DIY Framework Laptop 13 B-stock debuts as the brand's first sub-$500 offering

DIY laptop specialist Framework has announced the first notebook that's priced under $500, the B-stock Factory Seconds Laptop 13. As you may have guessed, there's a catch for this lower price tag. "Factory Seconds" B-stock systems are made with a combination of parts that are from other old laptops and new parts. In other words, you won't find them in top-notch condition.

As Framework explains, B-stock units come with an original display but have "slight cosmetic issues." To compare, "A-stock units contain a matte display," which can make you spend at least $679. The issues on B-stock systems could be "backlight non-uniformity" and/or "fine lines" on the screen's surface that you may notice when looking at the display from a certain angle or when it is white. You can see an example from the video attached at the end.

There's another caveat to this sub-$500 Laptop 13. It comes in barebones form, which means it doesn't have storage (WD_BLACK 1 TB curr. $84.99 on Amazon), memory (32 GB Crucial RAM kit curr. $71.99 on Amazon), and an operating system. If Framework had added those, the price tag wouldn't be under $500.

The last thing that you need to note for this B-stock Framework Laptop 13 is that it's basically the first-gen model. That is, it doesn't have the same hardware that you would find in the latest laptops. Also, the company is currently only offering the 1st-gen Intel variant for its Factory Seconds lineup.

More specifically, the $499 refurb option comes with the 11th gen Intel Core i7-1165G7, which is not really a bad option for a DIY system. Another good thing is that the Framework Laptop 13 comes with interchangeable motherboards. So, if you don't find the system powerful enough in the long run, you can simply upgrade to a more capable mainboard.