China rolls out $68 smartphone subsidy program to boost domestic sales

Chinese authorities just rolled out a wide-ranging subsidy plan that lets people knock up to 500 yuan (around $68) off new phone purchases, showing a big push to get homegrown tech sales going. The plan, which was announced by China's National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Finance, covers phones costing under 6,000 yuan (about $818).

Under this program, shoppers can snag a 15 percent discount on smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches, though they only get help for one device in each category. Several popular phone models fit under this deal, like the Redmi K80 Pro 12GB+256GB, which might drop from 3,699 yuan (~ $505) to 3,199 yuan (~ $436), and the OnePlus Ace 5 Pro, which might fall from 3,399 yuan (~ $463) to 2,899 yuan (~ $395).

This consumer electronics push is part of a bigger plan to deal with deflation issues and keep domestic spending strong, especially given the uncertainties in global trade. The plan isn’t just for phones, either—it’s expanded to more household items, jumping from eight to twelve eligible categories and now including dishwashers and rice cookers.

Building on the success of last year’s electric vehicle trade-ins (which resulted in over 3.7 million cars sold), officials see this subsidy program as a big deal. Zhao Chenxin, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, says it’ll help boost investment, get people buying goods, and encourage more eco-friendly changes.

These subsidies also stack with discounts from manufacturers and e-commerce platforms, meaning shoppers could score even bigger savings during online sales and promo events.