Sellers of used or refurbished "shells" often drop the price significantly because they've removed the drive to protect their data or sell the high-value SSD separately.

Buying a laptop without a hard drive (HDD/SSD) is an uncommon but effective strategy for power users, security-conscious buyers, or budget-conscious enthusiasts looking to install their own high-performance storage. Why Buy a Laptop Without a Drive?

Finding a brand-new laptop without a drive is rare from mainstream retailers like Best Buy or Dell, as they ship with pre-installed operating systems. However, you can find them here:

Corporate surplus centers often pull drives for security before selling off batches of professional-grade laptops like ThinkPads or Latitudes. Crucial Checklist Before Buying

Sites like eBay or AliExpress are prime spots for "no HDD/SSD" listings, often labeled as "for parts or repair" even if the only missing component is the storage.

Brands like System76 or Framework offer DIY editions where you can choose "no storage" during configuration.