Xiaomi Wiha 24 in 1 Precision Screwdriver Kit is a set containing a screwdriver with 24 bits and Xiaomi claims it is the all-in-one solution for the daily DIY repair tasks at home. One of the main features is the design: it is shipped in a anti-rust aluminum alloy storage and carying case and also the bits are made of S2 steel. The design and materials used come at a price: it’s actually more then 20 euro’s. There are cheaper options, but is this set worth the extra money? A couple of months ago I bought the Screwdriver Kit at Gearbest where it was listed at € 21.55. I used a coupon code which saved me a couple of bucks.
Contents
Specs
General
- Brand: Xiaomi
- Model: Wiha
- Steel Material : SII Steel
- Screw Head Type: All-in-One
- Application: Camera,Household Appliances,Mobile phone,Tablet PC
Size and Weight
- Product weight: 0.3000 kg
- Package weight: 0.4200 kg
- Product size (L x W x H): 16.80 x 6.70 x 1.70 cm / 6.61 x 2.64 x 0.67 inches
- Package size (L x W x H): 17.80 x 8.00 x 3.00 cm / 7.01 x 3.15 x 1.18 inches
Expectations on the Xiaomi Wiha 24 in 1
Xiaomi Inc is a manufacturer based in Beijing. Since they started with the M1 smartphone in 2011, they are getting bigger every year and gaining more and more market share with their home electronic devices. They currently sell products varying from smartphones and televisions to drones and smart health watches. Recently they launched the Xiaomi Notebook series: a praised series neat design and high spec but cost-friendly devices. By linking their name to this screwdriver set, Xiaomi places the bar high for a product that only acts as an accessory for their primary assortment.
Wiha is a German manufacturer of hand tools that origins from 1939. The products they produce range from professional grade tools (which are widely used in the industry) to consumer grade tools with a focus on high quality. The last decade they further expanded their markets from Europe to Asia. Maybe that’s how Xiaomi and Wiha met.
Let’s hope this collaboration results in a good balance of Xiaomi’s design focused but cost-friendly products and the high quality Wiha is known for.
Packaging
The outer box of the Xiaomi Wiha 24 in 1 is a white box (17.9 x 8.00 x 2.99) with a product picture on it. With a product picture and Chinese texts on the front. This box contains an inner blank box.
Does it fit your mailbox?
Yes! It will perfectly fit in a standard size mailbox and should be sufficient to protect against scratches and damage during transportation.
What’s in the box
The package of the Xiaomi Wiha 24 in 1 screwdriver kit contains the following:
- A Screwdriver Handle, made of aluminum alloy with a rotating top.
- 24 x Bit ( PH000 / PH00 / PH0 / PH1 / PH2 ), Hex ( H1.5 / H2.0 ), Torx ( T2 / T3 / T4 / TR5 / TR6 / TR8 / TR10 / TR15 ), Slotted ( 1.5 / 2.0 / 3.0 / 4.0 ), Spanner U2.6, Tri-wing 3, Pozi ( P2 / P5 ), Triangle 2.3),
- The bits and handle are stored in the Aluminum Alloy Storage Box. The outside of this box is made of aluminum alloy, the inside is made of plastic with magnetic holders for the bits.
Test
I used the screwdriver kit a couple of weeks for my daily DIY repairs. It was stored in the kitchen drawer and I grabbed it when needed. Did some chores with it varying from replacing the tail light of my car, screwing some screws into wood and removing some of the components from my computer for cleaning. Because further nothing in my house broke down it started to to test it on working items, like the iPhone 5S on the picture below.
Build Quality and Design
The build quality is good. The bits are made of hardened SII steel and the screwdriver handle feels pretty solid. The case is made of aluminum alloy and really is anti-sweat and anti-corrosion. Clicking the screwdriver bits into the handle initially feels a bit fragile, but that really is not the case. The magnet in the handle’s head keeps the bits well in place. The space between the bit and the head only distorts a tiny amount when putting the screwdriver to use. The weakest part of the set is the plastic holder of the bits and screwdriver head: this starts to show some scratches after a while.
Portability / Mobility
The dimension of the Xiaomi Wiha 24 in 1 are too big to let it fit a normal pocket (e.g. of your jeans or jacket), but you can easily take it with you in a backpack, messenger bag or man purse (satchel).
Usability
The kit contains a wide variety of bits that you can use for your basic DIY repairs for smaller equipment. However, the more advanced repairs require additional materials.
For example for typical mobile phone and PC repairs you will require additional tools like opening picks, spudgers, tweezers to get the job done (without damaging the device).
Then there is a little design flaw: on each bit the type code (e.g. PH000) is printed, but on the magnetic holder only the shape of the bit is printed. When you remove more then one bit at a time, it can be a real puzzle to get them back in the right place (yes, that’s what we call OCD).
Alternatives to the Xiaomi Wiha 24 in 1
There are plenty of screwdriver sets around, to mention a couple of them:
First of all the Electric Screwdriver Set with LED, it is about the same price but is electric. It also comes in a design box, and is a good tool for less intensive tasks because of the lack of torque and the bits are not as hard. It has less different bits and most of the bit type sizes are different when comparing the Xiaomi Wiha with the Xiami WOWSTICK. My impression is that the Wiha tends to have a better connection to devices on the European market, but you should determine which device fits your purpose best. In case you are wondering: The bits shipped with the screwdriver set are not interchangeable with the WOWSTICK.
For general repairs
If you need a general repair kit and don’t mind skipping the design case, you can get a little bit more bang for the buck: The HakkaDeal 60 In1 Precision Screwdriver Tool Set will save you almost 10 euro’s and contains more bits and accessories. It comes in a yellow plastic container and even has an extension part to screw in harder to reach places. In case you really don´t mind the orange case you can also choose the Jakemy JM – 8127 55 in 1 Screwdriver Set Repair Tool Kit, which is even cheaper then the HakkaDeal.
When you require a set that fits in your pocket, there are also plenty of options. For example the 25 in 1 Screwdriver Wallet Kit Repair Tools will perfectly fit your pocket. For less then 5 euros each, you should get a couple of them to replenish the lost bits, because the tips of the bits are not magnetic.
A solution more aimed at repairing phones is the AC – 8 38 in 1 Screwdriver Kit for Repair / Maintenance AC – 8 38 in 1 Screwdriver Kit for Repair / Maintenance. This comes with the earlier mentioned spudgers and tweezers.
Pros
- Good variety of bits for smaller DIY repairs.
- Build quality is very good.
- Magnetic holders keep the bits properly in place.
Cons
- Price is higher then alternatives.
- Getting the bits back at the right place can be a puzzle.
- Lacks the additional typical mobile phone or pc repair tools.
- It does not fit in your (normally sized) pocket.
Our verdict on the Xiaomi Wiha 24 in 1
The Wiha 24 in 1 kit sells for a higher price than the alternatives, but the quality turned out to be really good. This set can be your first stop for smaller DIY repairs for many years. The set of bits is very complete and the size of the case makes the kit well suitable to keep it in your bag or backpack all the time. If you are going to use it for phone or PC repairs, be aware you need some additional tools to do the job. Nevertheless, we can safely recommend the Xiaomi Wiha 24 in 1 screwdriver kit.
