Lenovo · 2019 · end of life
Lenovo ThinkPad T490
Whiskey Lake
A 2019 business workhorse that refuses to die: clean Intel Linux support, real S3 sleep, the old ThinkPad keyboard, around 230 dollars refurbished.
from $230 last seen 2026-05-18
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- Best for office and web work study basic everyday use
- Linux: out of box
Scorecard
Mean of six category scores, 0 to 10. Compiled from public sources. How we rate.
Strongest on keyboard, weakest on speed.
- Battery 5/10
- Display 5/10
- Build 7/10
- Keyboard 9/10
- Speed 4/10
- Value 8/10
Worth knowing
Stands out
- Linux runs out of the box
Watch for
- Discontinued, sold from remaining stock
- Dim 250-nit screen, weak in bright light
Linux
Excellent · Best on ubuntu LTS. Confidence: high · How we score
Linux compatibility, per distro
- Ubuntu LTS Out of the box
- Wi-Fi : works
- Bluetooth : works
- Fingerprint : needs tweak
- Webcam : works
- Audio : works
- Suspend : works
Whiskey Lake on Intel UHD 620 is about as boring as Linux gets, in the good way. Webcam is a plain UVC unit, no IPU mess.
Show full report
The Synaptics Prometheus fingerprint reader needs a fwupd firmware push and recent libfprint before it pairs with fprintd. 8 GB is soldered, one SO-DIMM slot for the rest, so plan around that.
- Fedora Out of the box
- Wi-Fi : works
- Bluetooth : works
- Fingerprint : needs tweak
- Webcam : works
- Audio : works
- Suspend : works
Same story on Fedora. S3 deep sleep still works on this generation if BIOS is set to Linux/Legacy sleep, which is a real reason people still hunt these down used.
ArchWiki: ThinkPad T490 →
See the broader picture in the Linux compatibility hub, the full compatibility matrix, and the buying guides.
Specs
| CPU | Intel Core i5-8265U / i7-8565U |
|---|---|
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics 620 (integrated) |
| RAM | 16 GB (one free slot to add more) |
| Storage | 512 GB |
| Screen | 14" 1920x1080 @ 60Hz, 250 nitsbest kept indoors |
| Weight | 1.55 kglight for daily carry |
| Battery | 50 Wh, around 6 h real-world |
Common questions
- Does the Lenovo ThinkPad T490 (Whiskey Lake) work with Linux?
- Yes, on a clean install it works with no tweaking (verified on Ubuntu LTS, Fedora). Whiskey Lake on Intel UHD 620 is about as boring as Linux gets, in the good way.
- What does the Lenovo ThinkPad T490 (Whiskey Lake) cost?
- Last seen around 230 USD (2026-05-18). It is discontinued, so prices vary with remaining stock.
- Is the Lenovo ThinkPad T490 (Whiskey Lake) good for office and web work?
- For office and web work we score it 8/10 on value and 4/10 on performance.
- How heavy is the Lenovo ThinkPad T490 (Whiskey Lake)?
- 1.55 kg (3.42 lb). That's manageable for occasional travel.
- What's the battery life like?
- A 50 Wh pack, around 6 hours real-world mixed use. We score battery 5/10.
- Can I upgrade the RAM or storage?
- RAM is partly soldered with one slot free, so you can add a stick but not replace the base 16 GB. Storage starts at 512 GB on this configuration.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T490 (Whiskey Lake) is discontinued
The price below is the last we saw, kept for reference. See the current alternatives further down.
from $230 last seen 2026-05-18
Find remaining Lenovo stockAs an Amazon Associate (US, NL, DE, UK programs), qualifying purchases via this link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Other markets not yet enrolled. How we make money. Verified 2026-05-18.
