Apple may be embracing wireless smartphone charging, China is not, says top venture capitalist

Being a venture capitalist almost always comes with a degree of risk taking.

But there are certain risks even those who make the boldest investment decisions in China’s tech universe wouldn’t want to take: using a phone with a low battery is one, and charging a phone wirelessly is another.

So says Chinese venture capitalist Allen Zhu Xiaohu, whose investments have become a major force in pushing China into a “mobile-first” society, having been involved in convincing hundreds of millions of Chinese to hail taxi rides, order food or a rent a bike, by smartphones.

But when it comes to the average smartphone user, he says he’s still in no hurry to make the country leap into the wireless charging era, attesting that good-old-fashioned batteries and cables are here to say for a while.

“Wireless charging is overrated, as least in its current form. It will not replace batteries and cables in China any time soon even, even if it is featured by the upcoming [Apple] iPhone 8,” said Zhu, who is managing director at GSR Ventures Management, which focuses on investing in early-stage projects, speaking on the sidelines of the Yicai Tech & Innovation Conference, in Shanghai.

Apple, which is expected to unveil the 10th anniversary edition of its iconic iPhone later this year, has leaked several hints the upcoming iPhone 8 could equip wireless charging.