When comparing ZBoard 2 Blue vs Airwheel M3, the Slant community recommends ZBoard 2 Blue for most people. In the question“What are the best electric skateboards?” ZBoard 2 Blue is ranked 11th while Airwheel M3 is ranked 17th. The most important reason people chose ZBoard 2 Blue is:
The Zboard Blue is controlled by two pressure pads instead of a handheld remote. Pressing on the front pad increases forward speed; pressing on the back brakes or sends you in reverse. Having controls different from the majority of alternatives makes this board more fun but also more challenging to ride, even for those who have experience with electric skateboards.
Specs
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Pros
Pro It offers a unique riding experience
The Zboard Blue is controlled by two pressure pads instead of a handheld remote. Pressing on the front pad increases forward speed; pressing on the back brakes or sends you in reverse. Having controls different from the majority of alternatives makes this board more fun but also more challenging to ride, even for those who have experience with electric skateboards.
Pro Low battery warning lights
In order to keep users from being surprised by a dead battery, the ZBoard 2 now comes with LED indicators that keep you apprised of the remaining battery life.
Pro You can use it as a regular skateboard
When the battery is completely drained, the brushless motor allows ZBoard to be pushed like a regular skateboard.
Pro Customer support is amazing
Direct contact with owners and operators happens at all times.
Pro Front and back lights enable riding at night
There is a headlight and taillight for riding in the dark. These lights allow the rider to see the road and be clearly seen by other people.
Pro Comfortable to carry around
With ZBoard 2, the handle and lightweight design make it convenient to carry the board around when not in use.
Pro Can operate in very wet conditions
The electrical components are secured from the elements, and the board can be used even in wet conditions.
Pro Can mount setup on any board imaginable, even on a snowboard
The motor setup can be mounted on any number of decks, including decks not originally intended to serve as skateboards. This gives a great deal of flexibility in customizing your ride.
Pro App for tracking statistics and tweaking available on both Android and iOS
A chip inside the board tracks stats and wirelessly relays them to the app, enabling the user to check them in real time. This leads to better decision making while riding the board.
Pro No external motor
The motor is encased inside the wheel (instead of an external motor and belt drive), which keeps it protected and offers a good, high-powered experience.
Pro Awesome design
The board has a striking design with one tail and large wheels fastened to backward-facing trucks.
Pro Smooth ride
The trucks and bushings have a dampening effect on vibration and bumps making for a smooth ride. The large wheels and cushioning risers used above the trucks enhance this effect.
Pro It's fairly cheap
This setup cots 2-3 less than that what you'd expect to pay for a high-quality e-board, making it a very accessible option.
Pro Good warranties
The board comes with a 1-month warranty on the wheels, a 6-month warranty on the battery, and a 1-year warranty on the rest of the components.
Pro Able to ride on medium rough terrain
The large wheels allow the board to traverse rough terrain easily. This makes it a good board to use in off-road conditions, including forested terrain and parks.
Pro Feels really durable
The components are strong and stand up well to wipeouts and poor weather.
Cons
Con Steep learning curve
ZBoard has a unique design. While it is similar to other skateboards in many ways, riding ZBoard doesn't come naturally, even for experienced skaters. Controlling the board's speed and direction using the pressure pads can be difficult to accomplish while remaining balanced, so lots of practice is necessary before riding this in a crowded environment.
Con Weak drivetrain
Doesn't have enough force to go up steep hills.
Con Not upholding warranty
Con No customer support
Con Quite heavy
The 25 lbs weight needs to be taken into account. It is not the easiest to carry around if that’s something you’ll need to do.
Con People can see it's motorized quite easily
Thanks to the very large battery box attached under the board, it’s quite obvious that the board is motorized.
Con Bulky battery pack isn’t great to look at
The battery pack is quite large and really stands out – but not in a good way. Its size also adds weight to the board, which is the tradeoff you make for a more powerful battery that lasts longer.
Con The range is unimpressive
When ridden by a 65 kg (140 lb) rider at full speed at 14 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit), the board only has a range of 10 km (6 miles). When it’s colder than this, the batteries will offer even less power. This is true of all batteries, so if you live in a cold environment be sure to consider the impact weather may have on performance.
Con One-wheel drive
Only one wheel has a motor, which can lead to too much torque on one side.
Con Dishonest advertising of specs
Airwheel is advertised with a top speed of 20 kph and a 20-km range (12 mph and 12 miles). The company also claims it can be fully charged in 60 minutes and that it will alert the rider when they reach 12 kph (7.5 mph). In reality, there is no alert at 12 kph, the board only charges to 55 percent capacity in an hour, and listed the top speed can only be reached if you weigh less then 60 kg (130 lb) or are going downhill. It’s possible that a 20 km range could be achieved in first gear, but in the top gear you will only be able to travel half that distance.
Con Miserable top speed
Even with a fairly light, 150 lb rider, the board will only reach a top speed of 11 mph. Obviously this speed will only decrease as the rider weight increases.
Con Doesn’t charge very quickly
The board takes three hours to fully charge. It will only reach 55 percent charge after the first hour. This makes it difficult to quickly top off the battery.