We could end our verdict at this point, but the situation is a little more complex when you compare the ThinkPad T490s with its predecessor and Lenovo's other 14-inch laptops. A look at the current portfolio of high-quality business devices shows that all series are more similar than ever.

sturdy and high-quality chassis; very good 1080p screen (matte; bright; almost full sRGB gamut; long battery runtime; excellent keyboard; quiet operation; very good system performance; WWAN-ready; 3-year warranty

worse maintenance options (RAM; Wi-Fi; keyboard; cooling worse compared to T480s; no more dedicated GPU; worse CPU performance compared to predecessor; slow response times of the panel; only microSD reader with awkward position; fan quickly reacts to load; especially on mains

Lenovo's T-Series is back with a new update: the ThinkPad T490s. This model brings the classic ThinkPad design that has proven so popular over the years, combining it with an aesthetic similar to the older X1 Carbon models.

Excellent display and keyboard; Slimmest and lightest T-Series model; Rapid charging; Wide array of ports; Battery gets through full workday

Gets a bit warm on the bottom with heavy use

The Lenovo ThinkPad T490s is a pretty great laptop, and particularly so because I can't think of any real drawbacks to buying one. Perhaps the biggest con is the display, which is somewhat mediocre.

We reviewed Lenovo's standard ThinkPad T490 , refreshed for 2019, and noted its port selection, gorgeous display options, and chassis that was thinner and lighter than the T480. Now we have the ThinkPad T490s in our hands, which is a slimmed-down version that has quite a few of the same features,...

Keyboard has deep travel despite the thin body; All-day battery life; Beautiful low-power display; Packed with ports; 4G LTE connectivity available

Soldered RAM; No full-size Ethernet port

I would jump at the chance to upgrade the laptop's display to 400 nits without needing to pay for cellular connectivity. I also wish Lenovo would bring back the WQHD screen option it offered on last year's ThinkPad T480s.

Chassis is thin yet durable; Stellar keyboard; Quiet operation; Useful selection of ports including Thunderbolt 3

Dim display; High-resolution screen no longer available

The Lenovo ThinkPad T490s is a serviceable business notebook with a comfortable keyboard, lots of ports, sufficient power from an Intel Core i5-8265 processor and a bright, crisp screen.

Comfortable keyboard; Bright screen; Strong battery life; Lots of ports

Average performance; Quiet audio; High price

The new Lenovo ThinkPad T490s lands in a marketplace crowded with high-performance ultrabooks offering similar performance for the same money – or less. Can this retro-looking Windows 10 laptop, with its old-school pointing stick and three-button trackpad, cut it in 2019

Solid construction; High-quality display; Good battery life; Built-in security features; The classic design hasn't changed

Extension required for Ethernet connection; The classic design hasn't changed..

Lenovo doesn't tinker with the basic design and usability of its ThinkPad laptops very much. So the keyboard here is as good as ever, being responsive and effortless to work with.

Sturdy and lightweight; Excellent keyboard; All-day battery life; Rapid charge support

Top-end configurations are expensive; No discrete GPU option

Bought a T490s to replace my T410s W7 that was 8 years old. Glad I did too. This new W10 laptop with a 512GB SSD is quick. Puts my old laptop to shame. Very glad I upgraded, though have to admit I did it only because my last hinge repair ended in display issues.

A brilliant lightweight computer with a superb screen and excellent battery life. The only thing it lacks is a discrete graphics chip

Spacious keyboard; Superb colour accuracy; Broad choice of spec configurations

Sub-par webcam quality