Want a OnePlus 2? You'll Need an Invite

If you're eager to get a OnePlus 2, you better start making friends with other people in that boat. Just like with the OnePlus One, you'll need an invitation to get the second-generation model.

Ahead of the phone's official launch, OnePlus has posted details of its invitation system for the new handset. You can score an invite in one of three ways: nab one from someone who has already purchased the 2, by participating in OnePlus's contests and promotions, or by putting your name on a reservation list and hoping for the best.

"Launching a second flagship product to an exponentially larger community brings a whole set of new challenges, and invites will help us manage them," OnePlus wrote in a note on its website. "We've said it before and it will always hold true — we're committed to bringing amazing products and services to every OnePlus user. To provide the best OnePlus experience and keep risk low, we're launching the OnePlus 2 using invites."

The company said it plans to send out invites on a "rolling basis," and they will "become more plentiful as time goes by." Once you receive an invite, you'll need to claim it as soon as possible, at which point you'll see how much time you have left to use it. Invites are typically valid for just 24 hours, OnePlus said.

Still, once you place your order, you'll have to wait. OnePlus said it may take up to three weeks for the 2 to ship after you've purchased the device. If you change your mind in that time and want to cancel your order, head over to your Account before the order starts "Processing" for a refund.

If you don't like the invite system, too bad because OnePlus said it's here to stay for the "foreseeable future." For information about contests and promotions that can net you an invite, be sure to follow OnePlus on social media.

Meanwhile, OnePlus recently confirmed that the next-gen device will sport a USB-C port and use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 processor. The phone is set to make its official debut today, so stay tuned for all the details.

For more, see PCMag's review of the OnePlus One.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade.

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes.

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app.

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth.

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light.

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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