HP Envy Curved All-in-One 34 evaluate

Whereas most all-in-one desktops – like Dell’s XPS 27 and Inspiron 27 7000 All-in-One, HP’s $699 Pavilion All-in-One 24, Lenovo’s $999 IdeaCentre AIO 730S, and Acer’s $1.030 enterprise-focused Veriton Z – riff on Apple’s iconic all-in-one iMac by stuffing the PC elements behind a big display to preserve desk house, HP actually ripped aside the mildew and solid its personal design future when it crafted its attractive 34-inch Envy Curve AIO 34. Borrowing liberally from American mid-century trendy designers, like George Nelson of Herman Miller fame, HP masterfully created an leisure middle in your humble desk by separating the PC parts right into a base and suspending the immersive and dazzling 34-inch show in mid-air.

Standing in stark distinction to the iMac’s utilitarian and chilly metallic design, this yr’s mannequin comes with wooden paneling particulars and gold trimmed accents, considerate refinements that assist the $1,699 Envy Curved AIO 34 pay nearer homage to its mid-century aesthetics. Collectively, these particulars not solely make for an opulent desktop with out having to resort to advertising and marketing phrases – like machined unibody aluminum – however helps HP remodel the PC from clunky device for Workplace duties into a press release piece that may invite dialog in your workplace.

An leisure middle in your desk

You’d be forgiven in the event you mistook the Envy Curved All-in-One 34 for a compact tv designed by HP’s upmarket Scandinavian audio associate Bang & Olufsen, which coincidentally additionally offers the tuning for the wonderful built-in audio system on this desktop. Though it’s largely constructed from plastic – in comparison with the unibody aluminum shell on the iMac – the Envy Curved 34 nonetheless manages to feel and look premium, due to a sturdy base that’s cloaked in a fake woodgrain end and metallic accents. Provided that the Envy 13 laptop computer is partially cloaked in actual wooden, it’d be fascinating to see if HP can use extra pure supplies on a future model of its AIO desktop.

This yr’s Envy Curved 34 shares in its fast predecessor’s two-piece design, permitting HP to separate the PC element that’s historically hidden behind the show on most AIOs to an elongated rectangular base that’s nearly as vast because the immersive 34-inch panel. The result’s that the PC base resembles a media middle, whereas the display, hooked up to a metallic arm, seems as if it’s suspended in air like a contemporary flat-screen tv.

Reasonably than shrink the PC base, like what Microsoft did with the Floor Studio 2, the big base is as a lot a design focus as the large display, occupying a 7 7/Eight x 23 5/Eight-inch footprint in your desk. Right here, HP has masterfully blended mid-century design – full with a darkish woodgrain end that may cross for unique African Blackwood – and trendy know-how into its AIO, and this desktop will really feel simply as pure in a C-suite as it might on the desk of legendary designers Charles and Ray Eames from that period.

You’d be forgiven in the event you mistook the Envy Curved All-in-One 34 for a compact tv designed by HP’s upmarket Scandinavian audio associate Bang & Olufsen.

In entrance, cloth masking the quad-speaker soundbar that spans the complete width of the PC’s base, helps to present the Envy AIO heat and makes this PC seem extra inviting, particularly when in comparison with the chilly all-metal iMac design. Plastic plates, coated in a delicate hue of champagne gold with a satin end full the look and provides to the upmarket status of HP’s desktop design. The accents are additionally discovered on the show stand and on the included wi-fi keyboard and mouse, making the entire expertise very cohesive.

Residing as much as its comparisons with a house media middle, the Envy Curved 34 is flanked on the entrance by an enormous quad-speaker soundbar that spans the complete width of the PC’s base, delivering an immersive and clear audio expertise. The soundbar is roofed in a speckled darkish grey cloth. Mixed with the wooden end, the selection of natural-looking supplies makes the Envy Curved AIO really feel extra heat and welcoming, making it a superb match for places of work, houses, or reception areas.

To take care of its clear aesthetics, HP hid the webcam in a module that may come out if you want to do a video name. By providing you with the choice to stow away the webcam whenever you’re not utilizing it, the Envy AIO is ready to preserve its glossy look with very minimal facet bezels whereas additionally offering you with extra privateness.

Curve your enthusiasm

Whereas the bottom provides this desktop its premium aesthetics, the star of the present is the attractive 34-inch ultra-wide and curved show. Not solely is the large display a spectacular sight to behold, however the curvature helps to interrupt up a few of the harsher straight edges from the desktop’s total design and makes the content material on the show extra immersive.

When examined with Datacolor’s Spyder5 Elite display calibration device, the panel was in a position to reproduce 100 p.c of the sRGB and 78 p.c of the Adobe RGB coloration house. Distinction and coloration gamut on the show are each glorious, and coloration accuracy is rated as excellent when examined. Moreover, the ultra-wide panel makes it simple to have a number of home windows opened in a side-by-side association, so that you don’t must hunt for home windows which will have been obscured as extra purposes get launched all through the day.

The fast draw back is that regardless of its dimension, the Envy Curved AIO’s 34-inch display is capped at a UWQHD decision, supporting three,400 x 1,400 pixels. We want a 4K or higher ultra-wide show possibility was out there, however that might have added to the fee. Given the GPU configuration, you probably gained’t be pushing the pixels right here, and gaming probably needs to be restricted to 1080p decision for the most effective efficiency, so the scaled down decision is much less problematic than it appears.

Dan Baker/Digital Tendencies

In the event you’re selecting up this technique to observe movies, you’ll must both zoom in or stretch the video to fill the show, which both ends in lack of high quality or distorted frames. A 3rd possibility is to view pictures and movies of their native codecs, however you’ll find yourself with letterboxing, with black bins on either side of the body.

Refined facilities

By way of ergonomics, the IPS panel may be tilted upwards and downwards, however like most different AIOs, the display can’t be raised or lowered, nor can it swivel for extra snug viewing angles. These limitations will probably imply that the Envy AIO will have to be positioned entrance and middle in your desk, as you can’t place it off to the facet and rotate the show as you’ll with a standalone monitor. Nonetheless, given the Envy Curved AIO 34’s good-looking aesthetics, it actually does deserve its spot in the course of your desk, nevertheless.

However the Envy AIO isn’t nearly computing. Together with an HDMI output port on the rear to attach a second show for an much more immersive expertise, there’s additionally an HDMI enter port. The video enter port will can help you plug in a media streaming stick or a recreation console and make the most of the 34-inch panel for non-computing duties. You’ll must hit a button the rear to change to the video enter feed, however this can be a helpful characteristic for cramped areas, like dorm rooms, as you gained’t want a separate HDTV to hook up with a recreation console.

It needs to be famous that neither contact nor pen enter is supported on the Envy Curved AIO 34’s show. In the event you want a touchscreen, you’ll need to step all the way down to HP’s $1,199 Envy AIO 27, which shares the identical design because the curved 34 mannequin, however comes with a flat 27-inch QHD show that helps contact. One other improve that this variant offers is that it may be configured with a extra trendy Intel Ninth-Gen Core i7-9700T processor for a premium.

Provided that the most recent crop of Apple’s iPhone and Android smartphones include assist for wi-fi charging, it’s beginning to really feel archaic when you must attain for a cable to prime off through the center of a workday. In the event you’re lucky sufficient to personal the Envy Curved AIO 34, this PC comes with a Qi wi-fi charging pad constructed into the left-hand facet of the bottom. Not solely does this free your desk from ugly charging cables, it additionally makes it extra handy to seize your telephone and run to your subsequent assembly with out having to yank the ability wire out.

On the right-hand facet of the bottom reverse to the wi-fi charging pad is an iPod-inspired scroll wheel designed for quantity management. Although you possibly can alter the amount in software program on Home windows 10 and through the use of the perform buttons on the included keyboard, having the devoted scroll wheel makes it fast and handy. The characteristic additionally elevates this PC’s goal as a device for media consumption, a pure match given how crisp audio sounds with a good quantity of left- and right-channel speaker isolation on the B&O-tuned soundbar.

Ports are a a lot on the Envy Curved AIO 34, so it’s best to be capable to readily plug in any peripherals or equipment you want. Along with the pair of HDMI ports on the rear – one for video enter and the second for video output – you’ll additionally discover 4 USB-A ports, an Ethernet jack, and a locking port, ought to this desktop be utilized in an workplace or workroom. These ports are extra fitted to extra everlasting equipment, like exterior drives and printers, because the rear placement makes it awkward to attempt to attain given the bigger total stature of the Envy Curved AIO 34 and the truth that the show doesn’t swivel. In the event you’re making an attempt to plug in a flash drive rapidly into the rear, you’re actually doing it blindly simply by really feel.

Thankfully, on this newest technology, the ability button has been relocated from the rear of the prior mannequin to the fitting champagne gold-toned facet panel in direction of the rear. Although the location makes the ability button simpler to achieve, the thin form and the best way it sits flush with the facet panel nonetheless makes it tougher to find by really feel alone. On the facet, accompanying the ability button, is a USB-C port, one other USB-A port, reminiscence card slot, and combo audio jack. In the event you depend on swapping a number of flash drives, exterior drives, or connecting different equipment, you could need to spend money on a USB-C hub to make port accessibility simpler and never since you’re brief on ports.

Beneath the hood

This yr, the Envy Curved AIO 34 is powered by Intel’s Eighth-gen processors. The entry-level Envy Curved AIO 34 includes a Core i5-8400T processor, whereas our upgraded $1,699 evaluate unit ships with a greater Core i7-8700T silicon that includes six cores clocked at 2.four GHz. This could present loads of energy for widespread computing duties, together with net looking with a number of tabs opened, dealing with average picture modifying, and multitasking with Microsoft Workplace apps.

This desktop will really feel simply as pure in a C-suite as it might on the desk of a legendary designer.

Although the Envy Curved AIO 34 shares the same Eighth-gen processor to HP’s Omen Obelisk, the AIO makes use of a decrease 35-watt Intel silicon in comparison with the 65-watt supported by the gaming system, and this exhibits within the efficiency. The Envy AIO’s single-core and multi-core outcomes when benchmarked with the Geekbench four device was barely lower than that of the Omen Obelisk, and each PCs trailed behind high-end methods with newer Ninth-gen Intel processors. The stronger multi-core rating on the Origin PC Neuron, which ships with the Ninth-gen Core i9-9900Okay CPU means that the newer processors shall be higher fitted to multi-threaded workflows and dealing with bigger graphics and rendering recordsdata.

Nonetheless, don’t let the weaker scores counsel that the Envy AIO is a slouch. Quite the opposite, most customers gained’t discover any sluggish downs. Apps rapidly launched and our Workplace recordsdata opened with none hesitation. The place the efficiency distinction exhibits is with media rendering, and the Eighth-gen silicon was slower in our Handbrake 4K video encoding check than its newer counterpart, requiring 127 seconds in comparison with the 82 seconds required by the Origin PC Chronos, which comes outfitted with an Intel Core i9-9900Okay. For many workplace or house computing duties, the Envy AIO was greater than in a position to sustain.

Our upgraded evaluate unit options 16GB of RAM and a speedy Samsung 256GB NVMe M.2 format solid-state drive in addition to a secondary 2TB exhausting drive for added storage.

Whereas the SSD was speedy, we wished HP provided a 512GB possibility, because the companion SATA exhausting drive tops out at 5,400 RPM, making knowledge entry a bit sluggish in contrast sooner 7,200 RPM drives. Thankfully, although, you possibly can improve the reminiscence and storage reasonably simply. HP offers some tutorial movies on eradicating the underside plate on the bottom of the Envy Curved AIO 34, which offers you entry to the 2 M.2 slots, permitting customers to both add a second SSD or substitute the present drive within the occasion of malfunction.

Not a gaming machine

Players could also be drawn to the Envy Curved AIO 34 resulting from its huge and built-in show, however this PC isn’t designed for heavy gaming. Regardless of the display being the star of the present on the Envy AIO, the restricted efficiency of the equipped graphics will maintain again this desktop from interesting to a wider viewers – together with creatives and fanatics. Although this yr’s mannequin mannequin advantages from a extra succesful discrete GPU – shifting from a GTX 950M from its predecessor to extra highly effective GTX 1050 graphics – it’s nonetheless no match for extra succesful gaming desktops outfitted with Nvidia’s high-end RTX 2080 graphics card. Nonetheless, the inclusion of discrete GTX 1050 graphics right here helps to make sure that the Envy AIO can be utilized for informal 1080p and light-weight artistic work, and the equipped GPU helps the Envy AIO match the efficiency on competing methods, like Dell’s Inspiron 27 7000 AIO and beat the built-in UHD Graphics 620 on Lenovo’s AIO 730S.

Utilizing Underwriter Laboratories’ 3D Mark Time Spy graphics check, the GTX 1050 card clocked in at 2,955 factors. This efficiency locations it behind the GTX 1070 card on Microsoft’s Floor Studio 2, which scored 5,215 factors. In comparison with the RTX 2080’s 9,240 factors, the Envy AIO’s graphic efficiency is about one-third of the HP Omen Obelisk.

The artificial benchmark outcomes illustrate a superb image on what players can count on with the GTX 1050 graphics on trendy titles. Video games with lighter graphics demand, like Fortnite, gained’t have any issues, with body charges persistently effectively above 60 FPS, even below “Epic” recreation settings and at larger 2K resolutions. Although the Envy AIO’s 68 FPS when performed in 1440p decision and with Epic mode enabled is simply shy of half the 131 FPS efficiency of the RTX 2080 graphics on the Origin PC Neuron, the sport carried out effectively, and we didn’t discover any stuttering or choppiness.

Video games with extra demanding graphics, like Battlefield V, Civilization VI, and Murderer’s Creed Odyssey carried out wonderful at decrease 1080p resolutions, however dropped frames grew to become very noticeable in 1440p, particularly at larger recreation settings. Doubtless, you’ll need to both tune down the sport particulars or use a decrease decision to get extra dependable efficiency on the GTX 1050.

Dan Baker/Digital Tendencies

Battlefield V and Murderer’s Creed Odyssey, two of probably the most GPU taxing titles that we check, carried out at below the specified 60 FPS even at 1080p decision. Whereas the Envy AIO’s 55 FPS efficiency at 1080p below medium settings was very playable in Battlefield V, Murderer’s Creed Odyssey was much less forgiving, and there was a substantial quantity of lag regardless of the 49 FPS efficiency at 1080p decision below excessive settings.

With larger recreation settings and better resolutions, efficiency rapidly dropped off, and Murderer’s Creed performed at simply 33 FPS on 1440p with extremely settings. With Nvidia’s flagship RTX 2080 Ti graphics, the Origin Neuron delivered roughly double the efficiency with the identical settings at 77 FPS.

The efficiency margin between the RTX 2080 Ti and the GTX 1050 turns into extra obvious when enjoying Civilization VI. Although the title’s much less demanding graphics requirement makes it playable by the best setting we examined, which is extremely at 1440p, the body fee efficiency of the GTX card is roughly simply one-third that of the RTX 2080 Ti on the Neuron.

Whereas the Neuron carried out at 142 FPS, the Envy AIO solely delivered 44 FPS right here. Regardless of the decrease efficiency in body fee, the sport was playable with solely occasional choppiness. At 1080p with medium particulars, the Envy AIO had no drawback maintaining, delivering 56 FPS, and the efficiency means that informal players will be capable to play most titles with none noticeable efficiency hits at 1080p decision.

Creatives working with bigger media recordsdata will need to have a look at methods with stronger graphics potential, like Microsoft’s Floor Studio 2, which may be configured with higher GTX 1070 graphics and include a touchscreen that helps digital inking.

Guarantee

For client PCs, HP presents an ordinary one-year restricted coverage, and this is applicable the Envy Curved AIO 34. HP additionally presents 90 days of telephone assist and complimentary chat assist through the guarantee interval ought to any points happen. As with all PCs HP sells, you too can improve to an prolonged guarantee with the acquisition of the Envy AIO. An prolonged two-year guarantee that features unintentional injury safety provides $399 to the price of your buy.

HP additionally presents a three-year prolonged guarantee for a similar worth, although this feature doesn’t embrace protection for unintentional injury. In the event you’re not too clumsy, the three-year plan with out unintentional safety is a good deal, contemplating HP presents a 100 p.c a refund rebate in the event you don’t make any restore claims through the protection interval.

Although HP’s prolonged protection is much like the optionally available insurance policies that a few of its largest rivals within the PC trade presents, the plans are on the pricier facet. Lenovo presents its three-year prolonged guarantee protection with on-site assist if points can’t be resolved over the telephone for simply $63.20 if you buy the IdeaCentre AIO 730S, making the prolonged protection extra inexpensive. Rival Dell presents a fair longer four-year guarantee possibility that covers and software program assist in addition to unintentional injury protection. In the event you’re not too savvy together with your PC, Dell additionally presents an optionally available house PC setup possibility that will help you get began.

Our Take

There are many space-saving all-in-one desktops to select from – and lots of match the efficiency of this $1,699 desktop – however none include a brilliantly giant ultra-wide curved show that may – for higher or worse – immerse you into your spreadsheets, PDFs, and Workplace paperwork at work.

Given that almost all strong ultra-wide curved screens in the identical display dimension retail for round $700 – like Samsung’s $750 CF791 or Alienware’s comparably sized gaming display retails for $850 – breaking down the HP Envy Curved AIO from its 34-inch panel signifies that the PC prices solely $1,000. That is an apt analogy, on condition that you should utilize the HDMI enter port to attach an Xbox to HP’s AIO, making this a flexible desktop setup for work and play for these with restricted house. The Envy Curved AIO 34 stands out from the group with its unequalled design.

Is there a greater various?

In the event you don’t care in regards to the huge 34-inch UWQHD show or HP’s mid-century trendy impressed aesthetics, there are many AIOs in the marketplace that delivers related efficiency because the Envy Curved AIO 34. Dell’s Inspiron 27 7000 sequence begins at a extra budget-friendly $881, however you’ll must improve to the $1,322 to get related efficiency as our HP evaluate unit with an Intel Core i7-8700T processor and Nvidia GTX 1050 graphics. Whilst you’re sacrificing display actual property – shifting from a 34-inch ultra-wide show to a 27-inch FHD panel, you’ll additionally acquire contact capabilities. HP’s smaller Envy AIO 27-inch is one other good possibility beginning at $1,199.

In the event you’re snug leaving the Home windows 10 ecosystem for MacOS, the iMac is a good desktop with a coloration correct show supporting a large DCI P3 coloration gamut. In its bigger configuration, the 27-inch iMac might be the closest competitor to HP’s smaller Envy AIO, the Envy AIO 27, which comes with a non-curved show. Whereas Apple has HP beat on decision – the iMac goes as much as an eye-popping Retina 5K show – each fashions begin with an Eighth-Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and discrete graphics assist, making it a extra straight-forward Apple-to-PC comparability.

How lengthy will it final?

The Envy Curved AIO 34’s discrete graphics assist and upgradeability will assist it final for not less than just a few years. Its good-looking design, trendy processor, and breathtaking ultra-wide show makes it a helpful and practical piece of technological art work in your desk.

Must you purchase it?

Sure. With a surprising design and good show, HP has created a statement-making desktop PC that’s unequalled.