Xiaomi Mi and M365 Pro Review

At first sight, Xiaomi M365 is just another electric scooter. But after you have taken it for a ride it gets clear that it is totally different from the ones you have tried so far.

If you’ve walked the streets of San Francisco, Los Angeles or San Diego lately, you have most certainly came across a Xiaomi scooter. Many dockless scooter startups, including Spin, Bird and Lime. We would guess the reason behind it more than just a low price. What is it about Xiaomi Mi M365 that makes it so practical and versatile?

• Motor: 250W front brushless motor(500w peak)
• Battery: 36V 7.8Ah lithium battery
• Range: 18.6 miles
• Max Speed 15.5 mph
• Weight: 26.9 lbs
• Brake System: Front E-ABS braking system, Rear mechanical disk brake
• Dimensions: 42.5×16.9×44.9 inches(Upright) / 42.5×16.9×19.3 inches (Folded)
• Wheels: 8.5 inches front and rear pneumatic tires
• Max Load: 220 lbs
• Charging Time: 0%-100% 5.5 hours
• Light: Front and Rear
• Special features: Mobile app integration, Kinetic energy recovery system

Clean, minimalist lines, with contrasting details in red, make for the award-winning design of Xiaomi Mi M365 electric scooter. The folding mechanism is clever and unique, and it is really ingenious how the handlebar clips to the rear mudguard to allows you to pick up and carry the scooter when folded. At 27 pounds it is not a lightweight scooter that everyone will be able to easily handle, but it is manageable.

The scooter is 99% assembled out-of-the-box; all you need to do is attach 4 screws with a hex key (included in the box) and it’s ready to use. Every part of the scooter is well-planned and everything is perfectly put together. Besides being made of aviation-grade aluminum, the quality of the build reflects in all the details – sturdy and clean welding, high-quality plastic, all the wiring nicely coated and tucked in. What surprised us the most is the quality of the rubber parts, as this is where many other scooters are lacking. The anti-skid pad on the deck, as well as anti-slip rubber grip on the handlebars is nice to touch, and it looks very durable.

M365 features a 250W brushless front hub motor that can obtain a burst of 500W and a maximum 16Nm torque. This is enough o get you to the top speed of 15.5 mph, and get you up a 14 degree hill.

The range on a full charge is just over 18 miles, which is quite far; just imagine having to walk that distance. The battery charge level is indicated by four LEDs on the control panel.

Xiaomi M365 has got a disc brake on rear wheel for added braking power, and an electronic regenerative brake in the front. The rear brake is completely mechanical, and there is a good chance you will need to adjust it at some point, or even right out-of-the –box. Luckily, this is not a rocket science and there is plenty of instructions on how to do it all over the internet.

Folding the scooter is very easy: just undo both latches, nudge the second latch a bit harder, just make sure you are firmly holding the handlebar so it doesn’t hit you in the face, and just click the innovative bell/hook to the rear fender. Its dimensions when folded are approximately 42.5 x 16.9 x 19.3 inches, so it fits the trunk of a car easily. Collapsible handlebars would have made M365 even more compact, but it is very portable nonetheless.

The folding mechanism seems to be the pain point. Due to vibrations and constant folding/unfolding the screws tend to loosen creating all kind of problems. We recommend that you check the screws from time to time, including the locking hook. If your mechanism isn’t tight enough, the whole thing will rock slightly front to back, putting excessive strain on the hook, which will eventually break it. A vibration dampener pad of some sort can also be a useful add-on.

Headlight is a very powerful, very bright 1.1W LED with a focusing lens, which is great when you need to see and be seen in the dark, and it won’t suck all the life out of the battery. A bright red tail light in the rear lights up when the headlight is turned on, and it also flashes when you press the brake handle.

The wheels are not your typical scooter tires; large 8.5 in inflatable tires mean Xiaomi M365 scooter can handle some rough road vibrations, and it also feels very stable, and you quickly get used to cornering and getting up speed. The size is standard, meaning you will have no problem getting a replacement tire when you need one.

The brakes on this scooter are so good, they are probably better than on your first car. Xiaomi Mi M365 comes with a dual braking system – it’s got E-ABS on the front and a mechanical disk brake on the rear wheel. Even when you go at full speed you can stop quickly enough, without getting thrown off the scooter.

A mobile app lets you track everything from the remaining battery life and distance to your average speed and controls for acceleration and cruise control.

The power is provided by a 280Wh Li-Ion rechargeable battery (made by LG) that uses 30 cells and has a total capacity of 7.8Ah and a total voltage of 42V when fully charged. It takes about 5.5 hours to charge the battery from 0 to full charge, but considering the long range, it is probably the best to charge the battery after every use. The charger is nicely designed, and it is quite small in size – similar to the laptop chargers. You can easily take it with you in your backpack, or even fit it into the pocket of your jacket.

After the initial success of their flagship scooter, Chinese electronic company Xiaomi has come up with the improved version Xiaomi M365 Pro. It’s got a slightly more powerful motor than its predecessor, but the main difference lies in the larger capacity battery of 12.8 Ah (vs the 7.8 Ah), that delivers a range of up to 27.9 miles. Of course, larger battery means it takes more time to charge, so you will have to wait for 8 and a half hours if your battery’s empty to get to the full charge.

The PRO version is a couple of inches taller, with slightly wider handlebars. The deck is also longer and wider than the original scooter, making it more comfortable to ride. One of the biggest additions though is the handy new LCD display, which shows how fast you are going, what mode you’re in, how much battery you’ve got left, and also has lights, Bluetooth and mechanical error indicator.

Everything else is pretty much the same: the wheels, the folding mechanism, all the same problematic details, including the charging port cover, and still no suspension.

We would have loved to see the addition of the quick release mechanism that would make changing tires much easier, but well, there is something to hope for in the future. We know this isn’t the last of Xiaomi electric scooters.

WE LIKED:

• Solid quality and nice design
• It is very affordable compared to its closest competitors.
• LED headlight and taillight
• Pneumatic tires
• Dual braking system

WE DIDN’T LIKE:

• Maximum weight that the scooter can carry is only 220lbs
• Extremely low ground clearance

Xiaomi Mi M365 is perfect for commuting, or running your daily errands. This scooter can completely replace your bike to transport you around town. It is, however, not an ideal solution for heavier riders, and it is definitely NOT for little kids.