SEGWAY miniPRO Smart Self Balancing Transporter 2018 Review

Are you seeking an easy way to get around your neighborhood, or maybe just around the block? Do you have mobility issues, and are in search of a tool to ease your travel inside and outside of your home?

The Segway miniPro Smart Self-Balancing Transporter might just be the solution you need.

While different kinds of scooters and Segways have been on the market for some time, many improvements have been applied over the years.

The miniPro is portable and relatively lightweight, will go up to 12.5 miles in distance on a single charge, and includes an anti-theft feature.

Nonetheless, there have been some complaints that the auto-break mechanism is dangerous, that it is too expensive, and that the app is difficult to connect the miniPro to.

All that said, let’s take a more in-depth look, and then you can decide if it’s right for you.

Segway miniPro Smart Self-Balancing Transporter: The Details

Specs

• Product Dimensions: 6 x 15.2 x 12.6 inches.
• Product Weight: 28 lbs.
• Product Type: Hoverboard/Scooter.
• Compatible with Amazon Alexa?

How Does It Work

Mobile App Control

The miniPro can be controlled with the Segway-Ninebot app, which you can obtain in the Android or Apple app store via your smartphone.

With this app, you can control the speed, move it remotely, adjust the light settings, watch tutorials, and even control the safety measures directly.

Speed

The maximum speed for the miniPro is 10 mph (or 16 km/hour), which is near the pace of an experienced runner.

Weight/Age Limit

The miniPro also has a minimum weight limit of 85 pounds and a maximum of 220 pounds. It is also recommended for ages 16 and up.

Charge Time

Since the miniPro runs on a rechargeable battery, it comes with a charger that allows easy plug-in whenever there’s an outlet handy.

It takes about four hours to “refuel” it completely.

Anti-Theft

You can use the Segway app to lock your miniPro – and you can do so whether you’re right next to it or miles away.

This means that no one can ride off on it when you’re not there, keeping your transporter exactly where you left it.

Segway: The Brand

Established in 1999, Segway was founded by Dean Karmen. Segway works to design personal transportation products for both consumers as well as businesses and law enforcement.

Their headquarters is located in New Hampshire, but they have dealers all over the world.

Segway miniPro Smart Self-Balancing Transporter Review

The Positives

Portable and Lightweight

One of the great things about the miniPro is that it’s portable. All you have to do is remove the knee bar and the Segway can easily fit into the trunk of your car or be stored in a closet at home.

It won’t be a pain to carry around either. The Segway miniPro is made of magnesium alloy, which makes it strong and durable as well as lightweight.

If you plan on using this for a daily commute, you can easily tuck it by your desk at the office, and it won’t be troublesome for taking on trains or subways thanks to its weight.

Segway states that the material is similar to what is used in airplanes, explaining why it’s so light. At only 28 pounds, you’ll be able to easily move the transporter around.

Safe

Segway doesn’t spare any expense when it comes to safety. The miniPro comes with automatic headlights, LED taillights that you can customize, and it runs a safety test every time you ride.

The motor in this Segway also ensures you can easily go over bumps without any trouble or loss of stability at all.

The tires are larger than most products like the miniPro and they make great shock absorbers. So you won’t have to worry about wiping out when you encounter a pothole or branch in the middle of the road.

It can handle hills too! The miniPro is designed to handle slopes of 15 degrees so don’t hesitate to take it up that final hill home and save your breath and legs.

Just like a bike, no one wants to wake up to the surprise of a missing segway. The miniPro also has an anti-theft feature that is part of the app, which allows you to turn off and lock it from wherever you are.

If someone tries to move your miniPro, you’ll get an alarm from the app on your phone.

Comfortable

The miniPro doesn’t compromise on comfort either. It includes a padded knee bar for you to rest against, and you can adjust the height of this bar to accommodate people of all different weights and stances.

The Segway miniPro makes it easy to ‘custom fit’ the device to you. The knee bar also makes steering more precise than if you were steering by pivoting your feet.

Easy to Learn

The app that you sync with the miniPro has a number of riding tutorial videos, so trial and error aren’t necessary to learn by yourself.

There are also sensors in the miniPro that help you make the most precise movements possible. The knee control makes it easy to stay stable while smoothly maneuvering your Segway through turns.

Long Battery Life

When you are out and about, you never want to have to worry about having to find an outlet for your phone, let alone your Segway.

On one battery charge, the miniPro can travel up to 12.5 miles. You can make it to the local store, the post office, or your friend’s house down the street all without having to charge it along the way.

Customer Service

Whether you’re buying a bike, moped, or Segway, it’s always reassuring when your product comes with a warranty.

In the case of the Segway miniPro, you’ll be entitled to a 1-year warranty on the chassis, chassis cover plate, gearboxes, and control shaft, as well as a 90-day warranty on the control shaft base, controller boards, balance sensor, motors and internal wiring.

Should you have an issue with any of the above during the warranty periods, you’ll need to contact Segway’s customer service and they’ll decide whether to replace or repair your product at no additional cost.

What’s great is that their customer service is known for being helpful and efficient. We all know how frustrating it can be when a customer service is subpar – no worries here.

Whether you need to call Segway to use your warranty, or just have a question or concern, they’ll be sure to help.

Be sure to handle your miniPro with care though, these warranties don’t protect against damages from normal wear and tear or damages caused by the owner.

The Negatives

Auto-Braking Problems

One downside is the auto-braking function. When the miniPro gets close to its top speed, it automatically hits the brakes to slow you down, so you are never going too fast.

While this may seem like a good idea, it doesn’t work in practice. Some users found it irritating, while others found it dangerous.

The miniPro also tilts back and forth when it auto-brakes, making users feel very unstable. This feature obligates you to ride at around 8 mph when it is advertised as going as high as 10 mph.

Expensive

The Segway miniPro is more affordable than the larger, full-sized model Segway – which is great.

But, the miniPro is basically a hoverboard, and the pricey price tag is much higher than other hoverboards on the market.

Some users speculated that the price had more to do with the Segway name than offering a greater number of features than its competitors.

If you’re on a budget you may want to consider other options before committing, though those without a price limit might be able to benefit from the security of the Segway brand.

Connectivity Issues

Apps can be finicky, yes, but since this machine relies heavily on its app, issues can’t be ignored.

A few testers experienced problems connecting the app to the miniPro or had issues with the app staying connected while they moved around.

The miniPro can technically work on its own, but some of the best features (anti-theft, controlling the miniPro remotely, etc.) can only be used when the miniPro is connected.

Limitations

The weight limit of the miniPro can be challenging, as it only takes riders between 85 to 220 pounds.

While most are unaffected by this, others will be barred from the machine. Segway also recommends that people ages 16 and up use this product.

This in and of itself isn’t too bad – except, other hoverboards at lower prices can take much more weight, having a limit of around 250 or 300 pounds.

Whether you are above or below the minimum or maximum weights will ultimately determine whether this is an issue for you.

Here’s a video showing what the Segway miniPro looks like out of the box and on the road.

Overall Verdict

The Segway miniPro Smart Self-Balancing Transporter is safe, portable, and most importantly, fun with the famed Segway name to back it.

While it is clear that the miniPro includes a lot of safety and comfort features, they clearly did not take into account how the auto-braking system would affect the rider’s experience.

Whether it will be bothersome or actually unsafe for you, it’s still a certainty that you won’t be reaching maximum speed – and that’s half the fun!

The price tag, connectivity issues, and weight constraints just further limit who this product is for, so be sure to consider these pros and cons before making a decision.

Ultimately, it’s a safe machine from a trusted brand that could improve your travel experiences (and commute!).

Where to Buy the Segway miniPro Smart Self-Balancing Transporter Review

We’ve all heard of Segways, especially since their quick rise to fame after being released in the early 2000’s.

Segways have been featured in tech magazines, movies, music videos, and popular tv shows for over a decade, and when someone mentions a Segway, we know that they’re definitely talking about the two-wheel transportation device.

Fast forward to 2018 and they’ve kept up with the competition by producing smaller, on-trend items like the Segway miniPro Smart Self-Balancing Transporter.

While it’s always best to check tech, department stores, or specialty shops, it’s no surprise that you can find the Segway miniPro both in-store and online.

To start your search, check out the following online retailers.

• Wal Mart (from $499)
• Best Buy (from $499)
• Sam’s Club (from $449)

And of course, you can also find this Segway on Amazon.

That’s all for our Segway miniPro review. Are you tempted to give it a try?