China's 2025 cleaning appliance market shows polarization: vacuums achieve growth through tech innovation while robot vacuums drown in price wars. Industry data reveals vacuum sales hit 42 million units (+18% YoY) with premium models averaging 3,500 RMB; robot vacuum sales fell 7% with average prices below 2,000 RMB.
Vacuum Revolution: Wet-Dry Mastery & Smart Interaction
After 2023-2024 tech advancements, vacuums regained momentum via three breakthroughs:
Multi-scenario Integration: Brands like Ecovacs and Dreame launched "all-in-one stations" combining vacuuming, mopping, and disinfection, handling 800ml liquid (2x 2022 capacity)
Intelligent Upgrade: Millimeter-wave radar enables centimeter-level obstacle detection, ULED screens display cleaning paths in real-time (40% efficiency gain)
Energy Innovation: Graphene batteries deliver 120-minute runtime (vs. 75min industry avg.) with 30-minute fast charging
JD.com data shows vacuums priced above 3,000 RMB account for 61% of sales (+15% YoY), with all-in-one models achieving 53% repurchase rate (+37pxs vs. traditional units).
Robot Vacuum Decline: Tech Stagnation Sparks Crisis
Once-premium category faces innovation stagnation:
95% still rely on LDS laser navigation (new tech adoption <5%)
80% models use outdated rotating mop designs
Average price dropped 12% YoY amid 45% complaint surge (edge cleaning/obstacle issues)
AVC Research reports robot vacuum R&D investment fell from 7.2% (2022) to 4.1% (2025), with top brands downsizing AI teams. Industry gross margin collapsed below 30% (half of 2020 levels).
New Consumer Logic: Pragmatism Rules
User surveys reveal shifts:
✓ 72% prefer "multi-functional units" over "specialized devices"
✓ 65% allocate cleaning budgets to vacuums (vs. 38% in 2022)
✓ Robot vacuum purchase decision cycles extended to 45 days (+60% YoY)
Analyst Zhang Wei notes: "Vacuums' modular innovation better suits Chinese households' multi-scenario needs, while robot vacuums' algorithm-dependent approach hits physical limits." Projections suggest vacuum market will exceed 60B RMB by 2026, while robot vacuums may shrink below 12B RMB.
