While the EFI provided here makes it somewhat easy to install macOS on the ThinkPad T490s, anyone attempting this should have read Dortania's OpenCore Install Guide, as well as the OpenCore Post-Install Guide. If you really have time, the official OpenCore Manual is also a great read, or so I've heard.
This EFI should work on any T490s, regardless of RAM and storage configurations. If you have a different processor, or a different screen, you may need to perform some extra steps to adapt my EFI to your system, as seen below.
| Hardware | Value | Customizable? | What to do if different |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | 20NX | No. | Nothing. The two models are identical. |
| Processor | Core i7-8565U | Yes. | Delete CPUFriendFriend.kext and create a CPUFriendFriend according to your processor specs. |
| Graphics | Intel UHD 620 | No. | Nothing. It won't be different. |
| Memory | 8GB DDR4-2400 | Yes. | Nothing. |
| Storage | THNSF5256GPU7 TOSHIBA | Yes. Not soldered. | Usually nothing. Some NVMe drives are not compatible with macOS at all, though. |
| WWAN | N/A | Yes. | As far as I know, WWAN is simply not compatible with macOS. |
| Audio | Realtek ALC3287 | No. | Cannot be different. |
| Camera | IR & 720p, ThinkShutter | Yes. | Nothing. It should be picked up by the USB Controller. If it doesn't, delete USBMap.kext, add USBInjectAll.kext, and recreate the USB Map. |
| Display | 1080p | Yes. | If on a WQHD model, make sure that OpenCore is set to HiDPI mode, so that FileVault can still work properly. |
| Keyboard | 6-row, spill-resistant, LED Backlight | Yes. | Nothing. |
| Ethernet | Intel I219-V | Yes, depending on vPro or not on CPU. | Nothing. IntelMausi.kext should take care of it regardless. |
| Wireless | Intel Wireless-AC 9560 | Yes, by Lenovo. Soldered. | Nothing. Airportitl.kext supports both possible configs. AX200 will be stuck with Bluetooth 5.1, as macOS does not support Bluetooth 5.2. |
| TPM | Discrete & Firmware 2.0 | No. | Nothing. Disabled. |
| Smart Card Reader | Yes. | Yes. | Nothing. As far as I can see macOS recognises the presence of a SmartCard reader. Did not test. |
| Fingerprint Reader | Yes. | Yes. | Nothing. Not supported on macOS. |
- Thunderbolt 3
- DRM in Apple Apps
- WWAN
- Fingerprint Reader
- macOS Monterey. Cannot get the installer to boot.
- SD Card reader