The Okai Neon Pro is a relatively new (2022) electric scooter. We took one out for a test ride to see how it stacks up against the competition!

There’s a lot of waves in the making in the electric scooter space. A large part has to do with the entry of seasoned car and bike manufacturers into the space, better infrastructure and technology, better funding, and collective feedback from the consumer market.

We’re starting to see the next generation of commuters–and who better to lead us there than the kings of the shared scooter space–OKAI. That’s right. After years of dominating the OEM space, OKAI decided to venture into the consumer space, and they have released not one, not two, but three consumer models, and they keep getting better.

OKAI’s newest release is the OKAI Neon Pro, and this Okai is more than Okay. With more range, a higher top speed, and way quicker acceleration than the base model Neon, and Neon Lite.

Today, we review the Okai Neon Pro electric scooter to see if it’s a match for our commuter picks from more seasoned consumer brands like Segway, Apollo, and NIU (another up-and-coming brand).

Not much has changed since OKAI released its first consumer model, but there are enough subtle differences between the Neon Lite, the Neon, and the new Neon Pro.

Okai markets their Neon scooters as being safe. It’s true; you can’t put yourself over the bars. 

The OKAI Neon Pro’s aesthetics are more muted than the ‘poppier’ Neon and Neon Lite, but it still features the most amazing swag lights we’ve seen on an electric scooter.

The ride is relatively stable (though not as stable as the ES20 Neon). The 10.0-inch tubeless tires are okay, though we really do need the optimum PSI since, inflated to full spec, the ride starts to feel a little stiff.

The Pro comes with a 350W motor and a much larger battery than its 250W predecessor, which is why it has higher price tag. But no one’s really complaining about that since the Pro delivers a whopping 26.8 miles of range. Nothing in its price class does better.

The Okai is quick and fast. It ALMOST beats class leader the Fluid Freeride Horizon to 15 mph but misses the mark by 0.1 seconds, which is saying something. It also has quite the decent top speed and is out here giving every reputable brand name a run for their ‘commuter scooter money.’

Okai was already an OEM expert before they dedicated their efforts to the consumable space–therefore, we already know that their scooters are worth a second look. Let’s dive into this review and see where Okai thrives and where they need to go back to the drawing board.

Our Take:The Affordable Solution for Longer and Faster Commutes.

Is it Good for Bigger, Heavier Riders?

Like most commuter scooters, this Neon is not the best option for the big dawgs.

The small 350 W motor can carry a weight load of 220.0 lbs, which is relatively low for big dawg standards. However, the 705.6 wh battery is large for a commuter and will serve the higher power requirements of riders closer to the maximum limit.

The deck is long but narrow, with a larger focus on portability than rider comfort–which is expected at the Neon’s price point and target market. The handlebars are not the tallest at 38.5-inches, so taller riders might hunch a little more when riding.The handlebars are also sort of narrow and may limit the rider’s movement during rides.

On top of that, the scooter has no suspension, which means a poorer ride experience for heavier riders. There are plenty of scooters out there for the big dawgs, but the OKAI Neon Pro really isn’t the best choice.

Okai Neon Pro Review

Acceleration

Rigged with a 350 W (700 W peak) electric motor, the OKAI Neon Pro achieves an impressive acceleration, hitting in just 4.8 seconds. The Ninebot Max is 1.2 seconds slower to the mark. In fact, in its class, only the Fluid FreeRide Horizon is quicker, and by only 0.1 seconds. 

The Pro isn’t designed to be a racing scooter, but it is quick enough to offer exhilarating rides and short commute times. The acceleration is smooth and non-jerky, thanks to the sturdy yet lightweight construction. Riders will also appreciate the responsive thumb throttle, which is engineered to offer smooth and efficient rides for both novice and experienced riders. 

Top Speed

Okai claims that the Neon Pro can hit a top speed of 20.0 mph. We tested the Neon’s speed, and in a not-so-ordinally turn of events, the scooter’s actual speed was higher than the stated, at 20.5 mph. The OKAI Neon Pro electric scooter has one of the first speedometers that underestimate speed rather than the typical optimism that most speedometers display. 

Its tested top speed is higher than most other scooters in its class. The Ninebot Max hits an RG-tested top speed of 18.6 mph. The NIU KQi3 Pro reached 18.6 mph, and the Apollo Air 2022 had the closest competing top speed hitting 19.9 mph. 

That said, the Pro is still very easy to ride. The throttle is smooth, and the scooter feels stable and very easy to ride, even at top speed. Better yet, the scooter integrates three-speed modes, i.e., E at 3.0 mph; L at 9.0 mph, and H at 19.0 mph, allowing riders to customize the top speed based on their preferences. You can seamlessly choose your preferred speed mode using the display on the cockpit. 

Hill Climb

We took the Pro on our usual , 10% test hill. The scooter maintained an average speed of 9.1 mph and took 15 seconds to the top. This is comparable to the Apollo Light’s hill climb and slightly less than the other popular commuter, the Fluid Mosquito, which takes 14.5 seconds to the top.

However, none of the comparable scooters comes close to the OKAI Neon Pro, with the Ninebot Max lagging behind by 2 seconds; the NIU KQi3 Pro by 1 second; and the Apollo Air Pro 2022 by 3.6 seconds.

Check our database to see how your favorite scooter performs against other scooters for different metrics–all our tests for the different scooters are performed under similar conditions.

Range and Battery

The OKAI Neon Pro electric scooter offers one of the best balances between range and top speed in its class. The 48V | 705.6Wh (Samsung 21700) battery gives the scooter a tested range of up to 26.8 miles. The Pro’s range even beats the beastly Kaabo Mantis 8 by 0.1 miles. 

The OKAI Neon Pro even beat the range-famous Ninebot Max’s which covered 22 miles on exactly the same test course.The Apollo Air Pro 2022 covered 19.5 miles while the NIU KQi3 Pro at least gave us a decent range  20.9 miles. 

The base model Neon (ES20) and Neon Pro both use Samsung 21700 battery cells, which may have a small advantage in terms of reliability and longevity, and definitely have an advantage in terms of range per pound. As a bonus, you also get a big 3 amp charger that charges the battery in just 6 hrs,

Braking

The scooter is fitted with a combination of mechanical disc and electronic brakes, ensuring safe stoppage. The braking system is well encased within the scooter’s structure, protecting it from damage. However, during our braking test, the scooter had a stopping distance of  17.1 ft from a speed of 15.0 mph, which is not the best. The only scooters in its class that the Neon Pro beats are the base model ES20 Neon, and the Fluid Horizon. 

The only plus side of the Pro’s brakes, with regen up front and a single disc at the back, is that it’s basically impossible to put yourself over the handlebars from braking too hard. That said, given the top speed of nearly 20.5 mph, we’d like to see an option in future versions of the app for more powerful regenerative braking at the front wheel.

The NIU scooters also have variable regenerative braking built in. So if you grab the front brake, you still automatically get regenerative braking at the rear wheel. Unlike most regen brakes that are either all the way on or all the way off, the harder you pull the lever on a NIU scooter, the more regen brake you get. It works so well, you don’t need to use the left lever at all, but it’s nice to have if you need it. Plus, you can also adjust the scooter’s regenerative braking strength via the accompanying app. All of this makes for a pretty strong braking power that should give riders some peace of mind.

Ride Quality

The OKAI Neon Pro electric scooter feels very solid, from the feel of the thick grips to the roomy rubber-coated deck. 

However, one thing we miss from the ES20 Neon is the well-integrated rear suspension. The Neon Pro relies on its 10″ tubeless air-filled tires to soak up the bumps.There’s no tire pressure spec in the manual, only the max pressure spec listed on the side of the tires. The high pressure does help you get a little more range, but the ride feels a little stiff when set to the 44 psi maximum. 

It only took a few minutes to get used to the firm ride, at which point we noticed that the stability and cornering were exceptional. We found ourselves carving many of the corners on the range test without letting off the throttle at all.

Despite this being one of the quickest and the fastest scooters in its class, the throttle is still smooth, predictable, and easy to handle. In other words, anyone can ride it, regardless of which performance mode they choose.

Speaking of performance modes, this app gives the rider additional control over how sporty you want it to be. Like usual, the three ride modes limit top speed, in this case, to an indicated 3.0 mph, 9.0 mph, or 19.0 mph. But what’s different is you can also set the intensity of acceleration to “standard” or “sport,” though the difference isn’t huge.

Okai Neon Pro Features

Portability

The OKAI Neon Pro electric scooter is highly portable, just like its brothers, the Neon Lite and ES20. At 46.2 lbs, the Pro is the heaviest in the Neon series and actually heavier than most commuting scooters. Despite the additional weight, the scooter folds down to a compact package that can be seamlessly carried in public transport and stored in compact spaces such as the trunk of a sedan or an office cabinet. 

The folding mechanism is outstanding and so easy to use–you can even do it with your feet. The stem automatically locks into the center position when folded. There’s no hunting around for a deck hook; when it’s time to unfold, you only have to pull one lever to release the stem and lock it upright. We’ve only seen one other scooter that does this, the Unagi Model One. 

The handlebars don’t fold but are relatively narrow. We measured them at 17.6 inches wide, about an inch narrower than the Ninebot Max, and almost 4.0 inches narrower than the KQi3 Pro.   

Cockpit

The Neon Pro features a minimalist cockpit that is ultra-modern and ultra-clean, just like the Neon ES20. The display is clean and refined, and you can customize it to any of three unique faces. Of the three switchable faces, we definitely prefer the two with large digital speedometers as they are easier to read. But as always, it is a struggle to read it under direct sunlight…so check on that Okai.

The round, high-resolution LCD screen displays vital ride metrics to keep you informed about the ride at a glance– you can seamlessly view the scooter’s metrics, including battery, speed, drive mode, and light conditions. 

Finally, by replacing the trigger-style controls with a thumb-held throttle, the scooter is even more intuitive to ride with all of the control functions within easy reach.

Lights

When it comes to lighting, the Okai Neon is aptly named. The Pro is fitted with an outstanding lighting system that encompasses bright adjustable front and rear LED lights, as well as front, side, and rear reflectors. Both the adjustable LED headlight and taillights offer sufficient lighting, but a brighter aftermarket headlight wouldn’t hurt to increase visibility, especially if you plan to ride fast.

The taillight doubles up as the brake light and is always on. It gets brighter when braking, ensuring the traffic behind you is aware of your intent.

Besides that, the OKAI Neon Pro electric scooter is fitted with two bright RGB LED strips–one on the stem and the other underneath the deck for ground lighting. By default, the RGB light bars pulsate in blue and are stunning from every angle. The dazzling RGB swag lights are programmable, and you can customize their brightness, color, and effects for when the scooter is being ridden, sitting still unlocked, in standby mode, or when charging via the OKAI app.

Tires

Unlike its brothers, the Neon Lite and the ES20, the Neon Pro is fitted with larger tubeless tires, perhaps to compensate for the lack of suspensions. The scooter rolls on 10.0 inch x 2.5 inch pneumatic front and rear tires, which soak up road vibrations delivering a smoother riding experience with easy steering. 

Ever since the Ninebot Max, tubeless tires have become ubiquitous. Tubeless tires are highly recommended in e-scooters because they’re nearly impervious to pinch flats, one of the most common types of flat tires. And if you do get a puncture, tubeless tires work much better with tire sealant than tubed ones. Though, unlike the Max, the Neons’ don’t come with sealant pre-installed. 

Deck

The Neon has the longest deck among the Neons, providing plenty of room to comfortably move around on long hauls–riders get 19.2 inches x 6.8 inches of riding platform. The entire deck is covered in a gray diamond-patterned rubber that should offer sufficient grip in most weather conditions. In addition to providing excellent grip, the rubber makes it easier to clean the deck compared to grip tape. 

The underside of the deck is covered with a flat metal which makes part of the deck. However, there isn’t any added guard to shield the underdeck from any possible scuffs, considering the 3.0-inch deck clearance. 

Build Quality

After 17 years in the micro-mobility space and producing over 120 000 personal electric vehicles (PEVs) every month, commuters are in for a treat.

The OKAI Neon Pro electric scooter boasts an excellent build quality that almost feels like the scooter has been carved from a single piece of metal, featuring elegant curves, clean rounded lines, and a cohesive super-modern design. You can get yours in either black or white color schemes, which both blend in well with urban environments.

You’ll also be impressed with the near-perfect welding at the joint between the deck frame and front fork, as seen from the bottom and top of the deck frame. With such crisp joint welding, you can be sure that the scooter can withstand the rigors of riding that often breaks the joints of poorly constructed e-scooters. 

Everything on the scooter feels rock solid. The wires are well routed, with virtually nothing hanging out of place or appearing to get loose with time. The e-scooter’s frame is crafted from premium quality aluminum, which is carefully polished to ensure maximum durability. The beefy rear fender has a sticker reminding you not to stand on it, but just for fun, we tested its strength by standing on it, and it passed. Both fenders provide excellent water protection, matching the relatively high IP55 water resistance spec.

The Pro integrates a bunch of modern features starting from the OKAI Global App, which links to the scooter via Bluetooth, giving the rider a bit of control over the scooter. With the app, you can lock/unlock the Neon, change the speed modes as per your liking, activate cruise control and zero strat function, check the battery level, check the ride history, customize your ride mode, and adjust the LED bar lighting, among other functions. 

And while there are some bugs reported on the App, especially on Android smartphones– notably the map function, the app is still undergoing further coding and design, and we expect an update soon. Note that some features displayed on-screen, such as turning off the regenerative brake function, are yet to be enabled. Unfortunately, you also can’t run the app in demo mode, so it can’t be explored without a scooter. 

There’s also an interesting hidden security feature we’ve never seen before. If you remove the plug near the bottom of the scooter, below the charge port, it disconnects the battery from the scooter, and no one can ride the scooter. It’s securely fitted so that it won’t fall out, but they do give you a spare in case you remove it and then lose it. Both the security plug and the charging cable are nicely sealed with an O-ring.

Finally, like the ES20, the Pro has a bag hook on the stem if you’re out shopping. We’d recommend keeping the contents to 5.0 lbs.’ or less so it doesn’t upset the scooter during hard braking.

Safety

Safety is a crucial aspect of any electric scooter, not only in line with government legislation but also to boost user confidence in the product for a better overall experience. Okai has leveraged technology to achieve high standards of safety not only for the rider but also the pedestrians as well.

The Neon Pro has safety features like rear disc brakes and a front wheel electronic braking system (EBS). The regen-only front brakes also literally mean it’s impossible to put yourself over the handlebars when braking. 

You also get an excellent lighting system for uncompromised day and night visibility, a thumb-held throttle, and a well-positioned bell. And finally, the Okai helmet can be linked to the scooter via Bluetooth, offering a supplementary high-mounted headlight in addition to the fender one.

Warranty 

The scooter comes with varied warranty coverages depending on the specific component. The company offers a 1-year warranty for the motor system, 3 months for the aesthetic parts, and 6 months for the other components that make up the Neon Pro. There are other perks to buying the scooter as well, including a free test ride and a 14-day free trial. 

Okai also accepts product returns within 30 days of receiving the product. However, this covers products purchased only via the Okai website. Products returned are refunded via the original payment method, with customers held responsible for return shipping costs and a 10% restocking fee for any new, unused products in the original package. A restocking fee of 20% is charged on any products that may have been lightly ridden or used.  

We always advise riders to carefully read through the warranty to be fully aware of where they stand should you face unforeseen issues with their purchase.

Okai Neon Pro Electric Scooter: Review Conclusion

The Pro is the latest release in the Neon e-scooter series from Okai and affirms the brand’s vision of promoting green urban mobility. The Neon Pro is a futuristic electric scooter with a longer deck, better build quality, and a stylish design that blends effortlessly into the urban landscape. 

The OKAI Neon Pro ES30 electric Scooter is easy to ride, surprisingly quick, and has gobs of range, but isn’t as silky smooth as it’s charming slower-sibling, the ES20 Neon with it’s hidden rear suspension.

Compared to its predecessors, the Neon and Neon Lite, the Pro offers high speeds and long range, making it perfect for an avid sporty commuter. Ride quality leans a little more toward utility, and a little less toward joyride, but good corner-carving ability means it’s still a lot of fun.

If you want all the safety and reliability of the Neon Pro but don’t need this much top speed and range, you can save a few bucks and go for the base model Neon. But if you want all that plus a ton of raw bang for the buck the Neon Pro is definitely worth checking out.