $50 of free accessories)
