Xiaomi electric corkscrew arrived in the Czech Republic. It pulls the cork from the bottle by itself and costs less than five hundred crowns

A classic corkscrew can be a hassle, especially when an older cork starts to crumble halfway through. We showed you the solution in the form of a Xiaomi electric corkscrew back in June, but back then without a price and without 100% certainty that it would ever reach us. Now, however, the new Mijia Wine Bottle Opener has arrived here, and you can get it on Alza for 459 CZK.

How to open wine with an electric corkscrew?

The whole process has three steps. First, you turn the foil cutter, which is part of the corkscrew, and remove the protective wrapper from the bottle neck. Then you place the corkscrew on the bottle and press the first button, which pulls out the cork by itself. Finally, you eject it from the mechanism with the second button, so you don’t have to pull it off the spiral with your fingers.

Xiaomi states that opening a bottle takes 8 to 10 seconds and the cork breaks or crumbles less often than with a manual corkscrew. However, these are results from the manufacturer’s internal laboratories, which we cannot independently verify. The operation is also said to be relatively quiet. According to Xiaomi, the 36 mm diameter opening should fit most standard wine bottles.

Inside, a DC motor with a three-stage planetary gearbox and a hardened alloy spiral are at work. The stainless steel and plastic body measures 18.5 × 6 × 4.5 cm and weighs 244 grams without batteries, so it doesn’t take up much more space in your hand or drawer than a larger pepper mill.

No need to look for a charger

The corkscrew is powered by four AA batteries, which are included in the package. So don’t count on a cable or a charging dock. When the batteries run out, you simply replace them, or opt for rechargeable batteries.

The manufacturer does not state how many bottles the corkscrew can open on one set of batteries. Battery life will mainly depend on how often you open wine and how firmly the corks sit in the bottles.

How much does the corkscrew cost in the Czech Republic?

In the Czech Republic, the corkscrew is sold by Alza, for example. It costs 459 CZK and was in stock at the time of writing, with a two-year warranty.

The electric corkscrew saves work especially for those who open wine frequently, or for whom a regular corkscrew causes difficulties due to less strength in their hands. For less than five hundred crowns, it also makes a small gift for a wine lover.

Would you swap a classic corkscrew for an electric one?