Apollo Phantom V3 (2023) Review

Cockpit

The Phantom has come a long way since the cheap plastic thumb throttle and key-lock ignition that blighted the first version. Gone is all the clutter, replaced by an ergonomic design that makes controlling the cockpit an altogether more enjoyable experience.

It’s clear that the Apollo City has been a bountiful source of inspiration in the development of the Phantom V3 – and nowhere is this more evident than along the handlebars.

The regen and accelerative paddles are of the same larger, 7th-generation design as those featured on the City, while the integrated controls for your turn signals, riding modes, and on-off activation have been spread across the bar – all within easy reach of your thumbs.

At the heart of it, is the new LX display, which has replaced the older HEX variant. Not only is it bigger with double the refresh rate and anti-glare technology, but it now grants you access to all your key stats – including your speed, distance traveled, and remaining mileage – as well as the ability to activate the fearsome Ludo mode (more on that shortly).

And finally, a nod to the ultra-wide 27-inch handlebars themselves. I’m a big fan of their concave shape. They inspire confidence by making you feel safely enclosed, while the flared grips at either end maximize control and handling.

Frame

The Phantom is known for its proprietary design that shook the market upon its original release. As opposed to using a white-labeled frame, each component was built to fit together like a jigsaw. It’s the sum of parts that function like the intricate mechanics of a Swiss watch.

You’ll be glad, therefore, to learn that the V3 doesn’t deviate from its origin, but instead builds on its blueprint with a plethora of upgrades. The all-metal, nigh-on invincible frame, meanwhile, retains its gun-metal highlights in keeping with its menacing exterior.

Deck

Measuring 20.5 x 8.5 inches, the deck is large – while the addition of the kickplate gives you an extra 5.5 inches of space.

Among all of the scooters that I’ve tested, it serves up the best configuration. Small details like the shallow angle and flat shape of the kickplate make a big difference to how you ride.

Combined with the deeply treaded and extremely grippy rubber matting – which now features cutouts to make access to the controllers and battery easier – the Phantom V3 sets the industry standard for how all decks should be designed.

There’s also a white logo that’s been emblazoned onto the deck, while an unknown, yet cool easter egg is the geometric tread pattern that spells out the letter A for Apollo.

Tires

It’s no secret that I regard the Phantom as one of the most comfortable electric scooters and you can’t earn that accolade without a decent pair of tires to pad out your riding experience.

Measuring 10 inches tall and 3.25 inches wide they promise both stability and shock-absorption in spades.

What makes them stand out from the crowd, however, is their tread. Instead of being slick like the tires on so many other performance scooters, they feature a texture that’s moderately patterned. This lends itself to enhanced performance where they provide much-needed traction while accelerating, braking, and turning corners.

The tires also performed well during my terrain tests, where they maintained grip while being ridden over compacted dirt tracks and forest trails.

If there was one area for improvement it would be if the tires could be tubeless and self-healing, like those on the Apollo City.

Portability

I won’t sugar-coat it – at 77 lbs, it’s heavy. Lugging it upstairs is an effort, so be warned if you live on floor 8 of an apartment complex.

That said, it does come equipped with an intuitive folding mechanism that combines a claw-like hook with a safety collar and pin.

The claw-like mechanism pulls the stem flush to the base of the folding joint while the strong plastic collar wraps around the folding lever to ensure it can’t come loose while riding. Cementing the stem’s locked position is the safety pin that punches through the stem.

To collapse the stem, you simply pull the safety pin out, twist the collar, and pull down on the folding lever.

There’s also a hook on the back of the handlebars that allows you to secure them to the deck when it’s collapsed.

Load

With a load capacity of 300 lbs, it’s one of the most inclusive scooters around.

When testing it, I weighed 190 lbs (including my helmet and safety gear), so I can confidently say that’ll deliver an excellent level of performance for riders around this weight.

However, given its powerful motors, battery, and durable build, I can see it performing admirably for riders up to 270 lbs.

Lights

When I reviewed the original Phantom I was impressed with its lighting rig. It had a bright 1000W lumen headlight, LEDs embedded into the front and rear of the deck, and a taillight. It, however, was missing one thing – turn signals that flashed at both the front and rear.

Well, Apollo heard our feedback and has added a full suite of turn signals to the new Phantom, meaning it now has one of the best lighting packages you can get.

Building on this successful blueprint, the display now shows when the turn signals are active via flashing indicator icons. They also beep while in use.

Mobile App

One of the star additions to the Phantom V3’s spec sheet is the new mobile app integration.

As seen on both the Apollo Air and City, it opens up a whole world of customization that’ll benefit riders of all experience levels. From the app, you can:

• Dial in the strength of the regen brake and acceleration
• Adjust your top speed, as well as the speed of each riding mode
• Turn cruise control on/off, and set the time it takes before it automatically kicks in
• Turn the digital lock on/off, which immobilizes the scooter by applying the electronic brakes
• Turn the lights on/off
• Toggle between kick-to-start and zero-start modes
• Use it as a navigational device (i.e. follow a route to your destination)
• Record trips
• Get range estimates based on your most recent riding pattern

Build Quality

There’s no denying that the original had some teething issues when it was first released, but the Phantom you see today is three different scooters combined into one. To refine the scooter, Apollo gathered feedback from the 10,000+ units of the V1 and V2 that they sold to tweak, improve, and refresh the V3.

The result is a scooter that addresses real-world rider needs and concerns. It's been carefully designed with meticulous attention to detail.

Even small details have undergone improvements. The steel kickstand not only acts as a sturdy foot for the scooter to rest on, but it protects the charge ports in the event of a crash. The newly equipped screw-on charge port covers are more secure. The electrical components that make up the cockpit have plug-and-play cable connectors, making replacement easy. The smart power management system protects against short-circuiting, overcurrent, overcharging, undervoltage, and regulates the temperature of the scooter’s core components. And finally, the IP54 water-resistance rating ensures that it’s protected against inclement weather.

My only reservation is with the poorly-fitted rubber that sits around the plastic casing of the regen and throttle paddles.