fbpx
Connect with us

Reviews

Best Electric Scooters of 2022

Published

on

2021 was when we all returned to work, hoping everything would return to normal. Everything did return to normal as expected – including outrageous prices at the pump. Driving doesn’t have the same appeal as it used to, especially for those returning to city life. I haven’t owned a car since 2019 and have been patiently waiting for Elon to debut flying cars to make my city commute more bearable.

Well, disappointingly, 2021 did not bring us flying cars. But it did get us an onslaught of electric scooters. Traffic jams, rotating the block for parking, and expensive maintenance are things of the past. Electric scooters are replacing cars in cities, and there’s no better time to get one than now. What are you waiting for, gas prices to go down?

Unfortunately, the world of electric scooters is still a relative niche market, and you might not be able to tell a cheap Chinese knock-off brand from a reputable manufacturer. That’s why we decided to put together a list of the best electric and reputable scooters on the market today. We’ve tested about 20 electric scooters ourselves and have narrowed the list down to a few that we can confidently recommend. Enjoy!

Kaabo Mantis Pro SE from Voro Motors ($2299)

Let’s start with the biggest bang for your bucks electric scooter, the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE. SE stands for a special edition made in collaboration with Voro Motors. You can tell it’s an SE edition by the unique gold trims.

This scooter was designed for enthusiasts; however, it’s an easy one to recommend to anyone at this price range. Whatever you’re looking for in a scooter, whether it’s impressive build quality, craftsmanship, performance, portability (for its class), or value, the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE edition from Voro Motors has it all.

Packed with dual 1000W motors (combined 2000W), it’s the fastest and most powerful scooter on this list. The sheer power combined with world-class engineering lets you go from 0 – 15 miles in less than 2 seconds and max out at 45 miles per hour. That was not a typo. Yes…45 miles per hour. That’s twice the speed limit of most city roads.

Quick specs:

Price: $2299 (for 2022 24AH version)

Top speed: 45mph

Battery range: 40 miles

Scooter weight: 65lbs

Tires: 10″ tubed tires. 3″ wide

Max load: 330lbs

Motor: Dual 1000W Motors (2000W total)

Brakes: Zoom Hydraulic brakes

The Kaabo Mantis’ battery can last up to 45 miles, making it the longest-lasting scooter on this list. You can probably see why we put this one first.

The one downside would be the weight. At 65 lbs, it’s the heaviest scooter on this list. However, compared to most scooters in its class, this is one of the lightest high-performance scooters on the market.

You are getting something for all of that extra weight. The Kaabo Mantis is exceptionally well built and can handle up to 330lbs.

(Full review coming soon)

Shell Ride SR-5S ($649)

For those who don’t have $2299 to drop on a scooter, the Shell Ride SR-5S is the perfect alternative.

The Shell Ride SR-5S is a compact, fast, and reliable scooter with one of the best build qualities on a scooter at this price range. It’s hard to tell from pictures, but this scooter is exceptionally well built with a wobble-proof solid steel folding stem.

Everything about the SR-5S screams quality. Riding it around the city, we’ve never heard a single rattle or felt anything come loose. The handlebar is wide with a firm spatula grip. The bell is an actual bell instead of a spring-action mechanism used by cheaper scooters.

Quick specs:

Price: $629

Top speed: 15.5 – 20mph

Battery range: 18-20 miles

Scooter weight: 30.4lbs

Tires: 8.5″ semi-pneumatic

Max load: 220lbs

Motor: Front 350W Motor

Brakes: Rear disc brake & electric front brake

It has a range of 20 miles and a top speed of about 20 miles. These numbers will vary depending on your weight, road condition, and other environmental factors.

Three features separate the SR-5S from most other scooters. First is how secure and easy it is to fold and unfold the scooter. The stem uses a unique sheath sliding mechanism that lets you fold/unfold the scooter in less than 5 seconds. The locking mechanism is also secure, making it easier to carry around than most.

The second feature is how quickly the scooter starts up. Pressing the power button brings the scooter to life within 1 second, and you’re ready to go. The built-in display is simple, functional, and visible even on bright sunny days.

The third feature is the Shell Ride App. The SR-5S is one of few scooters with robust App integration. I was skeptical at first and thought the App may have been an after-thought. To my surprise, it’s an exceptionally well-designed interface that connects seamlessly with the scooter. You don’t need an App for any scooter, but it’s nice to see your average speed, total mileage, etc.

The one downside is the small 8.5 semi-pneumatic wheels. They’re a bit small for the speed this scooter can handle. At 12-15mph, you’ll be fine. However, at 18-20 mph, it can get risky on uneven roads.

If you’re looking for a lightweight and high-quality scooter to make short commutes in the city, you can’t go wrong with the Shell Ride SR-5S

Levy Plus Electric Scooter ($699)

The Levy Plus is one of the lightest and most portable scooters on this list. Despite weighing only 30 lbs, it’s capable of 18 mph with a range of 20 miles on cushy 10″ pneumatic tires.

Quick specs:

Price: $629

Top speed: 18 mph

Battery range: 20 miles

Scooter weight: 30lbs

Tires: 10″ pneumatic tires

Max load: 220lbs

Motor: Front 350W Motor

Brakes: Rear disc brake & electric front brake

The battery is removable, however we didn’t feel like this was a very useful feature. Given the scooter doesn’t come with an extra battery. That will be an added cost. So most of the time, you’re just plugging directly into the scooter to charge.

The 1-step latching mechanism to fold and unfold is quick, easy, and offers wobble-free operation. The Levy Plus is one of the most accessible and most convenient electric scooters. Using the Levy Plus, I could get to work, board public transit, and bring the scooter into Starbucks with ease.

My one complaint would be the lack of app integration. Given that Levy does have an App for their Fleet products, I felt one should’ve been published for their scooters.

Glion Balto ($799)

The Balto is already such a unique scooter that’s differentiating itself from anything on the market. We like that the team at Glion didn’t just use a copy/paste design and instead re-imagined what functionality would look like—introducing the Glion Balto, the only scooter that comes standard with a removable seat and grocery rack AND a high-torque 750W motor.

Quick specs:

Price: $799

Top speed: 17 mph

Battery range: 20 miles

Scooter weight: 38lbs

Tires: 12″ pneumatic tires

Max load: 255lbs

Motor: Front 750W Motor

Brakes: Rear disc brake & electric front brake

It has a top speed of about 17mph, a range of 20 miles, and a maximum load capacity of 255lbs. The removable 500W battery pack also doubles as a portable power station to charge your devices. However, you’ll need to buy a $139 inverted from Glion, sold separately, to use that feature. That may or may not be your favorite thing about the Balto.

What WILL be your favorite thing about the Balto are the massive 12″ pneumatic tires. These are the most oversized tires to have ever been fitted on a scooter. These tires are ready to take on poorly serviced city roads and potholes.

The one major downside with the Balto is portability. At 38lbs, the weight is manageable. However, it’s far too big even when folded to bring into public spaces. You’ll likely want to lock this outside on a bike rack.

I have to admit, the grocery rack in the back was not a selling point for me. However, I’ve grown to love it, especially when I need to make a quick trip to Aldi’s every week. If you’re looking to pick up girls on your scooter, look elsewhere (actually, don’t look at scooters altogether). But if you’re looking for an all-in-one scooter that’s great for commuting and grocery trips, there’s nothing better. The Glion Balto is screaming your name.

Reviews

99Designs: An Honest Review From a Non-Designer

Published

on

99Designs is one of the go-to graphic design services online. It’s a platform full of professional designers that will make branding easier for you. Here’s an honest 99Designs review of the service from a non-designer. 

99Designs: Overview

99Designs is a graphic design service that helps clients connect with various web and graphic designers worldwide. The platform offers the following design services: 

  • Logos
  • Websites
  • Stationary
  • Business Cards
  • Postcards 
  • Posters
  • Clothing
  • Brochures

How Does it Work

#1 Brief Your Requirements

First, you need to create a simple design brief to help graphic designers visualize your requirements. 

#2 Connect with a Designer

Second, you need to choose how you’ll connect with a designer. In99Designs, you have two options: 

  • Work Directly

You can choose to work with a graphic designer directly.99Designs will help you find the designer that matches your preferred design style. This option allows you to review the portfolio and request the designer’s quotes. 

  • Start a Contest 

For this option, you’ll open your design brief to the99Designs community. After that, designers will submit ideas to you, providing you multiple styles to choose from.

#3 Collaborate

Lastly, after choosing your preferred design process, you’ll collaborate with your graphic designer. Once satisfied with the output, you can release the payment securely to the designer. Take note that all copyright and ownership entirely belongs to you. 

99Designs Review: The Pros and Cons

Pros of99Designs

  • Built-in design process 

It guides the non-designers to organize their design requirements. The platform provides questions that help clients define their requirements to help designers visualize what is needed. So if you also have a hard time translating the creative path you want your designer to take,99Designs’ platform will help. 

  • 100% Money-back warranty

99Designs offers a 100% guarantee within 60 days of payment. The warranty is available for all types of contests. However, it does not apply to contests with a guaranteed prize. When we say “guaranteed prize,” it means that the contest already proceeded to the final round. 

  • Estimated quantity of submissions

As you pick a package for your design requirement,99Designs will provide an estimated quantity based on the budget. Each bid will have a fixed amount of price. So, it’s safe to say there are no hidden fees. 

  • Large Marketplace

99Designs is one of the best graphic design services on the internet. Its popularity is evident by the number of bids a client receives on a single project. Although it’s a disadvantage for the designers, as the client, you have more gains. 

Cons of99Designs

  • Limited Options

As you scroll through several design proposals for your contest, you can’t research more about the designers. It’s impossible to dig deeper about the designer’s portfolio, resume or feedback from previous customers. 

  • Misleading Pricing

According to99Designs, “you can set your price.” However, there are minimum prices for each design category. Although the minimum fee is reasonable, the claim of setting your rate as a client is somewhat misleading. 

  • Newbie Designers

There are a handful of people who believe newbie designers often join design contests. For some, this claim is valid, but seniority is not an issue as long as they produce quality works.  

  • Unpaid Efforts

This is the advantage for designers when joining contests. Of course, designers are aware of this downside. However, they often take it as a learning experience. 

99Designs Review: Monthly Plans

The following are the fixed pricing for contest packages. Using the contest option in99Designs, you’ll receive creative concepts from multiple designers around the world. 

Logo Design 

  • Bronze, 30 designs at $299
  • Silver, 60 designs at $499
  • Gold, 90 designs at $899
  • Platinum, 60 designs at $1,299 (Top-level designer entry requirement) 

Web Page Design 

  • Bronze, 15 designs at $599
  • Silver, 25 designs at $899
  • Gold, 35 designs at $1,599
  • Platinum, 25 designs at $2,499 (Top-level designer entry requirement) 

Other Pricing Includes: 

  • 3D
  • Album cover
  • App design
  • Banner ad
  • Book cover
  • Business card
  • Car, truck, or van wrap
  • Character or mascot
  • Landing page design
  • Merchandise design
  • Graphic illustrations 
  • Other Branding assets

Maximizing Your Experience with 99Designs

Here are several expert tips to help you utilize 99Designs effectively:

  • Define Your Vision Clearly: Begin with a comprehensive and clear design brief. The more details you provide about your vision, the better designers can align with your expectations.
  • Choose the Right Engagement Model: Decide whether direct collaboration with a designer or launching a contest fits your project better. Each has its benefits, with direct hires offering personalized engagement and contests providing diverse creative options.
  • Engage Actively with Designers: Whether you opt for a direct hire or a contest, actively engaging with the designers is crucial. Provide feedback promptly to refine designs closer to your vision.

Final Note

In the end, this99Designs review proved that the platform is one of the best graphic design services on the internet. If you’re still contemplating if you need their service, you can explore the99Designs website. However, if you’re searching for a design service that’s perfect for non-design,99Designs is worth considering.

Continue Reading

Business

Graphics Zoo Review: Is this unlimited graphic design service worth it?

Published

on

Due to the increased demand for affordable graphic design, various unlimited graphic design services has been popping up online. The graphic design industry expanded, offering more options to clients.

We can say that the scene is more competitive now than ever. However, let’s focus on Graphics Zoo for this article. We weigh in on if their services can keep up with the fierce competition in the “unlimited” section of the industry. 

What is Graphics Zoo?

Graphics Zoo is an unlimited graphic design service that allows users to request designs on a monthly subscription. All clients have to do is create a submission with full specifications of their design requirements.

It’s also best to attach references to help designers take the creative path towards the client’s preferences. The great thing about an online graphic design service is its flat monthly rate, with no added fees for revisions. 

Graphics Zoo Business Model

Unlimited graphic design is a type of business model which allows clients to submit numerous requests per account. After presenting the design preference, expect a 24-hour turnaround or more before you can receive your output. If you receive a design output that’s far from expectations, you can point out the changes you want to make for the revision. Graphics Zoo has a flat monthly rate with no contracts involved. It means you can cancel your subscription anytime without having any legal worries. 

You might also like: Design Pickle VS Penji Review

Graphics Zoo’s Market

The design service is excellent for startups, bloggers, and entrepreneurs. As long as the business needs a continuous supply of custom graphic design, Graphics Zoo is worth a shot. Here are a few examples of companies that worked with Graphics Zoo: 

  • Enicode
  • Bread of Life Inc.
  • Western Rockies Federal Credit Union
  • Perfect Imprints
  • Green Guard

According to their website, Graphics Zoo has more than 750 satisfied customers with at least 50,000 approved projects. It’s also highly rated by their customers, earning whopping 4.9-star reviews. 

Pros and Cons of Graphics Zoo

Graphics Zoo Pros 

  • PROOF management system

Graphics Zoo offers a robust system that provides a collaborative space for designers and clients. It streamlines the whole submission and revision process. Using the tool, the clients can click on any submitted designs to pinpoint areas that need revision. It also allows users to leave a comment to provide more instructions to the designer. 

  • Graphics Zoo offers a stellar project management system that allows efficient communication between both parties. 
  • Brand profile features add accuracy and efficiency per design project. It quickly provides the design’s purpose to designers. 
  • Graphics Zoo offers a comprehensive design selection across various graphic design categories. 
  • The ability to share one account among multiple users is helpful for most businesses.
  • Excellent customer support and design project management system
  • A team of versatile designers that can provide designs for any business types

Graphics Zoo Cons

  • It’s possible to encounter ill-paired designers that are not fit for other project requirements. It might consume time because of countless revisions. 
  • You can only have one ongoing project per day. So if you’re a business with a high design output demand, you should opt for a plan with more designers. 
  • Graphics Zoo’s system only allows you to chat with the designers. If you’re more inclined to video calls, it might be a problem for you. 

Graphics Zoo’s Pricing Plan

Graphics Zoo offers three monthly plans with robust features: 

Business Plan

  • $349 per month
  • All basic features
  • One dedicated designer
  • Additional $349 for additional designer
  • Five brand profiles
  • Three users
  • 14-day guarantee 

Business Unlimited Plan

  • $449 per month
  • Everything included in the business plan
  • Unlimited brand profiles
  • Unlimited users
  • White-label platforms
  • Customized web design service
  • 14-day guarantee 

Agency Plan

  • $849 per month
  • Everything included in previous plans
  • Two dedicated designer
  • 30-day guarantee 
  • When starting a project with GraphicsZoo, making the most of their streamlined and user-friendly platform is crucial. Here are some key strategies for a successful collaboration:
  • Use Slack for direct communication with your designer. This allows for instant feedback and praise, ensuring clear and efficient revisions or approvals.
  • Prioritize clear and detailed communication. Never assume your designer has implicit understanding of your needs. Be explicit in your project briefs, and don’t hesitate to share comprehensive information about your brand and objectives.
  • Remember, effective communication is as vital with your design team as it is in any other part of your business. The clarity and detail of your interactions can significantly influence whether the final design meets your expectations or falls short.
  • By following these guidelines, you can foster a more productive and satisfying partnership with GraphicsZoo, leading to designs that perfectly embody your vision.

Tips for GraphicsZoo Users

When starting a project with GraphicsZoo, making the most of their streamlined and user-friendly platform is crucial. Here are some key strategies for a successful collaboration:

  • Use Slack for direct communication with your designer. This allows for instant feedback, ensuring clear and efficient revisions.
  • Prioritize clear and detailed communication. Never assume your designer has implicit understanding of your needs. Be explicit in your project briefs, and don’t hesitate to share comprehensive information about your brand and objectives.


Other Unlimited Graphic Design Companies

If you’re looking for more options with a similar business model as Graphics Zoo, we did the work for you. Here is our full list of unlimited graphic design services.

Continue Reading

Reviews

Writesonic Review: Is this the Best Content Writing Tool in 2023?

Published

on

laptop with the word blog in yellow background

AI-assisted content writing is becoming popular. However, many wonder how to use it and if it sounds authentic. Writesonic is one of the many AI writing assistants transforming content creation. This article will help you understand Writesonic better, along with its features. Continue reading to learn more. 

Overview of Writesonic

writesonic landing page screenshot

Writesonic is an AI-powered writing software that can help anyone generate an article or social media post. Writesonic uses GPT-3.5,  GPT-4, and the new GPT-4 32K. In addition to these powerhouse large language models (LLMs), it’s like having a freelance writer on call 24 hours a day. Input some keywords, product descriptions, or phrases to work with, and it will return computer-generated results.

Why even use this writing app? It can help you with the so-called writer’s block and solve problems with structured writing, such as headlines, meta descriptions, etc. It’s so good that it sits near the top of our list of best AI content generators for 2023

Key Features of Writesonic 

Many people come to Writesonic because of its AI writing tool. But as Writesonic evolves, it creates other opportunities for users to apply advanced AI tools to different areas of their 

tasks. Below are the three remarkable features of Writesonic.

1. AI Article and Blog Writer

ai blog and article writer page

Writesonic’s flagship product is its AI writer. It allows you to create long-form content using a simple four-step process.

  • You’ll start with a topic; the AI will generate several titles/article ideas.
  • After choosing a title, you’ll be given a few introduction options.
  • Next, you’ll get outline options.
  • Once you have selected a title, introduction, and outline, the program will generate your content.
article text

A portion of the AI article generated with the title “How to Earn from TikTok Advertising

Writesonic’s AI article and blog writer is helpful for content creators, marketers, and businesses that need to produce content regularly. The tool supports content generation in 25 languages. It also allows users to set the tone of the content, ranging from exciting and professional to funny and dramatic. Writesonic can also mix different types of content creation within a single document so that you can easily create highly tailored pieces of content.

The tool can also rephrase content, expand sentences, and condense lengthy paragraphs, making it invaluable for enhancing and refining content.

2. Chatsonic AI Chat Assistant 

chatsonic ai page

Writesonic’s AI chat assistant mimics human-like conversation, providing users with a more interactive and engaging experience. It’s one of the better ChatGPT alternatives out there. Chatsonic brings multiple different skills to the table within the chat interface. It natively has access to the internet and current, live data to get you the most accurate responses. It can also handle requests to generate AI art and images.

3. Botsonic AI Conversational Chatbot 

botsonic ai page

This feature increases customer interaction by providing personalized and interactive conversations. Developed to understand and respond to user inputs conversationally, it makes interactions more natural and engaging. It achieves this by building off OpenAI’s API and appending prompt instructions with user chat messages.

Businesses can leverage this feature to automate customer interactions, provide personalized recommendations, and engage users in interactive conversations. For instance, a travel agency can use Botsonic to provide customized travel recommendations based on a user’s preferences and previous interactions. 

Any business can “train” the AI chatbot on their data by uploading knowledgebase articles or providing specific URLs from which the bot should get information. This allows users to benefit from GPT-4 with their in-house data explicitly written for a single business.

Pricing Plans

writesonic pricing plans page screenshot

Writesonic offers various pricing plans to cater to different needs, from individual users to businesses and teams. The Pro plan is the plan most will get because it gives access to all the features.

Free Plan

The free plan allows you to try out all the features of Writesonic. It includes 10,000 words per month with a one-user limit. Some features include the following: 

  • a ChatGPT-like chatbot
  • an AI chatbot builder
  • 100+ AI templates
  • browser extensions,
  • one-click WordPress export
  • support for 25+ languages.

It’s important to note that this is a “free plan” and not a “free trial.” Use it every month if you like; it does not expire. 

Business Plan 

Businesses and agencies needing a set amount of generated words per month will typically opt for this plan. 

It costs $19 per month and includes 200,000 words. It offers all the features from the free plan, plus:

  • access to GPT-4 and GPT-4 32K
  • a factual and personalized article writer
  • an unlimited no-code AI chatbot builder
  • an article paraphrase/rewriter
  • Writesonic API
  • Surfer integration
  • access to priority support. 

Unlimited

The unlimited plan is best for individuals and freelancers. 

It costs $20 per month for an unlimited number of words. This plan is subject to Writesonic’s Fair Use Policy. Some of the inclusions of the unlimited plan are:

Chatsonic: ChatGPT-like chatbot

  • 100+ AI Templates
  • AI Article Writer
  • Browser Extensions
  • 1-Click WordPress Export
  • Zapier Integration
  • Landing Page Generator
  • Sonic Editor (Google Docs like Editor)
  • Complete Article Rewriter
  • Brand Voice
  • Factual and Personalized Article Writer (AI Article Writer 5.0; Uses GPT-4 32K)
  • API Access

Enterprise Plan 

This plan is best for content teams and whole businesses. It offers custom packages, AI model development, onboarding, and better customer support. 

Choosing this requires contacting sales for custom pricing.

Pros and Cons

Pros: 

  • Suitable for all different types of content
  • Generates plagiarism-free content
  • User-friendly dashboard
  • Write engaging social media content
  • Create perfectly optimized ad copy
  • Works on all essential platforms
  • Includes an AI art generator

Cons: 

  • Sometimes, the quality of content is not good enough
  • Makes content mistakes that need to be fixed

Conclusion

Writesonic is a powerful tool to use for producing your written content. While many platforms offer content generation options, Writesonic can assist with almost anything you need to write. It has features tailored for specific types of content instead of just one tool to write all content.

However, Writesonic does not claim that its AI can create perfect content independently. Instead, it aims to be a tool where humans can leverage AI to speed up content generation while still producing quality outputs. 

Continue Reading

Trending