ThinkPad T490s with Linux: A Turning Point for the T Series

As a long-time ThinkPad user, I published a video review of the Lenovo ThinkPad T490s, a slim and lightweight business laptop from 2019 that represents a major shift in the ThinkPad T-series design philosophy. While it retains iconic features such as a sturdy chassis, the TrackPoint, and the physical camera shutter, the T490s also introduces design changes that mark a turning point in the ThinkPad T-series, in my personal opinion not all of them for the better.

Powered by 8th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors and fast SSD storage, the T490s targets professionals who need a quiet, efficient 14-inch laptop for work on the move. However, when compared to its predecessor, the ThinkPad T480s, some compromises become hard to ignore.

In the video, I broke down where the ThinkPad T490s succeeds and more importantly, where Lenovo design choices fall short. I also explore how running a Linux distribution like Ubuntu impacts performance, usability, and battery life, and whether the ThinkPad T490s still makes sense as a second-hand purchase today.