Xiaomi have updated their super popular M365 electric scooter after several years of global dominance. However, instead of calling it something like M365 Mark II or M366 or N365, they have called it the Xiaomi 1S scooter. I assume the "S" stands for "scooter" but otherwise this new nomenclature makes little sense. It would make sense if it was a brand new model, but the 1S scooter is nothing of the sort. It is essentially an M365 with a M365 Pro screen and an improved battery. It is thus somewhere between the M365 and M365 Pro. But let's take a good look at the Xiaomi 1S scooter. You can also see a direct comparison of the M365 and 1S. Hailing from the 2020 lineup of Xiaomi, this entry-level scooter that’s cheap and accessible goes head-to-head with Xiaomi’s earlier releases as the two offerings go tooth and nail to compete on price and performance.

The scooter's battery is located in the base and the frame itself is built from aluminium. It feels strong and the folding mechanism means it can be folded or unfolded in a few seconds (Xiaomi claims three seconds). This sturdiness and low cost (as you are not paying for carbon fibre) does mean it is reasonably heavy at 12.5 kg; but this is as light as mid-range scooters come and heaviness is fairly subjective: I am by no means strong and can carry this scooter up and down stairs without too much effort. One difference from its predecessor, apart from yellow reflectors on the EU/UK model, is that the external wires are neater in the 1S. They still have not figured out how to feed the wire to the handlebar internally (through the folding joint) but they have at least tried. The Xiaomi M365 was one of the first e-scooters I reviewed last year and I immediately fell in love with it for its perfect balance of weight, range and ease of use. Four years on, however, Xiaomi has decided to give its worldwide best selling e-scooter a much-needed upgrade – and the result is the Xiaomi 1S. Pedestrian mode is indicated by a walking man icon and it tops out at 3mph; ideal for when you’re walking with your e-scooter because the throttle doesn’t activate in this mode. Drive mode is denoted by a blue “d” icon and has a top speed of 12.5mph. The fastest is Sport mode, denoted by a blue “s” icon, with a maximum speed of 15.5mph. Convert kinetic energy into electrical energy for longer battery life. The kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) has been fully upgraded, and the energy conversion efficiency has been further improved. It can recover the kinetic energy of each braking and non-powered coasting, and convert it into usable electrical energy to further improve the cruising range. The efficiency of energy recovery can be adjusted through the Mi Home App to meet your individual riding needs.It is worth noting that once the battery level drops below 5% the scooter performance drops significantly (if you are in a rush ensure you have it reasonably well-charged or you may find yourself going at an embarrassingly slow speed).

There’s also a conventional rear brake, much like you’d find on a bicycle, which pairs up with a clever regenerative braking technology in the front wheel to bring things to a fast and predictable stop. After carefully removing the e-scooter from the box, pull up the steerer tube until it’s upright, then secure it in place by pulling up the latch at the bottom of the steerer tube; finally, secure this latch with the release that you simply drag across. It’s all fairly intuitive even though it may sound complex. Next, you need to attach the handlebar to the stem using the four screws and Allen key provided. The biggest upgrade on the Xiaomi 1S is its LED display and three riding modes. The M365 has only two riding modes and four battery indicator dots, making it the only e-scooter I’ve reviewed without a display. The 1S also seems to have ironed out any kinks with the patchy Bluetooth connectivity I experienced when I rode the M365. It’s not really a powerful electric scooter, but the Xiaomi brand makes up for a trustworthy name that you surely won’t be disappointed in. It lets patrons and consumers opt for a quality e-scooter and a great price from a trusted brand, overall making the Xiaomi 1S a great option to weigh in when looking for an electric scooter for the daily commute.The Xiaomi 1S scooter is sleek, elegant, and portable with a safe minimalist design. The strong and lightweight aircraft-grade aluminium body only takes 3 seconds to fold and go weighing 12.5 kg. Battery range is pegged at 18.5-miles, based on a 75kg rider scooting around in fairly ambient 25-degrees celsius temperature, but we all know that’s not going to be the case in the UK. When the headlight is turned on, the tail light will automatically turn on. When the brake lever is pressed, the tail light will blink to alert pedestrians and vehicles behind you. The tail light also has a rear reflector function to ensure safe riding. The 1S battery has the same capacity and power as the M365 battery, and the scooter retains the same top-speed of 25 km/h (15.5 mph) and range of 30 km (18 miles). The range is pretty accurate (at least to begin with) but the speed tends to hover around 14 mph. Xiaomi also claim the battery on the 1S has been improved so that it takes less time to charge (5 hours) and has a longer overall lifespan (partly by limiting its charge so that it reads 100% charged when it is, in fact, only at 93% of its real capacity.