The Lenovo ThinkPad E490 is a highly-regarded business laptop that offers an impressive combination of performance, battery life, and features. As part of Lenovo’s ThinkPad series, the E490 has been designed with professionals in mind, providing a robust and reliable device for everyday tasks, on-the-go productivity, and even demanding applications.

Design and Display

The ThinkPad E490 boasts a sleek and durable design, featuring a magnesium alloy chassis that provides excellent durability and resistance to scratches. The laptop’s dimensions are 13.3 x 9.5 x 0.8 inches (HWD), making it relatively compact and lightweight for its class.

The display on the ThinkPad E490 is a highlight of this device. With a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, the 14-inch Full HD touchscreen offers crisp and vibrant visuals. The screen’s brightness is suitable for indoor use, although it may struggle in extremely bright environments.

Performance

Under the hood, the ThinkPad E490 is powered by up to 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10510U processor, along with up to 16GB of RAM and a range of storage options including SSDs and HDDs. This configuration provides more than enough power for demanding applications like video editing, software development, or data analysis.

In our testing, the ThinkPad E490 delivered impressive performance results, easily handling tasks such as multitasking, streaming, and even some gaming. Lenovo has also included a dedicated TPM chip for added security features like Windows Hello facial recognition.

Battery Life

One of the standout features of the ThinkPad E490 is its impressive battery life. According to Lenovo, users can expect up to 14 hours of web browsing or 13 hours of video playback on a single charge. In our testing, we achieved around 12-13 hours of mixed usage, which is still quite respectable.

Connectivity and Ports

The ThinkPad E490 features an abundance of ports, including two USB-A ports, one USB-C port with support for Power Delivery, an HDMI port, and an SD card slot. The device also supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.0 for seamless connectivity.

Keyboard and Audio

The ThinkPad E490 features a classic Lenovo keyboard that offers excellent tactile feedback, accuracy, and comfort during extended typing sessions. The laptop’s speakers are also well-suited for everyday use, providing clear and balanced audio with decent volume levels.

Security Features

Lenovo has included several security features in the ThinkPad E490, including:

• Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0
• Windows Hello facial recognition
• Kensington lock
• Fingerprint reader

These features provide an added layer of protection for sensitive data and ensure that your device remains secure.

Verdict

The Lenovo ThinkPad E490 is a powerful and portable business laptop that offers an impressive combination of performance, battery life, and features. Its durable design, robust performance, and comprehensive security features make it an excellent choice for professionals who need a reliable device for everyday tasks or demanding applications.

With its competitive pricing starting at around $600 (base model) and going up to $1,200 (high-end configuration), the ThinkPad E490 is definitely worth considering for those in search of a powerful and portable business laptop.

Technical Specifications:

• Processor: Up to 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10510U
• RAM: Up to 16GB
• Storage: SSD or HDD options available
• Display: 14-inch Full HD touchscreen, 1920 x 1080 pixels
• Battery Life: Up to 14 hours web browsing or 13 hours video playback
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-A, USB-C (with Power Delivery support), HDMI, SD card slot
• Security Features: TPM 2.0, Windows Hello facial recognition, Kensington lock, Fingerprint reader