People look at refrigerators on display at the exhibition area of Hisense at IFA Berlin 2026 in Berlin, Germany, Sept. 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)

　　INNOVATION GETTING PERSONAL

　　Beyond robots and connected homes, Chinese companies were also pushing into more specialized corners of consumer technology.

　　At the booth of smart jewelry brand TOTWOO, Chinese innovation found a more intimate expression in bracelets and necklaces. Connected via Bluetooth to a mobile app, the smart pieces turn a simple touch into a signal that can travel across distance: tap one, and its paired piece lights up and vibrates in response. Intangible emotions -- longing, companionship and connection -- are soon translated into a soft glow and a subtle pulse.

　　For TOTWOO founder and CEO Wang Jieming, bringing technology into such delicate spaces is part of a broader trend. As he told Xinhua, Chinese tech firms are expanding into specialized, high-emotion markets.

　　"Backed by mature hardware supply chains and advances in AI and smart interaction, Chinese brands are moving beyond high-profile categories like smartphones, appliances, and robotics," Wang said. "We are entering niche areas like smart jewelry, where personalization and emotional experience take center stage."

　　The move into new product categories also reflects a broader change in how Chinese companies are expanding overseas. "Chinese companies are moving from simply selling products abroad to building brands and establishing a long-term presence in global markets," said Ye Can, head of Europe at WeBranding Global, which helps Chinese companies expand internationally.