Lenovo ThinkPad 14" T490 2019, Core i7-8655U, 16GB, 256GB SSD, Black
The Intel Core i7-8655U processor paired with 16GB DDR4 RAM and a 256GB SSD handles multitasking and everyday workloads without slowdowns. The 14-inch IPS touchscreen with antiglare coating keeps viewing comfortable in varied lighting, while the backlit keyboard and Windows 11 Pro add practical usability. This laptop suits students who need a dependable, touch-enabled machine for note-taking, research, and light productivity, though its integrated graphics limit gaming potential.
No current retailer price
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
A used ThinkPad with 16GB of RAM for under CAD 400 is a no-brainer for students. Skip it if you want to game or edit video.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 16GB of RAM keeps multitasking smooth 99th
- Business-class build quality that lasts 82nd
- Touchscreen and backlit keyboard included 80th
- Ridiculously affordable at under CAD 400 66th
Cons
- Integrated graphics are nearly useless for gaming
- 256GB SSD fills up fast
- CPU is aging and shows it under heavy load
- Screen quality is just average
What owners think
The Word on the Street
The proof
Performance
The i7-8655U is a 4-core chip from 2018, and it sits in the 20th percentile for CPU performance in our database. That sounds rough, but for Word, Chrome with a dozen tabs, and Zoom calls, it's totally fine. The 16GB of RAM is the real hero here, keeping multitasking smooth even if the processor is showing its age. The integrated graphics are a weak spot, landing in the 6th percentile, so don't expect to play anything beyond Solitaire. The 256GB SSD is also on the small side, at the 16th percentile, so you'll be leaning on cloud storage or an external drive.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel Core i5 8365U |
| Cores | 4 |
| Frequency | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 16 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR4 |
| Storage | 256 GB |
| Storage Type | SSD |
Display
| Size | 14" |
| Panel | IPS |
Physical
| OS | Windows 11 Pro |
vs Competition
Against something like the Apple MacBook Pro M1 Pro, the T490 gets absolutely destroyed in performance, but it also costs a fraction of the price. The HP OmniBook X Flip and ASUS Vivobook are newer with better screens and CPUs, but you'll pay two to three times more. If you need a laptop for school or basic office work and don't care about having the latest silicon, the T490 makes those premium machines look like a waste of money. The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge is in another league entirely, but so is its price tag.
| Spec | Lenovo ThinkPad 14" T490 | Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max | ASUS ROG Zephyrus GA403WW-G14.R95080 | HP OMEN Transcend | MSI Raider RAIDERGE6814247 | Alienware Aurora LAC16251-9582BLU-PUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5 8365U | Apple M4 Max | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Intel Core Ultra 9 285H | Intel Core i9 14900HX | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX |
| RAM (GB) | 16 | 64 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 256 | 4096 | 2048 | 1024 | 2048 | 2048 |
| Screen | 14" | 14.2" 3024x1964 | 14" 2880x1800 | 14" 2880x1800 | 16" 3840x2160 | 16" 2560x1600 |
| GPU | - | Apple (40-Core) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 |
| OS | Windows 11 Pro | macOS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
| Weight (kg) | - | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| Battery (Wh) | - | 72 | - | 71 | 100 | 96 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | CPU | GPU | RAM | Ports | Screen | Portability | Storage | Reliability | Social Proof | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenovo ThinkPad 14" T490 | 20.1 | 6.3 | 36.3 | 13.1 | 39.1 | 66 | 15.8 | 81.8 | 79.7 | 98.5 |
| Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max Compare | 93.8 | 90.7 | 95.7 | 73.5 | 99.3 | 68.9 | 98.5 | 98.1 | 87.8 | 1.6 |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus GA403WW-G14.R95080 Compare | 91.2 | 97.4 | 90.9 | 89.4 | 96.5 | 73.6 | 89.8 | 60.4 | 98.4 | 5.4 |
| HP OMEN Transcend Compare | 90.1 | 92.6 | 89.7 | 89.4 | 96.5 | 72.3 | 65.3 | 33.4 | 97.3 | 8.4 |
| MSI Raider RAIDERGE6814247 Compare | 93.2 | 94.5 | 86.4 | 98.6 | 98 | 9.3 | 93.9 | 60.4 | 51.3 | 10.2 |
| Alienware Aurora LAC16251-9582BLU-PUS Compare | 97.2 | 92.6 | 86.4 | 83.3 | 90.7 | 12.6 | 89.8 | 4 | 98.4 | 14.1 |
Price
Value & Pricing
At CAD 290 to CAD 386, this thing is a steal. The cheapest listing at CAD 290 is the one to grab if you can. For less than the price of a mid-range tablet, you're getting a real laptop with 16GB of RAM and Windows 11 Pro. The 99th percentile affordability score isn't hype, this is one of the best value buys in our entire database.
Read more
Overview
The Lenovo ThinkPad T490 is a used business laptop that still punches above its weight for students and anyone who just needs a dependable machine for everyday work. You're getting an Intel Core i7-8655U, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD in a chassis that was built to survive office life. It's not flashy, but it's honest. The one thing to know: this is a value play, not a performance play.
Common Questions
Q: Can this laptop handle gaming?
No. The integrated graphics are in the 6th percentile of our database. You can play browser games and maybe some very old titles, but anything modern will be a slideshow.
Q: Is 256GB of storage enough?
For school and basic work, yes. But it's tight. You'll want to use cloud storage or grab an external SSD. If you install a lot of programs or keep big files locally, you'll feel the squeeze fast.
Q: Is a refurbished ThinkPad reliable?
ThinkPads are built like tanks, and this one has an 81st percentile reliability score. The seller also has a 4.9-star rating with buyers praising the condition. Just make sure you buy from a seller with a good return policy.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a laptop to edit video, run modern games, or do any kind of heavy creative work, this isn't it. Go grab something with a dedicated GPU and a newer CPU, like the ASUS Vivobook or a MacBook Pro. You'll pay more, but you won't be fighting the hardware.
Verdict
Buy it if you need a reliable, cheap laptop for school or basic work. The T490 is a known quantity, it's durable, and the 16GB of RAM means it won't choke on everyday tasks. Just don't expect it to be a gaming machine or a video editing rig. For the price, it's one of the easiest recommendations we can make.
Usage Scores
- Overall38.6
- AI/LLM13.3
- Gaming8.6
- Portability52.4
- Creator14.3
- Student81.9
- Business52.6
- Developer36.7
- Entertainment36.3
