"Nine out of 10 foreign passengers ask to take a photo the moment they get in," says Wang Wei-hong, who has driven a taxi in Taiwan for 10 years. It is easy to see why. The dashboard, the air-conditioning vents and even his wrist are packed with Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Z series foldable phones. More than 20 foldables are on display throughout the cab.
Wang operates his taxi as a "Galaxy showroom," Samsung Electronics said on the 21st. His story drew attention after Samsung introduced it through its local newsroom on the 7th.
Wang's enthusiasm for Galaxy phones began in 2021. He had worked in the audio industry and had a strong interest in technology when he bought his first Galaxy Z Flip3. He was drawn to its compact size when folded and to its design. He also bought a Galaxy Z Fold, but he preferred the Flip series because it slipped easily into a pocket. "I really never imagined I would buy enough to fill my car," he said.
Because he spends most of the day in his car, he decided to keep his favorite devices close by. He set a different wallpaper on each one and worked out on his own how to keep the screens from turning off. Lining up multiple handsets with their displays on turned the interior of the taxi into a digital exhibition space. On the Flip's cover screens, he plays music videos to set the mood.
The product that left the strongest impression on Wang is the Galaxy Z Flip5. He said he liked that the larger cover screen let him do more without unfolding the phone, and that the cover display let him show off his own taste. He also designed an accessory himself so he could wear a foldable on his wrist.
Try a Galaxy Foldable Yourself: Demo Units on Hand
The unusual interior has become a conversation starter with passengers. Foreign tourists pose for photos with Wang and his taxi. He has even received unexpected tips.
When passengers ask what a foldable is like to use, he hands them a demo unit he keeps for that purpose. The idea is for them to handle it and judge for themselves. "The artificial intelligence features are intuitive and practical, so they fit naturally into daily life, and the camera is remarkable," he said.
For all his devotion to Galaxy foldables, Wang's family and relatives knew nothing about the hobby, because he always left the devices in the taxi. One day a relative rode in his cab, was startled by the handsets filling the interior, and his Galaxy foldable obsession finally came to light. He has given four or five foldables to family members as gifts.
From a Collector of 1,800 Phones to a Los Angeles CEO
Galaxy devotees like Wang are active around the world. Among them is Yasuhiro Yamane, a Japanese IT journalist known for amassing more than 1,800 mobile phones. Yamane, who is based in Hong Kong, traveled to South Korea last year to buy the Galaxy Z TriFold, which folds twice. He is said to have returned to Japan and shown the device to about 100 acquaintances.
Rashid Richmond, the chief executive of an IT company in Los Angeles, uses several Samsung foldables. He said that after Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, acquaintances contacted him to say they now understood why he had chosen Galaxy.