Lenovo ThinkPad X390 vs. T490

Lenovo ThinkPad X390 vs. T490: Which is the right one for you?

Lenovo's ThinkPad series has always been at the top when it comes to good performance and longevity, particularly if the user is a professional. Lenovo ThinkPad X390 vs. T490 tells us each is a powerful machine and greatly productive for security, portability, and productivity; nevertheless, which best fits you? This comparison will review and compare both these models concerning features, specifications, and pros and cons.

Detailed Comparison Of Lenovo ThinkPad X390 vs. T490

Design and Build Quality

The Lenovo ThinkPad X390 is designed for professionals always on the go. This product is compact and lightweight in design, making it easy to carry around. This 13.3-inch display provides the perfect balance of portability with screen size for the mobile users who seek these qualities. Its sleek dimensions in a slimmer design make it great for fitting into teeny-tiny workspaces or small bags.

On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad T490 provide a slightly larger 14-inch screen to which those who need more space on the screen will be particularly attracted. The T490 is still portable but a little thicker for holding better toughness. Both will rely on Lenovo's excellent quality of build, with carbon fibre and magnesium re-inforced casings that renders both machines extremely resistant to the daily tribulations at work.

Display and Visual Experience

Lenovo ThinkPad X390 and T490 offer quite decent display options. The X390 comes with a 13.3-inch display, available with Full HD (1920x1080) with IPS technology, providing sharp and vivid images suitable for daily office work, document editing, and modest multimedia use.

The alternative in the T490 is a much high WQHD of 2560x1440 on its 14-inch display, therefore resulting in much sharper images and color correctness. This therefore makes the T490 a much more believable choice for workers who are involved in the design or content creation professions who need sharp precision colors.

Also Read: Laptop vs Tablet Which Device is Best for You?

Performance and Processor Options

For most buyers, the space of interest in comparison between Lenovo's ThinkPad X390 and the T490 is performance. Both offer options with Intel's 8th Generation Core processors, but the T490 seems to have a bit more powerful offerings, including Intel's Core i7 processors capable of coping with heavy workloads.

The X390 is great for power efficiency and mobility, so excellent for professionals that require performance, consistent and reliable on the move. If you do a lot of heavy work multitasking or applications that require a little more processing power, then the T490 would be better as it has the better CPU options.

Portability and Battery Life

Of course, the second advantage that comes by having X390 over T490 is portability. The former weighs just above 1.3 kg and is thus light and easy to carry. That fits perfectly for the professional who cannot miss a single meeting.

Long battery life is crucial, and the models do quite well in this regard. The X390 boasts very long battery life of up to about 14 hours on a single charge. The T490 also features extended battery life but may run for only a few hours less depending on the specific model one chooses, running approximately 12 hours. However, with Lenovo Rapid Charge technology, users can rapidly reach up to 80 percent battery capacity in just one hour, which both models benefit greatly from.

Connectivity and Ports

Of course, the connectivity department of both devices offers many ports like USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, and an audio jack. In this connection aspect, however, Lenovo ThinkPad T490 beats X390 since it adds another Thunderbolt 3 port to offer faster data transfer speeds and, therefore, give more options to connect external devices and monitors.

The T490 would be near-usable for users who require connecting several peripherals or are intending to make use of external high-speed storage devices.

Keyboard and Typing Comfort

Both of the Lenovo ThinkPad X390 and T490 come with Lenovo's excellent keyboards, providing excellent key travel and the tactile feedback a well-designed keyboard should offer - along with excellent typing comfort. The larger body does place for a bit more roomy design, however, in the T490, something some users may feel works better for long typing sessions.

Security Features

Another area Lenovo ThinkPad series conquered is security. Both X390 and T490 feature superior security features such as fingerprint readers along with an IR camera for facial recognition, optional. Furthermore, it is equipped with Lenovo's ThinkShutter camera cover for further enhanced privacy.

There is not much difference in regard to security between the Lenovo ThinkPad X390 and the T490 as both variants equally use the same series of security tools that are bound to protect your data and keep you confidential.

Audio Quality

However, in video conferencing, presentation, or consumption of other media, audio quality becomes a significant concern. The Lenovo ThinkPad T490 is equipped with an improved sound system than X390 because of the high-end Dolby Audio Premium loudspeakers. Even though clear audio won't be an issue with the X390, audiophony in the T490 tends to sound richer and fuller than X390, which may give advantages to those holding video calls several times a week and have multimedia applications.

Pricing and Value for Money

In general, it is less expensive, but it still is a good value for the budget-conscious customer who wants a powerful yet portable computer. Meanwhile, the T490 is generally pricier mainly because it has more and better options for a display, plus far more powerful configurations and greater options to connect to other devices.

But the price difference will be justified if the extra functionalities of the T490 will be required by you. For value-hunting customers comparing the Lenovo ThinkPad X390 and T490, it is wise to consider which feature is most important to your workflow.

Also Read: Mac vs PC Which is Right for You?

Lenovo ThinkPad X390 vs. T490: Who Should Choose What?

Choose Lenovo ThinkPad X390 if:

  • Portability and weight are your top priorities.
  • You prefer a more compact laptop that’s easy to carry.
  • You require long battery life for extended use away from a power source.
  • You’re on a tighter budget but still need a reliable, professional-grade laptop.

Choose Lenovo ThinkPad T490 if:

  • You need a slightly larger screen and sharper resolution.
  • Your work involves more demanding applications or multitasking.
  • You require faster connectivity options like Thunderbolt 3.
  • Audio quality is important for your video conferencing or media needs.

Final Verdict

Lenovo ThinkPad X390 vs. T490 Comparison: Both of these laptops will do excellent work in their respective categories. It has retained the favorite ultra-portable performer position in the ThinkPad X390, and the ThinkPad T490 is specially built for those whose power or flexibility needs are further. So, preferences will entirely depend on one's needs, budget, and purpose of use.

To know more about Lenovo laptops, or to find the perfect ThinkPad for your requirements, kindly visit PCMart and check the entire catalog for yourselves. From the portability of the model to its powerful attributes, Lenovo's ThinkPad offers a model that definitely meets every professional's demand.

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