'Borderline scam' 1.1TB HP laptop deal on Amazon draws consumer ire, laptop has 128GB SSD and 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage — 'generous' $499 third-party laptop deal sounds too good to be true, because it is

Source: Tom’s Hardware

Image credit: Getty Images

Misleading Storage Claims

If you’re looking for a new laptop, you’ll need to double‑check the storage on those listings. A worrying new trend shows that third‑party sellers of popular laptop brands are marketing their laptops with terabytes of storage, despite only including a 128 GB physical SSD. The remainder is made up of Microsoft OneDrive cloud storage, leading one angry commentator to call it a “borderline scam.”

Reddit and Social Media Reports

Image credit: Future

The practice was highlighted a few weeks ago on Reddit. A post in the r/LinusTechTips subreddit showed HP laptops being sold with misleading headlines, such as “1.2 TB of storage” where the 128 GB of physical storage was relegated to the second line of the description. Similar issues were reported on Newegg, though those listings appear to have been removed for now.

Amazon Listings

At Amazon, the issue persists. Multiple laptops are listed with headlines like “1.1 TB Storage (1 TB OneDrive + 128 GB SSD).” One example is an HP laptop priced at $499.99 — sold by a third‑party seller with a long feedback history. The listing includes only a one‑year subscription to Microsoft 365 (which provides the OneDrive storage). After the first year, the “1.1 TB” claim will no longer be valid without an additional subscription.

Public Reaction

A post on X by Max Weinbach showcasing another HP laptop on sale garnered nearly 1 million views, with hundreds of reposts and comments. One user labeled the listing a “borderline scam,” although there is no indication that any illegal activity is occurring.

Consumer Advice

Even if the practice isn’t illegal, it can leave buyers with an inferior product. Tech‑savvy shoppers should watch for the storage ruse, while less experienced consumers might end up with a laptop that offers far less local storage than advertised.

Takeaway: When buying a laptop—especially from a third‑party seller—always verify the specifications. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.