Segway E25E vs Xiaomi M365 - Two Former Heroes, One Still Worth Buying?

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

The Xiaomi M365 takes the overall win: it rides more naturally thanks to its pneumatic tyres, offers better real-world range for the money, and is lighter to carry, even if it's getting a bit old in tech years. The Segway E25E fights back with nicer integration, zero-maintenance flat-free tyres, stronger lighting and app polish, making it better for image-conscious riders who hate dealing with punctures and love a clean design. If your city has half-decent asphalt and you don't mind occasionally swearing at a tyre change, go M365. If your streets are littered with glass and you just want a neat, low-maintenance commuter that "just works", the E25E is the safer choice.

Keep reading if you want the full, road-tested story - including comfort, value, and the cold hard numbers that spec sheets don't tell you.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

Both the Segway E25E and Xiaomi M365 sit in that compact, commuter-friendly class that's supposed to solve your last-mile problem without demolishing your bank account or your biceps. They live in the "sensible adult toy" price range - not rental-fleet junk, not monster dual-motor beasts - and they aim squarely at urban riders who hop between pavements, bike lanes and public transport.

The E25E is the dressed-up cousin: slick design, integrated cables, flat-free tyres, lots of app-driven niceties. The M365 is the scruffy veteran: older, more basic on paper, but with a huge community behind it and a ride that still holds up surprisingly well. You'll see both in the wild doing the same job - short commutes, campus hops, inner-city errands - which makes them natural rivals, even if one is newer and prettier.

If you're torn between "looks and low maintenance" (Segway) and "comfort and value" (Xiaomi), this comparison is for you.

Design & Build Quality

Pick up the Segway E25E and the first impression is almost gadget-like. Everything is tucked away: the battery in the stem, cables routed internally, a slim deck that looks more like a design object than a slab of metal. The surfaces feel refined, the paint looks like it belongs on a laptop, and nothing rattles when you give it a good shake. It's clearly been designed to please people who care what their scooter looks like parked in the office lobby.

The Xiaomi M365 feels simpler and more utilitarian. The deck-battery layout gives it a low, planted feel in the hand. The welds are decent, the frame solid, but it doesn't have that "consumer electronics" sheen of the Segway. Cables are mostly hidden, but not obsessively so. You can tell it was designed before the era of hyper-minimalist stems and RGB underglow - more early classic than current flagship.

Where the Segway pulls ahead is sheer polish: the stem display is cleaner, the under-deck lighting feels premium, and the one-push folding pedal is clever. The Xiaomi answers with honest, proven hardware: fewer cosmetic tricks, but an architecture that's survived countless rental fleets and DIY repairs. If you like your scooter to look like a sleek gadget, the E25E wins. If you like something that looks "normal" and doesn't scream for attention, the M365 is the more understated tool.

Ride Comfort & Handling

Comfort is where these two really go in different directions - and where the spec sheets lie the most.

On smooth tarmac, the E25E actually feels pretty good. The foam-filled tyres roll quickly, and the front shock softens the sharpest hits from kerbs or expansion joints. The deck is slim but grippy, and the cockpit geometry is relaxed enough that you don't feel hunched over. The problem starts the moment the surface gets bad. On cobbles, broken bike paths or patched asphalt, those solid tyres turn every imperfection into a little reminder that air is still the best suspension. After a few kilometres of rough city sidewalks, your feet and knees know exactly what you've been riding.

The Xiaomi M365 takes the opposite approach: no traditional suspension, but proper air-filled tyres front and rear. On decent surfaces, it glides. The tyre carcass flex absorbs the high-frequency chatter that the Segway sends straight into your ankles. The scooter feels more "bicycle-like" in the way it deals with cracks and edges. On really nasty cobbles, you still have to bend your knees and ride actively - it's not magic - but fatigue builds up much slower than on the E25E.

Handling wise, the Segway's battery-in-stem layout makes the front a touch heavier. You notice it when lifting the scooter or flicking the bars quickly, but at speed it feels reasonably stable, if a bit nervous on rough ground because of the tyres. The Xiaomi's deck-mounted battery keeps the centre of gravity low, which makes it more reassuring in corners and less twitchy over bumps. If comfort and confidence over real-world surfaces matter more than never getting a flat, the M365 is clearly ahead.

Performance

Neither of these scooters is going to rip your arms off, and that's actually the point. They're city tools, not drag racers.

The Segway E25E has a slightly stronger motor on paper and you can feel that in the first few metres. Acceleration is smooth and a bit more assertive than on the Xiaomi, especially when you ask it to pull from a rolling start at a traffic light. It gets up to its speed cap without drama, and the controller tuning feels pleasantly refined - no abrupt surges, no weird lag.

The M365 feels more modest, but also very predictable. Kick off, the motor engages, and it pulls steadily up to its legal limit. For lighter riders on flat ground, it feels perfectly adequate; for heavier riders or windy days, you'll notice it working harder. Hill climbing is where the difference becomes more noticeable: both scooters will crawl up mild city inclines, but the Segway hangs onto its speed a bit better until gradients get serious. Past that point, both start begging for your right leg's assistance.

Braking is a more interesting story. The E25E throws the kitchen sink at it: regenerative front braking, magnetic rear braking, and the old-school foot brake on the mudguard if you really want to dig in. In practice, the electronic rear brake does most of the work when you hit the lever, and stops are brisk but controlled. The Xiaomi uses a rear disc plus front regen; it feels more "mechanical" and direct, with a clear bite point at the lever and a reassuring squeeze-and-stop sensation. The Segway's multi-system setup feels clever and safe, but the Xiaomi's simple disc just inspires more instinctive confidence once you've dialled it in.

Overall, the Segway edges ahead on raw motor muscle and controller smoothness, but the Xiaomi counters with intuitive braking and a more planted feel at speed thanks to that lower centre of gravity and grippier tyres.

Battery & Range

On paper, the M365 carries a noticeably bigger battery, and on the road that absolutely shows. In everyday, mixed-mode riding - some full-throttle, some cruise, a few hills, a few stops - the Xiaomi simply keeps going longer. You're realistically looking at a comfortable "there and back" for most short urban commutes, with some margin for detours or headwinds.

The Segway E25E is more honest about being a last-mile machine. Ride it in its faster mode and it starts to feel a bit anxious if your round trip is anywhere near city-edge commuting distances. It's fine for short hops to a station, office or campus, but stretch the ride and you'll find yourself watching the remaining bars more closely than you'd like. Yes, there's the add-on battery option that turns it into a different class of scooter, but out of the box it's optimised for lighter daily mileage.

Charging is slightly quicker on the Segway simply because the battery is smaller. Plug it in at the office and it will usually be full again by the time you're ready for the ride home. The Xiaomi takes a bit longer to refill, but you also don't have to do it as often. In short: E25E for short, easy-to-charge hops; M365 for riders who actually use their scooter as a car replacement for a decent chunk of the day.

Portability & Practicality

If you live above the ground floor or share your life with trains, lifts and staircases, both scooters sit in the "just about carryable" category - but one is clearly kinder to your shoulders.

The Xiaomi M365 is pleasantly light for its class. Grabbing it by the stem and hauling it up a flight of stairs is not exactly fun, but it's doable without planning a gym day around it. The folded package is reasonably compact and the bell-into-mudguard latch is clever, if slightly fiddly when dirty. This is a scooter you can realistically take on a train twice a day without hating yourself.

The Segway E25E is a touch heavier and, because of the battery in the stem, more top-heavy when carried. The one-push folding pedal is actually nicer than Xiaomi's old-school clamp, and folding feels marginally quicker and more elegant. Once folded, the front is a bit chunkier, but the overall length and footprint are similar. You'll notice those extra grams if you have to carry it for any distance, but for quick staircases or lifting into a car boot, it's still within the reasonable range.

Day-to-day practicality tilts slightly in Segway's favour if you're allergic to maintenance. No flats, no tyre pressure checks, fewer dirty hands. The Xiaomi demands more love - tyre pressure, the occasional puncture drama, hinge adjustments - but rewards that effort with a nicer ride. Choose your poison: light and comfy but fussier (M365), or slightly heavier but more "grab and go" (E25E).

Safety

Safety is more than just brakes, but let's start there. The Xiaomi's combo of rear disc and front regen is simple and effective. Pull the lever and the scooter slows with a reassuring, linear feel; modulation is easy, and you can quickly learn exactly how hard you can brake before the rear starts to chirp. It's a very bicycle-like experience, and that familiarity matters in panic stops.

The Segway's triple-brake system is technologically impressive and does stop you in a short distance. The regen and magnetic braking do most of the heavy lifting, and the foot brake is there for emergencies (or nostalgia). The lever feel is smooth rather than sharp, and some riders may miss the mechanical feedback of a disc. In wet conditions, the lack of a physical disc at either wheel means you're relying heavily on electronics and tyre grip.

Lighting is where the E25E clearly wins. The high-mounted headlight is brighter, and the under-deck ambient lighting dramatically increases your side visibility in traffic - and yes, also looks cool. Reflectors are well thought-out and certified, which matters if you ride in busy mixed traffic at night. The Xiaomi's light is surprisingly decent for city speeds, and the brake-flashing tail light is useful, but the overall visibility package feels more basic. Many M365 owners end up adding clip-on lights and reflective stickers.

Tyre grip and stability, though, tilt back toward Xiaomi. Pneumatic rubber simply grips better and deals with slippery patches more predictably than foam-filled solids. The M365's lower centre of gravity also gives it an edge in emergency manoeuvres and fast cornering. The Segway is perfectly capable in sane commuting, but the combination of smaller, harder tyres and a taller, top-heavy stance gives it less wiggle room when things go wrong.

Community Feedback

Price & Value

On pure wallet impact, the Xiaomi M365 is significantly cheaper. For that lower price you get better range, a still-respectable motor, and a ride quality that frankly embarrasses plenty of newer, more expensive models on bad city roads. Add its massive parts ecosystem and the fact that it holds resale value well, and the cost-of-ownership equation looks very friendly.

The Segway E25E asks for a noticeable premium. In exchange you get nicer finish, a more sophisticated lighting and app package, an arguably better-tuned motor, and the "no-flats, no-spanners" lifestyle. If you absolutely hate maintenance and value aesthetics strongly, that premium can be justified. If you measure value in kilometres and comfort per euro, the E25E has a harder time defending its sticker price.

Service & Parts Availability

Both brands benefit from Ninebot manufacturing heritage, but their afterlife in the wild is slightly different.

The Xiaomi M365 is basically the Volkswagen Golf of scooters. Every part down to the smallest plastic tab is available online, often from multiple vendors and at very reasonable prices. There are countless tutorials, forum posts and videos for every conceivable repair. Official support can vary depending on where you live, but the community more than fills the gaps. If you're even mildly handy, keeping an M365 alive for years is trivial.

Segway has solid official support channels in Europe, and because they also supply rental fleets, there's a decent stream of genuine spare parts. However, the aftermarket ecosystem is smaller, and you're more often tied to official or semi-official components. The upside is that you're less likely to need them - the E25E's solid tyres and sealed design mean fewer wear points. But if you like tinkering or want to mod heavily, the M365 is in a different league.

Pros & Cons Summary

Parameters Comparison

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

Both scooters feel a bit like yesterday's heroes in a market now full of bigger batteries and colour screens - but between them, the Xiaomi M365 still comes out as the more convincing everyday machine.

If your riding is mostly on semi-decent bike lanes and streets, the M365 simply gives you more of what matters: more usable range, a noticeably smoother ride, lighter weight, and a far lower purchase price. It's easier to live with if you're even slightly handy, and the massive community support means you're rarely stuck for solutions. It's not glamorous, but it does its job well and without fuss - until you have to change a tyre, at which point it will test your vocabulary.

The Segway E25E makes sense for a different rider: someone who values design and low maintenance above comfort and cost. If you wear office clothes, live in a fairly smooth city centre, and the idea of a puncture horrifies you more than a bit of vibration, the E25E is the neater, more "appliance-like" option. It looks better parked in a lobby, its lights keep you visible, and its app experience is more modern.

But if I had to live with one of these every day, riding varied city surfaces and paying with my own money, I'd still pick the Xiaomi M365. It's the more forgiving partner on the road, and that matters more than RGB glows once the novelty wears off.

Numbers Freaks Corner

These metrics show different aspects of efficiency and value: cost per battery capacity and per speed, how much scooter you carry per unit of energy or performance, how far each Wh takes you, and how fast you can refill the battery. Lower is better for cost and mass-related ratios, while higher is better for power density and charging speed.

Author's Category Battle

Overall Winner Declaration

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the SEGWAY E25E scores 3 points against the XIAOMI M365's 7. In the Author's Category Battle, the SEGWAY E25E gets 23 ✅ versus 22 ✅ for XIAOMI M365 (with a few ties sprinkled in).

Totals: SEGWAY E25E scores 26, XIAOMI M365 scores 29.

Based on the scoring, the XIAOMI M365 is our overall winner. For me, the Xiaomi M365 is still the scooter that feels more "right" in daily use: it rides nicer, asks for less compromise on comfort, and quietly delivers a lot for the money. The Segway E25E is tidy, polished and pleasantly low-maintenance, but its harsh ride and higher price make it harder to love beyond its looks. If you want something that feels like a real little vehicle rather than a lifestyle gadget, the M365 is the one that will keep you happier, longer. The E25E will suit riders who value appearance and simplicity above all else - but it's the Xiaomi that I'd actually choose to live with.

That's our verdict when we try to stay objective – but hey, riding is mostly about emotions anyway, so pick the one that will make you look forward to your commute every single day.