A digital transformation and consumption patterns of the “New older adults” in China: a systematic review of technological adaptation and learning mechanisms

China is experiencing a profound demographic shift which is mainly marked by rapid population aging. This systematic review explores the key domains, market segments, and technological innovations targeting China’s new older adults population, employing thematic analysis to synthesize findings from diverse studies. The review identifies multifaceted market segmentation approaches, including demographic, geographic, psychographic, health, and economic channels, which highlights the heterogeneity of older adults consumers. Technological advancements span health and wellness, living environment safety, social inclusion, data infrastructure, and support services, providing benefits such as enhanced health monitoring, independent living, social connectivity, and resource optimization. But current research is constrained by narrow geographic coverage, limited representation of non-digital users, and reliance on theoretical or macro-level analyses, restricting understanding of real-world adoption and long-term outcomes, and future strategies should focus on user-centered technology design, differentiated market segmentation, inclusive digital literacy initiatives, and integrated, AI-enabled service delivery. Also, robust, multi-sector longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate adoption, effectiveness, and scalability of interventions, and this review provides actionable insights for policymakers, industry, and researchers to develop inclusive, efficient, and sustainable support systems for China’s diverse and evolving older adults population.