Lenovo ThinkPad E490: A Reliable and Feature-Packed Budget Business Laptop

The Lenovo ThinkPad E490 is a well-crafted budget business laptop that checks most of the right boxes for professionals and students alike. As part of Lenovo’s popular ThinkPad series, the E490 boasts a robust design, impressive performance, and an array of features that make it an attractive option in its price range.

Design and Build Quality

The ThinkPad E490 sports a sleek and durable aluminum chassis with a matte finish, which provides excellent grip and protection against scratches. The laptop’s dimensions are 13.3 x 9.2 x 0.8 inches (338 x 234 x 20 mm), making it compact enough to fit into most briefcases or backpacks.

The keyboard is a highlight of the ThinkPad E490, featuring Lenovo’s signature scissor-switch mechanism with backlighting for improved typing experience in low-light environments. The touchpad is also responsive and accurate, supporting multi-gesture recognition for smooth navigation.

Performance

Under the hood, the ThinkPad E490 is powered by up to 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10510U processor, paired with up to 16GB of DDR4 RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. This configuration delivers snappy performance for everyday tasks like web browsing, email, document editing, and even some light multimedia content creation.

For gaming enthusiasts, the ThinkPad E490’s integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 may not be the best option, but it still handles casual games and streaming with ease. For serious gamers, Lenovo offers a dedicated graphics card option, the NVIDIA GeForce MX250, which provides improved performance for more demanding titles.

Display

The ThinkPad E490 features a 14-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) display with anti-glare coating and a matte finish, reducing reflections and eye strain in bright environments. While colors may not be as vibrant as on higher-end laptops, the display remains crisp and clear for everyday tasks.

Battery Life

Lenovo claims up to 11 hours of battery life for the ThinkPad E490, which we found to be accurate during our testing. The laptop’s 45Wh battery pack provides ample power for a full day of work or study sessions, making it an excellent choice for users on-the-go.

Connectivity and Ports

The ThinkPad E490 offers a generous selection of ports, including two USB-A ports, one USB-C port with Power Delivery support, an HDMI output, an Ethernet jack, and a headphone jack. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.0 ensure seamless connectivity to your network and peripherals.

Security Features

The ThinkPad E490 features Lenovo’s proprietary ThinkShutter camera shutter, which physically covers the webcam when not in use, providing an added layer of security against unauthorized access. Additionally, the laptop includes a fingerprint reader for secure biometric authentication.

Conclusion

The Lenovo ThinkPad E490 is a solid budget business laptop that offers impressive performance, robust build quality, and an array of features at an affordable price point. While it may not be the most powerful device in its class, the E490 provides reliable performance for everyday tasks and is an excellent choice for professionals and students who need a dependable laptop without breaking the bank.

Technical Specifications:

  • Processor: Up to 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10510U
  • RAM: Up to 16GB DDR4
  • Storage: Up to 512GB SSD
  • Display: 14-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080), anti-glare coating, matte finish
  • Battery Life: Up to 11 hours
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-A, USB-C (with Power Delivery support), HDMI, Ethernet, headphone jack
  • Camera: 720p HD webcam with ThinkShutter camera shutter
  • Weight: Starting at 3.96 pounds (1.79 kg)
  • Dimensions: 13.3 x 9.2 x 0.8 inches (338 x 234 x 20 mm)