Abstract: The primary objective of this study was to systematically evaluate the developmental trajectory and technical status of mechanized rice planting equipment to address the deepening structural conflict between rapid urbanization-induced labor shortages and the rigid demand for high-quality grain production. Specifically, the study aimed to analyze the technical characteristics, regional adaptability, and existing limitations of three mainstream planting systems (mechanical transplanting, direct seeding, and seedling throwing) and two emerging technologies (mechanized film mulching and agricultural Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) direct seeding). The ultimate goal was to identify critical bottlenecks and propose a strategic roadmap for achieving intelligent, unmanned, and precision rice cultivation suitable for China's diverse agronomic conditions, ranging from northern plains to southern hilly terrains. A comprehensive literature review and comparative analysis were conducted, covering domestic and international research from the past three decades. The study classified planting equipment based on working principles and agronomic requirements. Key technical indicators, including operation speed, seeding accuracy, and injury rates, were compared among equipment from major manufacturing hubs, including Japan, South Korea, Europe, the United States, and China. Furthermore, the study investigated the interaction mechanisms between machinery and agronomy, specifically evaluating the performance of key components such as high-speed rotary seedling pick-up mechanisms, pneumatic distribution systems with venturi tubes, and navigation control algorithms under complex, muddy field conditions. The results indicated distinct developmental characteristics among the surveyed technologies. For mechanical transplanting, which remained the dominant method in Asia, Japan and South Korea established mature systems with high-speed riding-type transplanters featuring intelligent monitoring, automatic hill spacing adjustment, and side-deep fertilization capabilities. In contrast, Chinese equipment, despite achieving high-speed manufacturing capabilities, lagged in the precision of sensor-based feedback loops and automated quality control. For direct seeding, a clear geographical differentiation was observed: the United States and Australia utilized large-scale air-seeder systems and high-speed drills for vast flatlands to maximize efficiency, while European nations focused on pneumatic precision seeding. Asian countries emphasized precision hill-drop drilling to suit fragmented plots. Regarding mechanical seedling throwing, the technology was found to be transitioning from disordered centrifugal throwing to belt-type or air-assisted ordered throwing to resolve random field distribution, serving as a vital supplement for hilly terrains where large machinery could not operate. In the domain of emerging technologies, mechanized film mulching cultivation demonstrated significant potential for green production by integrating weeding, water retention, and warming. However, current equipment faced challenges in the adaptability of mechanical tension control to biodegradable plastic films and the structural complexity of integrated rotary tillage-film laying-planting mechanisms. For Agricultural UAVs, comparative data revealed that UAV seeding costs were significantly lower than mechanical transplanting, exhibiting high efficiency and all-terrain adaptability. Nevertheless, the analysis highlighted that the complex coupling effect of rotor downwash airflow and environmental crosswinds caused significant seed drift, leading to poor distribution uniformity. Additionally, the lack of soil cover in UAV seeding resulted in high risks of seed exposure and rodent damage. Across all systems, structural shortages of lightweight crawler-type equipment for hilly terrains and a mismatch between agronomic requirements and machinery were identified as persistent bottlenecks. The study concluded that the future evolution of rice planting equipment would inevitably prioritize intelligence, unmanned operation, and precision. Key developmental directions identified included the improvement of robust navigation algorithms (such as visual SLAM fused with GNSS) to overcome signal attenuation in complex paddy environments, the optimization of airflow-mechanical coupling designs for UAVs to mitigate drift, and the creation of differentiated lightweight equipment for hilly areas. Establishing a "Space-Air-Ground" integrated smart management system and fostering deep integration between agricultural machinery and agronomy were determined to be essential strategies for the high-quality transformation of the rice industry.