Questions: Technology & Internet

I'm considering to maybe buy an external monitor to somewhat artifically extend the lifespan of my gaming laptop. I have HDMI 2.0 port, so the above options are what I can aim for; I don't have DisplayPort and I think my USB-C port is too slow, so the refresh rates would be halved RIP. Not even gonna bother have HDMi-DP cable.

My laptop is Acer Nitro 5 AN515-54 and the specs are Windows 11 23H2, i5 9300H 4C/8T, GTX 1050 MaxP, Intel UHD 630, 3GB GDDR5 96-Bit, 16GB DDR4 2666MHZ, 500GB SATA SSD, and FHD IPS 60HZ. Kind of broke atm and too stubborn to upgrade to a new PC, so buying a monitor and maybe external keyboard are most I'll do.

Already have a cooling pad, undervolted my CPU and iGPU, and disabled overhead crap like VBS/Core Integrity. I sadly can't modify certain dGPU settings without modifying the vBIOS, but that can potentially brick my GTX 1050. I know GPU bound games will run worse at higher resolution, but CPU bound won't.

By going for an external monitor, aside from larger viewing for increased productivity and reduced bodily injuries, I can have overall better display specs. I can also bypass Nvidia Optimus completely as my UHD 630 displays everything for laptop screen, while GTX 1050 if active renders which brings additional latency.

I currently have FHD 15.6" IPS 60HZ 20ms SDR laptop monitor for my Acer Nitro 5 AN515-54 and FHD 6.6" Super AMOLED 120HZ 8ms SDR phone display for my Samsung Galaxy A34 5G. I'm looking to get an external desktop monitor for my gaming laptop, but I don't know if I should settle for IPS or OLED. I know that going from IPS to IPS isn't significant, but laptop monitors are vastly inferior to phone, tablet, desktop, and television displays. Ok well, television displays are only superior in fidelity but performance is garbage to compensate for them being cheap lol.

Since OLED has superior color accuracy, contrast, saturation, etc., I don't give a damn if it's HDR or not. I want the monitor to be FHD 240HZ Curved 1ms GSync/FreeSync 24"; I can settle for 180HZ and 5ms though. Since my HDMI port doesn't support beyond 144HZ for QHD nor above 60HZ for 4K, I'll pass on those when I can upscale with DSR anyways. Sadly, my laptop doesn't have DisplayPort for the dGPU (only for iGPU) and I'm not sure if I can even use my USB-C 3.1 port for external monitors. I probably can but the refresh rates will probably be worse than HDMI, which I don't know for sure but I suspect it's 2.0.

iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB):

Analysts estimate that a 25% tariff on imported iPhones could raise the price of the latest models significantly:

Dan Ives (Wedbush Securities): iPhone could cost around $2,300 with tariffs, up from $1,199.00

CNET's breakdown suggests that, depending on the country of origin and tariff rate, the iPhone 16 Pro Max could range from about $1,319 (10% tariff) to $3,231 (potential 145% tariff on Chinese-made models).

If iPhones Were Made in the USA

Multiple analysts agree the cost could soar to about $3,500 per device if Apple shifted all manufacturing to the U. S., due to higher labor and production costs.

Summary Table: Estimated iPhone Cost Scenarios

Scenario Estimated Price (Pro Max, 256GB)

Current (no new tariffs) $1,199

25% tariff (imported) ~$2,300

Made in USA ~$3,500

Samsung Android Phones:

Estimated Cost With Tariffs

Background

Most Samsung Galaxy phones (including S24, S25 series) are manufactured in Vietnam, South Korea, and India—not China.

Current U. S. tariffs on smartphones primarily target Chinese-made devices.

If the U. S. imposes new or expanded tariffs on smartphones from other countries, or if Samsung shifts production to China, prices could be affected.

Current Prices (No Tariffs)

Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB): ~$1,299

Galaxy S24 Ultra (256GB): ~$1,099

Galaxy S24 (128GB): ~$899

With a 25% Tariff (Hypothetical)

If tariffs similar to those proposed for iPhones (25%) were applied to Samsung phones: