Here's how you could get your hands on a OnePlus 8 flagship before launch

The OnePlus 8 flagships are coming and all signs point to an April launch, unless OnePlus changes its plans due to the coronavirus situation. Meanwhile, the company has opened up its Lab program for those who want to get their hands on the new OnePlus flagships even before the official launch.

OnePlus’ The Lab initiative brings together community members and enthusiasts to review its latest smartphones. It was previously conducted for phones like the OnePlus 7 Pro and OnePlus 7T. The program is now up and running for the OnePlus 8 series.

“Join the Lab, and I will ship the mysterious new phone to your hands, before the launch event! You know what the best part is? You get to keep it in the end,” a OnePlus staffer wrote in an official forum post announcing the initiative.

OnePlus will invite 10 participants to be among the first to get a OnePlus 8 flagship. It could be the regular OnePlus 8 or the OnePlus 8 Pro. However, the company hasn’t specified the name of the handset, referring to it only as “the flagship.”

How to participate in The Lab program

Everyone and anyone can participate in the OnePlus Lab program, including non-OnePlus users. However, at least six out of the 10 seats are reserved for the company’s forum users. Those who create an account after this announcement will not count as forum users.

Applications for the new program will remain open until April 1, 5AM ET. Reviewers for the new OnePlus 8 flagship will be chosen according to their writing, photography and videography skills. Selected reviewers will be announced on April 2, 9AM ET.

If you’re interested in participating, you can head to the OnePlus forum post for more details about the program. You could also go here to directly sign up for The Lab.