Lenovo ThinkPad E495 review
Lenovo ThinkPad E495 — from 2019, 1.75 kg, performance 27.
Technical specifications
| Type | Business |
| Release year | 2019 |
| Screen | 14" · 1920x1080 |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 3500U |
| Max. RAM | 32 GB |
| Weight | 1.75 kg |
Performance scores
ThinkPad E495 — Ryzen office value at the bottom of the business band
The E495 (2019) is Lenovo's entry ThinkPad with the Ryzen 5 3500U and 32GB of RAM, at $253 — under the $297 business-class median. Its profile is the familiar E-series shape: competent office compute, no graphics dimension, and reliability at 28 versus a 42.5 median reflecting a five-plus-year-old value-tier chassis. Performance index reads 27 against 41.5 — below the class midpoint on CPU-generation grounds.
What it does well
The 3500U is a true quad-core with SMT — a solid office CPU that keeps pace with browsers, office apps, and calls without strain. 32GB of RAM is double what office workloads need, giving the machine a long practical runway for tab hoarders and local dev work. The ThinkPad keyboard and basic serviceability carry over from the premium lines.
The trade-offs, stated plainly
Graphics scores zero in a class whose median is itself near-zero — the Vega 8 iGPU makes no claims, and gaming is out of scope. The E-series chassis is the value tier: flex where the T-series is stiff. Reliability at 28 is the number to weigh — a 2019 machine is past half its practical service life.
Price trajectory
From a $1,300 launch configuration it has declined at about 8.5% per year to $253, with a projected $212 in two years (16% further). A normal, gentle business-laptop curve.
Against its neighbors
An HP EliteBook 845 G7 at $291 and an EliteBook 745 G6 at $281 sit above; an HP ProBook 645 G4 at $232 and an EliteBook 735 G5 at $220 below. The EliteBook 735 G5 at $220 is the direct rival — same-generation Ryzen silicon in HP's premium chassis for $33 less, making it a strong alternative unless the ThinkPad keyboard is the deciding factor.
Bottom line
A straightforward, fairly-priced Ryzen office machine: quad-core compute, 32GB of RAM, ThinkPad ergonomics, no GPU story. It suits a budget-conscious buyer who types more than anything else. The 735 G5 neighbor at $220 is worth a side-by-side before committing.
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⭐ What stands out
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graphics performance absent (no data or feature not provided).
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overall performance is lower than typical business class (+35%) (low tier).
budget segment of category -
reliability is lower than typical business class (+34.1%) (low tier).
below class average
🔁 Alternatives
Compromise axis: reliability ↔ price
⚙️ Configuration analysis
Top configuration is built for office apps, web browsing, and basic daily tasks.
🤔 How to choose
Universal advice for any use case.
- Reliability vs price: reliability (median 42.5) ↔ price (median 297.4).
- Weight vs CPU: mobility (median 60) ↔ overall performance (median 41.5).
- Upgradeability vs battery: upgradability (median 62.5) ↔ battery life (median 3.3).
ThinkPad E495: verdict
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