OnePlus X: GearBest offers way to buy phone without invites

OnePlus X in UK — OnePlus X can now be bought without the hard-to-obtain invites OnePlus

OnePlus has made invites mandatory for buyers of its smartphones, including its newest OnePlus X. The Chinese smartphone maker's invitation-to-buy approach has faced intense criticism from OnePlus loyalists as well as first-time buyers. But what if there is a workaround and consumers can pre-order a OnePlus X without an invite?

Chinese e-tailer GearBest has come up with just that. It says prospective buyers of OnePlus X can purchase the handset directly from its eStore by placing pre-orders. The third-party retailer also claims shipments will start in 3-5 working days. GearBest prices OnePlus X at $296 (£190) and ships throughout the world, including to the US, UK and India.

Phones bought via the e-tailer are globally unlocked but their connectivity performance could vary based on geographies. You can check network compatibility (country-wise) here.

Officially, OnePlus X will be available for purchase from 5 November, but you would still need an invite to do so. Prospective customers can sign up for an exclusive OnePlus X invite reservation list here to receive a purchase invite.

However, with increasing demand, this reservation list could be subject to delays. Recently, OnePlus announced the closure of its customised reservation list for OnePlus 2.

Key technical specs of OnePlus X