Trying to build the perfect PC for the next generation of gaming? You may be having a little trouble finding a top of the line graphics card. Much like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 cards, it’s been difficult finding and taking advantage of AMD Radeon RX 6800 restocks. Whether the stock is falling to bots, or it is just that limited, or a mix of both, isn’t quite known. But the situation can be frustrating for anyone looking to upgrade their rig to handle the latest and greatest games.
Below, we’ve compiled everything we know about the restocks, from possible availability and store links, to tips to help you nab a Radeon 6800 or 6800XT when they’re in stock.
Understanding the AMD Radeon RX 6000 series
Before getting into the restocks themselves, let’s have a quick primer on the AMD Radeon RX 6000 series. Thankfully, their naming schemes are a bit less confusing than the GeForce RTX 30 series, even if it’s still a little weird. There are three Radeon 6000 graphic cards: The RX 6800, the RX 6800XT, and the RX 6900. The higher the number, the more powerful it seemingly is, and if AMD added letters to the name, it’s more powerful than the base model.
Most people are gunning for the 6800 or 6800XT. The Radeon RX 6900 is both more expensive and a less popular choice. Some reviewers have even given it worse reviews than the 6800 cards.
Regardless, the store links in this article should be good for any version of the 6000 graphic cards you’d like.
When and where will the AMD Radeon RX 6800 and 6800XT be restocked?
While we believe the information below is accurate, it’s important to note that sometimes restocks don’t happen as planned. Restocks may go up late, websites may break, or retailers may just change their minds. This information is to help you plan for possible restocks.
So, much like the NVIDIA graphic cards, AMD Radeon RX cards are also becoming hard to find in stock, and tend to sell out within minutes. This is contrary to initial reports stating that stock for the 6000 series would be better. Scott Herkelman has confirmed that the production of these cards will extend indefinitely, so eventually, everyone that wants a card should be able to get one.
Unfortunately, the future isn’t now. There’s no word on any solid AMD Radeon RX 6800 restock dates or times. AMD themselves seem to restock fairly often, but there’s barely any advance warning and they sell out very quickly. The case is similar for Newegg and Amazon, although their stock updates less often.
As has been the case this holiday shopping season, if you need a 6800 sooner rather than later, StockX has been the best option. You will be paying inflated prices, mind you, but StockX has been a better option for buying the card as against buying it from resellers than eBay, which is currently dealing with scamming issues. If you absolutely need a Radeon RX 6800 or 6800XT, StockX is the place to head to.
General advice for restocks
Trying to get your hands on something with limited stock is really, really stressful. Make sure to give yourself the best chance you can by following the advice below!
Make sure you have an account at the store, and all personal information is updated. Restocks put huge strains on websites. On top of that, retailers will only allow you to hold it in your cart for a few minutes, if even that long, when it comes to items like this. Don’t waste your chance trying to update your address or payment information!
Start refreshing the page early. Often, retailers won’t put stock up at EXACTLY the moment they say. It may be a few minutes early or late. Get to the store page of the item you want before the restock time. You might get lucky!
Use Ctrl+F5, not just F5. This gives you a hard refresh that doesn’t pull store information from the cache. So, you won’t get outdated information and will be able to see the “Buy” button as soon as possible!
It’s usually better to be on the computer rather than your phone. While that is not always the case, mobile websites aren’t always optimized for fast refreshing. Or optimized for mobile viewing at all, sometimes. However, sometimes you can have better luck on a mobile app than a browser site. It’s not very often, though, so it’s best to start trying with your computer browser first.
AMD Radeon RX 6800 and 6800XT Store Links
Generally, the GeForce RTX 3080 restocks are only going to happen online, as many typical retailers will not be stocking this in-store. Here is a handy list of retailers that you can check!
Unless you have specific and reliable information on an offline retailer stocking up on the card, we would advise against physically visiting a store just to check.
If you use an iPhone or have been around iPhone users long enough, you will likely have pulled off, or have seen others do this move in the gif below. This “loosen grip to slide a hand up the phone so the thumb can reach the top of the screen” action is as much a part of an iPhone user’s muscle memory as swiping up to go home. All my friends who own iPhones do this. I’ve seen Apple staff at Apple events do this. Heck — I do this, because I use an iPhone from time to time. And with big Apple phones like the iPhone 12 Pro Max, I am doing this far more often than I would like.
I already know what some iPhone users are thinking “well, if you choose to use a phone with a huge screen, then you have to sacrifice on ergonomics.”
But what if I told you it doesn’t have to be this way? The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, the LG Wing, and the Huawei Mate 40 Pro are as large — in some cases taller — as the iPhone 12 Pro Max, but I don’t have to pull off hand gymnastics to do something basic and repetitive like pulling down the notification shade. I can still use those three phones one-handed without any issues.
Their longer/narrower aspect ratio and curved sides help, sure, but it goes beyond that. The biggest reason I can one-hand a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra or LG Wing in ways I can’t do with the iPhone 12 Pro Max is because they have software that has adjusted for their larger screens.
The problem is, as the article title already spoiled, iOS.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max screen is just a supersized iPhone 12 Mini screen
The iPhone 12 Pro Max rocks a 6.7-inch display, while the iPhone 12 Mini packs a 5.4-inch screen. Despite the drastic size difference, the UI for both phones is exactly the same. You can’t place more apps onto the Max homescreen than you can on the Mini. You can’t have more widgets. Everything is exactly the same, except they’re larger — often unnecessarily so.
Think about how absurd this is. The amount of space we haveto put things, whether physical or virtual, is often the number one factor in how we organize our things. Space (or lack thereof) dictates how we place our furniture in our living rooms; how we organize our desks; how many windows we open on our computer screens; and so on.
Apple, somehow, did not see a need to adjust its UI even a bit for its largest iPhone ever. The homescreen grid still locks you into having four apps at most horizontally, resulting in comically large app icons. The PIN pad, too, is placed in the center of the screen and generously spaced, just like every other iPhone over the past few years. But while this PIN pad placement is fine for most iPhones, it’s downright user-hostile on the Max iPhones as my thumbs can’t reach the top row (1-3) keys without loosening my grip and stretching my hand. And in this age of mask-wearing, I need to use the PIN pad on an iPhone roughly 50 times a day.
Backing up to that first problem mentioned at the beginning of the article — the reason iPhone users have to dramatically readjust their grip just to pull down the navigation shade or the “Control Center” is because iOS still requires you to swipe from the very top of the screen to access either menu. Almost all Android brands allow you to bring down the notification shade by swiping down from anywhere on the screen, so you don’t have to reach for the very top. The video below shows me accessing the notification shade on the 6.8-inch LG Wing and then on the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max.
The lack of a truly free homescreen on iOS
But things like the PIN pad placement are not my biggest gripe, because I can see how it was just a harmless oversight from iOS engineers — after all, Face ID had worked so well in the pre-mask era that the PIN pad was rarely ever needed.
Instead, my biggest gripe with iOS is its restrictive homescreen grid, which still forces users to place apps in a top-down, left-to-right system. The big reason I can still use a 6.9-inch Galaxy Note 20 Ultra screen one-handed is that I place all my apps at the bottom of the homescreen. I’ve seen some people place apps entirely on the left or right side of the screen for easier thumb reach. The point is, we have total freedom over where to place our apps, and we can also use a tighter grid to fit more apps into the dock or bottom row. These apps form the cornerstone of the experience on the device, and opening them from the icon represents one of the most common actions that all users undertake on a daily basis.
Just look at the photo below and tell me which homescreen seems easier to maneuver with one hand.
I already know some of the excuses — because I’ve vented about this on social media before and heard the same — “just fill the homescreen with more apps and widgets and push the apps you need most to the bottom of the screen.”
That “fill your homescreen with unnecessary stuff” solution really shouldn’t even justify a response, but I’ll give one anyway: I don’t want to fill my homescreen with stuff. I like being able to see my wallpaper; I like my homescreen to have just the essentials. Wanting empty space on a homescreen isn’t a big ask in 2020, when OS’s and app ecosystems have long matured to stability.
Reachability on iOS isn’t as good as a proper one-hand mode
Another reason the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and Huawei Mate 40 Pro are easier to use with one hand is that they all offer a “one-hand mode” that shrinks the screen both vertically and horizontally. Triggering the one-hand mode requires just a simple gesture, and once there, I can type away as if I’m using a 4-inch screen.
One-hand mode on the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a one-hand mode too, which Apple calls “Reachability,” but it doesn’t work nearly as well. Instead of shrinking the screen’s height and width indefinitely like many Android brand’s implementations, Reachability only shrinks the height of the screen, and it’s a one-time action: once you tap on a part of the screen it returns to full size.
Inconsistent methods for “go back” navigation on iOS
One of the core fundamental differences between Android’s UI and iOS’ UI is that Android has almost always had a consistent button or gesture to “go back” — it used to be physical buttons, then on-screen buttons, and now in most cases a swipe-in-from-side gesture. Android’s “back” action is universal — it goes back one level no matter what app you’re using, and if you do it enough times you will always be able to back all the way to the home screen.
iOS, meanwhile, has a looser set of rules. In most apps, especially native iOS ones, you can go back by swiping from the side, but some third-party apps don’t support that, instead requiring you to tap a button usually located on the upper left corner to go back one level. Some apps, even native iOS ones, will support the swipe back gesture in certain parts but not other parts. For example, in the Photos app, swipe from sides go back a layer if you’re browsing albums, but as soon as you’re inside an album the side swipe cycles through photos instead and you need to swipe down to go back.
And once you’ve backed to the base layer of the app, your back action no longer works. You then have to swipe up, or press home button on older iPhones, to exit the app. If it is an app whose UX you are not familiar with, it can be a little difficult to figure out when you’ve reached the point of a swipe up gesture without attempting a few failed swipe-ins. The video below shows me backing out of multiple layers within Instagram all the way to the homescreen on Android with one gesture, while iOS requires a change in action.
The inconsistency in UI navigation has been an issue of iOS for over a decade, but it was more manageable on a smaller device. On the iPhone 12 Pro Max, it just results in more readjusting of grip.
The aspect ratio and boxy build of the iPhone 12 series
As I mentioned at the beginning, the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s wider 19.5:9 aspect ratio compared to the at least 20:9 aspect ratio of rival Android phones is also a factor, as the width of a phone plays a more important role in the phone’s in-hand feel than height. So while the LG Wing is even taller than the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the LG Wing’s narrower 20.5:9 aspect ratio means my fingers can wrap around the device easier.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max’s extra girth is compounded by its new boxy design with hard edges. I know curved screens are not everyone’s cup of tea, but I think we can all agree rounded sides on the frame and edges are easier on our palm than boxy sides with relatively sharp edges.
But ultimately, the iPhone 12 Pro’s hardware design is not the biggest contributing factor. The problem is still ultimately iOS and its draconian rules.
The good news is there is a third-party app that can help alleviate the problem. Clear Space is a $2 app that essentially allows us to place invisible (transparent) widgets on iOS14, which can then push the apps we use most to the bottom of the screen while giving off the illusion of a cleaner, spaced out homescreen.
Well, after paying for a third party app that makes invisible widgets I finally can set up a Max iPhone home screen to allow easier thumb reach to core apps WITHOUT filling entire home screen with stuff. I mean iOS should just let us do this natively. pic.twitter.com/ntpVWnjOzB
Saying “just get the smaller iPhone” gives Apple a free pass for poor software decisions
I understand that, to some readers, this whole article came off as nitpicky, because depending on your lifestyle or location, you may not need to use your phone one-handed often. As someone who lived four years of my teens in Northern California not far from Apple’s headquarter, I know that life in NorCal is far more laid back than in places like New York, London, or Hong Kong. There’s plenty of space in Northern California; everyone has their own car, so there’s not a lot of walking as a means of getting around. If you live that lifestyle, you probably always have a free second hand to tap that button on the upper left corner, or swipe from the upper right corner of the screen.
But I live in Hong Kong, one of the most densely populated places in the world, and a city in which most citizens rely on walking and public transport. I need to one-hand my phone often as I’m trying to respond to a text while standing in a packed train with a hand holding groceries; or maybe I’m walking down a crowded street typing an email with one hand while the other hand is holding a coffee. I know people in other crowded big cities, from London to Dubai, Tokyo to Shanghai, all live similar lifestyles. For us, one-hand usability is important.
XDA’s managing editor Aamir Siddiqui echoes the same thought. He recently switched to the iPhone 12 (not the big Max) and even then he found it jarring to adjust to the hand gymnastics required to navigate around iOS compared to the OnePlus 8 Pro, which is larger in size.
Telling us to “just get the smaller iPhone” — which is a frequent response I get on social media when I lament the Max iPhones being hard to use — is not the right response. As I’ve made my case already — it doesn’t have to be this way. Big phones with screens north of 6.6-inches can still be optimized for one-hand use. Apple just doesn’t really care. But if enough of us point it out, maybe it will.
In a perfect world, Android 11 would already be available for every phone released in the last 18 months. But it’s a slow process, and if you’re an LG Velvet owner, your patience will soon be rewarded.
LG announced that an Android 11 beta preview for the LG Velvet will soon be available in South Korea. If you’re hoping to test the update out, you can sign up via the LG Quick Help app; the preview will then be rolled out as an over-the-air update.
It’s unclear how long LG plans to run the beta program before rolling out a stable build for LG Velvet owners. Hopefully not long, but in the event we are in for a wait, at least we have the changelog to obsess over:
LG Velvet Android 11 Beta Preview changelog
Added a notification window for conversation
Added message bubble function Added function to check deleted notification history
Added’Allow this time only’ function to grant permission only once when running the app
Added the ability to hide silent notifications IoT device control function added to the power screen
Navigation bar hiding function added to gesture mode Night time lapse and quick view function added to basic camera application
QR code scanning function added to basic camera application settings
Added keyboard size and position adjustment function
Announced earlier this year, the LG Velvet is a sleek handset that features a 6.8-inch POLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 processor, and a triple-camera setup. One thing that sets the device apart is that it features a special digitizer that enables Wacom stylus support with up to 4096 pressure levels.It’s a nice device, and one that will undoubtedly be made better with the arrival of Android 11.
If you’re not in South Korea and can’t sign up for the LG Velvet Android 11 beta preview, well, we feel for you. But with testing now underway, hopefully this means that a stable release is not far off.
Todoist, one of the market’s most popular to-do apps, has announced a completely redesigned experience with Google Assistant. The improved integration should make adding tasks with your voice even easier.
In a blogpost on Friday, Todoist highlights new ways to add, view, and complete a task using Google Assistant. To start using the app by voice, say, “Let me talk to Todoist.” You can also perform actions by saying, “Hey Google, ask Todoist…” This integration will allow users to get things done hands-free.
Users will also be able to ask Todoist what they have scheduled for the day, and also add tasks on-the-go. Additionally, you can set reminders, mark off completed tasks, and see what other tasks you haven’t completed. Todoist has a lengthy guide for the improved integration, so you should check that out if you’re curious.
One of the most impressive parts of Todoist’s integration with Google Assistant is the ability to add task details. So, if you have a task due tomorrow at 4 p.m., you can invoke Google Assistant and say, “Add a task to Submit my report tomorrow at 4 p.m. #work @urgent.” This will create a task called “Submit my report” due tomorrow at 4 p.m. in your Work project with the Urgent label.
In order to connect Todoist with Google Assistant, open Google Assistant and say, “Let me talk to Todoist.” Give permission to link your Google Assistant account with your Todoist account, and you’ll be off to the races. You can access the app through Google Assistant via your Android device, smart speaker, and smart display. If you’re on iOS, you’ll need to download the Google Assistant app.
There may be times when your hands are full and you need to add something to your to-do list. This integration makes that a reality. Todoist’s improved integration with Google Assistant is available now in English.
Vodafone has become the first UK network to confirm it will be reintroducing roaming charges between Britain and mainland Europe, though only for the most frequent users. Under European Union rules, networks must offer roaming, at no extra charge across all member countries. With the UK’s transition membership of the EU due to expire on 31st December, there has been speculation as to whether networks would automatically revoke the service.
All four UK operators BT/EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three, and many MVNOs have pledged that they have no plans to bring back roaming charges, but today has seen multiple reports on Twitter of a text message being sent to heavy users of the service. It confirms that from 18th January 2021, customers who use their device for more than 60 days in a four-month period (in other words, they are roaming more than they are at home) will face roaming charges.
Hi Andrew, we've contacted our customers who have used their phone for long periods abroad in the last 12 months to advise we’re changing our roaming acceptable use policy from 18 January 2021. (1/2)
Roaming was devised for occasional periods abroad such as holidays and short trips, so where a customer’s usage abroad is greater than at home over a four month period, additional charges will apply. (2/2)
The news will come as a huge blow for the 1.3 million British ex-pats spread across the EU, who, up to now, have been able to keep an active UK number. Whilst pay-as-you-go handsets will be minimally impacted, it will make it a lot more difficult for overseas users to justify maintaining a contract. Also heavily impacted will be business travellers, for whom regular ‘hops’ across the channel for meetings have become part of British working life. While Vodafone’s announcement continues to honor its commitment not to reintroduce roaming, it’s a further signal of the changing relationship that Britain will have with Europe from next year, further emphasised by the UK-founded company’s recent decision to hold an IPO for its towers division in Germany.
It’s also worth noting that the European Union’s rules on roaming only require voice, SMS and a minimum 3G connection. With many carriers opting, therefore, to restrict access for 4G to roaming customers already, the news does not bode well for the chances of being able to access 5G services overseas, any time soon.
One of the more persistent rumors over the past few weeks has been claims that Samsung’s new Galaxy S21 series will offer S Pen support. More specifically, the Galaxy S21 Ultra will be imbued with Galaxy Note-like super powers, allowing Samsung to take the Galaxy S series to new heights.
Win Future is reporting that to welcome the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s new S Pen capabilities, Samsung plans to release special cases that can store the stylus. Samsung will allegedly offer at least two of these special cases: Samsung Silicone Cover and Samsung Clear View Cover.
Unlike the Galaxy Note, the report suggests Samsung’s new Galaxy S21 Ultra can’t store the S Pen inside the device, hence the special cases.
“Instead of stowing the stylus in the case of the smartphone as with the Galaxy Note, the cases or covers from the range of accessories from Samsung are support to take on this task of giving the pen a place to stay,” Win Future said (via Google Translate).
If that’s true, these cases might be a must-own for those who pick up an S Pen for their Galaxy S21 Ultra, otherwise, there’s a risk of easily losing the stylus.
With reports swirling about the Galaxy S21 Ultra gaining S Pen support, Samsung is said to be discontinuing its Note line, which will be the end of an era for the company. Despite its flaws — and one fiery recall — the Galaxy Note series is a great option for productivity, and it will be sad to see it go.
We’re expecting Samsung to hold an Unpacked event on January 14, when the company will unveil its new Galaxy S21 lineup. Speaking of which, we got a pretty good look at all three devices this week, including a video of one of the models out in the wild.
Featured image: Inserting the S Pen into the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
We’re not expecting Samsung to unveil its Galaxy S21 series until January 14, when the company will reportedly hold its Unpacked event. But we don’t need to wait that long to actually see the device in action.
Following a series of leaked promo reels, someone managed to actually get their hands on a Galaxy S21. The video showcases the device’s design — albeit covered in tape — which features a hole-punch display and redesigned camera setup.
Apparently, the person who took this video has had the device for a few weeks now, saying it’s “really good.” While this could still be a prototype model, what’s in the video looks polished; the screen stretches edge-to-edge, while the matte black finish looks sleek.
We’re expecting Samsung’s new device to come in three variants: Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, and S21 Ultra. The S21 and S21 Plus models are expected to be nearly identical save for different screen and battery sizes. The Galaxy S21 Ultra, meanwhile, is anticipated to support Samsung’s S Pen and also feature a more advanced camera.
If you’re interested, the person behind the video shares plenty of impressions on the Galaxy S21’s camera, battery life, and performance. But considering this likely isn’t an official retail model running Samsung’s latest software optimizations, we’re taking their impressions with a grain of salt. It’s hard to judge a device that hasn’t even been released.
Be that as it may, it’s still nice to get an early look at the device. Again, we’re not expecting Samsung to unveil the Galaxy S21 series until January 14, which is over a month away. But if you’re as anxious to see the device as we are, enjoy the over 4-minute video (at least before it’s pulled).
There have been so many Galaxy S21 leaks over the past few weeks that it’s not surprising to already see the device out in the wild. With just over a month until Samsung officially shares what it’s been working on, I’d wager we’ll see many more leaks before then.
