Xiaomi vs Segway: How Good Are Their €279 Scooters?

Chinese scooter manufacturers keep slashing their prices, but what about quality and reliability?

Comparing Xiaomi and Segway-Ninebot is almost like comparing Decathlon and Boulanger. The first offers the best Xiaomi promotions, the second focuses on Segway-Ninebot. In any case, both electric scooter manufacturers are engaged in a fierce price war, slashing prices aggressively.

To the point that one might wonder if customers are truly benefiting if quality and reliability are compromised to lower costs…

Let’s compare the entry-level models of these two authoritative brands.

REVIEWS PUBLISHED ON Boulanger and Decathlon Websites

Xiaomi Essential (rating 3.2/5)

• “Having bought this scooter in August, it is already broken. Terrible customer service, it’s been 1.5 months that it has been in repair and no news. They offered to give me a new one, but the next day it was no longer possible.”
• “Bought for my son last week for his birthday, he used it twice. Very low battery life: advertised to do 20 km, but it didn’t even reach 10 km. I will return it to the store tomorrow.”
• “It’s a good scooter, but it discharges quickly.”
• “Great product.”
• “The lock is not suitable; my son had his scooter stolen.”
• “My first experience with an electric scooter to go to work. For info, I weigh 95kg. Actual range is about 6 km when pushing occasionally. Flat tire after 3 km on bike lane, reaching only 15 km/h in boost mode, can’t climb a 3-4% slope. Worth only about €150 at most!”
• “Excellent value for money, very easy to use, meets my expectations.”
• “Not bad, quite practical.”
• “This scooter has limited range. Between 10 and 12 km at maximum speed, limited to 20 km/h, compared to 25 km/h for most others. Tires need frequent reinflation.”
• “I strongly advise against buying this scooter, as its range is reduced. Not only is it very fragile and likely to not withstand daily use, but the charger can also catch fire (experience). Plus, Decathlon after-sales service is non-existent, and Xiaomi’s support is terrible. Stay away.”
• “Good value for money.”
• “Nice scooter, very comfortable, with reasonable range… but sensitive to humidity. My scooter has 174 km and no longer works because the control panel’s electronic board is corroded (Decathlon repair diagnosis). The repair costs €81, and Decathlon won’t cover this, even though it’s under warranty. Clearly, if Decathlon had warned me about humidity risks, I wouldn’t have bought it.”
• “I don’t regret my purchase because it’s very practical, but beware: bought a year ago, the range is too limited, about 13 km. My daughter weighs 50 kg. Whether it’s cold in winter, under-inflated tires, nothing helps. So, watch out for range. Vibration is also an issue, and the speed is lower than advertised, but that’s less bothersome.”
• “10 km round trip. Needs daily recharging.”
• “Beautiful machine, easy to use, I recommend.”

Segway-Ninebot E2 Plus E (rating 3.7/5)

• “Purchased initially in October 2023, after a few days, battery issue causing rapid depletion, which led to a replacement scooter. Three months later, a new issue with the second scooter: battery overheating, limiting speed to 15 km/h. Sent for repair, hoping to avoid further problems.”
• “Used for short trips, it is smooth and quick, with effective splash protection.”
• “Satisfied for the past 15 days. We’ll see over time.”
• “Purchased August 30, 2023, and again December 24, 2023 (4 months), it has already broken down! The Boulanger customer service was excellent—immediately opened a warranty case via phone and dropped off the scooter in store the next day. Now waiting 3-4 weeks. To report the fault: overnight, it reduced to 11 km/h! The handlebar has play and vibrates. It lacks cruise control. Quite disappointed with this scooter and the brand. If you can spend more, do so—this one feels very light. Light as a feather! Positives: brakes very well, good fenders, no water splashing up in rain.”
• “Perfect for entry level, functional and reliable.”
• “Bought less than a month ago—my commute is about 15 km, which should be within the 25 km range, but after 13 km, power drops and I have to push.”
• “Bought this scooter two weeks ago. It doesn’t reach the advertised 25 km, and on slopes, it feels like you’re barely moving. Below 50% charge, speed doesn’t reach 25 km/h. I advise against buying—don’t buy this scooter.”
• “Good scooter, very easy to handle, not too heavy for public transport. Battery lasts reasonably well. Good value for short trips.”
• “Range-wise, it’s not very practical.”
• “I’ve had it for two months; for short trips, it’s pretty good—some roughness on bad roads, but for the price, understandable. Good speed, easy to handle, good brakes.”
• “Some issues folding it; not very instinctive, and the latch works only half the time. Otherwise, rides well.”
• “Great on flat surfaces. Not very comfortable and lacks power. You can cut the range in half (70kg).”
• “My first scooter. Didn’t want to spend too much and regret it for my use. Positives: nice, quite light. Negatives: overall softness, slow acceleration, small solid tires make riding uncomfortable. On poorly maintained roads, it vibrates badly. Good for flat asphalt, but for the rest, look for a better model.”
• “Good product, but lacking info. I didn’t know I needed insurance. Got a ticket, thank you Boulanger for selling these goods, but please inform customers about legal requirements—would be very helpful.”
• “For the price, it’s okay. But full charge takes too long, battery is too light, and the ride on rough roads is very uncomfortable. Pity, as the product is quality.”
• “I don’t regret buying it; just a little lacking in power on inclines.”
• “Excellent value for money. At this price, there’s nothing better, very good performance. Handles steep inclines easily. The only real issue is range: it actually covers only about 15 km or possibly 17 km on flat terrain.”

Mobiwisy Reviews

Based on its technical specs and the reviews from customers, the advantage goes narrowly to Segway-Ninebot. From this comparison, it appears that the super cheap Asian products don’t really live up to their promises—neither in performance nor in reliability.

Finally, remember that using a scooter requires a specific insurance policy that must be contracted with your insurer or bank.

ALL THE MOBILEITY NEWS