Segway E22 vs ES4 (2021): Comparing Segway Ninebot KickScooters

As an entry-level electric kick scooter, the Segway Ninebot E22 is one of the most affordable picks around, but despite its relatively low price tag, it isn’t lacking in features. However, it does leave something to be desired in certain aspects when compared to tried-and-tested models like the Segway Ninebot ES4.

Put simply, the Ninebot E22 has a few advantages over its older siblings, and it’s geared toward beginners or those who just want a streamlined ride to get around the city. Meanwhile, the Ninebot ES4 has the speed and range for long-distance travel and daily commutes, which is perfect for experienced riders. On that note, we compare the two to help you make an informed buying decision.

Segway E22 vs ES4 Comparison Chart

Build

The Segway Ninebot ES4 has a more powerful motor and battery than the Ninebot E22.

To start things off, both have the same top-notch build quality and similar sturdy frames, but the Segway Ninebot E22 builds on the Ninebot ES4 with aviation-grade 6 aluminum alloy and a sandblasted coating.

Segway also equipped the Ninebot E22 with nine-inch dual-density tires, as well as a 700W motor and built-in 184 Wh battery under the hood. However, it doesn’t quite match up to the Ninebot ES4’s 800W motor and integrated and external batteries with a nominal capacity of 374 Wh.

Between the two, water and dust resistance is a mixed bag. While the Ninebot E22 has an IPX5 rating, the Ninebot ES4 has an IP54 rating. At the risk of oversimplifying things, it just means that the former has better resistance against water and the latter has better ingress protection against dust.

Last but not least, both work with a combination of electrical and mechanical brakes, and they come only in dark gray. Also, the Ninebot E22 weighs less at 29.8 lbs than the 30.9-lb Ninebot ES4.

Performance

The Segway Ninebot ES4 can go faster and farther, but the Ninebot E22 has better stability.

Unsurprisingly, the Segway Ninebot E22 has a slower speed and shorter range than the Ninebot ES4. It can only go up to 12.4 mph and last up to 13.7 miles as compared to 18.6 mph and 28 miles. Both do have the same Speed limit, Standard, and Sport riding modes, 15 percent maximum incline, and maximum load of 220 lbs.

Now the Ninebot E22 has better stability than the Ninebot ES4, thanks to its aforementioned nine-inch dual-density tires, which bring the benefits of both pneumatic and solid tires. For the record, the latter has an eight-inch front tire and 7.5-inch rear one, both of which are solid non-pneumatic tires.

When it comes to shock absorption, the Ninebot E22 relies on its tires. On the other hand, the Ninebot ES4 uses a front and rear suspension, but that doesn’t automatically mean it’s better in this regard. In short, it doesn’t work that well, and removing it in the newer series was actually an improvement.

One thing to note here is their electric brakes only sort of decrease your speed. In other words, don’t count on it to bring you to a full stop every time, especially when going downhill. The best solution is still to press on the rear fender.

Ease of Use

The Segway Ninebot E22 makes for an easier ride than the Ninebot ES4.

As noted, the Segway Ninebot E22 is better suited for beginners. That’s because of its slower speed, and thus, it’s less daunting to use for newcomers. Owing to its smaller battery capacity, it also fully charges faster in only 3.5 hours as opposed to the Ninebot ES4 needing 7 hours.

In a similar vein, the Ninebot E22 is also slightly lighter, meaning it’s a breeze to carry around even with only one hand or up a flight of stairs. Both do feature one-step folding, and that makes putting them away or stowing them in, say, your car’s trunk a simple task.

It’s worth mentioning that if you feel that these electric kick scooters don’t work as advertised, it might be because you haven’t activated them yet. To do that, you’ll have to download the official Segway-Ninebot app and connect it to your smartphone through Bluetooth. However, they’re pretty infamous for having Bluetooth issues. If you find that they keep dropping connection or won’t connect at all, one common fix is to disconnect the head unit.

Other Features

The Segway Ninebot E22 comes with a bell as standard, but only the Ninebot ES4 has an atmosphere light.

Both electric kick scooters have bright headlights, which are necessary for road safety, needless to say. Speaking of, the Segway Ninebot E22 sports a rear reflector, but the Ninebot ES4 takes it up a notch with rear side-lights.

Another noticeable difference between the two is the Ninebot E22 has a bell out of the box. It goes without saying that this can come in handy whenever you need to alert pedestrians or other riders. However, only the Ninebot ES4 has an atmosphere light. For the uninitiated, this is the glowing light below the scooter, and it can be customized via the accompanying app.

Verdict

Both the Segway Ninebot E22 and Ninebot ES4 have their own strong points.

It’s a bit difficult to choose because each one has its own advantages over the other. The Segway Ninebot E22 has better nine-inch dual-density tires for improved stability, a lighter weight for better portability, and a lower price tag. In contrast, the Segway Ninebot ES4 is faster, and it has a larger battery capacity for a longer range, and rear side-lights instead of reflectors.

Instead of declaring a winner, it’d be more apt to say that the Ninebot E22 is better for first-time riders. It’s more affordable, and it doesn’t go that fast to let novices get a better feel for riding electric kick scooters. But the Ninebot ES4 is the better pick if you want a higher speed or if you need to travel long distances on a single charge.

FAQs