HP Envy 34 Review | Bigger is better

Due to the impact that the pandemic left us with, people are now working from home more than ever. Companies have since done their best to produce products that best suit this situation in order to maximize on productivity. HP really outdid themselves with this new and massive 34-inch All-in-one computer. All the way from the powerful specs to the sleek and stylish design, this is definitely going to be an eye catcher for most people.

During the announcement of this device, HP was really hoping to get the attention of creative professionals as this device packs some serious power under the hood. But does it actually live up to the expectations of Hp and most importantly, is it the right machine for you? Keep reading to find out.

Specs.

• Display specs – 34-inch, IPS, anti-reflective 500 nits, 98% DCI-P3
• Display Resolution – 5120×2160 (5K), 21:9 Aspect ratio.
• Camera – Magnetic, Front Facing 16MP with Windows Hello
• OS – Windows 11
• Audio – 2X Bang & Olufsen Tuning
• Connectivity – Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth
• Ports – Six USB-A, Two Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, HDMI, SD card reader, 3.5mm audio, Ethernet
• RAM – Up To 128GB (User accessible)
• Storage – Up to 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD (User Accessible)
• Processor – Intel Core i7-11700 to Intel Core i9-11900
• GPU – Up to Nvidia RTX 3080
• Package Inclusive – Wireless Keyboard and mouse combo
• Other Features – Wireless Charger at the base
• Weight – 24.36 pounds (11.05kg)
• Dimensions – 32.17 x 8.78 x 14.50 inches (81.7cm x 22.3cm x 36.8cm)
• Color – Turbo silver
• Price – Starts from 224,000Ksh ($1999.99)

Design language.

There is no doubt that the HP Envy 34-inch All-in-one is a beautifully crafted machine. All the way from the enormous 5K display down to the premium Aluminum chassis, this device will definitely improve your home aesthetic. Since this machine is mainly targeted towards creative professionals, this display is more than capable for all your Photoshop and Premiere Pro work.

It has a brightness output of 500 nits which is more than enough for indoor environment. The perfect brightness blended with the 98% DCI-P3 color gamut produces vibrant images with punchier colors. It is also worth noting that this display is anti-reflective which is an added bonus in terms of perfect visibility.

Hp is generous enough to include a wireless keyboard and mouse combo and also a magnetically attachable front-facing camera. The keyboard and mouse combo both work well as expected but some people prefer fancier RGB alternatives which is perfectly acceptable. The front-facing camera on the other hand provides one of the best video and image quality. It has a 16MP sensor producing a 1080P video quality which is well above average for video conferencing calls.

In addition to this, the camera comes with an in-built IR sensor which means you can log-in with Windows Hello. To add cherry on top, the camera comes with a dual-microphone array and a magnetic holder meaning you can vary the position of the camera.

Aside from that, this device is seriously a port-heaven. It comes with almost every port needed to get the job done. This includes: Six USB-A, Two Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, HDMI, SD card reader, 3.5mm audio jack and an Ethernet port.

At the base of this device, you will find a QI wireless charger which is very handy when completing your various tasks. It is on par with premium wireless chargers such as MagSafe in terms of wattage, producing a maximum of 15W which is adequate for a quick charge.

Processor and GPU

The Hp Envy 34-inch AIO provides one of the best performances in this niche group of products. This is mainly because of the CPU and GPU options offered. The processor tops off with an Intel Core i9-11900 which provides optimal performance in such a compact device. Nothing to complain here.

As for the GPU, it tops off with a discrete Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, but there is a catch. This GPU is the mobile version meaning it provides less performance than the desktop version. One of the contributing factors is the fact that the mobile version has a max rating of 115W which is way low as compared to the 320W in the desktop version.

This can bring the performance difference down to 45% which is very disappointing. Just something to keep in mind. Nonetheless, it still performs well especially in apps that can take advantage of this graphics unit.

Storage and RAM.

One of the most impressive features about this device is max RAM that can be fitted in this device. The range kicks off with 32GB RAM and can be upgraded up to a whooping 128GB RAM. With this kind of memory, you can open multiple Chrome tabs without any performance issues. Jokes aside, this translates to a much faster user experience and RAM hungry apps such as Adobe Premiere Pro will run smoother. As for the storage, it tops off at 2TB of M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD which is adequate for this device.

Final thoughts.

Despite the relatively high price tag, this device should definitely be shortlisted when looking for an All-in-one device. The iMac 27-inch is also a great competitor to this device if you are looking for something in the Apple ecosystem.