Lenovo ThinkPad T480 vs Lenovo ThinkPad T490

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

ThinkPad T480 compared with ThinkPad T490
LenovoThinkPad T480LenovoThinkPad T490
Overview
ReleasedJanuary 2018March 2019
Display
Screen size14″14″
Resolution1920 × 10801920 × 1080
PanelIPS LCDIPS LCD
Brightness250 nits400 nits (better)
TouchscreenNoNo
Display typeListed FHD IPS panel; HD 1366 × 768 TN and WQHD 2560 × 1440 IPS also offered; WQHD 300 nits and 72% stated gamutListed low-power FHD IPS panel, 72% NTSC; optional HD TN, standard FHD IPS, FHD touch, Privacy Guard FHD and 2560 × 1440 WQHD IPS with Dolby Vision HDR, 500 nits and 100% Adobe RGB
Screen finishAnti-glare; optional on-cell ten-point touch on FHDAnti-glare except glossy WQHD
Performance
ProcessorIntel Core i5-8250UIntel Core i5-8265U
CPU cores44
CPU threads88
GraphicsIntel UHD Graphics 620Intel UHD Graphics for 8th Generation Intel Processors
Memory8 GB8 GB
Storage256 GB256 GB
CPU7th-generation dual-core or 8th-generation Core processors; listed configuration verified by Windows Central8th-generation quad-core Core i5/i7; later 10th-generation configurations outside EMEA; listed 20N2004EGE configuration verified by Notebookcheck; available by March 2019 according to contemporaneous Notebookcheck coverage, ahead of maker's planned May launch
GPUListed configuration uses integrated UHD Graphics 620; optional GeForce MX150 2 GB GDDR5 on other configurations, limited to Core i7 in EMEAListed configuration uses integrated Intel UHD Graphics; optional GeForce MX250 2 GB GDDR5 on other configurations
Memory typeDDR4-2400; two SO-DIMM sockets, up to 32 GB; 7th-generation processors run memory at 2133 MHzDDR4-2400; 8 or 16 GB soldered plus one SO-DIMM socket; up to 40 or 48 GB respectively
Storage typeOne 2.5-inch SATA bay or M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe drive; M.2 adapter limits drive connection to PCIe 3.0 ×2; optional 128 GB second SSD occupies the WWAN slotOne replaceable M.2 drive; PCIe 3.0 ×4 NVMe for 2280 or ×2 for 2242; SATA 2280 not offered in EMEA; listed 256 GB PCIe NVMe drive (Notebookcheck)
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 14.4 hoursUp to 16.11 hours
Battery capacity48 Wh50 Wh (better)
Weight1.58 kg1.46 kg (better)
Thickness19.95 mm17.9 mm (better)
Width × depth336.6 × 232.5 mm329 × 227 mm
Battery life detailListed capacity and MobileMark 2014 claim use optional 24 Wh internal plus 24 Wh external battery; external 48 Wh and 72 Wh packs also offered, up to 29 hours with integrated graphics and 24 + 72 Wh; starting weight shown for integrated graphics and Magnesium cover with small battery combinationIntegrated 50 Wh; up to 16.11 hours MobileMark 2014 or 17.8 hours JEITA 2.0; Rapid Charge up to 80% in one hour with 65 W adapter; weight shown for low-power FHD/WQHD, other display options weigh 1.53–1.61 kg
Charger45 W or 65 W USB-C adapter45 W or 65 W USB-C adapter
MaterialsMagnesium Hybrid or PPS display cover; glass-fibre reinforced plastic bottomGlass-fibre reinforced PPS lid and polyamide bottom; magnesium alloy reinforcement in keyboard cover
ColoursBlackBlack
Connections
Ports2 × USB-A, 2 × USB-C, Thunderbolt, HDMI, Ethernet, SD card slot, headphone jack2 × USB-A, 2 × USB-C, Thunderbolt, HDMI, Ethernet, microSD slot, headphone jack
Wi-FiIntel Wireless-AC 8265, 2×2 802.11acIntel Wireless-AC 9560, 2×2 802.11ac; Wi-Fi 6 AX201 on later 10th-generation models
BluetoothBluetooth 4.1; hardware supports 4.2, limited by WindowsBluetooth 5.1 in current PSREF; earlier Windows configurations reported as 5.0
WebcamOptional 720p with ThinkShutter, or IR plus 720p without shutterOptional 720p or IR plus 720p hybrid, with ThinkShutter
Operating systemWindowsWindows
Port detailTwo USB-A 3.1 Gen 1, USB-C Gen 1 with PD/DisplayPort, USB-C Gen 2/Thunderbolt 3 with PD/DisplayPort, HDMI 1.4b, Gigabit Ethernet, four-format SD reader, combo audio, side dock; optional smart card and nano-SIMTwo USB-A 3.1 Gen 1, USB-C Gen 1 and USB-C Gen 2/Thunderbolt 3 with PD/DisplayPort, HDMI 1.4b, Gigabit Ethernet, microSD reader, combo audio and side dock; optional smart card and nano-SIM
External displaysUp to three independent displays; USB-C up to 4096 × 2304 at 60 Hz, HDMI up to 4096 × 2160 at 30 HzUp to three independent displays; HDMI up to 4096 × 2160 at 24 Hz, Thunderbolt up to 4096 × 2304 at 60 Hz
KeyboardSix-row spill-resistant keyboard with optional LED backlightSix-row spill-resistant keyboard with optional LED backlight
TrackpadButtonless Mylar multi-touch touchpad and TrackPointMylar multi-touch touchpad and TrackPoint
SpeakersStereo speakers, 2 W × 2, Dolby Audio PremiumStereo speakers, 2 W × 2, Dolby Audio Premium
MicrophonesDual-array microphonesDual-array far-field microphones; no-microphone option for special bids
BiometricsOptional touch fingerprint reader or IR camera; discrete TPM 2.0Optional match-on-chip fingerprint reader or IR camera; discrete TPM 2.0

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