Ninebot mini: A Segway Lite with Budget Price Tag

Watch out, Xiaomi is looking to take over the world, one device at a time. Ninebot, a portfolio company has just introduced a mini Segway-esque self-balancing scooter for just RMB1,999 (approximately S$438).The lightweight Ninebot mini weighs only 12.8kg and can support riders of up to 85kg. It has a top speed of 16kmh, and can cover up to 22 kilometres on a single charge. It can also go uphill on slopes of up to 15 degrees, and has some resistance to rain (IP54 rating).

This unique scooter eschews a steering handle, and instead uses a knee-high steering stick. The stick utilises what Ninebot calls Leansteer, which detects the movement of the rider’s legs as the impetus for steering. They claim that it is easy to use, and learning should take a matter of minutes.

The Ninebot mini also comes with a companion app, which interestingly also has an alarm function – the scooter will raise an alarm if moved when in ‘locked’ mode, and the app will notify the owner that the alarm has gone off.

The Ninebot mini is set to be released in China from November 3rd, but you can be sure that it’ll find its way here through unofficial channels at some point – the price is way too attractive.