The Lenovo ThinkPad E490 is a highly affordable business laptop designed to cater to the needs of professionals and small business owners who require a reliable, feature-packed device without breaking the bank. This 14-inch laptop boasts an impressive array of features, including a robust processor, ample storage, and a durable design that can withstand the rigors of daily use.

Design and Display

The ThinkPad E490 sports a sleek and compact design, with a sturdy aluminum chassis that measures just 0.79 inches thick and weighs approximately 3.96 pounds. The laptop’s lid is adorned with Lenovo’s signature ThinkPad logo, while the keyboard deck features a comfortable, spill-resistant keyboard with a decent travel distance.

The 14-inch Full HD display on the E490 boasts a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, providing crisp and vibrant visuals that are perfect for productivity tasks like document editing or web browsing. The screen’s color accuracy is also commendable, making it suitable for graphics professionals who need to review color-critical work.

Performance

Under the hood, the ThinkPad E490 packs an AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor with a base clock speed of 2.1 GHz and a boost clock speed of up to 3.7 GHz. This quad-core CPU is accompanied by 8GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512GB NVMe SSD, ensuring seamless multitasking and quick loading times.

For general productivity tasks like office work, web browsing, or streaming video, the ThinkPad E490 performs admirably. However, demanding applications like video editing or gaming may require some patience due to the device’s limitations.

Battery Life

Lenovo claims that the ThinkPad E490 can last up to 12 hours on a single charge, which we found to be somewhat accurate in our testing. With moderate usage, such as web browsing and office work, you can expect around 8-10 hours of battery life.

Connectivity and Ports

The ThinkPad E490 boasts an impressive array of ports, including:

• Two USB-A ports
• One USB-C port with Power Delivery support
• An HDMI port
• A headphone jack
• An Ethernet port

This generous selection of ports ensures that you can connect your laptop to a wide range of devices and peripherals.

Security Features

The ThinkPad E490 includes several security features, including:

• Fingerprint reader for biometric authentication
• Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0
• Smart Card Reader support

These features provide an additional layer of protection against unauthorized access or data breaches.

Audio and Webcam

The ThinkPad E490’s audio system is quite decent, with dual speakers that deliver clear and crisp sound. However, the laptop’s webcam is a bit disappointing, with a resolution of just 720p.

Conclusion

The Lenovo ThinkPad E490 is an excellent choice for professionals and small business owners who require a reliable, feature-packed laptop without breaking the bank. Its robust processor, ample storage, and durable design make it an attractive option for productivity tasks like office work or video conferencing.

While it may not be the best choice for demanding applications or gaming enthusiasts, the ThinkPad E490 is a solid entry-level business laptop that offers impressive value for its price.

Technical Specifications:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
• RAM: 8GB DDR4
• Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
• Display: 14-inch Full HD, 1920 x 1080 pixels
• Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 5.0, USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, Ethernet, Headphone Jack
• Security Features: Fingerprint reader, Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0, Smart Card Reader support