Xiaomi is already aboard the hoverboard madness after the Beijing, China-headquartered smartphone maker debuted its very own hoverboard on Monday.
Xiaomi's hoverboard is called the Ninebot Mini. It is a two-wheeled self-balancing scooter that is designed to last for as long as 14 miles before its battery needs some charging.
The hoverboard is named that way because it was made in cooperation with Ninebot, a Chinese startup that acquired Segway just this year for an undisclosed sum, according to PC Mag.
The above ankle-high ride gives users the feeling of floating across the ground, and it was reportedly made to replace the Segway.
Xiaomi's Ninebot Mini can run up to 10 mph. It weighs about 30 lbs and is compact enough to be carried or stored in the trunk of a car.
For easy carry or transport, the Ninebot Mini has a little handle that reaches the knees but is not tall enough for users to hold it while riding the hoverboard, as per TechIn Asia.
Interestingly, the protruding stick does more than just serving as a handle for the device. With Ninebot's Leansteer technology, it detects the movement of he rider's legs to ensure that the device is well-balanced, preventing slips or falls during the ride.
Of course, since Xiaomi is a smartphone company, it is not surprising for the hoverboard to come with a smartphone-based app that allows owners to control it remotely while remaining on top.
The app for the Ninebot Mini also enables users to view the speedometer of the device and check how long will the battery last until it requires charging.
The launching of the Ninebot Mini comes months after Xiaomi partnered with Ninebot in April. It is already listed on Xiaomi's website, but it will not go on sale until Nov. 3. Also, unfortunately, international consumers will have to wait for possible releases outside of China since for now it will only be made available in the mainland.
The Ninebot Mini retails for just $316, which is really affordable given that it's only a quarter of the price of other self-balancing scooters in the country, according to Forbes.
Other investors of Ninebot are Sequoia Capital, WestSummit Capital and Shunwei Capital.
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