COMPARING THE XIAOMI MI M365 WITH THE NINEBOT-SEGWAY ES2
Written by Ed Wiles, Scootered Founder
We sell both the Xiaomi Mi M365 Electric Scooter and the Ninebot-Segway ES2 Kickscooter because, well, we think they are both great electric scooters. However, it is unlikely that you will be buying both (as much as we'd like that), so how exactly do you decide between the two? Both come with a full 12-month warranty, making it even trickier to decide. This guide will give you some extra details to help you choose between the Xiaomi and the Segway. In the end, it may just come down to which you think looks cooler.
Scroll down for full spec comparison
As noted on the homepage, the Xiaomi M365 (on the left) and the Ninebot-Segway ES2 (on the right) are similar in many ways. They have the same weight, similar size, same top speed and little to choose between the range in reality (unless you need to ride 18 miles). But let's focus on the main differences now, rather than forcing you to read all of this as content marketing dictates. Firstly, and beyond the fact that the Xiaomi comes in white, there are two main physical differences: the M365's battery is contained within its base, while the ES2's battery is in the stem of the handlebars (meaning a second battery can be attached to it, turning it into what is called an ES4), and there are no external wires on the ES2, while the M365 does has some external wires (play spot the difference with the picture above).
The next most obvious difference (if you are riding) is that the Segway-Ninebot ES2 (Segway/Ninebot is interchangeable as Ninebot bought Segway) has a speedometer as well as a battery indicator on the display (below, right) whereas the Xiaomi M365 only has a battery indicator (the four LED lights). However, there is a speedometer within the Xiaomi Mi phone app, meaning you could attach your phone to the handlebar and get your current speed from that. Also, although we do not recommend it as it may invalidate your warranty, it is possible to change the M365 display and put one on with a speedometer (designed for the pricey M365 Pro).
After that, come the tyres (the Americans have been spelling that word incorrectly for several hundred years). The Xiaomi M365 has inflatable 8.5 inch tyres. They believe this gives a smoother ride and, on the surface (pun intended), that makes perfect sense. However, the Segway ES2 counteracts this by having shock absorbers at the front and back (and 8/7.5 inch solid tyres front/back). So which makes for a smoother ride? It's really hard to choose and people make claims either way. Of course, the one down-side of inflatable tyres is that, although rare, they can get punctures, which is why a spare set of tyres is provided with a Xiaomi M365 purchase.
So one might ask why the Segway is more expensive than the Xiaomi when everything is much of a muchness. It's a fair question. Ninebot/Segway would doubtless point to the greater power output and shorter charging time, speedometer, atmospheric light, plus the fact that you can add a second battery; but there is perhaps also a slight premium when it comes to the Segway brand name. Segway has also put a bit more thought into pulling their scooter (see image below), with the Xiaomi less optimised for this.
You can also get the Xiaomi Mi M365 in two colours: white and black (though the stem of the handlebars is black in both cases). The ES2 comes in dark gray or with a silver stem (we sell only the dark gray because it is more popular). So all of the above are the most important differences and, really, it is likely to come down to a subjective preference as to which of these two scooters you prefer. Personally, I enjoy riding both. I admit I like to know my speed when I ride a ES2 but I quickly forget about this (and actually don't usually even bother to connect my phone) when riding my M365. Below is a table comparing the specs of the Xiaomi Mi M365 with the Ninebot-Segway ES2. You can also read a review of the Xiaomi M365 here and a review of the Ninebot-Segway ES2 here.
If you have any questions regarding these two e-scooters, you can email me at ed@scootered.co.uk.
FULL SPEC COMPARISON TABLE BETWEEN XIAOMI M635 & SEGWAY ES2
| Xiaomi M365 | Ninebot-Segway ES2 | |
| Size - Unfolded | 108 x 43 x 114 cm | 102 x 43 x 113 cm |
| Size - Folded | 108 x 43 x 49 cm | 113 x 43 x 40 cm |
| Weight | 12.5 kg | 12.5 kg |
| Output | 250 watts (500W max) | 300 watts (700W max) |
| Range | 30 km (18 miles) | 25 km (16 miles) 45 km with extra battery |
| Tyres | Inflated | Solid |
| Shock Absorbers | No | Front & Back |
| Front Brake | E-ABS (Regenerative) Disk | Electric (Regenerative) |
| Rear Brake | Mechanical | Mechanical |
| Waterproof | IPX4: splash resistant | IPX4: splash resistant |
| Headlight | 1.1W | 1.5W |
| Ambient Light | No | Yes (via app) |
