China's home appliance retail sales were weak in June, with robot vacuum cleaners rebounding as an exception
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China's home appliance retail sales were weak in June, with robot vacuum cleaners rebounding as an exception
UBS maintains a cautious view on China's home appliance sector, believing white goods are dragged down by fading subsidies and a high base, while robot vacuum cleaners, Anker app downloads, and Insta360 download data reflect some structural bright spots, with demand potentially stabilizing in H2 2026.
- Estimated all-channel retail sales of white goods in 1H26 declined 6% to 21% year on year, and fell 11% to 28% year on year in June, mainly due to weaker subsidy effects and the high base from the 2025 618 shopping festival.
- Online sales value of robot vacuum cleaners in 1H26 declined 7% year on year, but grew 20% year on year in June, driven by a 25% year-on-year increase in unit sales; Roborock's online share reached 37% in June, up 11 percentage points year on year.
- Anker app downloads in 2Q26 grew 90%, 45%, and 231% year on year globally, in Europe, and in the US, respectively; in June they grew 59%, 30%, and 150%, respectively.
- Most categories of small kitchen appliances were weak both offline and online in 1H26, declining about 3% to 23% year on year, with only online pressure cookers and soy milk makers growing 5% and 6% year on year, respectively.
Report interpretation
Overview
This report tracks the retail performance of China's consumer home appliance sector in June 2026 and 1H26, and assesses demand trends for white goods, robot vacuum cleaners, small kitchen appliances, Anker-related apps, and Insta360 camera apps using data from AVC, UBS Evidence Lab, and Sensor Tower. The report's core conclusion is that domestic home appliance retail was overall weak, with white goods clearly affected by a high base and fading subsidies, while robot vacuum cleaners posted relatively strong online growth in June.
Core views
UBS remains cautious on China's home appliance sector, but believes demand may stabilize in H2 2026. For white goods, all-channel sales of air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, and range hoods were under pressure in 1H26, and 618 promotions caused month-on-month ASP declines for most categories in June; at the brand level, Haier gained online share in washing machines and refrigerators, while Roborock continued to expand share in robot vacuum cleaners and floor washers. Structural bright spots came from the return to growth in online robot vacuum cleaner sales in June, strong growth in downloads of Anker energy storage/solar-storage related apps, and year-on-year growth in Insta360 app downloads globally and in China.
Analysis framework
The report adopts a cross-validation approach combining category retail tracking and app data: AVC is used to monitor online and offline home appliance retail sales value, unit sales, ASP, and brand share; UBS Evidence Lab and Sensor Tower data are used to observe download and usage trends of apps related to Anker, eufy, soundcore, and Insta360, helping to assess overseas demand, product momentum, and prosperity in niche segments.
Methodology notes
Tracking online/offline retail sales value, unit sales, ASP, and share of home appliance categories
Based on AVC data, the report estimates year-on-year changes in white goods, robot vacuum cleaners, and small kitchen appliances in 1H26 and June 2026, and compares share changes of major brands.
App download and usage data as demand indicators for consumer electronics and smart hardware
UBS Evidence Lab uses Sensor Tower's App Analytics, covering daily ranking and download estimates across more than 90 regions on iOS and Google Play, and the report uses it to track app trends related to Anker, eufy, soundcore, and Insta360.
Sum-of-the-parts valuation
The report discloses that the target prices of Midea and Arashi Vision are based on SOTP or SOTP multiples, but this input does not provide specific target price figures.
Asset mapping & comparison
Structured mapping from thesis to named assets (strengths, weaknesses, peers, risks).
- China home appliance sectorCore industry asset covered by the report
- Strengths
- Demand may stabilize in H2 2026, and some subcategories such as robot vacuum cleaners are showing recovery.
- Weaknesses
- Most categories of white goods and small kitchen appliances showed weak sales, with fading subsidy benefits and a high base suppressing year-on-year performance.
- Comparison
- Robot vacuum cleaners are performing significantly better than most white goods and small kitchen appliance categories.
- Risks
- Declining property demand, rising raw material prices, supply chain constraints, and price competition.
- Midea GroupTop pick in white goods
- Strengths
- The report explicitly states Midea is the top pick in the white goods sector, and its offline air conditioner share in June rose 1 percentage point year on year.
- Weaknesses
- Its online air conditioner share fell 2 percentage points year on year.
- Comparison
- It remains UBS's top pick among white goods leaders.
- Risks
- Tighter property policy affecting appliance demand, RMB exchange-rate fluctuations causing FX losses, and slower growth in the global robotics market.
- HaierBeneficiary of white goods brand share changes
- Strengths
- In June, online share in washing machines and refrigerators rose 3 and 7 percentage points year on year, respectively, while offline share rose 1 and 2 percentage points year on year; online air conditioner share rose 2 percentage points year on year.
- Weaknesses
- Offline air conditioner share fell 1 percentage point year on year.
- Comparison
- Its share performance in washing machines and refrigerators was better than that of some competitors.
- Risks
- Overall weak demand for white goods and ASP pressure caused by 618 promotions.
- RoborockBrand gaining share in robot vacuum cleaners and floor washers
- Strengths
- June online share of robot vacuum cleaners reached 37%, up 11 percentage points year on year; floor washer sales rose 62% year on year, with share increasing to 30%.
- Weaknesses
- The overall industry's online robot vacuum cleaner sales value in 1H26 still fell 7% year on year.
- Comparison
- It leads Ecovacs and Dreame in robot vacuum cleaner share; its floor washer share is slightly below Tineco.
- Risks
- Intensifying competition from new entrants, rising raw material prices, and exchange-rate fluctuations.
- AnkerSmart hardware-related name tracked through app download data
- Strengths
- In 2Q26, Anker app downloads grew strongly across the globe, Europe, and the US, while eufy and soundcore download growth accelerated.
- Weaknesses
- European downloads pulled back from their peak in June.
- Comparison
- Compared with traditional home appliances, app indicators related to energy storage, security cameras, and headphones are stronger.
- Risks
- Fluctuations in overseas demand, changes in geopolitical factors, and intensifying competition.
- Arashi VisionCompany mentioned in the report for rating and risks
- Strengths
- In 2Q26, Insta360 app downloads grew 51% and 57% year on year globally and in China, respectively.
- Weaknesses
- The report rates Arashi Neutral, pointing to uncertainties around demand, new-product ramp-up, and global expansion.
- Comparison
- Camera app download performance is stronger than retail data for most traditional home appliance categories.
- Risks
- Weaker-than-expected consumer sentiment, intensifying price competition at home and abroad, slower-than-expected ramp-up of new product sales, slower-than-expected global expansion, rising costs, and FX losses.
Key data
- 1H26 all-channel retail sales of white goodsdown 6% to 21% year on yearEstimated based on AVC data, affected by fading subsidy benefits and a high base.
- June all-channel retail sales of white goodsdown 11% to 28% year on yearThe 2025 618 subsidies and promotions created a high base.
- 1H26 offline sales of major appliancesair conditioners -17%, washing machines -9%, refrigerators -10%, range hoods -18%Year-on-year changes for offline channels.
- 1H26 online sales of major appliancesair conditioners -25%, washing machines -2%, refrigerators -2%, range hoods about 0%Year-on-year changes for online channels.
- June online sales value of robot vacuum cleanersup 20% year on yearDriven by a 25% year-on-year increase in unit sales, while ASP fell 3% year on year.
- 1H26 online sales value of robot vacuum cleanersdown 7% year on yearUnit sales fell 6% year on year and ASP fell 1% year on year.
- June online share of robot vacuum cleanersRoborock 37%, Ecovacs 32%, Dreame 10%, DJI 5%Roborock rose 11 percentage points year on year, Ecovacs rose 2 percentage points year on year, Dreame fell 4 percentage points year on year, and DJI improved sequentially due to a new product launch in mid-May.
- Roborock June online floor washer salesup 62% year on year, share 30%The market average grew 12% year on year, with Tineco slightly ahead at a 32% share.
- Anker app downloads 2Q26Global +90%, Europe +45%, US +231%Mainly related to portable energy storage and balcony solar-storage systems.
- Anker app downloads June 2026Global +59%, Europe +30%, US +150%Europe pulled back from its peak in June, but uncertainty from Middle East tensions may continue to support demand for balcony solar-storage systems.
- eufy and soundcore app downloads 2Q26eufy +55%, soundcore +27%Accelerating from +42% and +17% in 1Q26, respectively.
- Insta360 app downloads 2Q26Global +51%, China +57%Reflecting demand related to sports/360-degree cameras.
- 1H26 sales of small kitchen appliancesMost categories down 3% to 23% year on yearExceptions were online pressure cookers +5% and online soy milk makers +6%.
Impact & implications
The home appliance sector still faces pressure in the short term from a high base, fading subsidies, promotional price cuts, and weak property-related demand, leaving white goods and small kitchen appliances weak; however, robot vacuum cleaners, solar-storage related smart hardware, and sports/360-degree cameras performed strongly, indicating structural opportunities within consumer electronics. From an investment perspective, the report favors companies gaining share or with stronger overseas/new product momentum, preferring Midea among white goods, watching Roborock's share gains among robot vacuum cleaners, and focusing on demand indicators related to Anker and Insta360 in smart hardware.
Risks
- Tightening or declining China's property market could suppress demand for home appliances.
- Rising raw material prices could erode industry profitability.
- Global supply chain constraints could affect China's home appliance exports.
- More new entrants in robot vacuum cleaners could intensify competition.
- Fluctuations in the RMB and other currencies could bring FX losses.
- China's economic slowdown could weaken demand for small home appliances.
- Price competition at home and abroad could intensify.
- New product sales ramp-up and global expansion could fall short of expectations.
What to watch
- Whether home appliance demand stabilizes in H2 2026 as UBS expects.
- Whether white-goods ASPs remain under pressure after 618.
- End-market demand for air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, and range hoods after government subsidy rollbacks.
- Share changes in the robot vacuum cleaner market among Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame, and DJI.
- Download trends of Anker apps in Europe and the US, and the impact of Middle East developments on demand for balcony solar-storage systems.
- Download and MAU trends for eufy, soundcore, and Insta360 apps.
- Whether the few growing categories among small kitchen appliances, such as pressure cookers and soy milk makers, can sustain momentum.