The OPPO Enco Buds are the latest pair of truly wireless earphones from the smartphone maker. They are the successor to last year’s OPPO Enco W11. But for some reason, the company is using a new name instead of W12.
However, though the branding is different, this TWS product looks almost identical to its predecessor. As a result, It is difficult to tell these audio accessories apart unless you hold both the models in close and compare them.
So do the new OPPO Enco Buds come with any upgrade or not? I will try to answer this question in this review.
OPPO Enco Buds Review
Disclaimer:
This review of OPPO Enco Buds is based on the author’s firsthand experience with a unit sent out by OPPO India. The opinions stated here are the author’s alone.
The review is more of a comparison between OPPO Enco Buds and OPPO Enco W11 to let the readers understand the changes that the new model brings.
PS: The author had been using the Enco W11 as their primary TWS for months before switching over to the Galaxy Buds+.
Build and Design
The OPPO Enco Buds feature a plastic build all around. The buds and the charging case sport a glossy finish, which can get scratched easily but are hard to spot, at least on the white color that I have with me. In fact, India only gets this hue option, while in some markets, the product also comes in a blue color version.
Moving on, both the charging case and the buds look like a pebble. They flaunt an almost-same design as the Enco W11. The charging case of Enco Buds is slightly thicker and heavier, whereas the buds themselves are smaller and lighter in weight.
As per OPPO, each IP54-rated Enco Bud weighs 4g, while the IP55-rated Enco W11 buds weigh 4.4g each. But the former’s charging case is heavier at 37g as compared to 35.5g of the latter.
Hence, the net weight of OPPO Enco Buds is actually higher. However, due to a slightly different curvature on the case, the new model sort of feels lighter in hands than the older model.
Further, the secondary microphone hole on the Enco Buds is tiny, and even the ‘OPPO’ branding on the case is smaller. There are also L and R markings inside the case, which are not found in the W11’s case. Lastly, there’s an LED indicator on the front and a USB Type-C port on the rear.
Interestingly, the Enco Bud’s charging case has a loose lid and it does not feel as good as that of Enco W11 in hands. Also, the retail packaging is of lower quality when compared to the previous model.
Connectivity and Controls
The OPPO Enco Buds arrive with Bluetooth 5.2 instead of Bluetooth 5.0. They also have support for quick pairing on devices running ColorOS. In my usage, they never got disconnected from any of the devices I used them with.
Like almost all the TWS earphones in the market, these also have touch gesture controls, which work fine without any issue. Users can even customize controls using the HeyMelody companion app. This application can be also used for firmware upgrades.
It is worth noting that the Enco W11 are not compatible with the HeyMelody app.
Sound and Microphone Quality
The OPPO Enco Buds offer a well-tuned sound stage for the price. They also mitigate almost all the issues with their forerunner OPPO Enco W11.
First and foremost, the Enco Buds are louder. For those unaware, the biggest con of Enco W11 is the lower volume level. Secondly, the new model also produces a good amount of bass when compared to its predecessor.
That’s not all, there’s also a fine amount of instrument separation. However, the timbre and treble could have been better.
Also, It would have been nice if these buds were capable of outputting better clarity. But we cannot expect everything from an entry-level TWS product, can we?
In simpler words, the audio quality of OPPO Enco Buds is commendable for its price. One might find its flaws only if they have used more expensive truly wireless earphones.
The same can be also said about its microphone performance. It is way better than that of OPPO Enco W11. However, the ENC (Electronic Noise Cancellation) for calls is not as great as what the company advertises.
In addition to providing an overall good sound experience, the OPPO Enco Buds also offer the best in-ear fit I have ever experienced. Do note that everyone has differently shaped ears, and therefore, this statement could differ from person to person. But I believe these buds should be perfect for most people because of their tiny footprint.
Battery and Charging
The OPPO Enco Buds are rated to last up to 6 hours on a single charge and up to 24 hours with the charging case. The battery life I got out of these earbuds was on par with the company’s claim, which is impressive.
On the other hand, the OPPO Enco W11 offers around 5 hours of battery life on a single and only about 20 hours with the charging case. It is fascinating to note that both models have the exact same-sized batteries (buds: 40mAh, case: 400mAh) but only one offers more endurance.
As far as charging is concerned, both the charging cases use a USB Type-C port and take around 150 minutes to charge fully. Lastly, the new model uses a silver-colored connector to charge the buds instead of golden-colored connectors found inside the older model.
Verdict
The OPPO Enco Buds are priced at ₹1,999 ($27) in India. At this price, it is an easy recommendation for the package they offer. For the first three days of the sale starting September 14 till 16, they will be selling at an even cheaper price tag of ₹1,799 ($24).
I used to recommend OPPO Enco W11 to anyone looking for TWS earbuds under ₹2000 ($27) since their release last year. Although these truly wireless earphones debuted at ₹2,499 ($34), they are usually on sale for ₹1,999 ($27) or even less up to ₹1,499 ($20) most of the time.
Hence, I believe we can expect similar discounts on the OPPO Enco Buds in the near future. As a result, more people could get access to this new pair of wireless earbuds from OPPO.
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