The HP 734pm Series 7 Pro offers sophisticated features and design for the most discerning business person. It has a 34-inch IPS Black panel like the Dell U3423WE for stunning colors and effectively extended contrast. It is expensive, so let’s take a closer look to see if it’s a worthy investment.
HP 734pm Specifications
- Screen Size: 34 Inches
- Resolution: 3440 x 1440 UW-QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 21:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching(IPS Black)
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz
- Response Time: 5ms
- Contrast Ratio: 2000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 400 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (4 x 3 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, DP 1.4 Out x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2, USB-C Thunderbolt 4 PD100W x 1, USB-C PD15W x 2, USB 3.2 x 5, RJ45 x 1, 3.5mm Audio Jack x1
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 32″ x 14.3″ x 9.3″
- Weight: 25 lbs
Design and Features
The HP 734pm has a luxurious aesthetic that’s similar to what the brand uses for its flagship offerings. The monitor has a balanced mix of silver and black, so it looks clean and sophisticated. The screen has minimal borders, but the inner ones on the panel are still there if you look close enough.
This device is far from being a giant nowadays, but it’s still sizable enough for most standard desk sizes. The device is 32 inches wide overall, and it’s over nine inches deep when assembled. This model is quite heavy at 25 pounds due to the metal parts, so extra care will be necessary in handling it.
Its build quality is fantastic, thanks to the robust design and high-end materials. There are no signs of cosmetic defects or weaknesses, so the device was smooth all over without any creaking or unwanted flexing. The included stand is firm and stable, but it can still slightly wobble if you nudge the screen accidentally.
The HP 734pm has a circular d-pad at the back for controlling its OSD. It’s at the back and is easy to reach, but it’s less intuitive to use than an actual joystick. However, we’d rather use this than multiple buttons since the latter can be quite confusing.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. Pivoting wasn’t included simply because it’s not typically ideal for ultrawides to be viewed in portrait mode. You can still use VESA mounts if needed, but we think the extra purchase will only be necessary in select instances.
The HP 734pm’s connectivity layout is where it truly shines since it basically has everything you will need. You get DP 1.4 input and output for daisy-chaining, an HDMI 2.0 slot, and a 100-watt Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port for modern devices. You also get two more 15-watt USB-C ports, five USB-A 3.2 slots, an RJ45 connector, and a 3.5mm jack for headphones.
The top of the chassis also has an AI-powered webcam with a 5-megapixel sensor. It’s crisp and clear enough for daily meetings, but it doesn’t do so great in the dark despite the AI processing. However, we love having something like this simply because it kills the need to buy more peripherals, even if the included gadgets are imperfect.
The monitor also has a speaker implementation, which we can probably consider as a soundbar. The monitor has four 3-watt speakers, giving the user improved sound volume level and quality. Headsets will always be better, but it’s always nice to have a usable set.
Display and Performance
The HP 734pm boasts a 34-inch IPS black panel with a 3440 x 1440 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 5ms response time. The backlight has a 400 cd/m2 output while the contrast is listed at 2000:1. This model has HDR 400 certification, but HDR tags are typically meaningless if there is no local dimming feature.
UWQHD isn’t the sharpest now, but it still offers plenty of space for productivity and entertainment. The extra horizontal space is always handy for multitasking, and games now support the ultrawide format more than ever. There will be an increase in GPU requirements, but it’s not as bad as it used to be.
The HP 734pm covered 100% of SRGB and 98% of DCI-P3 for stunning color in games and movies. The monitor’s default setting had a deltaE average of 1.13, telling us that the factory did a tremendous job of pre-calibrating it. Most users won’t need to do much to it since it already looks fantastic out of the box.
Calibrating the monitor reduced the dE average to 0.5, which is fantastic and in line with other prosumer editing models out there. Note that you will need a colorimeter to achieve similar results. Those can be expensive, so we only recommend them if you are into color-critical work.
The HP 734pm’s backlight peaked at 434 cd/m2, so it has plenty of range for adjustment. Its contrast reached 1967:1 at 40% brightness, enabling it to produce deep blacks unlike regular IPS panels. Only OLEDs will better at this point, but IPS Black panels have the slight edge in gamut coverage and color consistency based on what we’ve seen.
Panel uniformity from the test sample had some minor variations near the edges due to backlight leaks. It’s not noticeable during normal instances, but dark scenes can reveal them. Note that this varies with every monitor made due to tolerances, so there are better and worse units out there.
The HP 734pm’s 120Hz helped tremendously with its pixel response time. Blurring is kept at a minimal level because of it, even if you don’t use a lot of overdrive while gaming. The key to achieving this performance is keeping your framerates high and stable to avoid smudging and persistence.
The HP 734pm is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync, unlike other business-oriented models. VRR is very nice to have, so you don’t get tearing and stuttering. Its input lag sits at 4ms at 120Hz, so it’s fast and responsive like most typical gaming variants.
Thoughts on the HP 734pm
The HP 734pm is a fantastic monitor for users who want a multi-purpose solution for computers. It’s great for productivity and gaming, plus it’s sophisticated enough for an executive’s office. It has plenty of connectivity features and a webcam combo, so it’s hard to imagine you’ll need anything more.
The only downside we can think of is the high price, which is usually associated with heavily equipped packages like this. It’s a fantastic buy for prosumer users and gamers, provided that the investment is quite steep.
Pros:
- Fantastic Colors and Contrast
- Fast for Gaming
- Excellent Default and Calibrated Accuracy
- Plenty of Features
Cons:
- Expensive
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