Smart Glasses and Fitness Bands Now Eligible for Trade-In Subsidies Under New Policy
Smart Tech Gets a Boost: New Subsidies Cover Wearables and AI Home Devices
The Chinese government is giving consumers more reasons to upgrade their gadgets in 2026. The updated "Two New" policy - which already covers cars, appliances, and electronics - now includes subsidies for smart glasses, fitness trackers, and various AI-powered home products.
What's Covered
Under the new rules:
- Smart glasses (including AR models)
- Fitness bands and smartwatches
- Tablets and smartphones
- Age-friendly smart home devices like fall detection systems
Shoppers can claim 15% back on purchases up to 6,000 yuan per item, with caps set at 500 yuan per subsidy. Each product category qualifies separately - meaning you could potentially upgrade multiple devices.
"This finally makes advanced health monitors and AR glasses accessible to regular families," says tech analyst Li Wei. "Imagine getting alerts about irregular heart rhythms or having navigation appear right in your eyeglasses - these aren't just toys anymore."
Local Flexibility Meets National Priorities
The policy gives provincial governments leeway to adjust support levels based on regional needs. Coastal tech hubs might emphasize AR work tools, while aging communities could prioritize health monitoring systems.
Zhou Yunhan from the National Information Center explains: "We're seeing AI shift from novelty to necessity. These subsidies help bridge that gap by putting useful technology within reach."
Industry watchers predict ripple effects beyond retail:
- Faster adoption of remote health monitoring
- Growth in "silver tech" for elderly care
- Stronger demand for domestic AI chips
- More workplace applications for AR glasses
The move comes as China pushes its "smart+" ecosystem strategy, aiming to make intelligent devices as commonplace as smartphones are today.
Key Points:
- 15% subsidy applies to four categories of smart devices
- Maximum 500 yuan back per qualifying purchase
- Policy specifically includes age-friendly technology
- Expected to boost China's domestic tech innovation cycle