Electric scooters, while still not strictly legal on UK roads, have been surging in popularity throughout 2020. Some of the most popular models are made by Xiaomi, and all three in the line have big savings right now.
The Mi 2 Pro ( reviewed), which currently tops our electric scooter chart, has a colossal £150 off at LaptopsDirect – but it’s still the most expensive of the trio.
Your cheapest option is the Mi Essential, which usually retails at £389, but we’ve found it for £299 at Pure Scooters.
Middle of the pack is the Mi 1S, currently enjoying £125 off at Laptops Direct, which brings it down to £369.97.
But if your choice is not purely based on budget, which model should you choose?
Which Xiaomi electric scooter should you buy?
All three electric scooters do essentially the same thing. The more expensive options have larger batteries, which in turn means they can go further between recharges, and at a faster speed.
But it also means they are heavier, and in the case of the Mi Pro 2 also larger. If portability is of most importance to you then you’re better off opting for one of the cheaper models.
In terms of getting over curbs and other tricky terrain, the better the model the more improved the gradeability.
All three have 8.5in pneumatic tyres, the same E-ABS and disc braking system, and are IP54 rated. They are also all able to carry up to 100kg load, and best suited to riders between 120cm and 200cm in height.
Here are the specs:
Mi Essential
- Range: 20km
- Power: 250W
- Battery: 5100mAh (charges in 3.5 hours)
- Max speed: 20km/h
- Gradeability: 10%
- Dimensions: 1080x1140mm (1080x490mm folded)
- Weight: 12kg
Mi 1S
- Range: 30km
- Power: 250W
- Battery: 7650mAh (charges in 5.5 hours)
- Max speed: 25km/h
- Gradeability: 14%
- Dimensions: 1080x1140mm (1080x490mm folded)
- Weight: 12.5kg
Mi Pro 2
- Range: 45km
- Power: 300W
- Battery: 12,400mAh (charges in 8-9 hours)
- Max speed: 25km/h
- Gradeability: 20%
- Dimensions: 1130x1180mm (1130x490mm folded)
- Weight: 14.2kg
We’ve rounded up some more top electric scooter deals below. Also check out our Xiaomi deals coverage and best tech deals for Christmas.
Christmas deals on electric scooters
Top 10 Electric Scooter Deals
Xiaomi Mi 3 Electric Scooter
The latest in Xiaomi’s growing collection of electric scooters, the Xiaomi Mi 3 offers up to 18 miles on a single charge, speeds of up to 15mph, a new LED display and a rear dual-pad disc brake on the rear. At less than £400, it’s a tempting deal.
Razor E-Prime Air
If you’re on the market for a lightweight electric scooter, Razor’s E-Prime Air is the ideal candidate weighing in at just 9.8kg. It might not be as powerful as others in our roundup, with a maximum rider weight of 91kg and a max range of just 10 miles, but it’s by far the lightest scooter around right now.
Xiaomi Mi Scooter Pro 2
It might still be on the expensive side, but it’s Xiaomi’s most popular electric scooter right now, with a 350W motor and a great range. Find out more in our Xiaomi Mi Scooter 2 Pro review.
Author: Marie Black, Editorial Director
Marie is Editorial Director at Foundry. A Journalism graduate from the London College of Printing, she's worked in tech media for more than 17 years, managing our EMEA and LatAm editorial teams and leading on content strategy through Foundry's transition from print, to digital, to online - and beyond.