The Xiaomi 1S E-Scooter comes with a 250W motor powered by a 7650mAh/275Wh Li-ion battery, which powers through almost all general road surfaces that you’d expect an electric scooter to zoom through. The scooter is easy to carry in both its folded and upright state. Although it isn’t exactly what you’d describe as a featherweight, at 12.5kg it’s not going to give you a hernia lugging it on and off the train or in and out of your car boot. That being said, both e-scooters have their strengths and weaknesses. The Pure Air can be ridden on wet roads and in rain, and it can accommodate a maximum rider weight of 120kg. By comparison, the Xiaomi 1S is only IP54-rated, which means that riding in rain or puddles will void your two-year warranty and it can only accommodate 100kg, so it’s not suitable for heavier riders. Promoted at Xiaomi’s launch event with the strapline ‘ride the last mile’, the 1S is aimed at commuters and short trips; however, it’s capable of a lot more than that. How do you decide between the Xiaomi Essential, Xiaomi 1S and the Xiaomi Pro 2? This brief guide will give you the details to help you choose between the new Xiaomi range, focusing on the few differences between the Xiaomi scooters.

Compared to existing models, the 1S is an improvement with enhanced features over the M365. Performance and power Minimalist design, aircraft-grade aluminium alloy for the main body. Takes only 3 seconds to fold and go. 12.5 kg. Before purchasing, please carefully read the Mi Electric Scooter 1S user manual and legal notice. Be sure to abide by local laws and regulations when using Mi Electric Scooter 1S. The new Xiaomi range was recently launched in China following the widespread success of the Xiaomi M365 and M365 Pro. Demand for the new scooters is expected to be high and, as there have been a large number of fake M365s on the market, there is expected to be a similar number of fake Essential, 1S and Pro 2 electric scooters out there (adding to the fake M365s still in circulation). The Xiaomi 1S electric scooter is far from being the perfect scooter, but the best thing about it is that you get what you pay for, along with a little more.The Xiaomi 1S one of the lightest adult e-scooters currently available. This makes the scooter extremely suitable for use with public transport. When folded, the 1S has dimensions of 108 x 43 x 49 cm . This also makes it possible to transport the scooter in the boot of a car. All three scooters come with the dashboard from the original M365 Pro, meaning they offer a speedometer (alongside a few other symbols) as well as the battery indicator. The modes are the same across the scooters (and slightly different from previous versions). They all have "Normal", "Pedestrian" and "Sport" modes, but the top of the Normal and Sport mode is less on the Essential (see below).

With the UK considering a maximum electric scooter speed limit of 25km/h (15.5mph) on roads, there’s no need for anything faster. Three-speed driving modesPedestrian 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. The Xiaomi Mi 1S range is up to 30km (18.6 miles). However, the actual distance varies and depends on several factors, including the load weight, scooter speed, road conditions, wind speed, and temperature. Battery The Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter 1S has solid power and performance for a mid-range electric scooter – speed, motor and range – for everyday use in the UK. And it boasts a more efficient next-generation battery that will last longer. Maximum speed The main difference between the Xiaomi Essential, Xiaomi 1S and Xiaomi Pro 2 is the battery. Basically, the battery gets larger from the Essential to the Pro 2, meaning it can cover a greater distance on a single charge (20 km, 30 km and 45 km respectively). It also means the Essential is the lighest and the Pro 2 the heaviest. The other consideration of a larger battery is the time needed to charge it. The Essential takes the least time to charge, whereas the Pro 2 takes about eight hours. The Xiaomi Mi 1S has a series of updates compared to the M365, including an additional riding mode, an improved multi-functional LED display, enhanced safety features, a better rear mudguard (fender), and some cosmetic changes.

The most obvious difference between the M365 and 1S is that the 1S has a speedometer on the display (below, right) whereas the Xiaomi M365 only has a battery indicator (the four LED lights) and mode indicator (the bottom light is green in eco mode). Though there is a speedometer within the Xiaomi Mi app, meaning you could attach your phone to the handlebar and get your current speed from that. The 1S's display is taken from the M365 Pro and, likewise, the 1S has three modes: normal, pedestrian and sports mode. Before we move on, please look at the Xiaomi Pro 2, which is their latest premium electric scooter. And for beginners and budget-friendly riders, the Xiaomi Essential is a good choice. More often than not, the app the fake scooters use is the MiniRobot, a generic scooter app. Thus, should you come across an e-scooter for sale - and why would you not buy from us? - at a supiciously good price, be sure to ask about the app (in writing).

However, it can be very hard to tell a fake Xiaomi from a real Xiaomi by looking at it. Indeed, companies go to great lengths to make their scooters look real. With the new range, Xiaomi have tried to combat the issue by branding the stem with an orange "MI" followed by a "mi.com" in grey. So this is a new way to distinguish originals from replicas, but of course producers of fakes will soon be adding these. A fake will be missing the real serial number too, but this requires taking a close look at the scooter in person and fake serial numbers can be added to fake scooters. The image below shows the location/format of the serial number. The ultra-bright 2W front headlight on the Xiaomi 1S enhances your view and makes you more visible at night. The angle of the light has also been improved to avoid headlight dazzle.