National Subsidy of 62.5 Billion: How to Get the Best Deals on Phones and Appliances
Ladies, the national subsidy is back!
This time it’s the second batch of 62.5 billion yuan, covering phones, appliances, and air conditioners—just announced on April 13. I studied the policy immediately and found the discounts are genuinely substantial—not those symbolic “spend 500, save 10” deals, but real savings of thousands.
Honestly, the policy documents are pretty convoluted—I read them three times to figure things out. Today I’ll organize the key points and practical strategies to help you quickly understand how to take advantage of this.
1. How Much? Calculate Your Savings
The subsidy is by “price tier,” not product category. Simply put:
| Price Range | Subsidy Amount | Actual Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2000 yuan | 200 yuan subsidy | Save 200 yuan |
| 2000-4000 yuan | 10% subsidy | Save 200-400 yuan |
| 4000-8000 yuan | 15% subsidy | Save 600-1200 yuan |
| Over 8000 yuan | 20% subsidy | Max savings 1600 yuan |
For example: buying a 6000 yuan air conditioner gets 15% subsidy—that’s 900 yuan saved. Stack the merchant’s trade-in offer (usually another 200-500 yuan), and you save 1000+ total.
This beats Double 11 discounts hands down.
2. What’s Worth Buying?
Not everything is worth buying with this subsidy. Here’s my priority ranking:
Priority 1: Major Appliances
Air conditioners, fridges, washing machines—high prices, high subsidy percentages, and you probably needed to replace them anyway. Especially ACs—summer’s coming, now’s the best time.
I checked—brands like Midea and Gree stack trade-in offers with subsidies. A 5000 yuan AC gets 750 yuan subsidy, 300 yuan for the old unit, plus 200 yuan merchant discount—you pay 3750 yuan. You couldn’t get this price normally.
Priority 2: Phones
Phones are covered too, but note:
- Subsidy cap is 1600 yuan (for 8000+ yuan models)
- High-end iPhones, Huawei, Xiaomi models all qualify
- But confirm the merchant participates
I checked JD and Suning’s event pages—iPhone 16 Pro (original 8999) with subsidy saves 1600 yuan. If you have an old phone, that’s another few hundred off. You can get it for just over 8000 yuan.
Priority 3: Small Appliances
Vacuums, robot vacuums, air fryers—under 2000 yuan, only 200 yuan subsidy. Honestly, not worth making a special trip unless you needed it anyway.
3. How to Get the Subsidy? Practical Steps
The subsidy isn’t an automatic discount—you need to apply separately:
- Confirm eligibility: Must have old appliance/phone (any brand, any condition)
- Choose platform: JD, Suning, Tmall all have portals
- Submit application: Upload old device photos, choose recycling method (pickup or ship)
- Wait for review: Usually 1-3 business days
- Use subsidy coupon: Once approved, coupon goes to your account, applies at checkout
Watch out:
- Recyclers will inspect your old device—if it doesn’t match photos, might be rejected
- Subsidy coupons usually valid 7 days, don’t apply too early
- Some regions have limited quotas, first come first served
4. How to Stack Discounts?
National subsidy alone isn’t enough—stack merchant deals for maximum savings:
- Check merchant trade-in first: Many brands have their own recycling policies, worth 200-1000 yuan
- Stack platform coupons: JD and Suning often have spend-and-save coupons
- Use national subsidy last: Select “use subsidy coupon” at checkout
I calculated: A 5000 yuan AC, merchant recycles old AC for 300 yuan, platform coupon saves 200 yuan, national subsidy 750 yuan. Final price: 3750 yuan—1250 yuan cheaper than usual.
5. What Pitfalls to Avoid?
Pitfall 1: Price Hikes Before Subsidy
Some merchants raise prices first, then apply subsidy. Like a fridge normally 4000 yuan, marked up to 4500 before the event, then given 600 yuan subsidy—actual savings only 100.
How to avoid: Check historical prices before buying using tools like “Smzdm” or “Manmanmai.”
Pitfall 2: Recyclers Lowballing
Some recyclers nitpick—“screen has scratches,” “motherboard has issues”—to lower the trade-in value.
How to avoid: Take photos before recycling, negotiate on the spot if there’s an issue.
Pitfall 3: Expired Coupons
A friend applied for subsidy coupons, procrastinated, then remembered a week later—already expired.
How to avoid: Apply only when you know what you’re buying, order within 7 days.
Final Thoughts
This national subsidy is real welfare—but only if you needed to buy these things anyway. If you force yourself to buy just for the subsidy, you’re the one getting fleeced.
My advice: If you have major appliances or phones to replace, now really is a great time. But if there’s no urgent need, don’t join the rush.
Saving money isn’t about “how much you can save”—it’s about “whether you should spend.” Spending money wisely—that’s truly being smart about life.