Xiaomi may be better known for its range of smartphones, tablets, wearables, and smart home products, but the China-based electronics manufacturer just aligned itself with the self-balancing scooter fray with the RMB 1,999 ($314) Ninebot Mini.
Beijing-based transportation robotics startup Ninebot Inc. acquired its more famous Segway counterpart back in April, at the same time revealing that Xiaomi was one of the investors in a fresh $80 million round. The Ninebot Mini was co-developed by Ninebot and Xiaomi, and it’s core selling point is its price — it claims to be around a quarter of the cost of other self-balancing scooters in China. Indeed, the cheapest Segway comes in at more than $6,000.
Though Xiaomi makes TVs, set-top boxes, smartphones, tablets, and routers itself, it traditionally invests in companies to make other products, which include things like power banks, headphones, and water purifiers. Some of these are even officially available to buy in the U.S. and Europe, though Xiaomi has yet to give its flagship smartphones the green light in the West.
For these ‘other’ products, Xiaomi may contribute in a number of ways — this could be through giving ideas and resources, and providing its online store (Mi.com) as a sales conduit.
While the Ninebot Mini doesn’t have a handle as such, leaning more towards the so-called “hoverboards” (they don’t really hover) that have risen to prominence in many markets, it does sport a knee-high stick that detects the movement of the rider’s legs to help steer the device.
Above: Ninebot Mini
Image Credit: Xiaomi
The Ninebot Mini also comes with a smartphone app that helps you control the direction of the scooter, though I’m not entirely sure that’s a good idea when your eyes should surely be on the road ahead at all times. But the app also lets you lock the scooter, and an alarm will sound if the scooter is moved.
The specs:
Range: 22km in a single charge
Speed: 16km/h
Hills: Can go uphill on slopes of up to 15 degrees
Load: Supports 85kg
Weight: 12.8kg
The product will be on sale in China from November 3 through Mi.com, and there are no plans to launch it outside of China.
Alongside the Ninebot Mini today, Xiaomi also lifted the lid on its new $800 Mi TV 3, which it’s calling the “next generation of its Android smart TV.”
Above: Mi TV 3
Indeed, the TV adopts a modular approach, with a 60-inch display and the separate Mi TV Bar, which is where the motherboard and sound system is housed. This can also be paired with any other screen via HDMI. In short, rather than buying the full TV, you can upgrade your old screen with the $160 Mi TV Bar.