OnePlus just announced its newest smartphone, the Nord, and well it’s not coming to the US or Canada officially. But, there is a way you can get your hands on the OnePlus Nord in North America.
OnePlus is opening a beta program for the device in the US and Canada. But it is limited to just 50 people in the US and Canada. So it’s still fairly unlikely that you’ll be able to get one.
How to sign up to be a beta tester for OnePlus Nord
To sign up for a chance to get the OnePlus Nord, you’ll need to grab the application from this post on the OnePlus forum.
The applications open up today, July 21 and will close on July 28. OnePlus will announce the 50 people that have “won” on August 4. Allowing the folks to post reviews of them on August 31. Though it’s not quite clear where you will need to post the review – on their forums, on Twitter, Reddit, etc.
OnePlus has said that they will choose testers based on “their writing, photography and videography skills”. And the company also says that they want people who will “share their honest experience with OnePlus in a way that’s clear and detailed.”
Basically, how this Beta Test system is going to work, is that 50 people will have the chance to beta test the OnePlus Nord, and then post a review after a few weeks. It sounds like the majority of people won’t get to keep the device. So this is yet another way that OnePlus is using its fan base to drum up hype, instead of properly marketing the device.
OnePlus Nord is unlikely to launch in the US or Canada
A device like the OnePlus Nord would definitely sell well in North America, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to be coming to either the US or Canada, at all. Only in this beta test.
OnePlus is focusing on its larger markets – India and Europe – with the Nord. And it’s possible that due to COVID-19, OnePlus isn’t able to get as much stock as they’d like, to be able to launch it worldwide. Instead of only in India and Europe.
A $399 OnePlus Nord would sell like hotcakes in the US. Just look at how well the iPhone SE (2020) has been doing for Apple. Though, it would be tough for OnePlus to really compete with the iPhone SE (2020) in the US, given how large Apple is in the US.