Core Viewpoint - The intense competition in the electric toothbrush industry has led to unethical marketing practices, exemplified by usmile's recent administrative penalty for disparaging a competitor, Laifen, highlighting the industry's anxiety and disorder during a transformation phase [1][8]. Company Summary - usmile, founded in 2015 by former Procter & Gamble employee Chen Jianqun, has rapidly expanded its product range to include oral care devices beyond electric toothbrushes [3]. - usmile's market share increased from 23% to 29% between 2023 and 2024, surpassing Philips to become the industry leader [4]. - Laifen, which entered the electric toothbrush market in October 2023, achieved impressive sales of over 135,000 units and revenue exceeding 400 million yuan in its first month [4]. - Despite initial marketing challenges and significant losses, Laifen's innovative pricing strategy has allowed it to gain a market share of 11% in 2024, with expectations to reach 15% by 2026 [7][9]. Industry Summary - The electric toothbrush market is experiencing a downturn, with online retail sales declining by 6.9% year-on-year to 5.19 billion yuan [9]. - The industry is becoming increasingly crowded with diverse players, leading to a focus on marketing over technological innovation, creating a competitive environment characterized by price wars [9][10]. - The introduction of Laifen's servo motor technology has prompted other companies, including usmile, Xiaomi, and Huawei, to explore similar innovations [10]. - The recent penalty against usmile serves as a critical reflection point for the industry, indicating a shift from growth to a more competitive landscape where traditional marketing strategies may no longer suffice [10].