Before two of its most anticipated launches of the year, OnePlus is inviting the public into its inner circle — a quiet acknowledgment that authentic voices carry weight in a world saturated with marketing. Through The Lab programme, twenty reviewers will hold unreleased hardware before nearly anyone else, earning the right to keep what they test if they meet their obligation to write honestly and on time. It is a small ritual of trust between a technology company and the people who help others decide what is worth their money.
OnePlus Opens 'The Lab' for 10 Reviewers to Test Buds Pro and Nord 2 5G
If you complete and submit your review on time, you get to keep the hardware.
Mark
Why does OnePlus bother with this? They could just send review units to tech publications.
Mimi
They could, but this approach reaches a different audience—individual creators, bloggers, people with smaller platforms. It democratizes early access and generates organic coverage across more voices.
Mark
So it's cheaper than traditional PR?
Mimi
Partly, but it's also smarter. A reviewer who earned the device by competing for it tends to write with more investment. And they're selecting for people who can actually photograph and write well, not just anyone with a following.
Mark
What happens if someone submits a bad review?
Mimi
They still keep the device. The FAQ makes clear that as long as you submit on time, it's yours. OnePlus is betting on the quality of the people they select, not policing the opinions afterward.
Mark
That's a lot of trust.
Mimi
It is. But think about it—they're choosing from people who've already proven they can review thoughtfully. The selection process does the heavy lifting.
The Pulse
- OnePlus is racing toward a July 22 dual launch in India and Europe, and it wants independent reviews ready the moment the curtain drops.
- Only 20 spots exist — 10 per device — creating real competition among tech writers, photographers, and gadget enthusiasts who want early access to the Nord 2 5G and Buds Pro.
- The application window is narrow: submissions close July 17, winners are named July 20, leaving almost no margin for hesitation.
- Selected reviewers face a hard deadline of one week to submit their coverage — miss it, and the device goes back; meet it, and the hardware is yours to keep.
- The programme explicitly bars anyone who participated in beta tests for either product, pushing OnePlus toward fresher, unfiltered perspectives.
Before two of its most anticipated launches of the year, OnePlus is inviting the public into its inner circle — a quiet acknowledgment that authentic voices carry weight in a world saturated with marketing. Through The Lab programme, twenty reviewers will hold unreleased hardware before nearly anyone else, earning the right to keep what they test if they meet their obligation to write honestly and on time. It is a small ritual of trust between a technology company and the people who help others decide what is worth their money.
OnePlus is opening a rare window ahead of two major launches this month, recruiting twenty reviewers through its returning Lab programme to test the unreleased OnePlus Buds Pro and OnePlus Nord 2 5G before their official July 22 debut in India and Europe.
The Nord 2 5G arrives as the successor to last year's Nord, built around a MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI processor — a tuned variant of the standard chip. The Buds Pro follow the existing Buds and Buds Z lines and are widely expected to introduce active noise cancellation, though OnePlus has yet to confirm specifications for either product.
Applicants choose between two tracks on The Lab website — one for each device — and must submit a review form alongside proof of their reviewing experience, whether a personal write-up of a device they own or a link to published work. Self-taken photographs from their current smartphone are also required. The deadline to apply is July 17, with winners announced on July 20.
The incentive is straightforward: receive the device, submit a thorough review within one week, and keep the hardware. Selection weighs writing quality, photography, tech knowledge, and content creation history. Those who previously participated in beta programmes for either product are not eligible.
The Lab is a recurring OnePlus initiative, designed to surface genuine voices before or around launch. This round offers something rarer — hands-on time with two significant products before they reach the market at all.
OnePlus is opening its doors to a small group of reviewers before two major product launches later this month. The company's The Lab programme is recruiting twenty people total—ten for each device—to test the unreleased OnePlus Buds Pro wireless earphones and the OnePlus Nord 2 5G smartphone ahead of their official unveiling on July 22 in India and Europe.
The Nord 2 5G will be the successor to last year's OnePlus Nord, powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI processor, an enhanced variant of the standard Dimensity 1200 chip. The Buds Pro, meanwhile, will follow the OnePlus Buds and OnePlus Buds Z lineups and are expected to feature active noise cancellation, though OnePlus has released no official specifications yet. Both products will debut on the same day.
The application process is straightforward. Interested participants visit The Lab website, where they'll find two separate tracks—one for the Nord 2 Edition and one for the Buds Pro Edition. Applicants fill out a form providing their email, country, occupation, and other details. The company asks for proof of reviewing experience: either a review of a device you currently own or a link to a published review you've written elsewhere. You'll also need to upload photographs of your current smartphone that you've taken yourself. Applications close on July 17, and OnePlus will announce the ten winners for each product on July 20.
Once selected, winners receive their test devices and have one week to write and submit a review. This is where the incentive kicks in: if you complete and submit your review on time, you get to keep the hardware. The selection criteria focus on writing quality, photography skills, experience with tech gadgets, your review history, and any other content creation work you've done. Previous participants in OnePlus's beta test programmes for either the Nord 2 or Buds Pro are ineligible.
The Lab is not a new initiative for OnePlus. The company regularly runs the programme to give early access to upcoming or recently released products, with the best reviewers earning the right to keep what they've tested. This particular round represents a chance to get hands-on time with two significant releases before they hit the market, provided you can turn around thoughtful, timely coverage.
Notable Quotes
Yes, provided both reviews are completed and submitted on time.— OnePlus The Lab FAQ, on whether reviewers get to keep the devices
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