If you need an autogenerated GraphQL API, look into Prisma (https://www.prisma.io/) or AppSync (https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/).

You can still use Apollo as a client side solution for the above. The client side resolvers Apollo speaks about is for client-side data. This is if you optionally want to use the same patterns on the front end to manage your local state. But it's totally optional. You can use Apollo + Redux or Apollo + setState or Apollo + MobX or Apollo + useReducer or whatever.