OnePlus 5 is out of stock across the world, is it being discontinued? [Updated]

Update, November 21: When the OnePlus 5 started disappearing from OnePlus online store in various locations, we speculated that it might have had its day. It now appears that this is the case, based on a quote from OnePlus India's General Manager Vikas Aggarwal during an interview with The India Express:

"If you look at our previous phone, the OnePlus 3T, the last batch was sold out during Diwali and now the product will be discontinued. The same goes for the OnePlus 5, which will also be sold out in sometime, and we'll have only one product, [the] OnePlus 5T, in the market."

This, says Aggarwal, is simply part of OnePlus' strategy to maintain a product line featuring only its latest smartphone. Thus, once the OnePlus 6 arrives, you can expect the OnePlus 5T to be discontinued shortly thereafter also. Note that though these comments related to the Indian market, where the OnePlus 5 can still be purchased on the online store, the strategy is unlikely to differ in other regions; the device has been unavailable for the past month in the US, UK and elsewhere, showing no signs of return.

This is a strategy that can frustrate some fans, who might prefer to get a lesser model at a lower price than only have the option of the latest, most expensive edition, but it makes sense given the size of OnePlus. Let's not forget that it was only with the OnePlus 3 that the company was able to let go of its invite-only purchase system which had helped it keep overheads down as it established itself in the market. If you're not a technology giant like Samsung, Apple, Huawei etc, supporting multiple devices at once can be a significant challenge.

Previous coverage, October 16: Despite being on the market for just four months, it looks like you can no longer get your hands on the OnePlus 5. The flagship smartphone is currently listed as out of stock on the company's website in numerous countries across the globe.

We checked the availability of the OnePlus 5 in dozens of the markets where OnePlus is officially active and, as of this writing, the OnePlus 5 is only available in India, where all versions are listed as "in stock" and the UK, where the Soft Gold 6GB model is still available. (Update: the phone is out of stock in the UK too).

Everywhere else, the OnePlus 5 is listed as out of stock. Moreover, on the US and Canada websites, the "Buy" button the OnePlus 5 has been removed completely, meaning that customers can't even attempt to begin the purchase process.

So, what exactly is going on? OnePlus hasn't issued a statement regarding this topic, so all we can do is speculate at this point. It's possible that the company is having supply issues and that the device will soon be back in stock. However, the more likely option is that OnePlus is clearing its inventory to make room for the rumored OnePlus 5T, which is said to be revealed sometime next month. The device is expected to come with the same specs as the OnePlus 5 but will offer a larger 6-inch display (2,160 x 1,080) with an 18:9 aspect ratio and a bezel-less design.

If the OnePlus 5T really does make its debut next month, the company's current flagship will likely be discontinued in most markets. It was the same story with the 3T, which was discontinued everywhere with the exception of India once the OnePlus 5 was released.

The OnePlus 5 was still listed as available in many countries – at least in some configurations – when we checked earlier today, so it looks like OnePlus has just flipped the switch. If, by chance, you can still order, you should probably hurry up and complete the transaction.

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