HP Envy 34: An Intel-based PC (11th-generation Core i5, i7, i9) with Nvidia (GeForce GTX 1650, RTX 3060/3080) graphics, built around a 34-inch 5K 21:9 display.

Apple surprised many people when it recently discontinued the 27-inch iMac, which had been its main desktop offering for creative users for more than a decade. Its replacement, the new Mac Studio, provides impressive performance but the Mac Studio's high price and lack of integrated display may leave many users looking elsewhere for a more affordable all-in-one (AIO) alternative. 

So there's no better time for HP to upgrade its Envy all-in-one, which now steps up from 32 inches to an imposing 34-inch display with 5K resolution and wide-screen 21:9 aspect ratio, along with an impressive design and a versatile set of features that make it an attractive option for creative users. The Envy 34's wide-screen display will also appeal to many office workers as an alternative to a dual-monitor setup, providing a compact and versatile desktop PC for remote working. 

HP Envy 34 All-in-One Desktop

pros and cons

• 34-inch 5K display
• Plenty of customisation options
• Good performance
• Versatile design
• Accessible RAM and SSD slots

• Display doesn't swivel
• No internal expansion slots

Price & options

HP's website proclaims that the Envy 34 is "designed by creators for creators". But if you just need an all-in-one PC for general office work then there's an entry-level Envy 34 configuration that costs$1,799.99. This runs on a Core i5-11400 processor with Nvidia GTX 1650 graphics, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. However, creative users can step up to the Core i7 model reviewed here, which provides a Core i7-11700 processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for$2,289.99. 

A high-end model with a Core i9-11900 processor, Nvidia RTX 3080 graphics, 128GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD will set you back$4,279.99, but there are further customisation options available (in the US), including: Windows 11 Pro ($70), secondary SSD storage up to 2TB ($429), and a Wi-Fi 6/Bluetooth 5.2 update ($10). 

And, to make it clear that HP is going after Apple's creative users, the company also offers discounts on several Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions. 

Design & features

The standout feature of the Envy 34 is, of course, its striking 34-inch wide-screen IPS display, which offers 5K resolution (5120 x 2160 pixels, 163.4dpi) in a 21:9 aspect ratio. It's clear, bright (500 nits) and colourful, and provides plenty of room to juggle multiple apps and windows on-screen simultaneously. The display also supports 98% of the DCI-P3 colour standard that's widely used in professional video editing, and the 5K resolution means that you can view 4K video at full size and still have some room left for the editing tools in Adobe Premiere or other editing apps. 

The Envy 34 looks surprisingly compact, with very narrow bezels on all sides of the screen. It lacks the bulky border that runs along the lower edge of the iMac display, as HP has managed to move the stereo speakers to the sides of the screen (where they look rather like slots for an old-fashioned DVD drive). Designed by Bang & Olufsen, the 2W speakers are surprisingly powerful given the need to fit inside the Envy's slimline profile. The higher frequencies get a little frazzled if you push the volume all the way up, but the Envy 34 is fine for listening to music while you're working, or for handling audio on video calls. 

User experience

HP pays impressive attention to detail with the Envy 34. The setup process is very straightforward as, rather than using Bluetooth, HP's keyboard and mouse automatically pair with a wireless receiver that's built into the PC. They're both ready to go as soon as you insert the (non-rechargeable) batteries and power on the PC. The only disappointment here is the annoying plethora of bloatware and adware loaded onto the Envy, with Dropbox, ExpressVPN and McAfee all popping up to pitch their wares within the first few minutes. 

And, while Apple's new Studio Display has been criticised for not allowing you to adjust the height of the screen unless you pay an extra$300/