Byte's New Office Chair

Byte's new office chair is the domestically produced Qingxian S1, which is planned to gradually replace the Humanscale 'world' ergonomic chairs in domestic core office areas starting from August 2026, with the replacement expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2027.

Replacement Background and Plan

The Humanscale 'world' ergonomic chairs, an American brand previously equipped for ByteDance employees (commonly known as 'Byte Chairs' in the industry), have triggered feedback from employees due to issues such as the backrest being 'unable to lock'. To improve the office experience, the company has decided to replace the chairs in core office areas such as Beijing Fangheng, Dazhongsi, and Shanghai Xinjiangwan starting from August 2026, with a coverage period extending to the second quarter of 2027.

Comparison Between Old and New Products

• Price Difference: The original Humanscale 'world' model has a retail price of 8,200 yuan, while the Byte-procured version of the Qingxian S1 is priced at 2,500 yuan (with some sources stating 2,499 yuan), significantly reducing costs.
• Functional Adjustments: The Qingxian S1 is optimized for prolonged sitting scenarios, featuring a 'following sensation' for lumbar support. It achieves dynamic lumbar fitting during reclining through physical structures, while removing motor and ventilation functions to simplify the design.

Qingxian Brand and Product Features

As an emerging brand in the ergonomic chair field, Qingxian launched its first product in 2025. After opening its first offline experience center in Shenzhen in December 2025, it accelerated its layout in 2026, recently opening simultaneously in six cities including Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Nanjing. Its product line includes:

• S1 Basic Model: Focuses on the core reclining and following function, achieving lumbar support through mechanical structures, suitable for long-hour office scenarios.
• Pro Model: Upgrades to motor-driven lumbar support, supports ventilation mode and button-adjusted support intensity, providing a 'spinal stretching mode' pushing sensation during reclining to meet high-end demands.

Significance of the Replacement

This replacement not only responds to employees' demands for chair comfort but also reflects ByteDance's shift towards high-cost-performance domestic solutions in office equipment procurement. The 'following sensation' design of the Qingxian S1 may provide more fitting lumbar support for prolonged sitters, while the rapid expansion of its offline experience centers offers convenience for employees to try it out in advance.