Lenovo ThinkPad T490 vs. T490s: Which should you buy?

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Lenovo ThinkPad T490 vs. T490s: Which should you buy?

We test and review the latest laptops here at Windows Key, including the ThinkPad T490 and its slimmed-down sibling, the T490s. If yous're wondering which model is better suited for your needs, we can help.

xiv-inch concern Ultrabook

Lenovo ThinkPad T490

Slimmed-down T490

Lenovo ThinkPad T490s

The T490 is a scrap thicker and heavier than the T490s, but it does include a full-size Ethernet port, upgradeable RAM and solid-state drive (SSD), and a dedicated graphics card (GPU) option for extra functioning. Information technology can also be had with a stunning WQHD display with HDR.

From $one,334 at Lenovo

Pros

• Beautiful WQHD brandish pick with HDR
• Comfortable keyboard, Precision touchpad
• Plenty of ports including Ethernet
• Can upgrade RAM and SSD
• Dedicated GPU bachelor

Cons

• Bit thicker and heavier than T490s
• Smaller 50Wh bombardment

The T490s is the better choice if you lot want something that's as portable as possible, but it lacks full-size Ethernet, upgradeable RAM, and the microSD card reader is in an inconvenient spot. Information technology does, oddly, have a larger battery and information technology can be had in a silver end.

From $one,232 at Lenovo

Pros

• Larger battery than T490
• Decent port option
• Thinner and lighter than T490
• Silver colour terminate is available
• Tin can upgrade M.two SSD

Cons

• No full-size Ethernet
• Soldered RAM
• microSD card reader difficult to access

The ThinkPad T490 and T490s are both clearly cutting from the same cloth despite the latter option being a bit more portable. If you need extra functioning, merely the T490 comes with an optional NVIDIA MX250 dedicated GPU, and it'southward also your but choice if you'd similar a display with WQHD resolution and HDR. The T490s does have a larger bombardment that volition ultimately provide longer life with similar hardware, though RAM is not upgradeable like in the T490.

Both laptops provide optional LTE connectivity, both have generous port option (with some differences), and both are bachelor with FHD low-power display. Let's take a look at a breakdown of specs bachelor beyond both models.

ThinkPad T490 vs. T490s tech specs

	ThinkPad T490	ThinkPad T490s
Processor	eighth Gen Intel Core i5-8265U Intel Core i5-8365U vPro Intel Core i7-8565U Intel Core i7-8665U vPro	8th Gen Intel Core i5-8265U Intel Core i5-8365U vPro Intel Cadre i7-8565U Intel Core i7-8665U vPro
RAM	8GB, 16GB, 32GB DDR4-2400MHz	8GB, 16GB, 32GB DDR4-2400MHz
Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB Grand.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
Display size	14 inches	fourteen inches
Display resolution	1366x768 (Hard disk drive) not-touch 1920x1080 (FHD) non-touch 1920x1080 (FHD) impact 1920x1080 (FHD) low-power, not-affect 2560x1440 (WQHD) non-touch on	1920x1080 (FHD) non-touch 1920x1080 (FHD) touch 1920x1080 (FHD) low-power, non-touch
Graphics	Intel UHD 620 NVIDIA MX250 (2GB)	Intel UHD 620
Ports	USB-C 3.1 Thunderbolt 3 Two USB-A 3.one HDMI ane.four RJ45 Ethernet microSD card reader Micro-SIM Smart Card reader 3.5mm sound	USB-C 3.one Thunderbolt iii Two USB-A 3.one HDMI 1.iv Lenovo Ethernet Adapter microSD bill of fare reader Micro-SIM Smart Menu reader 3.5mm sound
LTE	Fibocom L850-GL 4G LTE-A	Fibocom L850-GL 4G LTE-A
Biometrics	Fingerprint reader IR photographic camera	Fingerprint reader IR camera
Photographic camera	Front-facing 720p Webcam shutter	Front end-facing 720p Webcam shutter
Battery	50Wh	57Wh
Dimensions	12.95 inches ten 8.94 inches x 0.lxx inches (329mm ten 227mm x 17.9mm)	12.95 inches x viii.89 inches ten 0.63 inches (329mm x 225.8mm x 16.1mm)
Weight	From iii.23 pounds (i.46kg)	From two.81 pounds (1.27kg)
Colour	Blackness	Black, Silver

Design and features

From a distance, these two laptops wait identical, though the T490s keeps its weight lower than the T490 partly thanks to a thinner chassis (0.63 inches compared to 0.lxx inches). If you demand the nigh portable selection possible, get with the T490s. Both laptops have passed MIL-STD 810G durability testing to prove they can withstand weather condition non normally seen in an office setting, and both have dual-hinge setups for the lid that allows them to open about 180 degrees.

Port selection is nigh the same except for the Ethernet port and location of the microSD card reader. The T490 has the full RJ45 hookup on its right side, besides equally a handy card reader on the left side, allowing you lot to quickly pop in actress storage for piece of cake transfers. With the T490s, you'll have to invest in Lenovo'southward proprietary Ethernet dongle to get a full-size connectedness.

The microSD carte reader on the slimmer laptop is arranged with the Micro-SIM slot along the back edge of the laptop, significant you will need a SIM extractor tool every time you want to pop in or out a card. It's far less user-friendly, merely only if you're often using removable storage. Yeah, both laptops characteristic LTE-A connectivity if you want to stay connected everywhere.

Both laptops feature a fingerprint reader built into the right palmrest, and both have the option to add an IR camera to continue with the standard 720p webcam with privacy shutter. Both also have a dTPM 2.0 chip and Kensington lock slot.

Display

Both laptops have a number of enticing display options, including 1080p bear upon and non-bear upon, and both take a 1080p depression-ability selection that is ideal for extending battery life as far as possible. A 1080p option with PrivacyGuard — a filter that effectively blocks out anyone but you from seeing your screen — is expected for both laptops onetime this year.

For Enterprise buys or if you want to continue your buy as on upkeep as possible, the T490 has a 768p pick. It'south pretty drab and unexciting, but it'due south there. Likewise, if y'all desire to go above FHD, only the T490 has a WQHD non-affect display option that hits 500 nits effulgence cheers to Dolby Vision HDR. In our testing, it hit 100% sRGB and AdobeRGB color reproduction, making it an ideal pick for anyone working with editing or pattern software.

Performance and price

Cheers to an optional NVIDIA MX250 dedicated GPU with 2GB of GDDR5 VRAM, the ThinkPad T490 should exist your go-to choice if you want to bask a better gaming feel or if you're looking at a flake of specialized work. The T490s is stuck with integrated Intel UHD 620 graphics, which is too the baseline option in the T490 if you lot don't opt for the MX250.

Other than the GPU, the other main divergence in performance between these two laptops is RAM. The T490 can be taken apart afterwards buy for a RAM upgrade, while the T490s is stuck with whatever yous choose from the manufactory. This mostly elevates the price since you volition desire to select as much as you think yous'll demand for years to come, whereas you can salve money with the T490 by going with low RAM and upgrading later.

The G.2 SSD in the T490 and the Thousand.two SSD in the T490s tin both exist upgraded later on purchase, which in both cases can save yous money at checkout. Both laptops have 8th Gen Core i5 and Cadre i7 processor (CPU) options, equally well every bit vPro counterparts, which offer potent performance.

The T490s portability factor is heightened by a larger 57Wh battery, allowing you to go longer without a charge. Combined with a low-ability display selection, y'all should expect upwards of ten hours of life from a charge. The T490 would come close with a similar depression-power display, but the 50Wh battery won't quite offer the aforementioned life.

Every bit for price, the T490 tin be had for a lower starting cost thanks to the HD display choice, and prices for the T490 practice remain marginally cheaper as you calibration upwardly in hardware. Lenovo does, however, fluctuate its prices often based on coupons and online discounts, and then you might see a different state of affairs when ownership.

The ThinkPad T490 is the better pick for virtually people

Thank you to more than brandish choices, including WQHD HDR, a dedicated GPU option, and full-size Ethernet, the T490 is a more than versatile selection. It also has LTE connectivity and decent battery life, especially if you opt for the low-ability display.

14-inch business Ultrabook

Lenovo ThinkPad T490

Dedicated GPU, WQHD HDR display options

It'due south a fleck thicker and heavier than the T490s, but more people should observe a suitable configuration with the T490. Savour comfortable keyboard, strong performance, and durable build.

The ThinkPad T490s is the more portable choice

Cheers to a slimmer and lighter body, LTE connectivity, and larger battery, the T490s is the better option for those who desire to stay every bit mobile equally possible. It will generally price a bit more the T490, simply it will be worth it for those on the route.

Slimmed-down T490

Lenovo ThinkPad T490s

Thinner, lighter, and better bombardment life

The T490s makes a groovy portable pick for lovers of the T-series ThinkPads, though information technology lacks some features institute in the T490. Nonetheless, y'all'll notice all-twenty-four hours battery life, powerful hardware options, a comfortable keyboard, and low-power display option.

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Cale Hunt

Cale Hunt is a staff writer at Windows Central. He focuses mainly on PC, laptop, and accessory coverage, as well equally the emerging earth of VR. He is an gorging PC gamer and multi-platform user, and spends most of his time either tinkering with or writing about tech.

Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/lenovo-thinkpad-t490-vs-t490s

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