It would be fair to say that true wireless headphones have hit the market. You can get a pair at almost any price, from the budget-conscious Redmi Earbuds S to the high-end Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless. We are now getting to a point where, like smartphones, products are gradually emerging that offer a high-end experience without the premium price tag.
The Oppo Enco X is one such pair. It’s not Oppos’s first pair of noise-canceling, but it bridges the gap between audio quality and a rich set of features at a fantastic price. On paper there is little to complain about. in the Android Authority In the Oppo Enco X test, we try to find out whether the real wireless earbuds can really bring a high-end audio experience into the value segment.
About this Oppo Enco X review: I wrote this Oppo Enco X review after spending two weeks using the headphones as my primary hearing aid. Oppo India supplied the unit.
How is the design?
Recognition: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
The Oppo Enco X mimics the design of Apple’s AirPods. The placement of the stems is different from the AirPods, so they’re not a facsimile, but they come close. The stem has a two-tone finish and the glossy white color looks pretty good. I’m not a huge fan of the plastics used – they feel a bit cheap – but at least they fit nicely.
The in-ear styling sits exactly in the concha and is very comfortable for long listening sessions. Each earbud weighs 4.8 g, so you will notice its presence but not weigh it down. This should also be useful for long runs or workouts. Speaking of which, the Oppo Enco X has an IP54 rating so you shouldn’t have any problems taking it out in light rain or dropping it into the dirt.
Recognition: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
Oppo bundles a variety of silicone earplugs to help you find the best fit for your ear. The medium size worked best for me. Oppo doesn’t include foam earbuds which is a shame, but corners had to be cut somewhere with these affordable noise canceling earbuds.
Like most true wireless headphones, the Oppo Enco X is based on tap-based gestures for control. A series of taps can play or pause music, as well as control noise cancellation. I haven’t encountered any false positives, nor have I had any issues with missed taps – something I noticed on previous Oppo buds.
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Of course, no real review of the wireless earbuds is complete without confirming the charging case. I love the small, pebble-like design with rounded corners and the case fits well in the coin pocket of my skinny jeans. A flip top gives you easy access to the headphones.
Does the Oppo Enco X stay connected?
Recognition: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
A particular highlight is the connection stability, not least thanks to the Bluetooth 5.2 firmware. I was able to walk the length and width of my apartment without missing a beat, which is impressive given the 10 meter radio range. This is even more impressive when you consider that my 2,000-square-foot apartment has thick brick walls that are an abomination for a good wireless connection.
Bluetooth codec support includes LHDC, AAC and SBC, which makes them as versatile as possible. They lack aptX support, which means that certain Android phones can stream better over SBC than over AAC for stability reasons.
Does the Oppo Enco X sound good?
Recognition: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
Last year Oppo introduced a number of true radio models, all of which offer outstanding audio quality for this category. The Oppo Enco X increases the stakes and further improves the audio specs. The dual driver design consists of an 11mm dynamic driver and a 6mm balanced diaphragm driver. This provides a pleasant sound that is sure to please most consumers. Oppo tuned the headphones in collaboration with Dynaudio, a Danish speaker manufacturer that became GoerTek’s subsidiary in 2014.
I enjoyed hearing the songs Tadow and Route 66 (feat. EST Gee) by FKJ and Jack Harlow, respectively. The bass notes are easy to hear and do not mask the vocals. The vocals sound clear and are easy to spot above the lower notes. On gentler tracks like Tadow, It is easy to determine the intonation in Masego’s singing, and the acoustic music in particular is glowing.
Recognition: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
The de-emphasized altitude response makes it harder to hear things like pelvic collisions. Take the piercing saxophone in Pharaoh Sander’s song “You Must Have Freedom”: it’s nowhere near the volume you’d expect. Pharaoh Sanders’ Thembi was fun because these headphones do a great job of restoring the listening room. It was easy enough to locate individual instruments in the presentation.
How good is active noise cancellation?
The Oppo Enco X has pretty effective active noise cancellation (ANC). The headphones are equipped with two different noise canceling settings. When I turned on the high setting, the Enco X drastically reduced ambient noise. In fact, it can even compete with the more expensive Sony WF-1000XM3.
Continue reading: Best Noise Canceling True Wireless Earbuds
However, if you increase the noise cancellation it will increase the noise level and you can hear a slight hiss when you are not playing music. A transparency mode is also included, but it makes the fed audio sound very artificial.
How is the battery life?
The Oppo Enco X offers slightly below average battery life for noise-canceling earphones. The company claims it has four hours of battery life with the ANC enabled, which is exactly what I observed. With a volume a little less than 50%, I got this closer to four hours and 30 minutes.
The Enco X has the Airpods Pro design but offers a comfortable all-day fit.
With the ANC deactivated, I achieved a usage time of almost six hours. Not bad, but not impressive either; With the compact Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus you can get a much longer gaming time. The charging case contains enough juice for five full charges and the headphones took over 80 minutes to charge. Charging the case itself took about two hours. You can connect via USB-C or place the case on a Qi charging mat.
Is the Oppo Enco X good for calls?
Recognition: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
During my time with the Oppo Enco X, I have used it extensively for calls and meetings. The headphones worked exceptionally well, with sound clear and natural on both ends. The buds are easy to serve in a pinch when you expect a lot of audio calls.
Oppo Enco X microphone demo:
Oppo Enco X review: the verdict
The Oppo Enco X sets a new standard for what you can get for the price. Priced at just Rs. 10,990 (~ $ 150 US) in India, it manages to offer the best of headphones at much higher prices while also delivering detailed audio playback.
Oppo Enco X.
The latest true wireless earbuds from Oppo offer great sound and great noise cancellation for little money.
In fact, the Oppo Enco X has quickly become my favorite headphone for everyday listening. In Europe, the UK earbuds cost € 179 or £ 169 but are available on Amazon for € 134 or £ 135.
The Oppo Enco X are a safe choice with high quality audio output and top notch noise cancellation for the price.
Overall, the Oppo Enco X would be a very safe choice for most users. The quality here is leaps and bounds above what you would expect for the price, and I have no qualms recommending Oppos Buds for all but the most discerning buyer.
What should you buy instead of the Oppo Enco X?
Recognition: Lily Katz / Android Authority
The alternatives to the price include those from Samsung such as the Galaxy Buds Plus, which offer a much longer battery life, but forego active noise cancellation.
Another strong competitor would be the Jabra Elite 85t. This headset is a bit more expensive, but it has excellent active noise cancellation, an effective microphone system and a bluetooth multipoint. If you’re looking for a headset powerhouse that you can use anywhere, Jabra is a safe investment.
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