Different people will give different reasons as to why they use an electric or motorized transportation device. Some use them for fun outdoors. Others use them to work, whether it’s in a factory, making deliveries, or even walking dogs. But the number one answer you’ll hear is that people love them for commuting.
This can be for getting to work, heading to the mall, or just any kind of task that has you moving several miles at a time. Electric scooters have become a viable replacement for public transportation and bicycles for many people. Today we’re going to show you what might just be the very best scooter for commuting: the Xiaomi Mi M365 Electric Scooter.
Verdict:
The Xiaomi Mi M365 is a fantastic allrounder that will last you for years as a comfortable electric scooter that reliably gets you from A to B.
Pros:
- Strong battery
- Sturdy kickstand
- Very natural feeling acceleration
- Very bright tail and headlights
- Tight and responsive brake system
- Reasonable charge time
- Foldable handlebar
- Ergonomic footboard
- Kinetic rechargeable function
Cons:
- Not available in multiple colors or finishes
- The headlight is power-hungry
Product Features
- Impressive stats with max range of 18.5 miles and max speed of 15.5 mph makes this a versatile and fairly powerful scooter
- The tall build makes it a perfect fit for older or larger users
- Extremely tight and quick-acting brake system is a fantastic feature for people who live in high-traffic areas
- The kinetic rechargeable function gives you a little extra battery juice every time you brake or operate the scooter manually
- Natural feeling acceleration never makes it feel like this scooter takes too long to kick into full gear
Xiaomi designed the Mi M365 Electric Scooter with a few priorities in mind: minimalism, simplicity, and intuitiveness. The Mi scooter is meant for people who want as much of a no-hassle experience as possible getting from A to B.
The Mi electric scooter is outfitted with several features all meant to increase efficiency and enjoyment. While the scooter wasn’t made with fun as a primary objective, it still offers a very satisfying experience. We’ll discuss all of its features below, including the positive and the negative, to see just how well Xiaomi has crafted its transportation device.
What to Look for in a Scooter
In our review, we take many things into consideration, some more than others. Since this is a scooter designed for commuting as its primary function, that will be our focus for this article.
Perhaps the most important thing to look for in a scooter for this purpose is the battery. It needs to offer both ranges and speeds that can carry people as far as they want to go and do it as fast as they want.
The build quality is always essential to keep in mind. You’ll want a machine that will last you a long time and isn’t prone to damage. Devices that cost hundreds of dollars should provide you with years of good service.
Comfort and safety are arguably the two most important factors to consider. The wheels should provide as smooth a ride as they can over as many different kinds of terrain as possible. The handlebars should feel properly angled. Many subtle factors go into crafting a comfortable and safe vehicle, and it is very important to choose something that will keep you cozy and secure.
Other things we value in this review are looks and bonus features. We don’t weigh them as much as comfort or safety but we might as well get in-depth so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Now let’s begin our assessment of the Xiaomi Mi scooter.
Basic Specifications
The Mi electric scooter truly excels when you take portability into mind. After all, this is meant as a scooter that people may end up using most days of the week, if not all of them. The ability to be taken outside on a regular basis and offer high performance is not an easy feat.
Nevertheless, things are off to an impressive start. Even just from perusing the specs of the Mi M365 scooter. The entire unit only weighs about 27 pounds. A size like this makes for smoother acceleration. It also means it isn’t too heavy for carrying around when putting it into storage.
Speaking of storage, the M365 scooter is foldable. The handlebar can be folded backwards towards the rear of the vehicle and saves a lot of space when sorted next to your other belongings. It also makes it a lot easier to balance when carrying it around or when bringing it into a car.
The weight capacity of the Xiaomi Mi scooter is 220 pounds, which is standard for a device of this size. Xiaomi recommends that ages 16 to 50 use this scooter, which is a little surprising since many other electric devices in this range recommend 60 years old being the maximum recommended age. It isn’t the fastest electric scooter in the world so we wonder why they set the recommended limit at 50.
Now, let’s discuss something truly impressive. The battery equipped inside the Mi electric scooter is long-lasting. This is great news for anyone intending to use this scooter on a daily basis. The max range of the Mi scooter is 18.6 miles and it has a max speed of 15.5 miles per hour. With a battery charge time of 5 hours, all you have to do is plug it in when you go to sleep and it will be ready for use every single day.
The dimensions of the scooter itself are standard. The width is 42 inches and it’s roughly 45 inches tall but that length more than halves if you fold the handlebar, which brings its length to just under 20 inches.
Build Quality and Durability
While the small load capacity may give off the sense that this scooter isn’t very durable, those assumptions would be proven incorrect. The Mi scooter is manufactured with a lot of very high-quality materials from the foot pedal to the wheels and the handlebar itself.
Using the scooter, from riding it to folding it, really gives you the sense that Xiaomi put effort into it. It feels like a robust machine whenever your hands touch it. The frame of the scooter itself is composed out of aerospace-grade aluminum. It is very resistant to the elements and will not rust even if you use it in the rain often.
While one might complain about the lack of colors, the Mi scooter does pull off its sleek look quite well. The silvery charcoal matches the red wires and rear light in a day or at night. Another benefit is that scratches will be very hard to notice on this kind of finish, despite the fact that the Mi is already pretty difficult to buff in the first place.
The Mi scooter is also fitted with a thick kickstand that is more stable than ones typically found on bicycles. Whether the handlebar is extended or folded inwards the kickstand works great.
Overall, the build quality of the Mi Electric Scooter is top-notch especially considering the price of the unit.
Comfort
As stated earlier, Xiaomi concentrated on minimalism and simplicity for this scooter. This is part of what makes the Mi scooter feel so smooth. The riding experience itself is great but the comfort levels really shine with the acceleration grips and the ergonomic foot pedal.
The acceleration grips, the two edges of the handlebar where you place your hands, are astonishingly well made. Not only are they made from extremely soft fabric but you can control your speed with great precision. The act of choosing how fast you want to go feels natural whether it’s at 5mph or 15mph. Once you’ve overcome the learning curve altering your speed feels like second nature. You don’t even have to think about it.
The foot pedal itself is also something that really impressed us. So many electric scooters have a flat base but Xiaomi was smart enough to make a base that was curved. It fits the angle of your feet or shoes and it really becomes noticeable how good of a fit it is once you start turning at higher speeds.
Wheels
Normally scooters have a front wheel that is slightly larger than the rear one but in this case, Xiaomi decided to make them both the same size. Both wheels measure 8.5 inches tall.
The tires themselves are good but they’re nothing special. They’re both inflatable and work great on regular asphalt roads and sidewalks. They can be taken onto grass and dirt trails but you’ll lose some traction and acceleration. You may also have to deal with cleaning the tires afterward.
They don’t have the best traction we’ve ever seen on wet surfaces but it’s still pretty good. You don’t have to worry too much about using these in the rain and they handle puddles pretty effectively. And since they handle fast turns pretty well, it’s safe to say that we give these wheels two thumbs up.
Safety
Because the frame of the M365 scooter itself is so tough we were already thinking that it must also offer extra protection in the event of heavy bumps. We were right, but we gave credit to the wrong feature. The braking system is what really deserves the praise in this category.
The braking system is very responsive and quick. Even at top speeds approaching 15mph, they worked very well. Each wheel is fitted with a round metal plate that stops the tires from rotating when activated by the brakes on the handlebar. The red tubes you see all around the frame are part of this system. We went from over 12mph to zero in a matter of seconds. If your reflexes are quick then you’ll be happy to know that the Mi’s braking system will match your speed.
Additionally, both wheels feature shock-absorbing and anti-slip treads. This is why it works as well as it does on wet terrain but it also makes bumps or small crashes feel less, well, bumpy. We didn’t exactly allow ourselves to be hit by oncoming pickup trucks to test this, but when we rolled into walls at around 9mph the impact was softer than expected.
Lastly, the scooter is fitted with two lights, one for the front and one for the rear. They both work great. We think the brighter the headlight, the better. Many commuters use their scooters in the evening so it is very important to have as much visibility and to make yourself as visible as possible to others. It is unfortunate that the front headlight drains your battery more than we’d like but it’s a sacrifice we consider worthwhile.
Extra Features
Like a lot of modern electric or motorized vehicles, the Mi M365 scooter is compatible with Xiaomi’s smartphone app. You can read stats and diagnostics like how fast you’re going or a more accurate battery life meter. Our favorite feature is the cruise control function, something we wish more scooters had and was actually one of the main factors in making this our top pick for the best scooter for commuters.
Cruising along on automated motion is not only efficient but relaxing. You can activate the power-saving mode if you know you’re going to be on a straight path with minimal braking or turning. Set the speed to something around 10mph and just enjoy the ride.
We also have to mention Xiaomi’s fascinating rechargeable batteries. They’re installed with a regenerative function that is triggered by kinetic activity. To simplify things, every time you brake, you store kinetic energy that it converts into electrical energy, giving the batteries a little more juice. It is out of the box thinking like this that really makes this scooter stand out from the rest of the crowd.
Concluding Thoughts
Xiaomi’s Mi Electric Scooter is not only very well priced but is absolutely worth every dollar and penny.
Several subtle yet intelligent design choices from the curved foot pedal to the kinetic battery system make this not only an advanced machine but a great choice for people who plan on using it every single day. It’s hard to think of a better electric or motorized scooter for people who commute five days a week or more.
If you’ve been looking for something to use every day then look no further. The Xiaomi Mi M365 is our top pick for best electric scooter for commuters.
Last update on 2023-11-18 at 02:36 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
