Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter 3 is a successor of its hugely popular first electric scooter M365. It’s been almost 5 years in between the release of these two electric scooters.
In this Xiaomi Electric Scooter 3 review, we take a closer look at what Xiaomi has decided to upgrade and what has been remained the same.
So which one is better – an old good M365 or the new Mi Electric Scooter 3? Let’s find out!
MSRP: $550
Overview
To Whom?
The Mi 3 fits nicely in the market of affordable budget e-scooters.
It is built for people who are looking for a lightweight simple scooter to run short errands and for basic commuting.
Xiaomi Mi electric scooter 3 is for sensible riding where minimalism is a feature, not a drawback.
It is definitely not a powerhouse and you can not go offroading with it.
Xiaomi Electric Scooter 3 Specs
| Motor | 300W (600W peak) |
| Battery | 36V 7.6Ah (275Wh) |
| Recharge Time | 5.5 hours |
| Max Speed | 15.5 mph |
| Max Range | 18.6 miles |
| Brakes | Rear dual-pad disc + eABS |
| Suspension | – |
| Weight | 28 lbs |
| Weight Capacity | 220 lbs |
| Tires | 8.5″ pneumatic tires |
| Lights | LED rear warning light + front light |
| Hill Grade | 9° |
| Dimensions | 42.5″ x 16.9″ x 44.9″ |
| Folded Dimension | 42.5″ x 16.9″ x 19.3″ |
| IP Rating | IP54 |
Pros
- Extremely lightweight
- Pneumatic tires
- Durable construction
- IP54 water-resistance rating
- Improved braking system
Cons
- Slow acceleration
- Slow charging time
Xiaomi Electric Scooter 3 Performance
Speed and Acceleration
The new Mi electric scooter 3 is more powerful than the old M365. Also, the acceleration is much better. It’s simply because of the more powerful hub motor, which has a peak power of 600 watts.
You can’t compare this motor with larger scooters. But for a budget scooter, there is not much to complain about in the acceleration department.
However, I would like to complain about the top speed. Although the motor is a bit more powerful than the one in the last version, the top speed is even less.
The maximum speed of Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter 3 is just 15.5 mph. But we must admit that this scooter is not meant for racing. So we really can’t complain about low top speed.
Related: Best-Selling Electric Scooters on Amazon
Hill Climbing
In the hill-climbing area, the new scooter performs about the same as the old M365.
The motor has enough power to handle some decently sized hills. Xiaomi claims that electric scooter 3 is capable to climb a slope up to 16%. It means that the max incline this scooter can handle is about 9 degrees.
Battery and Range
The battery of Xiaomi Mi electric scooter 3 has just 275 Wh of energy capacity. It’s about the same size as M365 has. It is not a huge battery but thanks to the lightweight frame, it’s quite efficient.
Xiaomi promises that the new scooter has a range of 18.6 miles. When compared with similarly priced scooters, the mileage of Xiaomi 3 is competitive. For example, Hiboy S2 has a range of 17 miles and Apollo Air only 12 miles.
It takes about 5-6 hours to recharge the battery.
Brakes
The braking system has got some nice upgrades.
Mi Scooter 3 now uses a dual-pad disc brake, which is much more efficient than a regular disc brake. Combined with the regenerative braking upfront they work pretty effectively.
Pro Tip: Micah Toll from Electrek suggests using regenerative braking if possible. This way you recharge the battery at the same time. Also, you don’t have to change the brake pads so often.
Design and Features
Build Quality
Xiaomi Mi electric scooter 3 is a lightweight commuter scooter. Despite the light weight, it is still strong enough to support a payload of up to 220 lbs.
The frame of the scooter is made from aerospace-grade aluminum. That’s why it’s so lightweight, yet sturdy.
Xiaomi is known for building cheap but durable electric scooters and this here is no exception.
5 years old Xiaomi M365 electric scooters still ride around. The new Mi 3 has basically the same frame, so you can rest assured that it will last.
Related: Best Cheap Electric Scooters for Adults
Is Mi Scooter 3 Waterproof?
Xiaomi Mi 3 isn’t waterproof. However, it can withstand water from all angels.
It has a water-resistance rating of IP54, which means that it can withstand some water droplets and light showers without any problem.
Pro Tip: Dry it off as soon as you get to the shelter. By that, you can avoid damaging its electrical components.
Related: Best Rain-Resistant Electric Scooters
Portability
On the scale of portability, Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter 3 is definitely on the top side.
It weighs just 28 pounds, so it’s light enough to carry up the stairs or on public transport. It’s one of the most lightweight and easy-to-carry scooters I know.
The folding mechanism is also been improved. 3-step folding is easy, quick, and sturdy. The bell on the handlebar has a hook that you can use to lock the handlebar when the scooter is folded. Very simple, yet smart feature.
Cockpit
The cockpit of Mi 3 is really minimalistic.
The LED screen is located exactly in the middle of the handlebars. It shows you the speed, driving mode, and remaining battery.
On the right side, you can find a thumb throttle. On the left, there is a brake lever and a bell. That’s it. Very minimalistic design.
Wheels and Tires
The Mi 3 comes with 8.5-inch pneumatic tires. Although 8.5″ wheels are not big, the pneumatic tires on it make the ride quite smooth.
If I could choose between large solid tires or small pneumatic tires, I would pick pneumatic tires at any time.
Pneumatic tires provide so much better ride comfort than solid tires. Also, if you could get a puncture, there is a spare tire with an inner tube included with the scooter.
Of course, Mi 3 is not an off-roading scooter but you don’t have to necessarily only ride on smooth asphalt with it. It can perfectly handle some occasional bumps and dirt roads.
Does Xiaomi Mi 3 Have an App?
Since this is a Xiaomi product, you can pair it with Xiaomi’s Mi Home app.
You can use the app to lock your scooter remotely. If you leave the scooter unattended, someone still can just take it away. But still, it’s a nice safety feature.
Also, you can see different stats like current battery level, average speed, and more from the app. Although, you can see those stats from the scooter’s screen too.
Comparisons
Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter 3 vs Xiaomi Mi M365
| Xiaomi Mi 3 | Xiaomi Mi M365 | |
| 300W (600W peak) | Motor | 250W (500W peak) |
| 275Wh | Battery | 280Wh |
| 5.5 hours | Recharge Time | 5 hours |
| 15.5 mph | Max Speed | 16 mph |
| 18.6 miles | Max Range | 28 miles |
| Rear dual-pad disc + eABS | Brakes | Rear disc + regenerative |
| 28 lbs | Weight | 26.5 lbs |
| 220 lbs | Weight Capacity | 220 lbs |
| 8.5″ pneumatic tires | Tires | 8.5″ pneumatic tires |
| $550 | Price | $450 |
Xiaomi Mi 3 vs Pro 2
Xiaomi Mi electric scooter 3 has a lot less power than Pro 2. The acceleration of Xiaomi Pro 2 is much better. If we compare the mileage, it is clear that Xiaomi Pro 2 wins this battle too.
The advantage of the Mi 3 is an improved braking system.
Read more from the related Reddit topic.
| Xiaomi Mi 3 | Xiaomi Mi Pro 2 | |
| 300W | Motor | 300W |
| 275Wh | Battery | 446Wh |
| 5.5 hours | Recharge Time | 8-9 hours |
| 15.5 mph | Max Speed | 15.5 mph |
| 18.6 miles | Max Range | 28 miles |
| Rear dual-pad disc + eABS | Brakes | Rear disc + eABS |
| 28 lbs | Weight | 31 lbs |
| 220 lbs | Weight Capacity | 220 lbs |
| 8.5″ pneumatic tires | Tires | 8.5″ pneumatic tires |
| 9° | Hill Grade | 11° |
Xiaomi Electric Scooter 3 vs 1S
Some say that Mi 3 scooter is a slightly improved 1S. We can’t argue if we compare their specs.
The only difference is a slightly more powerful motor of the Xiaomi Mi 3.
| Xiaomi Mi 3 | Xiaomi Mi 1S | |
| 300W | Motor | 250W |
| 15.5 mph | Max Speed | 15.5 mph |
| 18.6 miles | Max Range | 18.5 miles |
| Rear dual-pad disc + eABS | Brakes | Rear disc + eABS |
| 28 lbs | Weight | 28 lbs |
| 220 lbs | Weight Capacity | 220 lbs |
| 8.5″ pneumatic tires | Tires | 8.5″ pneumatic tires |
Xiaomi Electric Scooter 3 Review Conclusions
If you are familiar with previous Xiaomi electric scooters, you can be sure that most of the features you loved are still here. Xiaomi knows well how to build good electric scooters. How else the Mi M365 can be still one of the most popular electric scooters.
Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter 3 has just some minor upgrades to improve the user experience even more.
