Everything You Need to Know About Ninebot – the $999 Segway miniPRO

If you ever dreamed of owning a Segway, but the $5,000+ price tag was too much for you, get ready to pull out your wallet because there’s a new Segway hitting the market next week for $999! You can ONLY order it on Amazon, and you better get your pre-order in NOW. Because they’re probably going to go as fast as Apple’s iPhone releases – but without years of manufacturing capacity buildout.

Introducing the Ninebot by Segway miniPRO

Before we get started, you should know that Xiaomi, a tech company in China, acquired Segway last year and has just released this unit using knowledge it obtained from Segway, the inventor of self balancing technology.

Xiaomi is marking the Ninebot as a “Hands-Free, Self-Balancing Personal Transporter”, and making sure to say that it’s NOT a hoverboard. There is quiet a bit of differentiation, starting with the huge power difference. The Ninebot has a 1600 watt dual motor engine, compared to the 300 watts found in a hoverboard.

They also point out that the miniPRO is UL certified, so it shouldn’t be catching fire. Essentially, the hoverboard is a toy for occasional use for children you don’t like. The Ninebot is what you get when you’re serious! Although the company builds both… but I digress.

Bluetooth Control for the Ninebot miniPRO

And to reward you further for your $999 purchase, the Ninebot also offers you a digital leash to control your new pet! You can pair a bluetooth device to your new ride and remote control it around the house. Or the yard. Or wherever your bluetooth can keep a connection I suppose. You can also see your current speed, if you want to be riding and watching your phone… and do things like firmware updates via bluetooth.

One other nice feature is that you can connect to the miniPRO with your phone and lock it when you don’t want anyone to be able to use it. So there is at least some form of security. If someone attempts to move or pick up the miniPRO, it will shake and beep violently. Most importantly, you will receive a phone alert that someone has attempted to move or pick up the unit. Though if someone takes it anyway, I don’t know what would prevent them from resetting it somehow at a later time. So take a lock with you!

Portable and Packable

It’s not as small and light as the flaming hoverboards, but you’ll see from the spec below that the unit only weighs 28 pounds, and it’s small enough to fit in a hatchback for sure, and probably most trunks. Though it might not leave a lot of other room. But this would make it a nice last mile commuter vehicle.

The knee bar is actually removable, which should help it take up a lot less space in the trunk than in that photo. But no idea how much effort is involved in removal and reassembly.

Lighting All Around

One other nicety you won’t find on competitive products are headlights. And apparently you can control and customize them with the app as well.

The app appears to also allow you to choose the lighting, although the marketing material claims that the Segway “automatic headlights and LED tail lights will light your way and keep you visible”. They say the lights are adjustable “up to 5 meters”. So I’m assuming the LEDs aren’t that bright, but they should help you keep an eye on the path directly ahead of you if you’re riding in the dark.

Speaking of that, the vehicle also appears to have what I can only describe as turn indicators, which presumably would light up after dark to let anyone behind you know that you’re about to make an evasive maneuver.

Ninebot miniPRO Features

Amazon summarizes the vehicle as such:

• Connect to the free mobile app via Bluetooth for full features: remote control operation, anti-theft alarm, speed control, customizable lights, vehicle diagnostics, and firmware updates.
• UL 2272 Certified unit meets high standards of fire and electrical safety set by world-renown global safety science company Underwriters Laboratories.
• 220 lbs payload, light-weight, and durable aircraft-grade magnesium alloy frame and 10.5″ pneumatic air-filled tires with military-grade shock absorption capability
• Dual motor engine delivers 1600 watts of power to safely reach top speeds of 10 MPH and distances of 14 miles on a full charge in a variety of indoor and outdoor terrains.
• Padded knee bar maximizes comfort and enables precision steering for more ergonomic control than hoverboards and electric scooters that rely on foot-pivot steering.

Interestingly, they didn’t mention it in the sales pitch, but a full charge requires about 4 hours. Presumably you’ll be able to purchase additional chargers so you could leave one at home, and one at the office – for instance.

You should also be able to use Segways in places other vehicles wouldn’t be allowed. For example, they should be able to be taken on airplanes, and be used on golf courses.

miniPRO Specifications

At the end of the day, Xiaomi bought Segway so they could use their manufacturing capacity to bring the pricing down and provide this transport to the masses. So, if you’re interested, like I said… hurry on over and get your pre-order in. They’ll probably go fast. (Well, at least 10mph.)

Segway miniPRO Gallery