Lenovo ThinkPad T490 Review: Why This Lenovo Workhorse Remains a Smart Refurbished Choice?

Introduction

Launched in 2019, the Lenovo ThinkPad T490 quickly became a staple for professionals and enterprises worldwide. Known for its durability, outstanding keyboard, and enterprise-grade security features, the T490 embodied what the ThinkPad brand is most famous for: reliability.

In 2025, this machine is no longer the latest or flashiest notebook, but in the refurbished laptop market, the T490 continues to stand tall. It offers a powerful mix of portability, performance, and upgrade flexibility — all at a price that’s hard to ignore. Many professionals, students, and even small businesses continue to choose the T490 over newer ultrabooks because of its proven reliability and repair-friendly design.

But how does the ThinkPad T490 hold up against modern competitors like the ThinkPad T14 Gen 3, Dell Latitude 7000 series, or HP EliteBook 840 G9? Let’s dive deep into its design, features, performance, and why it’s still a strong contender in 2025.

Specifications Overview

Design and Build Quality

The ThinkPad T490 carries forward Lenovo’s timeless matte black industrial design. While minimalistic, it immediately conveys a sense of professionalism. Built with a combination of magnesium and glass-fiber reinforced materials, the chassis is designed to pass MIL-STD 810G durability tests, ensuring it can withstand the rigors of travel, daily commutes, and workplace environments.

At 1.44 kg, it is lighter than older ThinkPad models yet still sturdy. The keyboard deck feels solid with minimal flex, and the hinge is strong enough to allow one-handed opening while maintaining rigidity.

The ThinkPad keyboard is often cited as the gold standard for laptops, and the T490 maintains that reputation. The sculpted keys, satisfying travel, and tactile feedback make typing on it a joy, whether you’re drafting reports, coding, or answering emails for hours. The TrackPoint (red nub in the middle) remains a favorite among long-time ThinkPad users, and the glass touchpad is smooth and precise.

For security, the T490 integrates a fingerprint reader, dTPM 2.0 chip, and an optional IR camera for Windows Hello login. Lenovo also added a ThinkShutter physical cover for the webcam — a small but thoughtful privacy feature.

Display and Audio

One of the standout features of the ThinkPad T490 is its display versatility. The unit we’re reviewing comes with a 14-inch WQHD (2560×1440) panel, which delivers crisp visuals and wide color accuracy. Even the Full HD variant performs well for office tasks, but the WQHD version shines for professionals working on presentations, documents, and creative tasks.

Brightness levels peak around 400 nits, enough for outdoor or bright-office use. Color reproduction is solid, covering nearly 100% of the sRGB spectrum. It’s not a creator-focused display like the MacBook Pro’s Retina or XDR panels, but for a business ultrabook, it is impressive.

Audio is handled by Dolby Audio-enabled stereo speakers. While not groundbreaking, they are more than adequate for video calls, multimedia, and casual music listening. The dual far-field microphones ensure clear voice capture during meetings.

Performance and Everyday Usage

Under the hood, the ThinkPad T490 packs an Intel Core i7 8th Gen (Whiskey Lake) processor with four cores. Paired with 16 GB DDR4 RAM, it delivers consistent performance for productivity tasks such as:

• Running Microsoft Office Suite, Slack, and Teams simultaneously
• Handling 20+ Chrome tabs without lag
• Video conferencing while multitasking
• Light photo editing on Photoshop or Figma
• Programming in IDEs like Visual Studio Code or Eclipse

While it lacks the raw power of Apple Silicon M-series or Intel’s newer 12th–14th Gen chips, the T490 remains capable. Its expandable RAM and SSD options extend its life, making it more future-proof than many modern ultrabooks with soldered memory.

For graphics, the Intel UHD 620 isn’t meant for heavy gaming or 3D rendering. However, it performs adequately for light multimedia editing and productivity. This was always intended to be a business laptop, and it excels in that role.

Battery Life

The ThinkPad T490 introduced Lenovo’s Power Bridge technology, which combines an internal battery with a removable external battery. This allows users to hot-swap batteries without shutting down the laptop — a feature few modern notebooks offer.

With the standard 50 Wh battery, the T490 lasts around 7–9 hours under office workloads. Swapping in a larger extended battery can push usage beyond 12 hours, making it a great travel companion.

Compared to modern ultrabooks that boast all-day battery life, the T490 still holds its ground, especially considering you can carry a spare battery for extended use.

Connectivity and Ports

Unlike many modern slim laptops, the ThinkPad T490 offers a rich set of ports:

• 1× USB-C Thunderbolt 3
• 2× USB-A (USB 3.1)
• HDMI 1.4
• RJ-45 (Ethernet via adapter)
• microSD card reader
• 3.5 mm audio jack

This port selection allows professionals to connect projectors, external monitors, USB drives, and accessories without carrying multiple dongles.

For wireless, it comes with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) support and Bluetooth 5.0, ensuring stable and modern connectivity.

Why the ThinkPad T490 Still Matters in 2025

Despite being several years old, the ThinkPad T490 continues to be popular in the refurbished market. Here’s why it still matters:

• Durability and longevity: Built to military standards, the T490 is designed to last.
• Upgradability: Expandable RAM and storage are rare in modern ultrabooks.
• Keyboard and typing comfort: Still among the best for professionals.
• Value for money: Refurbished units are available at half the price of modern business laptops.
• Security features: Fingerprint reader, dTPM, ThinkShutter, and IR camera support.

Comparison with Modern Alternatives

The table highlights a key reality: newer models are faster and more efficient, but they cost nearly 2–3× more. The T490 remains one of the best value-for-money options in 2025, especially for professionals who need a durable workhorse on a budget.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Rugged build with MIL-STD certification
• Best-in-class ThinkPad keyboard and TrackPoint
• Expandable RAM and SSD
• Excellent security features
• Swappable external battery for extended life
• Affordable pricing in refurbished market

Cons

• Outdated Intel 8th Gen processor
• Integrated graphics not suitable for demanding creative work
• Bulkier compared to ultrathin modern laptops
• Display lacks HDR or high refresh rate options

Why Buying Refurbished Makes Sense

The refurbished market in 2025 is thriving, and the ThinkPad T490 is among the most popular models for professionals and students. Here’s why:

1. Affordability: A refurbished T490 can be bought for under ₹45,000, compared to newer ThinkPads costing over ₹1,00,000.
2. Reliability: ThinkPads are built to last, and even a 5–6-year-old unit can perform strongly.
3. Upgradability: Unlike many sealed ultrabooks, the T490 allows you to upgrade storage and memory.
4. Sustainability: Refurbishing extends the lifecycle of premium laptops and reduces e-waste.

For users who don’t need cutting-edge CPUs or GPUs, a refurbished T490 remains one of the smartest purchases in the market.

Conclusion

The Lenovo ThinkPad T490 may no longer be Lenovo’s latest flagship, but in 2025, it continues to prove why ThinkPads are loved worldwide. With its rugged durability, legendary keyboard, reliable performance, and upgradable design, it stands as a smart and affordable choice for professionals, students, and businesses.

While newer ThinkPads, Latitudes, and EliteBooks are faster and sleeker, they also come at a premium price. For those who value durability, typing comfort, and upgrade flexibility, the T490 remains a business classic that delivers more value than many modern laptops in its price range.

If you are shopping for a dependable refurbished laptop that balances cost, performance, and longevity, the Lenovo ThinkPad T490 is still a top recommendation in 2025.

FAQs

Q: Is the Lenovo ThinkPad T490 still good in 2025?
A: Yes, the ThinkPad T490 is still a reliable laptop in 2025, especially when bought refurbished. It handles office productivity, multitasking, and professional workloads with ease.

Q: Can the T490 run modern software smoothly?
A: Absolutely. The T490 supports Windows 11 and runs modern applications like MS Office, Zoom, and productivity tools efficiently. However, it’s not designed for gaming or heavy GPU rendering.

Q: How is the battery life on a refurbished T490?
A: On average, you can expect 7–9 hours depending on your usage. With Lenovo’s Power Bridge technology, you can also swap external batteries for extended life.

Q: Can I upgrade RAM and storage in the T490?
A: Yes. The T490 offers RAM and SSD expansion, making it more flexible and future-proof compared to many modern sealed ultrabooks.

Q: How does the T490 compare to newer ThinkPads?
A: Newer ThinkPads (like the T14 Gen 3) feature faster processors and better power efficiency, but they come at a much higher cost. The T490 remains unmatched in terms of value, durability, and serviceability as a refurbished option.