Lenovo ThinkPad T490s

The Lenovo ThinkPad T490s is a lightweight, premium business laptop designed for professionals who need reliable performance, portability, and robust security features. It strikes a balance between power, durability, and productivity, making it ideal for frequent travelers, office workers, and those requiring dependable computing. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the Lenovo ThinkPad T490s:

Design & Build

• Material: The ThinkPad T490s features a combination of carbon fiber (on the top cover) and magnesium alloy (on the bottom), providing a solid yet lightweight build. This design maintains the rugged durability that ThinkPads are known for while keeping the device slim.
• Weight & Thickness: Weighing just 2.81 pounds (1.27 kg) and measuring 0.63 inches thick (16.1 mm), the T490s is designed for portability. It’s easy to carry around without compromising on sturdiness.
• ThinkPad Design Language: The laptop retains the iconic ThinkPad design, including the black matte finish, red TrackPoint nub, and sturdy keyboard. It also meets MIL-STD-810G military-grade standards, ensuring it can withstand extreme conditions such as drops, shocks, dust, and temperature fluctuations.

Display

• Size: The ThinkPad T490s comes with a 14-inch display, offering a good balance between screen size and portability.
• Display Options:
  • Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS panel: The base model features a Full HD panel that delivers sharp images and wide viewing angles. This is the most common choice for office workers and general users.
  • WQHD (2560 x 1440) IPS display: For users needing more detail, there’s a higher resolution option, ideal for professionals working with detailed visual content.
  • PrivacyGuard display: An optional Full HD PrivacyGuard display with 500 nits brightness helps protect sensitive data from prying eyes by narrowing the screen’s viewing angles.
  • Low power FHD display: A special 400-nit low-power version for extended battery life without sacrificing brightness.
  • Touchscreen: A Full HD touchscreen option is available for users who prefer a touch interface for greater flexibility in interactions.
• Brightness & Color: The base Full HD screen offers 300 nits of brightness, while the WQHD and PrivacyGuard models offer up to 500 nits, making it suitable for outdoor use and well-lit environments.

Performance

• Processor Options: The T490s is powered by Intel's 8th Generation Whiskey Lake processors, providing strong performance for multitasking, business applications, and more demanding workloads:
  • Intel Core i5 or Core i7 options, with quad-core configurations, and Turbo Boost technology for handling complex tasks.
  • The Intel Core i7 models offer extra power for tasks like data analysis, video editing, and running virtual machines.
• RAM: The laptop comes with 8GB or 16GB of LPDDR3 RAM (soldered), ensuring smooth multitasking and responsiveness. The memory is fast and power-efficient, though it is not user-upgradable.
• Storage:
  • Equipped with SSD storage ranging from 256GB to 1TB PCIe NVMe, which ensures fast boot times, quick file access, and enhanced system performance.
  • The SSDs are known for being reliable and fast, further enhancing the user experience by reducing load times and improving overall productivity.

Graphics

• Integrated Graphics: The ThinkPad T490s features Intel UHD Graphics 620, which is more than adequate for everyday tasks like web browsing, video streaming, and running office applications. While it’s not designed for gaming or heavy graphical workloads, it can handle light image and video editing.
• Dedicated Graphics (Optional): Some configurations offer NVIDIA GeForce MX250 with 2GB of GDDR5 memory, providing a boost in graphics performance for users who need more graphical power for creative work or more intensive applications.

Battery Life

• Battery Capacity: The ThinkPad T490s features a 57Wh internal battery that offers excellent battery life.
• Battery Life: Depending on the configuration and usage, the T490s can last up to 20 hours on a single charge, making it one of the top choices for users who need long-lasting performance while on the go.
• Rapid Charge: The device supports Rapid Charge technology, allowing it to charge up to 80% in just an hour, minimizing downtime and ensuring you stay productive throughout the day.

Keyboard & Trackpad

• Keyboard: The ThinkPad T490s offers the legendary ThinkPad keyboard, known for its comfortable typing experience with:
  • 1.8mm key travel, providing tactile feedback for extended typing sessions.
  • Backlit keyboard for easy typing in low-light conditions.
• TrackPoint & Trackpad: The red TrackPoint in the middle of the keyboard provides precise navigation without moving your hands from the keyboard.
  • The glass touchpad supports Windows Precision drivers, ensuring smooth and responsive gestures like pinch-to-zoom and multi-finger scrolling.

Ports & Connectivity

• The Lenovo ThinkPad T490s offers a wide array of ports, catering to professionals who need to connect multiple devices without relying on adapters:
  • Two USB-C ports (one with Thunderbolt 3 support) for high-speed data transfer, external display connections, and charging.
  • Two USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 ports for traditional peripherals like keyboards, mice, and storage drives.
  • HDMI 1.4 port for connecting to external displays or projectors.
  • MicroSD card reader for quick media transfer.
  • 3.5mm audio jack for headphones and microphones.
  • RJ45 Ethernet via side docking connector for a stable wired internet connection.
• Wi-Fi & Bluetooth: The laptop is equipped with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) for faster wireless connections and Bluetooth 5.0 for better connectivity with wireless peripherals.
• Optional LTE: Select models offer optional LTE-A (Cat 9) support, allowing for mobile broadband connectivity, ideal for users who need internet access while traveling without relying on Wi-Fi.

Security Features

• ThinkShutter Privacy Cover: The 720p HD webcam includes a physical ThinkShutter privacy cover, which blocks the camera to ensure privacy when the camera is not in use.
• Fingerprint Reader: The T490s is equipped with a match-on-chip fingerprint reader, which stores biometric data on a separate chip for better security.
• dTPM 2.0 Chip: The discrete Trusted Platform Module (dTPM) chip encrypts sensitive data, enhancing protection against unauthorized access.
• Windows Hello: Support for Windows Hello facial recognition (via the IR camera option) for secure, password-free login.

Audio

• Speakers: The T490s features dual speakers with Dolby Audio for improved sound clarity and volume. While the speakers are not as powerful as larger multimedia laptops, they offer clear audio for video calls and media consumption.
• Microphones: The laptop includes dual far-field microphones, making it suitable for clear voice capture during conference calls or virtual meetings, even in noisy environments.

Operating System

• The ThinkPad T490s typically comes pre-installed with Windows 10 Pro, offering advanced security features, business management tools, and multi-tasking capabilities. It’s also eligible for updates to Windows 11 for users seeking a more modern interface.

Overall Experience

The Lenovo ThinkPad T490s is a fantastic option for professionals who prioritize portability, durability, and long battery life. It excels in business environments due to its reliable performance, excellent keyboard, and wide array of connectivity options. The laptop offers strong security features and meets the demands of modern businesses while remaining light and compact for travel.

With its multiple display options, robust build quality, and customizable configurations (up to Core i7, WQHD display, and discrete graphics), the T490s is versatile enough for users in fields ranging from finance to design.

Conclusion

The Lenovo ThinkPad T490s is a well-rounded business laptop with a blend of performance, portability, and reliability. Its powerful Intel processors, high-quality display options, and comprehensive security features make it ideal for business professionals, while its long battery life and lightweight design ensure it’s perfect for working on the go.