OnePlus sells 30,000 OnePlus 2 smartphones in just 64 seconds

OnePlus launched its second ever smartphone, the OnePlus 2, on 27 July and just like the original smartphone from the company it requires those looking to buy one to have an invite in order to get their hands on it.

However in a surprise sale through its official website in China, the company put 30,000 units of the new smartphone up for sale without the need for an invite on 4 August, a week ahead of the official launch in Europe and the US on 11 August.

Unsurprisingly however the sale didn't last for too long, with all units being sold in just 64 seconds according to a post on Chinese social media website Weibo by the company. The company said that because the production capacity was still ramping up, stock was limited.

The demand for the new smartphone, which promises premium specs together with a budget price of £239, is hardly surprising when you consider that almost 2 million people have registered their interest in the smartphone, and the company says that upwards of 500 people turned up in person for a chance to simply see the phone in London last Friday (31 July), some of them queueing for over 10 hours.

No invites in China

OnePlus' Eric Zarshenas who heads up its European operation told IBTimes UK at the UK launch that China has never been a hugely important market for the company despite being located there, with no invites being distributed in its home country for the company's OnePlus One smartphone. The company is also targeting Europe and the US with its second phone, putting it on sale in these regions first from 11 August.

However, the company is clearly keen to measure interest in the phone and shipping devices to China is much easier than to Europe and the United States, and so it's message on Weibo said that a second sale would take place on 11 August at 10am local time - though there is no indication how many units will be on sale this time around.

However it appears as if buyers in China don't need an invite like those in the US and Europe do.

Following a lot of frustration from those looking to buy the OnePlus One last year, the company says it has tweaked its invitation system this time around, anticipating much higher-demand for OnePlus 2 with Zarshenas saying they will have up to 50 times the stock compared to 2014. There are a number of ways to get hold of an invite, including following the company social media accounts, signing up for the OnePlus forums or if you want to register your interest and join the back of the 2-million strong queue, you can do so on the OnePlus website.