Best Xiaomi M365 Alternatives

If you're looking to buy an electric scooter, whether it's going to be your first step into the e-scooter world or you're upgrading your existing set of wheels, you'll already know that it can be quite a daunting task to get started on.

Since electric scooters rose to popularity around a decade ago, there have been hundreds of different models released in countries all over the world, meaning that the market is so saturated these days that it can be hard to know which way to turn.

Even determining the best electric scooters out there can be quite a tricky process, because the answer is actually that it is all quite subjective. Sure there are some factors which will matter to everyone like the range and top speed for instance, but the fact is that everyone's needs are different, so there's no one-size-fits-all answer.

If you shop around, you'll see all manner of different brands and models referred to as 'the best electric scooter', and one that you might see cropping up time and again is the Xiaomi M365 model, which is sometimes referred to by distributors as the Xiaomi Mi M365 (so if you are wondering the difference between these two models, there isn't one.)

In this article, before we take a look at the Xiaomi M365 alongside some other market-leading electric scooters, we'll quickly run through some factors you should really be taking into consideration when comparing different models before buying.

What to look for in electric scooters

When you are comparing popular scooters, there are some aspects that you just can't really put a statistic to, for example the build quality. Unfortunately, you can only gauge so much about the build quality and look of vehicles through a screen, whether that's cars, bikes or electric scooters.

To really feel that the e-scooter you're buying is solidly built and comfortable, you need to go and see it in a showroom and try it on for size. Unagi offers a $55-a-month subscription program where you get a state-of-the-art Unagi Model One delivered to your home, so you can give it a spin, fully insured, and return it with no questions asked if it isn't the right choice for you.

Another thing to bear in mind is that the price of an e-scooter doesn't necessarily correlate precisely with the quality. Sure, the most expensive option out there is likely to be high-quality, but certainly not the best, just as the cheapest option isn't necessarily the worst.

Your own personal factors can contribute to making the right choice too, for example, a larger person or someone carrying heavy equipment might consider the maximum weight that a more dainty scooter can carry, same as how a lighter person might consider a smaller motor.

We think that you really have to give them a go and look at more than just the price and aesthetic to determine the quality of the mobility option that you are considering investing in.

Weight

So to kick off our lineup of important e-scooter factors, we've decided to go with one of the headliners; the weight. The weight of an electric scooter is sometimes overlooked, but it can make a big difference in your riding experience.

A heavy scooter will often be designed for heavy-duty or long-distance rides and be difficult to handle, plus it will also drain the battery pack faster than a lighter one.

The other side of that coin is that whilst a lighter scooter might not boast the best distance, it's certainly much more convenient to carry a lighter weight around on either side of your trip, for example from the street up to your desk.

Different people have different fitness and strengths, so naturally have different comfort zones when it comes to carrying things. Consider if you will be carrying it often and work out what weight is right for you. The Unagi Model One comes in at an agile 28.5 lbs, putting it on the lighter end of the spectrum, but definitely check this metric on your prospective choice.

Safety features

It's important to know what safety features to look for when buying an electric scooter, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that you check for brakes and lights at the very least before attempting to ride an electric scooter in public. However, when it comes to both of these safety features, there is a lot of difference in the available options.

Lights

Most states require a headlight, taillight and brake light on any vehicle that is driven on roadways, including electric scooters, as a legal requirement. Headlights should be bright enough to illuminate the area around the scooter, while tail lights should be bright enough to make it visible from behind.

Some manufacturers offer optional daytime running lights (DRLs) that provide additional visibility during the day, and LED headlights for increased illumination at night. DRLs are not required in all states, but they can increase your visibility on the roadways and reduce the risk of being hit by another driver or pedestrian.

brakes

Brakes are another important safety feature to look for when buying an electric scooter, and to be on the safe side you don't want just one brake, you want two! One brake will keep your vehicle from going too fast down hills, but it won't stop it completely if something happens on the road ahead of you (like someone stepping into your path).

Two brakes will keep your vehicle from going too fast down hills, but they'll also stop your scooter completely when something happens on the road ahead of you, and it's just better for peace of mind. Unagi scooters have industry-leading electronic brakes as well as a foot brake over the rear tire, bringing it to a complete halt from full speed in only 16.9 feet.

Tires

Electric scooters generally travel at relatively low speeds for motorized vehicles, and for the most part on well-maintained roads and bike lanes if they're being used for commuting. Pneumatic tires (tires which are blown up with pressurised air) are the most common tire choice, with wider ones offering more comfort and thinner ones a higher top speed.

The issue with pneumatic tires is that they need to be maintained by keeping their air pressure up for riding efficiency, and they are also prone to punctures from nails, glass or other debris that you go over on your journey, which can be really inconvenient.

There is a new type of tires that are becoming more popular - airless tires, which the Unagi Model One has as standard. They have the same performance in terms of shock absorption due to air pockets built in, but they're not prone to flats like pneumatic tires are. So you can still get a smooth ride with optimal traction, you just have to keep an eye out for who offers them.

Acceleration

When it comes to performance, having a high top speed and impressive acceleration are two of the most sought-after factors on an electric scooter, and for good reason.

Acceleration is the measure of how fast the vehicle can get up to speed from being stationary, whilst the top speed is the maximum speed that the vehicle can get to in optimum conditions. Both are important, though with the technology available these days it's unlikely that you will find a mid-range electric scooter that can't reach the road speed limit for your area.

Riding modes

Riding modes are important for some people, especially those who are buying larger e-scooters with off-road capabilities, that would benefit from being able to traverse difficult terrain easily. Typically, entering a sport mode will slightly tweak the motor for increased acceleration and performance at the expense of the battery life.

Some electric scooters boast as many as three driving modes, but it's not the same difference as you would experience with other vehicles like cars for example, as the total weight of the driver and vehicle is much higher on those, as is the capacity to enable greater performance.

One feature that a lot of manufacturers are starting to push is cruise control, which falls into this category, but we personally feel like this is more of a danger than a strict benefit, and none of the models in this review offer it.

Battery

In essence, a basic rule (with caveats) is that a larger battery will offer better performance, although that trade off is for a longer charge time and probably more weight added to the vehicle. Most batteries you need to charge overnight, and a larger battery will typically have a longer charge time.

Don't get too hung up on this point though, because whilst a bigger battery might extend range capabilities and offer slightly better performance, riding on a full charge should get you from A to B with most electric scooters in this price range.

The other thing to bear in mind on this topic is how long a full charge will last, so you know where you will be required to charge your scooter, so you can work out the best place for a charging port (whether that be at work or at home). Some scooters offer a second battery option, which means they can be charged separately so that you always have a full charge.

Motor

The motor is the last thing on our list of features to look out for when considering which electric scooter to buy, and the motor is responsible for performance for the most part. You can get single-motor or dual-motor options these days (sometimes on the same model) with the latter being preferable if you are heavier or need to carry extra weight from A to B.

We have tried and tested loads of different versions, and generally a single motor (although slightly cheaper) means much slower hill climbs. The Unagi Model One dual-motor version has a combined power output of 500W, which is slightly higher than what we would benchmark as a necessity for your new e-scooter.

Make sure that you read reviews to find out which motors are both powerful and reliable enough for your needs. There are lots of third-party reviewers out there that can help you with these tough decisions, but bear in mind that a lower power motor will mean slower acceleration.

Warranty

Whilst not a performance factor, we thought it's relevant to include the warranty as something to look out for, as no matter the build quality, things can go wrong, and you want to be covered if that happens to you.

The Xiaomi M365 offers a strong 12-month warranty which is a very accommodating warranty over the industry standard, and the Unagi Model One matches this guarantee as well.

Best electric scooter alternatives to the Xiaomi M365

Now that we've covered the factors to look out for in your search for the perfect electric scooter for you, we'll take a look at the Xiaomi M365 and some of its main competitors that you might also want to consider.

Xiaomi Mi M365

The M365 is undoubtedly one of the best electric scooter choices out there, and has been a solid choice for riders since it first came onto the market in 2016. It's actually one of the most common model choices for rental electric scooters that rental companies tend to go for.

It has a decent 250-watt battery pack, similar to most other scooters in the same price bracket, although, for a mid-range scooter, it costs less than most of the competition, coming in at under $500 now. Its sturdy frame and high build quality mean that it shouldn't really need a repair from normal use during its lifetime.

It has a disc brake on the rear wheel, and a regenerative brake on the front, which is one of the fun features of this model, but in reality isn't that effective. Nonetheless, it is a safe scooter with good power and speed, and a smooth ride quality, which is why it's remained so popular.

If you're looking to keep your costs down or upgrade your current speed, and want a scooter that's reliable, strong, looks the part and ticks all the boxes of what you need, then this is the model for you.

Ninebot Segway ES2

The Ninebot Segway ES2 was for a time one of the most popular scooters on the market, which we can only attribute to its affiliation with the Segway brand - a household name for nearly a decade. Unfortunately, it does not live up to the strength of that brand, and although is sleek in design, has very poor performance factors despite the high price tag.

Compared to the Xiaomi scooter, it has a lower range, a lower top speed (only 16 mph), a longer braking distance and a slower acceleration, for roughly the same price.

It has a 300-watt electric motor, which is higher than the 250-watt motor on the Xiaomi M365, but is somehow slower even though it weighs a decently low 29lbs.

It's also not the most portable of scooters, coming in at 44-inches in length when folded with an exceptionally wide stem that can be tough to wrap your hand around. So far, out of these two scooters the Xiaomi scooter definitely comes out on top.

GOTRAX GXL Commuter v2

The GOTRAX model has the lowest price on this list, which is an immediate attraction, especially for first-time buyers. It has a lower range, braking distance and top speed when compared to the Xiaomi M365, but that is to be expected at nearly $200 cheaper. On the plus-side it is well-built, portable and has very good safety features.

It does have very strong disc brakes, a LED headlight (although no tail light - so check for new legislation in your area on the legality of this), comfortable pneumatic tires and is just a nimble and enjoyable scooter to ride. We would probably put it in the price category below the Xiaomi M365, and at 26 lbs it's a really light scooter with decent range.

It doesn't perform too well on the hill-climb, due to the 250w motor, meaning it is probably not a great choice for heavier riders (even though it boasts a 220lb weight limit). However, the price means that it offers really good value, especially if you are only planning on riding short distances or just want an electric scooter for fun.

Fluid FreeRide Horizon

The Fluid FreeRide Horizon is in a different price category again than the Xiaomi M365 or the GOTRAX scooter, and is the most expensive option on this list. However, for that price you do get great performance metrics which can make it quite an appealing option.

The Fluid FreeRide has an impressive top speed of 24mph, a really strong top range of 26 miles, and a max rider weight of 260lbs, which is more than most commuter electric scooters. The longer distance offered comes at a price though, as this model weighs in at 42lbs, making it a whole 13 lbs heavier than the Xiaomi scooter.

Despite this weight though, it does fold up neatly, meaning that if you have the strength to carry it, it is still relatively portable. One downside is the brake systems that the manufacturers have gone with, both being on the rear wheel, and whilst it still does have a strong braking distance, it would be nice to have a brake on the front wheel for peace of mind.

The Unagi Model One

The final choice on this list has to be the Unagi Model One, which is the highest-performing alternative to the Xiaomi M365. The only factor that the Unagi performs less well in is the range, which is due to the prioritisation of the light design for ultra-portability.

Despite this, the Unagi has a higher top speed, faster acceleration, much faster hill climb, looks much more aesthetically pleasing, and is around the same price point with the same output battery, but don't just take our word for it.

Electric Scooter Guide is a third-party independent scooter reviewer, which has pitted them head to head for comparison in this article here (prices are outdated but performance reviews are relevant). In their own words:

"Unagi is the premium product. It is a seriously nicely designed scooter with super-premium feeling looks, construction, design, and ergonomics."

Unagi All-Access

So if you're not sure if the Unagi Model One is the right choice for you, why not try out the latest Model One Unagi scooter with the All-Access plan? For only $55 a month, you can try out a state-of-the-art electric scooter and all of its features with full insurance.

We'll deliver it anywhere in the continental USA free of charge and it could be with you in just two days, and if you don't like it you can send it back, no questions asked.

The Xiaomi M365 is a great choice of scooter, but in this case, it's actually the other scooter that cuts the mustard.