Released this year, the Xiaomi M365 PRO is quickly taking the place of the classic Xiaomi M365 Mija. Compared to its predecessor, the PRO edition features bigger battery, better brakes and a modern dashboard.

The best part is that the PRO version isn’t that much more expensive than the former M365. Priced $537 USD, the Xiaomi M365 PRO is one of the most interesting scooters of the year.

In this review, I will take the Xiaomi M365 as a baseline. We all know and love it, and some of us even own one. I will be referring to the classical Xiaomi M365 pretty often here and at the end of the article you will also find a comparison chart, a sort of ‘tl;dr’ for those of you who are short on time.

I will also quickly compare the PRO edition to the Ninebot ES4 to give ES4 owners a better idea on what to expect from this new scooter.

Xiaomi M365 PRO vs Xiaomi M365



Unboxing and Handling

As you would expect from a Xiaomi scooter, the M365 PRO comes well-packaged, every part fixed in place for safer transport. There are plastic bags on the most vulnerable parts that protect it from moisture in case of accident. The scooter comes already assembled and all you have to do is to unfold it, which is done in one move.

Once you charge the battery to full, you can give it the first ride.

The Xiaomi M365 PRO is one of the easiest scooters to drive. Designed to be a popular scooter, the M365 PRO is very intuitive to use. Keeping balance is easy thanks to the low center of gravity. The deck is wide enough to comfortably fit both of your feet and the handlebar is wide enough to be comfortable but narrow enough to not take up too much space on the road. This is very much appreciated when you have to drive through a busy street a Monday morning.

Brakes

The Xiaomi M365 comes with pretty solid disk brakes on its rear wheel. Disk brakes allow you to have better control on your scooter and have a shorter brake distance. Brake disk diameter defines how efficient your brakes will be.

The M365 PRO comes with bigger brake disks compared to those of its predecessor. This is probably due to the fact that the new model has a more powerful motor, which requires better brakes. The difference is more noticeable on higher speeds – when going at top speed, the M365 PRO stops considerably faster than the M365. Expect a 1-2 meter shorter brake distance. This alone might potentially save you a lot of trouble.

Comfort

The M365 PRO offers the same level of comfort as the M365. It has the same 8,5 inch wheels with air tube tires. The lack of any shocks makes it somewhat unpleasant to drive on dirt or gravel, so the M365 PRO should still be considered a strictly urban scooter. If you don’t have a lot of paved roads in our area, you might want to consider getting the Ninebot ES2 or maybe even the E-Twow Booster V instead.

Portability

The Xiaomi M365 PRO is slightly bigger than its predecessor. The main difference is deck size – since the PRO version has bigger battery, it takes a bit more space which affects the length of the deck. Longer deck size does not necessarily mean that the M365 PRO is less portable, though. I do however recommend you to check the dimensions of the scooter before you buy it (you can find them in the last section of this article) in case you will have to transport the it in your car trunk. Some cars have small trunks so the new model might not fit there.

Besides, the weight of the new M365 PRO version has increased by 1.9 kg (4 lbs). If you have no issues lifting and carrying the M365 around, you will certainly have no problems with the PRO version either. However, if the M365 was pretty heavy for you, the PRO version gets even worse. I’m telling you from experience, scooter weight is a very important factor to keep in mind.

Additional Accessories

Lights

The M365 PRO comes with the same non-adjustable set of LED lights as the M365. It features both head and brake lights.

Dashboard

The dashboard is one of the biggest differences between the two scooters. The Xiaomi M365 PRO comes with a bright LED dashboard that shows you the current speed of the scooter. The previous model comes with only four LED lights that indicate battery charge; the rest of the data (such as current speed, distance and so on) can only be only accessed from your cellphone.

Personally, I like it when the info is on the dashboard. Yes, you can attach a phone holder to your handlebar and put your phone there (that’s what most Xiaomi M365 users do), however doing that (a) is not safe for your phone (if you crash or drop your scooter, your phone might not survive the impact), and (b) most smartphones can’t have their screen turned on for long – their batteries are too small to handle that.

This is why, having the most important info displayed on your inbuilt scooter dashboard is such a handy feature. In fact, all of the higher end scooters have that feature. None of them require you to have a phone to see your speed and other important info.

The dashboard also displays (and allows you to select) different speed modes. There are three to choose from:

– Eco Mode: is what you begin in from park or idle. Compare it to the first gear of a car. It is also the mode you want to use when you’re doing your first rides. It limits your speed to 6 km/h (3.7 mph).

– Standard Mode: the mode your will probably use the most, the Standard Mode has a reasonable speed limit of 15 km/h (9 mph).

– Sports Mode: The Sports mode consumes battery the fastest, however it also unleashes the full power of the scooter. Use it when driving uphill.

Bell

The M365 PRO comes with a small bell, similar to that of a bicycle.

Upgrading Your Xiaomi M365 – Pros and Cons

Some people try to save money by buying a Xiaomi M365 and upgrading its dashboard. You can install the M365 PRO dashboard on your Xiaomi M365 (dashboard sold apart). Here is a video tutorial on how to install and flash it to make it work. There are some pros and cons to this:

Pros

– Your Xiaomi M365 gets a better dashboard that displays all the info you need. – The new dashboard has a micro controller that increases motor peak power of your M365, which translates into better acceleration and gradeability. Cons – Increasing motor peak power while having the same relatively weak brakes is dangerous. – The scooter will still have the same battery capacity. Battery will drain pretty fast if you unlock full motor power. To make up for that, you will have to further mod your M365 and install a second battery. – Modding your Xiaomi M365 violates the warranty. – The dashboard can be pretty expensive (cost of the item + shipping + tax) and the benefits of getting it might not outweigh the costs.

Xiaomi M365 PRO Review

Looks

Both scooters look pretty much the same, with the M365 PRO being a tad longer. For a commuter, the M365 PRO looks pretty decent. Its minimalist design and gray mate finish does not call too much attention, which is great if you want to carry it around in public transport.

Durability

The Xiaomi M365 PRO seems the be made of the same materials as the Xiaomi M365. There are also no design changes aside from the wider deck and bigger battery.

The thing that concerns me the most is the folding mechanism. According to the manufacturer, the PRO version has an improved folding mechanism, however I personally haven’t noticed any differences. I won’t jump into conclusions just yet, though. The manufacturer might have used higher quality plastic. If this is the case then the PRO version might actually have a sturdier folding mechanism than its predecessor.

Power

The M365 PRO comes with a 300W hub motor that has a peak output of 600W. The conventional Xiaomi M365 has a motor rated 250W, 500W peak. That’s a big improvement and it means that the scooter can handle hills and bumpy terrain better. It also affects acceleration and torque.

If we compare acceleration, the M365 PRO needs 6 seconds to reach its top speed of 25 km/h (15.5 mph) with a load of 60 kg (132 lbs). It takes 7 seconds for the Xiaomi M365 to reach the same speed under the same load. While on paper this difference isn’t that shocking, the M365 PRO does feel way more agile and powerful. That little difference makes the M365 PRO more pleasant to drive, especially for people like me who have an insatiable need for speed.

The difference scales with load weight. Adding 15 kg (33 lbs) of weight to the scooter turns the 6 seconds into 7 seconds for the M365 PRO and the 7 seconds into 8 seconds for the M365. Getting the rider weight closer to the scooter carry limit further increases the gap between the two scooters. When close to max carry weight capacity, the M365 PRO gets to the 25 km/h mark 2 seconds earlier than the classic M365.

Now, when it comes to climbing hills, the M365 PRO can reach a top speed of 22 km/h (13.6 mph) on a road with 15% inclination, while the M365 can barely hit the 18 km/h (11 mph) mark on the same road.

Range

Another great upgrade is battery size. The Xiaomi M365 PRO has a 474 Wh battery capacity; the Xioami M365 has only 287 Wh.

When it comes to commuters, battery size often decides whether the scooter is capable of fulfilling your needs or not. You can’t change the distance you have to drive from your home to your workplace, so you have to choose a scooter that has enough battery life to be able to deliver you from point A to point B.

It is also worth considering that ion-lithium batteries (the battery standard for modern scooters) tend to lose range over time. It is estimated that the average Li-ion battery loses 30% of its maximum capacity after 500 charging cycles. So if you have to commute, say, 20 miles a day, you should probably chose a scooter that has a range of at least 26 miles.

Xiaomi M365 PRO vs. Xiaomi M365 vs. Ninebot ES4

Xiaomi M365 PRO Xiaomi M365 Ninebot ES4* Max. Speed 25km/h (15 mph) 25 Km/h (15 mph) 30km/h (18.6mph) Range 45 km (28 Mi)** 30 Km (18.6 Mi) 45 km (28 Mi) Weight 14,2 kg (31 lbs) 12.5 kg (27 lbs) 14.0 kg (30.9 lbs) Carrying Capacity 100 kg (220 lbs) 100 kg (220 lbs) 100 kg (220 lbs) Charging time 8,5 h 5 hours 7 h Motor power 300W (600W peak) 250W (500W peak) 300W (800W peak) Tires 8,5″ air tube tires 8,5″ air tube tires 8″ solid tires Suspension No No Front & rear spring shocks Brakes Regenerative + mechanical (disc) Regenerative + mechanical (disc) Regenerative + mechanical Display Yes No Yes Gradeability 20% 15% 15% Price $537 USD*** $510 USD**** $769 USD

(*) The Ninebot ES4 is a Ninebot ES2 with an extra battery for added range.

(**) 60kg (132 lbs) rider driving on flat surface at a constant speed of 15 km/h (9 mph).

(***) Discounted price. Regular price: $699 USD.

(****) Prices may vary depending on your region and the seller you chose.

This chart gives us an idea on what to expect from the Xiaomi M365 PRO, however there are some other things I should mention.

Suspension – M365 PRO vs. ES4

As you could notice, the M365 PRO comes with big wheels with air tube tires to make up for the lack of shocks. The ES4 on the other hand has smaller wheels with solid rubber tires and some basic spring suspension.

Which configuration is better?

Air tube tires are less convenient than the solid rubber ones because they get flats. It’s not fun to get a flat mid-road miles away from home. From a convenience perspective, the ES4 is indeed better.

If we talk about comfort, the ES4 wins once again because shocks absorb way more bumps than air tube tires. Even bigger wheel size does not really make up for the lack of shocks in the M365 PRO. They do however do a great job at absorbing smaller bumps so if your city has good road quality, the lack of dedicated shocks on the M365 PRO should not be a concern for you.

Acceleration Tests – M365 PRO vs. ES4

The guys at First Canary Wharf performed some great tests with different weights. Both scooters were tested with different load weights while driving uphill.

They found out that the Ninebot ES4 has better acceleration when carrying up to 65 kg (143 lbs), however it starts losing to the Xiaomi M365 PRO when it has to carry a heavier weight. The difference is pretty noticeable – not only the M365 reaches a higher top speed of 20 km/h (12.4 mph) (compared to the 19 km/h of the ES4), it also does that 2 seconds faster than the ES4.

Add 5 more kg (11 lbs) of weight and the difference becomes even more obvious. The M365 still has the same acceleration and top speed, while the ES4 top speed now drops all the way down to 16 km/h (10 mph).

Design

One more thing to keep is mind that the Xiaomi M365 PRO has better design than the Ninebot ES4. The ES4 has the battery attached to the handlebar, while the M365 PRO has it inside the deck. This gives the PRO version two advantages:

Lover center of gravity. The battery is one of the heaviest part of the scooter so it’s always convenient to have it as closer to the ground as possible for better scooter stability. Thinner stem. When folded, the stem becomes the handle you use to carry the scooter around. By having a battery attached to it, the ES4 has a very thick stem that is very uncomfortable to hold.

Xiaomi M365 PRO Specs

Max Speed: 25km/h (15 mph)

Max Distance: 45 km (28 Mi)

Battery: 38V, 12.8 Ah

Battery rated power: 474W

Motor Wattage: Single hub motor rated 300W (600W peak)

Max Load: 100 Kg (220 lbs)

Gradeability: ~20%

Tires: 8,5″ air tube tires

Suspension: None

Brakes: rear wheel hub disk brake + electric regenerative brakes (both can be used at the same time)

Lights: LED headlight + Brake lights

Dashboard: LED dashboard

Charge time: 8.5 hours

Weight: 14,2 kg (31 lbs)

Size: 1080 x 430 x 1140 mm (42 x 17 x 45 Inches)

Material: Aviation grade aluminum forging alloy

Where to buy Xiaomi M365 PRO



Recommended Accessories and Upgrades

Accessories Protective gear: https://www.madcharge.com/electric-scooter-riding-safety-and-protective-gear/

https://www.madcharge.com/electric-scooter-riding-safety-and-protective-gear/ Helmet : https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-helmet/

: https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-helmet/ Extra front lights : https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-lights/

: https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-lights/ Turn Signal Widget : https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-turn-signal/

: https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-turn-signal/ LED Backpack : https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-backpack/

: https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-backpack/ Phone Holder : https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-phone-holder/

: https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-phone-holder/ Mirror : https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-mirror/

: https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-mirror/ Bag: https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-bag/

https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-bag/ Horn: https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-horn/

In Conclusion

I’d say that the Xiaomi M365 PRO is definitely a huge improvement over the classic Xiaomi M365. It has better brakes and torque, bigger battery and a better dashboard.

I suppose that the PRO model is a great choice for those of us who love the classic Xiaomi M365 and want a scooter with the same design but with better features.

If you want something even more powerful than the PRO, Ninebot is about to start shipping the Ninebot MAX that features a lot of the things we love in the Xiaomi M365 PRO. The MAX is pricier and heavier but it’s more comfortable and has a beefier motor, so you might want to check it out if that’s what you’re after.