TOMOLOO Hoverboard comparison
TOMOLOO has a history of getting self-balancing scooters right. Their large product range includes scooters and hoverboards for kids, as well as for adults.
The TOMOLOO brand:
- Chinese company, founded in 2013
- One of the largest hoverboard manufacturers in China
- Uses unique, patented, self-balancing technology in its products
- Hoverboards are safety certified (incl. UL 2271 & UL 2272 certifications)
This review covers the three TOMOLOO hoverboards aimed at kids. Why are we covering three hoverboards in one review? Good question.
Simply put, the TOMOLOO Q3 X1, Q3 and K1 hoverboards are very similar in what they offer, but they differ in performance. So, we figured we'd write one review to save you reading three.
Don't worry, we make the differences clear so you can choose the right hoverboard for you (or your kids).
- Pros
- Solid design, durable construction, portable
- Good speed and range
- All models great for kids
- Built-in speakers with impressive sound quality
- Multi-coloured LED lights
- Affordable price
- 12 months warranty
- UL 2271 & UL 2272 safety certifications
- Cons
- Not fully waterproof
- No way to deactivate the music-rhythmed LED lights
- App could be better
We have combined the 3 TOMOLOO hoverboards for kids into one single review. Specification differences between the boards are highlighted in the tables below.
TOMOLOO Q3 X1 hoverboard
- Motor
"Powerful dual motors" - Battery
18650 lithium 10.3 Wh/4.3Ah - Distance
7 km (4.3 miles) per charge - Recharge Time
Around 3 hours - Speed
12 kph (7.5 mph) - Load Capacity
75 kg (165 lb) - Weight
9.7 kg (21.4 lb) - Tyres
16.5 cm (6.5”) non-pneumatic solid tyres -
Extras
- Solid metal frame
- Multi-colour LED lights
- Bluetooth built-in speakers
- UL 2272 safety certification
- 12 months warranty & customer support
TOMOLOO Q3 hoverboard
- Motor
"Powerful dual motors" - Battery
Lithium ion battery - Distance
12 km (7.5 miles) per charge - Recharge Time
Around 3 hours - Speed
12 kph (7.5 mph) - Load Capacity
100 kg (220 lb) - Weight
8 kg (17.6 lb) - Tyres
16.5 cm (6.5”) non-pneumatic solid tyres -
Extras
- Same as the Q3 X1
TOMOLOO K1 hoverboard
- Motor
400 W dual-brushless motors - Battery
Lithium ion battery - Distance
14 km (8.7 miles) per charge - Recharge Time
around 3 hours - Speed
15 kph (9.3 mph) - Load Capacity
120 kg (265 lb) - Weight
11.5 kg (25.3 lb) - Tyres
16.5 cm (6.5”) non-pneumatic solid tyres -
Extras
- Same as the Q3 X1
Design and Portability
First off, TOMOLOO boards are good quality. TOMOLOO has been in the market long enough to know what works and what doesn't work.
The boards are heavy-duty but fairly light-weight. If you care for the board (and keep it out of the rain!), it will last a long time. Even fire can't slow them down, as they are resistant to fire and high-temperature - not that we expect you to be riding through fire...
On top of this, TOMOLOO hoverboards look modern, and the music-rhythmed lights on these models add some novelty. They're also available in different colours to add some personalisation.
The boards weigh a hefty 8 kg (17.6 lb), so they're not light. But they're manageable for an adult.
Speed, Distance, and Battery
All the boards have decent power, providing a decent max speed - between 12 kph (7.5 mph) and 15 kph (9.3 mph). Obviously, the tyres play a large part in the boards' speed as well.
The 3 hoverboards have 16.5 cm (6.5”) non-pneumatic solid tyres. What does this mean? That the boards have good tyres; providing suspension as well as grip. This leads to a smooth ride. And the smoother the ride, the further you can go.
So how far can you go?
Between 7 km (4.3 miles) and 14 km (8.7 miles) per battery charge, depending on the scooter. That works out to be about 1 hour of constant use - not bad for a kids' scooter.
To get back out and riding again, the battery fully charges in around 3 hours - standard for most hoverboards.
The Brake System
The brakes work well (Phew!). It's something TOMOLOO knew they had to get right, especially when making hoverboards for kids.
The stopping power depends on the angle of the board. Kids won't have problems coming to an abrupt stop if necessary.
TOMOLOO uses a lot of its own, patented technology in its hoverboards in order to make them easy to ride and safe. Their custom self-balancing technology makes balancing on the boards easy (even for beginners), and this makes braking simple too.
Certification and Safety
The TOMOLOO brand maintains high safety and quality standards. All 3 hoverboards have UL 2271 (battery) and UL 2272 (electrical system) safety certifications.
Also, to keep your speed-hungry child under control, the board's maximum speed can be limited through the TOMOLOO App.
Riding Experience
A hoverboard's tyres can make or break the riding experience. As mentioned before, the 16.5 cm (6.5”) non-pneumatic solid tyres provide both suspension and grip to ensure a smooth ride.
All TOMOLOO hoverboards are ideal on paved roads. Short grass and light gravel are more of a struggle, but the hoverboards can still hold their own.
It's important to note that these aren't off-road hoverboards. While these TOMOLOO boards can handle road debris, such as sticks and small stones, they are not recommended for off-road riding. They simply aren't designed for it.
LED lights and Bluetooth Speaker
The vibrant LED lights started flashing the instant the wheels started rolling. The lights a nice addition – colourful and pretty – but our focus was more on the performance of the hoverboards. Though we aren't against hoverboards with flair.
The lights can also be timed to music coming out of the Bluetooth speaker. The speaker quality is good for a hoverboard. Music can be played through the scooter by connecting to it from any Bluetooth enabled device.
TOMOLOO App
TOMOLOO provide a free app so you can connect your smartphone to the hoverboard. Doing so allows you to see the hoverboard's statistics, including speed, battery, distance travelled, etc.
You can also adjust other settings, such as driving force, steering sensitivity, and even set a maximum speed.
Our Verdict
The TOMOLOO design, build quality, and impressive speed and range, show that TOMOLOO is making quality self-balancing scooters for kids. In fact, depending on your weight, even adults can try these 3 hoverboards out.
With modern designs and high-grade electronics, the boards are quite unique. The TOMOLOO-made motherboard, acceleration sensors, and gyroscope help keep the boards safe and stable at all times.
Also, as TOMOLOO offers a 1-year warranty with every self-balancing scooter, it's clear that the company believes in its product.
Any negatives?
The TOMOLOO mobile app is a bit of a letdown. It has been known to have connectivity issues. When it's working it's ok, but compared to other hoverboard apps (see the Segway Ninebot S) it's nothing special.
And as we've said, the LED lights are a cool novelty, but they can get annoying. And there is no way to turn them off. And, let's be honest, they are draining the battery.
Our overall rating for these 3 TOMOLOO Hoverboards:
Final Thoughts
TOMOLOO hoverboards are made to be fun and entertaining - and they are certainly that. Kids love them.
They offer a great mix of power and safety to ensure both kids and parents are left satisfied.
If you're looking for a self-balancing scooter that your child will love, and they'll be safe on, then the TOMOLOO brand should be seriously considered. The TOMOLOO Q3 X1, Q3 and K1 hoverboards are almost perfect hoverboards for kids.
