Xiaomi Mi M365 vs Segway Ninebot ES2

The Xiaomi’s the better scooter…. But what should you buy now that it’s not available?

Xiaomi M365 vs Segway ES2

We compare the Xiaomi M365 vs Segway Ninebot ES2. The storied M365 and ultra-popular ES2 are two of the most well-known and abundant electric scooters on the road. In the contest of Xiaomi Mi M365 vs Segway Ninebot ES2, the Xiaomi wins.

Introduction

You’ll need more fingers than you currently have to count the imitators of Xiaomi’s Mi M365, the classic, entry-level electric scooter introduced in 2016.

The M365 became the basis of many shared scooter fleets and remains the first and often only electric scooter many people have ridden. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.

The Xiaomi Mi M365 set a high bar for a reliable, portable, comfortable electric scooter with good range and speed for under $500.

If any competitor could take on Chinese giant Xiaomi, we might expect American micromobility veteran Segway to do the job, and they made a valiant effort with the Ninebot ES2, another electric scooter that became a regular in shared scooter fleets.

The ES2 is a decent budget electric scooter on its own terms. But the M365 remains the best-selling electric scooter yet (even though it’s no longer available!) for several reasons we’ll discuss below.

We strongly believe that the Xiaomi Mi M365 is clearly the better scooter. Sadly, the Xiaomi Mi M365 is no longer available in 2023. But never fear! See our Editor’s Choice list of Best Xiaomi Mi M365 Alternatives here!

Xiaomi Mi M365 vs Segway Ninebot ES2 Comparison

**Based on Electric Scooter Guide’s real-world performance testing and not manufacturer’s specs.

	Xiaomi Mi M365	Segway Ninebot ES2
MSRP (USD)	$400	$589
Top Speed**	16.7 mph	16 mph
Range**	14.6 mi	9.8 mi
Weight	27 lb	28 lb
0 to 15 mph**	6.3 s	7.1 s
15 to 0 mph**	16.8 ft	17.7 ft
Hill climb time**	20.8 s	36.9 s
Battery	280 Wh	187 Wh
Motor	250 W	300 W
Max rider weight	220 lb	220 lb
Suspension	None	Front + Rear
Brakes	Regen + Disc	Regen + Foot
IP rating	IP54	IP54

Xiaomi Mi M365 Features

Move up the price scale a couple hundred dollars, and the M365 doesn’t look like such a great deal, but for under $500 it’s hard to find Xiaomi’s combination of safety features, range, speed, braking power, and portability in one convenient package. 

Lighting & Safety

The Xiaomi M365’s LED headlight is mounted high on the stem, which improves rider visibility at night or in low light conditions, and makes it easier for others to see you. A rear brake light reduces chances you’ll be rear-ended.

The bell on the left handlebar announces the scooter loud and clear and features a striker that doubles as a stem latch when the Xiaomi M365 folds.

Cockpit

The overall design of the Xiaomi M365’s dash looks clean and uncluttered, offering little to pull your focus from the road.

In fact, the only thing you’ll see on the dash is a vertical column of four LED lights above a single power button, showing the remaining battery level – arguably the most important information on any electric scooter display. 

You can use the app (and mount your phone on the handlebars) to monitor other functions if you’d like more visual complexity, but when it comes to staying safe, a simpler dash poses much less of a dangerous distraction. 

Ride Quality 

The M365 glides on 8.5-inch pneumatic tires that do an admirable job of absorbing jolts in the road. Although the scooter lacks suspension, it’s so comfortable and easy to operate, we’d let our mothers ride it, as we noted in our review.

The Xiaomi scooter’s low, 3.5 inches of clearance make it unsuitable for curb-hopping, but its low center of gravity gives it a very stable feel and a smooth ride.

Braking

The Xiaomi’s dual braking system – a front electronic regenerative brake and mechanical rear disc brake reliably stops the scooter within an average distance of 16.8 feet from 15 mph in our testing. Importantly, it does so without throwing you (or mom) over the handlebars.

Range

The M365’s range is consistent with most other scooters in the budget category, achieving a respectable 14.6 miles in our ESG certified real-world range test. 

Speed & Power

While the Mi M365’s 250 watts hardly sounds impressive, once you’re on the scooter, you might forget about this number.

It can take some kicking or pushing to get up steep grades, but on level ground the scooter accelerates faster than others in its class, and faster, as we’ll see, than Segway’s Ninebot ES2. 

The Xiaomi M365 meets expectations, achieving the claimed top speed of 17 mph (or 16.7 mph) in ESG’s tests.

A faster top speed of 20 mph can be unlocked by disabling the speed governor in the firmware.

Portability 

While there’s little reason for shared scooter riders to fold up and carry a Xiaomi, owners of the Mi M365 know how simple it is to fold and carry the 26-pound scooter.

Its weight almost places the Xiaomi M365 in the ultraportable category (though it lacks folding handlebars), making it easy for most people to carry it up several flights of stairs. 

Build Quality

From its locking folding mechanism to its grippy gray rubber deck and handlebars, the Xiaomi M365 electric scooter feels well-built and thoughtfully designed.

It’s not made from the most rugged materials, but the Xiaomi’s aluminum and plastic construction holds up under considerable use, as the many Xiaomis still in use around the world attest.

The M365 is user-serviceable, with plenty of mods, simple repairs, and upgrades available. 

Segway Ninebot ES2 Features

The Segway Ninebot is a close competitor, comparable in many respects to the Xiaomi Mi M365. First-time riders might find it difficult to distinguish the two of them at first. But their differences are significant. The Xiaomi M365 is simply the better electric scooter.

Lighting & Safety

Like the Xiaomi M365, the Ninebot ES2 also has an LED light mounted high on the stem to ensure good visibility from the front.

The Ninebot ES2’s tail lights, however, are mounted at an angle on either side of the deck, making them much harder to see, and the scooter lacks a brake light.

The Ninebot ES2 does not have a bell. It does however, have “ground effects” — LED lighting underneath the deck with a range of colors and modes, and these do help make the scooter easier to see at night.

Cockpit

The dashboard on the Ninebot ES2 is a little more complex than the M365’s. Above the power button is a small LCD screen that displays speed, battery life, and power mode.

Ride Quality

The Ninebot ES2 has front and rear single-spring shock absorbers, but its suspension gets defeated by small, 8-inch solid tires that offer little grip and no give on the road. Solid tires also offer little traction and should never be ridden rain or on wet roads.

Braking

The ES2’s braking system — one front regenerative brake and a rear foot brake — is far less effective than the Xiaomi M365. For one thing, operating the foot brake can be awkward, requiring the rider to shift their weight back onto the rear wheel.

Using the front electronic brake alone is not an option, however. In ESG’s tests, it required over 35 feet to bring the scooter to a stop from 15 mph.

Range

The Ninebot ES2’s smaller battery unsurprisingly gives it less range than the Xiaomi M365, only 9.8 miles in our tests.

Speed & Power

The ES2’s motor outputs 300 watts — 50 watts more than the Xiaomi’s. But the Xiaomi averaged higher speeds (the ES2 maxed out at 16 mph in our tests), faster acceleration, and better hill climbing. By comparison, the Ninebot ES2 feels greatly underpowered.

Portability

Segway’s scooter comes in a 29 pounds, three pounds heavier than the Xiaomi M365. While it still ranks in the ultraportable category where weight is concerned, the large-diameter stem contains the battery and makes the scooter awkward to carry for any distance.

Also, we found that the longer stem of the Ninebot ES2 makes it harder to store in a car trunk, a problem we have not had with most other folding scooters.

Build Quality

The Ninebot ES2 is a well-built scooter, on par with its competitors and the M365. Like the Xiaomi M365, it’s got a water resistance rating of IP54 meaning it’s resistant to light water sprays from any direction. And it’s got a comfortably rubberized deck and handgrips that feel nice and durable.

and finally, there’s the price!

This brings us to arguably the strongest selling point and differentiator for the Xiaomi M365 – value. At $499, the Xiaomi was one of the most affordable scooters to buy new with all the features you’d want in a daily driver – including comfort, safety, portability, good range and speed.

The Ninebot ES2 may have been only be slightly more money than the new M365 at $549, and Segway is a trusted company that makes great scooters. But at its highest price point, the Xiaomi beat its nearest Segway competitor in just about every way.

Verdict: Xiaomi Mi M365

The Xiaomi Mi M365 is a vastly superior electric scooter on all fronts and is even less expensive. 

HOWEVER, the M365 is no longer widely available unless you can pick one up used. If you can find a used Xiaomi M365 in decent shape, they’re selling for nearly half their full retail price.

That said, we can recommend several electric scooters that meet or exceed the bar set by the M365.

See our Editor’s Choice list of Best Xiaomi Mi M365 Alternatives here!