Okai Neon Lite Vs. Unagi Model One Voyager

We compare two of the most aesthetic entry-level electric scooters the Okai Neon Lite and the Unagi Model One Voyager.

Long before Okai were making their now popular personal commuter scooter models, they were already one of the biggest OEM manufacturers for the shared scooter market. They entered the personal ride space with two of the best budget scooters, the Okai Neon and the higher-performance, Neon Pro.

Today, however, we focus on the reduced performance Okai Neon Lite. We’ll pit the Okai Neon Lite electric scooter against the ultra-modern Unagi Model One Voyager. The Voyager is the best lightweight scooter in the market, with great performance, and award-winning aesthetics.

But don’t take our word for it–here are the facts, numbers, and stats.

Okai Neon Lite Vs. Unagi Model One Voyager Comparison Table

Here’s a comparison table that gives you a quick highlight of both scooters’ specifications.

Cost

The Okai Neon Lite is a good example of a budget scooter. The scooter currently retails for $499, which is great value for money, considering you get unique features like programmable lights, NFC locking capabilities, app connectivity, a decent IP55 water resistance rating, and a scooter that’s sure to turn heads–all features that are not very common with other scooters in its class.

On the other hand, the Unagi Model One Voyager is the scooter for you if you’re not really set on a scooter just yet, and are unwilling to part with any substantial amount of money for a good scooter. Unagi Scooters offers a unique subscription plan dubbed the All-Access Membership plan.

Members get to own either the $79-a-month Unagi Voyager or the $59-a-month Model One Classic under a flexible, renewable contract, which you can also cancel penalty-free at any time. For the price, you get a reliable, high-performance, durable commuter scooter that is great for beginners and expert riders.

Performance

The Unagi Voyager is a dual-motor electric scooter, with front and rear 250 W motors, churning out a peak power of 1000 W. Dual motors present unique advantages as proven by the Voyager when tested alongside the single motor, front-drive Okai Neon Lite.

Speed and Acceleration

The two commuters are equipped with safe bike lane speeds per electric scooter laws in the US. The Voyager hits an ideal top speed of 20 mph, with an adequately zippy acceleration of 4.4 seconds to 15 mph.

Alternatively, the Okai Neon has a top speed capped at 15.5 mph. The e-scooter, however, lacks the briskness of the Model One Voyager, reaching top speed in over 5 seconds.

Range and Battery

The scooters are sufficiently equipped to cover your daily commute without needing to recharge. The Voyager has the better range of the two, covering 12-25 miles on a single charge, depending on your riding style, the riding conditions, and your rider weight.

The Voyager electric scooter relies on a 360 Wh battery with energy-dense cells that are lightweight and guarantee long battery life. Additionally, the scooter has a fast charging mechanism, that juices the scooter to 50% charge in an hour, and to full capacity in 3 hours.

On the other hand, expect a realistic range of about 10 to 18.5 miles on the Okai Neon Lite. The scooter has a smaller 280.8 wh battery that charges to full in 4 hours. It is equipped with premium 18650 Samsung cells, which guarantees longer battery life than generic-celled batteries.

Hill Climbing

Dual-motor scooters are inherently better hill climbers, which means the Model One Voyager, the lightest dual-motor scooter, knocks it out of the park when it comes to hill climbing. While we have no official numbers for the Neon Lite, we can estimate its hill climb times by the stats obtained from the Neon ES20.

On a 200 ft, 10% hill, the Neon reached the top in 18 seconds, against the Voyager’s 14 seconds. Having a slightly more powerful motor than the base Neon, we can assume that the Neon Lite scales the same gradient in about 15.5 seconds.

Braking

The Okai Neon Lite electric scooter has a dual braking mechanism comprising a front electronic ABS and rear mechanical disc brake. The dual brakes bring the scooter to a halt in 14.76 ft, which is okay given the low top speed.

On the other hand, the Unagi Model One Voyager has dual electronic anti-lock brakes plus a rear fender friction brake. From a speed of 15 mph, you get a slightly longer braking distance of about 17 ft.

Build Quality

Okai scooters and Unagi scooters are in a perpetual battle for the title, ‘most aesthetic scooter.’ In fact, we awarded the Neon Pro the crown for lightweight electric scooter for ladies, but only because the Voyager had already clinched the best overall lightweight scooter title.

Materials and Durability

Seasoned OEM manufacturers Okai know a thing or two when it comes to building scooters. The Neon Lite is a custom-built model, with all its components designed and manufactured in-house. This gives Okai total oversight on the quality control issues, explaining why the Neon Lite is one of the most reliable budget electric scooters on the market.

The Neon Lite is made of durable, lightweight 6061 aluminum alloy, giving you strength, without compromising on portability. Alternatively, Unagi went ballistic with material science, bringing together a carbon fiber stem, a magnesium alloy handlebar, and a single-piece machined aluminum frame. The high strength-to-weight ratio makes it the most lightweight, durable electric scooter.

Both electric scooters are rated to carry a max rider weight of 220 lbs, so heavy riders might need to consider something different.

Aesthetics

The Okai Neon Lite is an instantly attractive electric scooter with a striking rhythmic ambient light on the stem. You can program the light to your desired color, which ultimately elevates your choice of black or white frame. Additionally, there’s a circular display (with 3 customizable themes) that complements the rest of the electric scooter’s stand-out design choices.

The Unagi Model One Voyager electric scooter comes in four colors: deep cobalt, matte black, cool mist, and latte. The design is neat and intricate, leaving nothing to chance from the smooth curves, to the well-routed cables, the high-quality paint color, and the seamless joints. It’s the go-to scooter for celebrities, including world-renowned American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish.

Ride Quality

The Okai Neon Lite e-scooter has a slightly better ride quality than the Voyager, and here’s why:

Tires

The Okai Neon Lite electric scooter comes with a mixed tire configuration–a front 9-inch tubeless tire and a rear 8.5-inch solid tire. The front tire gives the scooter improved traction, great carving ability, and a smooth ride. The rear wheel, on the other hand, is solid since the majority of punctures happen on the back, eliminating maintenance needs.

The Unagi Model One Voyager has hybrid tires–hollowed-out solid tires, otherwise known as honeycomb tires. Their solid nature means they are flat-free, while the air pockets provide some shock absorption, ensuring you don't experience the jittery ride often associated with solid-wheeled scooters.

Suspension

Like most electric scooters in their class, the Unagi Model One Voyager and the Okai Neon Lite do not come equipped with suspension setups. Instead, they rely on their tires for shock absorption.

Deck Space

The two electric scooters have nearly the same size riding platform. The Unagi Model One Voyager is slightly longer at 19.2 inches by 5.04 inches. On the other hand, the Okai Neon Lite has a slightly wider deck measuring 19 inches by 6.5 inches. Both decks provide adequate riding space for adult riders. You won’t have excess shuffle room; however, you have more than enough space to position yourself in the recommended alternate front plus rear foot placement.

Portability

Both the Voyager and Neon Lite are portable lightweight scooters. The Unagi Model One Voyager is the top choice for a lightweight scooter, weighing 29.6 lbs against the Neon Lite scooter's weight of 33 lbs.

Additionally, both lightweight scooters feature a quick one-click folding system that allows the stem to lock in the center position without latching to the deck.

However, the Model One Voyager, again, outdoes the Neon Lite foldable electric scooter with small folded dimensions of 37.8 inches x 16.5 inches x 15 inches. The Neon Lite electric scooter measures 42.72 inches x 17.72 inches x 17.91 inches when folded.

Water-Resistance

The Unagi Model One Voyager is IPX4 rated while the Okai Neon Lite is rated IP55. This means that the electric scooters can withstand light showers, and ride through shallow puddles, without risking frying the scooters' electricals. The Okai Neon is additionally dust protected.

App and Controls

The Okai Neon has a fancy-looking circular display nested on top of the stem, and operated by a single button. The display has 3 customizable faces that can be set on the app and indicate speed, battery, light status, cruise control, and error detection.

The Neon Lite’s screen, additionally, acts as an NFC card reader, allowing you to lock and unlock your scooter, while the Okai app allows you access to the Neon’s vehicle-grade intelligent inspection, battery information, remote start, sports mode, and route tracking.

The Unagi Model One Voyager, on the other hand, has a futuristic T-shaped display. It has the same basic functionality as the Neon’s. The App, however, unlocks unique functions like a remaining range calculator, top speed settings, single and dual motor mode, and remote lock and unlock, while still allowing you to manage your Unagi subscription.

Lights

Both electric scooters have high-mounted headlights and rear-mounted tail lights that double as brake lights, warning other road users of their slowing intent.

The Okai Neon also comes with rhythmic ambient lights on the stem that pulse downwards and can be set to your desired aesthetic on the app.

Verdict

It’s a fair conclusion to state that the Neon Lite and the Model One Voyager commuter scooters are designed for the same clientele.

They are both aesthetically pleasing, lightweight enough to be carried up a couple of flights of stairs, designed with adequate range and top speed, intuitive to ride, especially for beginner riders and are both pocket-friendly when acquiring.

Why choose the Neon Lite electric scooter?

The Neon Lite is a great pick for leisurely rides, and for people whose daily commute winds through mostly flat, relatively well-maintained roads. Its range means you can’t plan for long two-way rides; however, the quick 4-hour charge time is plenty enough to juice it up before you need to hop back on. It’s a safe electric scooter for night rides courtesy of the wow-factor ambient lights. The cost is also a low one-off fee, which is quite appealing to many riders.

Who is suited for the Unagi Model One Voyager?

The Model One Voyager is the electric scooter for you if you’re a regular commuter, and don’t want to be slowed down on hilly terrain, and if you like a scooter that takes off fast. It is also the best lightweight electric scooter. Additionally, it has good range, and an ultra-fast recharge time, which eliminates range anxiety.

The Unagi Voyager is as reliable as it is durable and is maintenance-free courtesy of the dual electronic brakes and flat-proof tires. However, for most patrons, the All-Access membership plan is the best alternative to renting a scooter or paying huge upfront costs when trying to get into scooting.

Therefore, create a checklist to determine which scooter perfectly meets your needs. And if you need more options, we have a list of the best electric scooters for your consideration.