Last updated on February 20th, 2024 at 03:00 pm
The Swagtron Swagger 5 High Speed Electric Scooter might sound like a fifth entry in a line-up of products from the manufacturer which started its business in 2015. Despite the misleading label, Swagger 5 is the third introduction in the “Swagger” series which, to be honest, does not necessarily follow an ordinal pattern, to begin with.
The first two which preceded Swagger 5 are not necessarily successful for Swagtron. The first, especially, flopped from the market due to discrepant actual performance from what was advertised, which subsequently garnered critical reception and reviews from both enthusiastic and professional consumers.
But things might have changed for a bit in favor of Swagtron when it released its “seemingly rebranded” version of Xiaomi’s popular flagship scooter, the Mijia Mi365, with its inception of the Swagger 5.
Is the Swagger 5 just a cheap imitation of the Mijia Mi365, both in looks and performance; or is it a unique product in its own right, only with semblance from the prominent Xiaomi product?
Contents
Good Quality Build of Swagtron Swagger 5 High Speed Electric Scooter
Some critics argue that the Swagger 5 shares too many similarities with the Mijia Mi365 Electric Scooter for it not to be considered a “knock-off,” sometimes anteceded with the word “cheap” in it. But whether this argument counts or not, the reality is that the Swagger is not a total copy of the famed Xiaomi electric scooter product.
It has enough variations to make itself significantly distinct from the competing product—although, it does indeed borrow plenty of ideas that substantially make the rendition of good quality.
To be fair, the market for electric scooters has been mired with copying practices which makes Swagtron’s move which culminated in the establishment of the Swagger 5 relatively justified.
Now, is that idea good or bad?
From the consumer standpoint, the notion is good rather than bad as evidenced by the end product. What it translates to is not a “cheap” bootleg that uses low-quality materials. Conversely, Swagger 5 feels like it is of premium build, thanks to the carbon fiber materials used to make it, which warrants the retail price.
To state that this third entry in the Swagger series is cheap is not necessarily true. But you will get the value that is commensurate to the money you pay for and is both visible to the eyes and tangible to the hands.
Design-wise, the Swagger 5 High Speed Electric Scooter is not necessarily perfect; with its small but glaring flaw involving two wires that appear externally on the scooter when it can be hidden on the inside. But, again, this is probably one of those features that screams of “copying” from the Mijia Mi365 and their inevitable comparison, much to the detriment of the Swagger brand.
Aside from that minor gripe, however, the Swagger 5 looks right in every angle of its schematics.
Noteworthy Performance
At a maximum speed of up to 18 MPH that can reach a distance of up to 11 miles under ideal conditions, the Swagger 5 is no slouch when it comes to delivering on its touted performance.
It only clearly shows how Swagtron has learned from its initial mistake when it failed to provide the kind of performance it promised with the first Swagger electric scooter. This time, there is a substance to their marketing, not just an empty claim.
The secret to this critical ability lies in the electric scooter’s front wheels which contain the 250-watt motor that pushes everything it carries forward. Giving support—and is critical—to this functionality is the machine’s 37-volt, 4.4 Ah battery.
However, like all electric-powered machines of its caliber, there is nothing particularly groundbreaking with the scooter’s performance. The maximum speed it reaches and the mileage under full charge are still within the boundaries of an average benchmark.
In addition, the performance itself is also still subject to the same many limitations that all of its ilk share in the meantime, due to hardware shortcomings.
For instance, while the Swagger’s tiny motor can traverse a certain incline—no more than 10 degrees—when powered by its battery, how capable the electric scooter in doing so is nuanced by the factors which include the user’s weight and the quality of terrain.
So, if you weigh more than 200 lbs. and are thinking of checking out whether or not the electric scooter can carry you across a mild slope, you could expect a less-than-ideal performance. Also, the heavier you weigh, the poorer the performance will be. Realistically speaking, you would need a bigger and more capable motor for that.
Some Quality of Life Improvements
Certain conditions can make riding an electric scooter a damp experience, especially the level of lighting in the environment. For the most part, the darkness is fraught with potential accidents and danger.
To counter this problem, Swagtron did not overlook the need to incorporate a decent lighting system into the Swagger 5 which provides some luminescence on the road and also signals others of the presence, offsetting any hazard.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 41.5 x 17 x 19 in / 105.4 x 43.1 x 48.2 cm (folded), 41.5 x 17 x 45.3 in / 105.4 x 43.1 x 115 cm (unfolded)
- Frame: Aluminum Alloy
- Front Tires: Air-filled Rubber Tires (motorized), Rear Tires: Airless Honeycomb
- Brakes: Disc Brakes
- Motor: 250W Front Hub Motor
- Riding Modes: 3 Speed Modes, Cruise Control
- Connectivity: iOS and Android App via Bluetooth
- Max. Throttle Speed: 18 mph / 29 km/h
- Mile Range: 11 mi / 17.7 km
- Climbing Capacity: 20°
- Battery: Lithium-Ion 36V 6Ah
- Charge Time: ~3.5 hours
- Accessories: Bell, Headlight, Phone Mount, Kickstand
Pros
- Relatively cheaper than the Xiaomi Mijia Mi365
- Great distance-per-charge ratio
- High-quality, modern design
Cons
- Performance overall is slightly inferior to the Xiaomi Mijia Mi365
Conclusion
While the Swagtron Swagger 5 High Speed Electric Scooter may not beat the Xiaomi Mijia Mi365 in terms of performance given the small difference, the disparity in the pricing, on the other hand, makes it a significantly good choice as an alternative. If money is an issue, that is.
