OnePlus 2 reservation list will close on October 22

Last year, when it launched its first phone, OnePlus frustrated many buyers by having an invite-only system. Part of the frustration was waiting, the other part was having no idea when you would actually get an invite. A friend who had managed to buy one, or a  forum member would have to send an invite in order for you to be able to give the company your money for a phone.

This year, OnePlus kept the invite system for the OnePlus 2 but also introduced a reservation list. Although you’d still have to wait for an invite, at least you’d know you were on a list to receive one eventually. That reservation list will soon close…

OnePlus announced on its official forums that, from October 22nd, it will no longer take new requests from hopeful customers to be placed on the waiting list.

As production is ramping up, we want to ensure that as many people as possible who signed up get their invite, so we feel it’s in the best interest of our users to close the list and make sure that this happens. In one week (October 22), the OnePlus 2 Invite Reservation List will no longer be taking new entries. Those who have already signed up will receive theirs based on their place in line as we roll out invites chronologically. This also means that your reservation list number will be locked on that date, and you will no longer be able to bump yourself up the list by sharing your link with friends.

The company notes that some 5 million people have signed up to be on the waiting list for invites, and now it wants to make sure it builds all the phones and sends them out as quickly as possible. Although we can’t imagine that all 5 million people will buy the phone, even if only half of them do, that’s still a huge number of phones sold by a company the size of OnePlus.

From next Thursday, the only way you’ll be able to buy a OnePlus 2 is if you’re on the waiting list already and get an invite, or if someone who’s already bought one shares an invitation with you. On the plus side, OnePlus has also announced that people who have purchased a device already will soon receive three invites to share with their friends and family.

Just one week after the reservation list closes, OnePlus is due to release its third phone at an event in London, which is perhaps the reason why its seeking to trim down on its waiting list. With a new phone coming, and the open admission that it’s not so good at inventory management, it probably doesn’t want to deal with two separate waiting lists.