Byte Office Chair Replacement

ByteDance plans to gradually replace Humanscale World ergonomic chairs in its main domestic office areas with domestically produced Qingxian S1 chairs from August 2026 to the second quarter of 2027, primarily based on cost optimization and functional suitability requirements.

Replacement Background and Reasons

The previously used Humanscale World office chairs had a retail price of approximately 8,000 yuan and were known as the 'Byte Chairs' since every employee had one. However, their design centered on gravity-sensing self-adaptation, lacking angle locking functionality, and did not come standard with headrests or have a large recline angle. Asian employees generally reported that the backrest could not be fixed, providing insufficient support for the waist and head, leading to back pain from prolonged sitting, and were particularly unsuitable for lunch break scenarios. Additionally, as a U.S.-designed brand, it was not optimized for Asian body types, further exacerbating discomfort during use.

Core Advantages of the New Brand Qingxian S1

Qingxian S1 is introduced by the new domestic brand Qingxian Intelligence, with a public price of 2,549 yuan (Byte's purchase price is approximately 2,500 yuan), reducing costs by about two-thirds compared to the original chairs. Its core team comes from companies like DJI and Yunjin, with a product focus on waist support and prolonged sitting scenarios:

• Functional Suitability: Optimized for the needs of domestic employees, adding a recline locking function suitable for lunch breaks; the Pro model is equipped with motor-driven waist support and ventilation modes, while the S1 retains the recline following function, providing a pushing sensation in the 'spinal stretch mode.'
• Ergonomic Design: Emphasizes the 'following sensation' of waist support, dynamically adjusting to fit the spinal curve and relieve pressure from prolonged sitting.
• Cost-Effectiveness: The purchase price has dropped from around 7,000-8,000 yuan to approximately 2,500 yuan, significantly reducing corporate procurement costs.

Market Impact After Replacement

The replaced Humanscale World chairs have flooded the second-hand market, with standard models averaging around 300 yuan (approximately 350 yuan including headrest and shipping), but they have drawbacks such as a small recline angle, hot sponge seats, and no after-sales service, making them suitable for users who do not take lunch breaks, are not bothered by heat, and seek cost-effectiveness. Meanwhile, the Qingxian brand is accelerating its offline expansion, opening experience stores in six cities including Shanghai and Beijing in 2026, attracting already interested consumers and Byte employees who purchase the chairs themselves, forming a closed loop of 'online lead generation - offline experience - conversion.'