The HP Envy 34 is the ultimate All-in-One PC — here’s why

Best
All-in-One (AIO) PCs
Windows Central
2022

Sometimes with an All-in-One PC, you have to compromise, but with the HP Envy 34, you genuinely do not. Its size helps a little, but you can have pretty much everything you could ever want from a PC all in this single unit.

That includes a full-fat Intel Core i7 or Core i9 CPU, not the slimmed-down versions you often find inside an All-in-One or a laptop, and it’s paired with either NVIDIA GTX or RTX dedicated graphics. You might not be buying one of these as a gaming rig, but you bet it can tear up the latest titles when you’re done doing serious work.

The Envy 34 also boasts a massive 34-inch ultrawide display, with both 5K resolution and HDR and a neat anti-reflective finish, which makes it so much nicer to sit in front of for long periods. The speakers are tuned by Bang & Olufsen, and there’s even a wireless charging pad built into the base and an included webcam. It really is a PC for everyone.

Microsoft’s Surface category usually sets a trend that the Windows OEM partners will try to emulate, iterate, or just plain make better, and Lenovo’s Yoga A940 All-in-One is undoubtedly one that fits that mantra.

It has an articulating hinge reminiscent of the Surface, which means for the creative folks out there, grab the pen and get to some comfortable drawing on a massive sketch pad. It’s not just creators and designers who will enjoy it, though.

The big, beautiful 4K display is attached to some pretty exciting hardware, including a full desktop-class Intel Core i7, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and an AMD RX 560 GPU. It’s also got Thunderbolt 3, an essential desired in modern high-end computers. Perhaps most amazing, though, is that you can upgrade some components on this machine, meaning you can keep it up to scratch for much longer.

The Surface Studio 2 isn’t just an All-in-One PC. It’s perhaps the most innovative computer in recent memory. Not only do you get a full, powerful Windows 10 PC in the same box as a display, but you also get a stunning, sleek, slim form factor. Oh, and it also folds down flat like the biggest, most glorious sketchpad you’ve ever seen.

The Surface Studio 2 is an amazing PC, but it comes alive when you’re a creator. That massive display is all-touch with pen support, so it’s an incredible digital canvas. Throw on the Surface Dial, and you’ve got a killer toolset at your fingertips. It isn’t cheap, but at the upper levels, you can get fairly capable dedicated graphics from NVIDIA that will even be OK for some modest gaming.

The real draw to the Studio 2 is the articulating display, though. It’s still largely unmatched, and the biggest drawback to it right now is that the Surface Studio 2 remains very expensive and, at this point, is probably due for a refresh. But the experience it delivers is still absolutely superb.

Dell’s new 24-inch All-in-One is a perfect addition to your family setup, thanks in no small part to its thoughtful design. The bezels are virtually non-existent, making for a compact body, and even the stand has been designed to be as space-efficient as possible.

It’s not lacking on hardware, either. Inside, you’ll find a range of Intel 10th Gen processors, up to 16GB of RAM, options for speedy NVMe SSD storage, and even a front-facing soundbar to make your music and movies sound great. There’s also a pop-up webcam for those important calls to relatives. Or work colleagues.

There are options to suit all budgets, including a very affordable entry-level model, but you’ll have to make do with sluggish HDD storage at this level as a compromise. All spec levels come with a 1080p display, though, making for a well-equipped, stylish family computer.

The bottom line

Choosing an All-in-One PC can be difficult, not least because they’re not the most popular type of machine, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of hot hardware from which to choose. HP’s Envy 34 is the cream of the crop, and for many good reasons. It really is one of the best desktop PCs in any category.

It ticks just about every box you could think of. You get a big, beautiful display, high-end hardware inside that includes actual gaming-class graphics from NVIDIA, stunning design, and some thoughtful features.

Not only does it include a webcam, but even a wireless charger for your phone in the base. It’s also one of the few ultrawide All-in-One PCs, which admittedly does add to the price, but it’s so worth it.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide