ThinkPad T490: what to check before buying

Updated 10 Sep 2026Refurbished / used

The ThinkPad T490 can be excellent value, but the model name alone is not enough. Listings differ in CPU, RAM, storage, display, keyboard, battery condition and seller support.

Seven checks before checkout

1. CPU: verify the exact processor. An 8th-generation quad-core Core i5 is already a useful baseline; do not pay a large premium for an i7 unless the rest of the listing is also better.

2. Memory: confirm installed RAM and whether the seller's specification is total memory, not only one module.

3. SSD: confirm capacity and that the machine actually uses SSD/NVMe storage.

4. Screen: confirm resolution and touch/non-touch status. T490 listings can differ materially here.

5. Keyboard: check the physical layout. A bargain from another EU country may have a non-Spanish layout.

6. Battery: ask for battery health, capacity or a minimum-performance commitment if the listing does not state it.

7. Returns and seller: read the actual return policy and seller feedback. A lower price does not compensate for an unusable return process.

Price discipline: our 10 September 2026 research found T490 examples from about €190 to more than €300 depending on seller, grade and configuration. That spread is why ISS@OUI scores the entire offer, not the model name.