Recently, one of the articles on our website featured a Wiha screwdriver set Xiaomi, which was recommended for purchase as a quality and convenient tool. As someone who uses screwdrivers almost every day, I became curious to try this set.
In fact, I have been looking at this set for a long time, but in the absence of a shortage of tools (the house is full of this good), my hands did not reach the set from Xiaomi. And the price tag, in comparison with other, less eminent Chinese companies, did not dispose to rash spending.
Therefore, when the opportunity arose to try out this set without buying it, I agreed without hesitation.
Packaging
Already familiar for many other products Xiaomi type of packaging – a neat white box almost in the size of the product itself.
On the box – high-quality printing with a picture of the appearance of the set on one side and brief information about the contents on the other.
But the main thing is not the box, but what is inside. Therefore, we open the box and extract the contents.
And inside there is a matte gray metal pencil case, surrounded by a paper strip of the same color, under which is inserted a card that is extremely informative for a Russian buyer (hieroglyphs, a whole scattering of hieroglyphs).
Appearance and materials
But aside the lyrics. The pencil case itself is quite weighty and pleasantly cools the hand.
If you twist it, twirl it, then you can hear a slight rumble of the contents inside.
The pencil case is rough to the touch, because of which it fits well in the hand – a controversial advantage for this kind of thing, but still.
On different sides there is a manufacturer's logo and a warning about the need to de-energize the object to which this tool is planned to be attached.
The ends are made of gray plastic. To get to the contents, you need to click on the top end, after which you can open the pencil case.
Inside there is a plastic lodgment that can be completely removed from the case.
It looks beautiful, and considering that we have a set of tools in front of us, it is practical – you don't have to look for additional space for a long open pencil case.
Inside the lodgment, each bit is packed in its own cell. I was surprised that the bits are attached to the cradle with magnets. It is easy to remove – just press on the edge of the bit and pull it towards you. There are no problems with extracting bits.
However, there is a problem with preserving the appearance of the lodgement – due to the peculiarities of fastening the bits, when they are removed, both the delicate rough inner surface and the edges of the pencil case are scratched. Nonsense, but still. It would be better to make a lodgment of more scratch-resistant plastic.
The bits themselves are matte gray with embossed markings. This is convenient, since schematic symbols are applied to the lodgement with paint, according to which you can easily put things in order by putting the bits in their places without the need to compare with each other and measure the limit switches.
In general, the whole set is the kingdom of matte surfaces and elements, designed in the same style.
But, as is often the case with Xiaomi, neatness and style can coexist with negligence. In this regard, a lodgement stood out, which is assembled from several parts, the seams between which could be more accurate. Well, how is it Xiaomi?
The handle is thin, faceted, lightweight. I would even say graceful. In the upper part there is a rotating cap, apparently set on a bearing, thanks to which it does not jam and rotates very softly and easily.
There is a traditional magnet inside the handle so that the screws do not have to be held by hand. Overall, the set makes a good impression.
In general, I did not notice a reverent attitude towards the instrument, since it is just an instrument. However, the elegant and stylish look of this set from the very beginning disposes to unnecessary aesthetics, the more offensive it becomes to realize that the set will not be beautiful for long.
Operation and ergonomics
This section, however, caused mixed feelings. But – in order.
On the one hand, it is convenient to use the set – a slender ergonomic handle, a large number of bits that are suitable for a variety of types of screws.
On the other hand, unlike bits, it is not so convenient to get the handle – it is not on a magnet, but on a latch, therefore, in order to get it, you need to pry it by the narrow end and pull it towards you. Considering the size of the cell under the handle, if you have large fingers, removing the handle can turn into a quest with prying the handle with a bat.
Another relatively controversial point is the package bundle – apart from the screwdriver itself, there is nothing else in the kit.
I am more accustomed to universal sets, which, in addition to screwdrivers, contain tweezers, a spatula, connectors, for example.
The weight of the set also raises questions, 250 grams is not a joke. Moreover, most of the weight falls on the case of the pencil case. What for? It is clear that it is beautiful and 'bohato', but very impractical.
Based on these nuances, the set, although it looks mobile, is more suitable as a stationary one. This begs the question – why then is it made in the form of a pencil case? For a stationary, an option with a hinged or removable cover would be more suitable.
The magnet is strong, and it pleases. Usually, Chinese inexpensive screwdrivers have weak magnets that do not hold the screws well, causing the screws to jump off and get lost under the table. There is no problem with this – the strength of the magnet is easily enough to hold more than one or even two screws – it is convenient.
The bits bite well into the screws and do not slip, even when you have to apply force to tightly tightened screws.
It's clear that matte bit ends will quickly become shiny, but these are little things.
The metal bit is good and, unlike cheap Chinese screwdrivers, at first glance, it does not grind off instantly with a slightest load.
In general, it turned out to be convenient to work with such a screwdriver. Thanks to the edges, it does not roll on the table, which means that it does not have to be caught or taken out from under the table.
I would like a slightly longer length of the thin section of bits, but this is more wishful thinking and nit-picking – the length of the bits that is, is enough for bottlenecks, and so far no difficulties have arisen.
Conclusions instead of conclusions
Now about the very subjective, but, despite this, the most important thing – about the impressions and conclusions.
In Russian retail, such a set costs from 1,300 to 2,500 rubles, and the main question is whether it is worth the money. And here I find it difficult to answer, especially if you know that more universal sets from less eminent Chinese manufacturers are three to five times cheaper, and the choice is much wider.
On the other hand, the quality of the metal is also important, which in a set from Xiaomi is significantly higher, which means that such a set will last much longer. Well, the very fact of owning a quality item and the pleasure of using it also matter – the set from Xiaomi is exactly cool, captivating with its brevity and completeness. It's like with any high-quality highly specialized thing that is designed to perform a limited list of operations, but it does them perfectly well.
Answering the question whether this set of screwdrivers is worth the money and whether I can recommend it for purchase, the answer is this – it all depends on the price. If we are talking about 1,200-1,500 rubles, then the answer is yes. If we are talking about a price tag of 2,000 rubles or more, then, alas, I cannot call such a purchase justified.
The author thanks the Ulyanovsk branch of the X | Store for the tool provided for review.