Refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad T490s — Ultra-Slim Premium 14-Inch Business Laptop
The refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad T490s is the slim, lightweight sibling of the ThinkPad T490 — sharing the same powerful 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8265U processor and T-series premium build quality, but in a thinner, lighter chassis starting from just 1.27kg. With a 57Wh battery delivering up to 20 hours (MobileMark 2014), Thunderbolt 3, a carbon fibre hybrid top cover and Lenovo’s renowned spill-resistant keyboard, the T490s is a top-tier business ultrabook at an outstanding refurbished price. Sold by Technology Core in A-grade certified refurbished condition, with a 14-month warranty and free next-day UK delivery.
Verified Key Specifications
- Processor: Intel Core i5-8265U, 8th Gen, quad-core, 1.6GHz base up to 3.9GHz Turbo Boost
- Display: 14.0″ FHD IPS anti-glare (1920×1080), 250 nits, 170° viewing angle
- RAM: 8GB DDR4-2400 (soldered)
- Storage: 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics (integrated)
- Ports: 2× Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C, Power Delivery, DisplayPort, 40Gbps), 2× USB-A 3.1 Gen 1, HDMI 1.4b, microSD card reader, headphone/mic combo jack (Ethernet via optional adapter)
- Camera: 720p HD with ThinkShutter privacy cover
- Audio: Stereo speakers 1W×2 with Dolby Audio Premium, dual far-field microphone
- Keyboard: 6-row spill-resistant with LED backlight, TrackPoint, multi-touch touchpad
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac 2×2) or Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1
- Battery: 57Wh, up to 20 hours (MobileMark 2014), Rapid Charge to 80% in 1 hour
- Build: CFRP hybrid or aluminium top, magnesium bottom, MIL-STD-810G certified
- Weight: From 1.27kg (2.81 lbs)
- Security: TPM 2.0, fingerprint reader, optional IR camera
- Operating System: Windows 11
- Condition: A-grade Certified Refurbished
- Warranty: 14 months
Extraordinary Battery Life — Up to 20 Hours
The refurbished ThinkPad T490s delivers exceptional battery life — Lenovo rates it at up to 20 hours under MobileMark 2014 testing, making it one of the longest-lasting 14-inch business laptops of its generation. The 57Wh battery combined with Intel’s efficient Whiskey Lake architecture means genuine all-day-plus use between charges. Rapid Charge via USB-C brings the battery to 80% in approximately one hour. For professionals who work long days away from a power source, this is a decisive advantage.
Thunderbolt 3 — Maximum Connectivity in a Slim Package
Despite its slim 16.1mm profile, the T490s packs dual Thunderbolt 3 ports — each supporting 40Gbps data transfer, 4K DisplayPort output and USB Power Delivery. This enables single-cable docking via Thunderbolt docking stations, dual 4K external monitor setups and ultra-fast external storage. HDMI 1.4b provides a direct monitor output, and two USB-A ports cover standard peripheral needs. The combination of Thunderbolt 3 and all-day battery makes the T490s particularly well-suited to hot-desk and flexible office environments.
T-Series Premium Build — CFRP and Magnesium
The T490s is built to Lenovo’s T-series standards. The top cover uses carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) hybrid or aluminium for maximum rigidity with minimal weight, while the bottom chassis uses magnesium alloy. MIL-STD-810G certification covers 12 military durability tests. The ThinkShutter physical webcam cover provides privacy protection. The 6-row spill-resistant keyboard with LED backlight and TrackPoint pointing device delivers the classic ThinkPad typing experience that professionals consistently rate among the best available on any laptop.
Who Is This For?
The refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad T490s is ideal for professionals who want the thinnest, lightest T-series ThinkPad with maximum battery life; frequent travellers who rely on Thunderbolt 3 docking and need all-day-plus endurance; and business users who want premium T-series build quality at a refurbished price. For the thicker T490 with upgradeable RAM, browse our full refurbished laptop range.
Our 30-Point Quality Inspection
Every laptop sold by Technology Core passes our 30-point inspection by in-house technicians. We test processor performance, RAM stability, SSD health, display quality, keyboard and trackpad function, battery capacity, all ports, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, webcam and overall system stability. Any component that does not meet our standards is repaired or replaced before sale.
What’s in the Box
- Refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad T490s
- Compatible USB-C 65W charger
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the RAM be upgraded? No — the 8GB DDR4 is soldered to the motherboard and cannot be upgraded.
Does it have a wired Ethernet port? Not built in — Ethernet requires the optional ThinkPad Ethernet Extension Adapter Gen 2 (USB-C dongle), not included.
What is the difference between the T490 and T490s? The T490s is thinner and lighter with a longer battery life. The T490 has upgradeable RAM via SO-DIMM slots.
Does it support dual external monitors? Yes — via both Thunderbolt 3 ports simultaneously, each supporting 4K DisplayPort output.
Does it come with Windows 11? Yes — all Technology Core refurbished laptops are supplied with a genuine licensed copy of Windows 11.
About Technology Core
Technology Core is one of the UK’s leading certified refurbished laptop retailers based in Leicester. We offer a 14-month warranty — one of the longest in the UK refurbished market. Every unit is inspected and tested by our in-house technicians before sale. Contact us with any questions before or after purchase.
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