In recent years, with the rapid development of technologies such as 5G and artificial intelligence, various smart devices have gradually entered ordinary people’s homes, not only improving our quality of life but also strongly boosting consumption. For young people, the main consumers of smart homes, “whole-house intelligence” is replacing “single-product intelligence” as the new consumption trend.
What does your ideal home look like? After a long day at work, the door lock recognizes your face and gently opens the door to welcome you; stepping into the entryway, soft lights automatically turn on; the robot vacuum cleaner has already cleaned the house, and the air conditioner has long been set to the most comfortable temperature. Sit down, have a cup of coffee, play with your cat, read a book, and all your fatigue disappears. A-Feng is a freelance photographer who bought his own house in Beijing last May and opted for a fully smart home during renovations. His home has approximately 100 smart devices. When he’s working, he doesn’t need to worry about the floors; the robot vacuum cleaner does it automatically. In winter, he doesn’t need to open the windows, allowing for air exchange and making his home more comfortable. He also doesn’t need to frequently switch the lights on and off, as forgetting to turn them off can waste electricity.
For Zhang Weifeng, smart home appliances bring him immense comfort, which directly influences his spending habits. Zhang Weifeng says that he actively seeks out essential home appliances, looking for smart features. For example, he’s drawn to smart aquariums that don’t require feeding, and he’ll buy one for his home.
Zhang Weifeng represents a common consumer attitude among many young people towards smart homes and appliances. The “2025 White Paper on Smart Living Trends for Young People” shows a clear trend of younger consumers in online home furnishing and appliance consumption, with consumers under 35 years old accounting for nearly 60%.
A home furnishing store manager explained that young people are more concerned about whether a product is novel and fun enough, including its appearance and materials, and whether the money spent is worthwhile. An appliance manager at another home furnishing store also noted that all appliances are now trending towards intelligence and lightweight design. Most customers are willing to pay for the better experience brought by smart homes and smart appliances.
[Image of smart home appliance display]
Meanwhile, with the deep integration of core technologies such as the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence, and the upgrading of young people’s consumption concepts, the smart home industry is evolving from “single-product intelligence” to “whole-house intelligence.” “Good morning!” A simple greeting can activate over a dozen devices in the room, including lights, air purifiers, humidifiers, the bed, and curtains. With the help of modern technology, the entire room can wake up with you, welcoming a brand new day.
The company representative explained that the most natural aspect of smart homes is the interconnectedness of devices. For example, the curtains might close when the robot vacuum starts cleaning, or the lights might turn on when you enter a certain space—this has always been the core operation of smart homes. With the upgrades in AI and cloud and on-device computing power, this future will be very easy and convenient, and it will arrive very soon.
In recent years, the implementation of policies such as the trade-in program for consumer goods has further stimulated the consumer market for smart home appliances. According to data from the Ministry of Commerce, in 2025, sales of trade-in related goods exceeded 2.6 trillion yuan, benefiting over 360 million people. Among them, over 129 million home appliances were traded in, and over 120 million home renovations and kitchen/bathroom upgrades were completed. Experts point out that China’s home appliance consumer market has entered a new stage of development.
The deputy director of the Service Industry Research Office of the Market Economy Research Institute of the Development Research Center of the State Council stated that in recent years, the ownership of various types of home appliances in my country has generally reached a relatively high level of around 100 units per 100 households. This signifies that the previous large-scale, wave-like consumption phase has largely ended, and the future development will focus more on replacement and upgrading existing stock. On the demand side, there may be a greater shift towards new products, such as new functions, new technologies, new experiences, and new brands, which is driving increased consumer spending.
