I was on the hunt for a new large check-in suitcase for my travels. Having had an excellent experience with my 20″ aluminum Xiaomi suitcase as carry-on luggage (you can find my review here), I decided to stay with the brand and explore their polycarbonate Xiaomi suitcase. Both pieces of luggage are designed and manufactured by 90 minutes. In this article, I want to share my experience after using this Xiaomi suitcase for a while:
Xiaomi 24″ Suitcase – PC (polycarbonate, spinner wheel)
Xiaomi suitcase models
The Xiaomi 90 Minutes Spinner Wheel suitcase is available in two sizes: 24″ (65L) and 20″ (36L), and comes in four colors: black, grey, white, and blue. The 20″ Xiaomi suitcase measures 55 x 37.5 x 22.3 cm and qualifies as carry-on luggage for aircraft. In my opinion, there are better options in this category. Either the Xiaomi 20″ Aluminum suitcase, which I tested and found to be more durable and aesthetically pleasing, or the 20″ Xiaomi Business suitcase, which features an extra front compartment for storing a laptop or tablet. This feature is particularly handy during security checks, as it allows you to remove these items without opening the entire suitcase. Since I was looking for larger check-in luggage, I opted for the 24″ polycarbonate Xiaomi suitcase.
Xiaomi 24″ polycarbonate suitcase – Specs
The Xiaomi 24″ suitcase measures 67 x 44 x 25 cm (26.4 x 17.3 x 9.8 in) and weighs about 4.1 kg (9.1 lbs). It is very light, which is important for air travel as airlines are becoming stricter with weight limits. The body is made of polycarbonate (PC) material, featuring a “3-layer composite compressive structure that offers higher strength.” The outer shell has a beautiful honeycomb pattern that is also scratch-resistant. As mentioned, the capacity is about 65L.
The Xiaomi 24″ suitcase features a TSA approved lock where you can set an individual 3-number code. The pull rod is made of thickened aluminum alloy with anodized processing and has four adjustable positions. When fully extended, it is about 1.05m high, which I find to be a convenient height. The shaking of the rod is within an acceptable range. The wheels are made of TPE material, making them shockproof, durable, and noiseless. More on that in my conclusion.
Even though the spinner wheel suitcase is sold under the Xiaomi brand, it is manufactured by 90 minutes. The inside compartments on each side are designed differently. On the left, you can close the entire compartment with a zipper, and there are two pockets for small items like chargers and keys. The right compartment is secured with an x-shaped strap with a clasp.
Note: the 20″ version is designed differently and you have zipper compartments on both sides.
Conclusion
After: 5 trips – 7 flights & 3.000 km on a pickup truck
I checked in my Xiaomi 24″ suitcase on seven flights; it literally traveled once around the globe and was even lost by an airline at one point (luckily, I got it back). In addition to that, it traveled more than 3,000 km on the truck bed of a pickup truck. Upfront overall, I’m very satisfied!
These are my findings in detail: The wheels of the Xiaomi suitcase are silent and very smooth. You can comfortably pull the luggage on any terrain, whether running on two wheels or using it as a spinner wheel on all four wheels. The shaking of the pulling rod is quite acceptable and comparable to other suitcases I have used.
I find the design of the compartments very convenient. You can place smaller items and clothes (socks, underwear, etc.) in the left compartment with a zipper to prevent them from falling out when opening the suitcase. Small items such as cables, chargers, keys, and medicine can be stored in the pockets, where they are securely stored and easily accessible. Larger clothes can be placed on the right side. The X-shaped strap allows you to overpack your luggage a bit, where a zipper compartment would not stretch that wide.
I believe I quite stressed the Xiaomi suitcase, and I’m very satisfied with the result. It got scratches here and there; on- and offloading it from several planes multiple times and bouncing on the truck bed definitely took its toll. However, the suitcase did a great job protecting the items inside. My Xiaomi suitcase is not deformed, with no deep scratches, cracks, or other damage. The zippers, wheels, and pulling rod work as if I had never used it before.
Price / Retailer Comparison
The first series of Xiaomi suitcases I tested seems to be no longer available, but there is a new series that looks equally interesting. Perhaps I will soon replace my Rimowa (the red one seen on the pickup) with this new Xiaomi model and test it here. You can check out the latest Xiaomi luggage series here:
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