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In this article, I give you my Lenovo ThinkPad T490 (2019) review with specs included. There were big changes from the last generation T480. You know, lately with the T series they just kind of get a new generation CPU refresh, get a little thinner, a little lighter. Well, this one certainly has gotten thinner and lighter. Again, in fact a lot of ways it’s more like last year’s T480s.

Thinner Design but No More Bridge Battery

One of the biggest changes to the ThinkPad T490 is the removal of Lenovo’s popular Bridge Battery system. Previous T-series models combined an internal battery with a removable external battery, allowing users to swap batteries while on the go and achieve extremely long runtimes.

The T490 replaces that setup with a single internal battery. Lenovo likely made this change to reduce weight and thickness, while also recognizing that USB-C power banks have become a common way to extend battery life. Although some users will miss the flexibility of removable batteries, the new design helps keep the laptop slimmer and more modern.

The traditional 2.5-inch hard drive bay is also gone. Given the affordability and performance of modern SSDs, most buyers probably won’t mind, although IT departments may miss the lower-cost storage options.

Pricing and Configurations

The ThinkPad T490 starts at around $850 in the United States for a basic configuration featuring:

• Intel Core i5 processor
• 8GB RAM
• 128GB SSD
• 1366 x 768 display

However, the base display is unlikely to appeal to most users. Lenovo offers several better screen options that significantly improve the overall experience.

The review configuration included:

• Intel Core i7 processor
• 16GB RAM
• 512GB NVMe SSD
• WQHD wide-gamut display

This setup costs approximately $1,440 through Lenovo’s website.

Display Options

Lenovo offers several display choices for the T490:

• 1366 x 768 TN panel
• Full HD (1920 x 1080) non-touch
• Full HD touchscreen
• Upcoming privacy screen option
• Premium WQHD IPS wide-gamut display

The high-end WQHD panel is particularly impressive. It is the same display found in certain configurations of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon and offers exceptional image quality. Color reproduction reaches 100% Adobe RGB coverage, making it suitable for photographers, designers, and other creative professionals.

Brightness is rated at 500 nits, and testing showed real-world results close to that figure. While the display is glossy and non-touch, the visual quality more than makes up for those compromises.

Hardware and Performance

The ThinkPad T490 uses Intel’s 8th-generation Whiskey Lake processors, including both Core i5 and Core i7 options. These are standard 15-watt quad-core ultrabook CPUs that deliver strong productivity performance.

Storage is handled through a PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD, providing excellent speeds. Memory configuration includes:

• 8GB soldered directly to the motherboard
• One user-accessible RAM slot

This design allows upgrades up to 48GB of total memory, although Lenovo officially sells configurations with up to 32GB.

The review unit relied on Intel UHD integrated graphics, though certain configurations can be equipped with Nvidia MX250 dedicated graphics for additional performance.

Overall system responsiveness is excellent, with fast boot times and strong benchmark results typical of premium business ultrabooks.

Ports and Connectivity

The ThinkPad T490 maintains one of the key advantages of the T-series: excellent connectivity.

Available ports include:

• Thunderbolt 3
• USB-C with Power Delivery
• Multiple USB-A ports
• HDMI
• Ethernet
• Headphone jack

Unlike thinner models such as the ThinkPad X1 Carbon or T490s, the standard T490 still includes a built-in Ethernet port, making it particularly attractive for business users who need wired networking without adapters.

Keyboard and Input Devices

As expected, Lenovo’s keyboard remains one of the strongest features of the ThinkPad lineup.

The T490 offers:

• Excellent key travel
• Comfortable sculpted keycaps
• Firm keyboard deck with minimal flex
• White backlighting

The touchpad is responsive and accurate, while the iconic red TrackPoint remains available for longtime ThinkPad users who prefer that navigation method.

Cooling and Acoustics

Thermal management is well handled on the T490. During everyday tasks such as web browsing and office work, the cooling fan is often barely noticeable.

Under heavier workloads, the fan becomes audible but never excessively loud. Lenovo has refined its cooling systems over the years, resulting in a machine that stays quiet and comfortable during most usage scenarios.

Battery Life

The ThinkPad T490 uses a 50Wh battery, which is slightly smaller than the 57Wh units found in the X1 Carbon and T490s.

Battery life depends heavily on configuration. The review model featured:

• Core i7 processor
• WQHD display
• 16GB RAM
• Integrated graphics

Under typical productivity workloads, it delivered around seven hours of battery life.

Lenovo’s 65W fast charger helps offset this by allowing quick recharging when needed.

Internal Design and Upgradeability

Accessing the internals requires removing the bottom cover by unscrewing the captive Phillips-head screws and carefully prying the panel loose.

Inside, users will find:

• 50Wh battery
• Single RAM expansion slot
• M.2 NVMe SSD
• Optional LTE modem slot
• Nano SIM card slot
• Cooling system with a large heat pipe and fan

The Wi-Fi card is soldered to the motherboard, which has become increasingly common among modern ultrabooks.

Final Verdict

The Lenovo ThinkPad T490 serves as an excellent alternative to the more expensive ThinkPad X1 Carbon. While it isn’t quite as thin or lightweight, it offers many of the same advantages, including identical processor options and access to the same outstanding display panels.

Its generous port selection, upgradeable memory, strong build quality, and excellent keyboard make it a compelling business laptop. Although the loss of the Bridge Battery system may disappoint longtime ThinkPad fans, the T490 remains one of the most practical and well-rounded business notebooks in its class.