Lenovo ThinkPad 14" T490 2020, Core i7-8565U, 16GB, 512GB SSD, Black

The ThinkPad T490's CPU ranks at the 9th percentile, slower than 91% of laptops in our database. But its reliability score of 81st percentile is a standout for a machine this old. At USD 491 it's a decent budget business laptop, but at USD 1,600 you're paying way too much for 2018 hardware.

Let's be blunt: the i7-8565U is old silicon. It's a 4-core, 8-thread chip from 2018 with a 1.8GHz base clock and 4.6GHz boost. In our database, it ranks at the 9th percentile for CPUs, which puts it near the bottom of the charts. For everyday office work, email, and web browsing, it's still serviceable. But throw anything heavy at it, like video editing or large spreadsheets, and you'll feel the age. The integrated Intel UHD 620 graphics are a weak spot too, sitting at the 36th percentile. Don't even think about gaming on this thing, the gaming score is 12.9 out of 100, which is one of the worst we've seen.

The 512GB NVMe SSD is a bright spot. It's not the fastest drive on the market, but it's quick enough to make boot times and app launches feel snappy. The 16GB of DDR4 RAM is adequate for multitasking, though it ranks at the 26th percentile, which is underwhelming for a machine marketed as a business laptop. The 14-inch FHD IPS display is fine for productivity, but it's nothing to write home about. Colors are accurate enough for documents and spreadsheets, but don't expect vibrant media consumption.

Against the Apple MacBook Air M4, this ThinkPad gets absolutely demolished. The M4 chip is in a completely different league, and the Air's display, battery life, and build quality are all superior. The MSI Prestige and ASUS Zenbook also outclass the T490 in nearly every metric, with newer CPUs, better displays, and faster storage. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition and HP OmniBook X Flip are similarly ahead. The only area where the T490 holds its own is reliability, where its 81st percentile score is genuinely competitive. But reliability alone doesn't justify the price when you can get a modern laptop with better performance, better battery life, and a better display for similar money. The T490's port selection is actually decent, with Thunderbolt 3, USB-C, two USB-A ports, HDMI, and Ethernet, which is more than you get on many modern ultrabooks. But that's a small consolation when the CPU is this far behind.

Pricing is all over the place for this laptop. In the US, listings range from USD 491 to USD 1,600 across 4 listings. That's a spread of USD 1,109, which is wild. If you can find one near the USD 491 mark, it's a decent deal for a reliable business laptop. But at USD 1,600, you're paying way too much for 2018-era hardware. In Europe, the spread is even crazier, EUR 1,958 to EUR 3,006 across 3 listings. That's a EUR 1,048 difference. The best deal in the US is at the lower end of that range, and honestly, that's the only price point where this laptop makes sense. Paying anywhere near the top of these ranges is a mistake when you can get a modern laptop with far better performance for the same money.

The Lenovo ThinkPad T490 is a business laptop from a different era, and the numbers show it. The Intel Core i7-8565U sits at the 9th percentile for CPUs in our database, which means it's slower than 91% of the laptops we've tested. The integrated Intel UHD 620 graphics aren't much better, landing at the 36th percentile. But this machine wasn't built for benchmarks, it was built to be a reliable workhorse, and that's where it still holds up. Reliability comes in at the 81st percentile, which is genuinely impressive for a laptop this old.

The 14-inch 1920x1080 IPS display is fine but unremarkable at the 41st percentile. The 512GB NVMe SSD is solid, middle of the pack at the 52nd percentile. The 16GB of DDR4 RAM is actually a weak spot at the 26th percentile, which is surprising for a ThinkPad. At 1.47kg, it's compact enough to carry around, landing at the 78th percentile for portability. The 50Wh battery is nothing special, but it'll get you through a workday if you're not pushing it hard.

Skip this if you need any kind of real performance. The 9th percentile CPU ranking means this laptop struggles with anything beyond basic office work. The 12.9 gaming score is a non-starter for gamers. The 26th percentile RAM ranking is disappointing for a business machine, and the 41st percentile display is mediocre. If you're a student, the 58.4 student score suggests there are better options. And if you're paying anywhere near the USD 1,600 or EUR 3,006 listings, you're getting fleeced. Modern laptops with far better specs are available for less.

The Lenovo ThinkPad T490 is a relic from 2018 that still works, but only if you find it at the right price. The 9th percentile CPU ranking is a dealbreaker for anyone who needs real performance. The 12.9 gaming score means this is strictly a productivity machine. But the 81st percentile reliability score is genuinely impressive, and the build quality is classic ThinkPad. If you can snag one for around USD 491, it's a reasonable budget business laptop. At anything above that, especially the USD 1,600 or EUR 3,006 listings, you're getting ripped off. There are far better options available for less money.