That the budget wireless segment is the hottest category of gadgets in India is a given… We have brands like Boat and Noise as living proof of that reality. Boat, especially, has bombarded the market with so many options that it is becoming very difficult to keep track now. And, to top it off, smartphone brands want a piece of the pie and are, therefore, adding more products to the mix. Realme, Xiaomi, OnePlus, OPPO…you name the smartphone brand and we have everyone trying their best to lure the burgeoning market.
For OPPO, the Enco W11 and Enco M31 were a hit in the budget segment. And banking on this success, the company has recently introduced the OPPO Enco Buds for Rs 1,999. The new wireless earbuds from OPPO come with features such as Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity option, 80ms Game Mode, long-lasting battery life, HeyMelody app support, and more. I got the chance to use the latest earbuds for a while and here's what I think about them.
Design
The retail package of the OPPO Enco Buds includes a charging case, earbuds, extra silicon tips, and a USB Type-C cable. The new earbuds from OPPO are a spitting image of its predecessor, the OPPO Enco W11. You get the same pill-shaped charging case with a glossy texture and the OPPO logo slammed on the top. The earbuds also look a tad similar to Enco W11. That said, it would have been a great thing if OPPO introduced at least new colour options with Enco Buds – you have to settle with the sole – White – colour option.
The charging case is made with good-quality plastic material, which gives a sturdy feel. The earpieces also look solid. You get a satisfying clicky sound when you close the lid, but unfortunately, you cannot open it with one hand. The charging case also comes with magnets to hold the buds. There is also an LED battery indicator at the front and a USB Type-C port at the back of the charging case.
Coming to the earpieces, it is round. Frankly, I am not a fan of this shape for earbuds as I don't feel comfortable enough to wear them. However, using OPPO Enco Buds slightly changed my perception. The earbuds were surprisingly lightweight (with each earpiece weighing around 4 grams) and were quite comfortable to wear. I didn't notice any fatigue while using them for hours. The fit was secure enough even while walking or doing some mild exercise. Additionally, you also get three pairs of silicone ear tips to find the right fit.
Connectivity, Controls and Features
The OPPO Enco Buds connect seamlessly with both Android and iOS devices. All you need to do is open the lid for the first time and wait for the LED indicator to blink. Now, simply scan the device on your phone and pair it. The rear portion of each earpiece has a touch-sensitive zone to control different functions. During the testing, I found the touch controls to be responsive enough and accurate to register the taps. And, the best thing here is that you can use the HeyMelody application to customise the touch controls. Sadly, the app is only available for download on the Google Play Store.
The app allows you to check the battery levels, turn on the Game Mode, update its firmware, and customise touch controls. One can customise single tap, double-tap, triple-tap, and touch and hold functions right from the application.
By default, it is set to Play/Pause for single tap, double-tap for next song, triple-tap for Game Mode, and volume up and down by touching on the left and the right earbuds, respectively. With the app, you can change the setting according to your needs as well. For example, you can map the Voice Assistant function to the triple tap on either earbud. One thing that was missing from the application was the support for EQ presets. I wished it would be there, to be honest.
The OPPO Enco Buds also come with IP54 dust and water resistance, meaning they can withstand light splashes and sweat. There is also an 80ms low latency Game Mode, which can be turned on from the application and the earbuds.
Sound and Call Quality
The OPPO Enco Buds come loaded with 8mm dynamic drivers. The earbuds support SBC and AAC audio codecs, and Bluetooth v5.2, which is an improvement over Enco W11. Just like every other budget wireless earbuds, this one also comes with a bass-heavy sound signature. So, if you are into Pop, EDM, and more, you will like these earbuds. The bass output is good and you will hear that thumping sound when you listen to bass-heavy songs. In Industry Baby by Lil Nas X, the beat drop was pretty effective.
However, I noticed that bass was masking the mids and the highs. In Lovely by Billie Eilish, I felt the bass overpowered the mids and highs, and the vocals were slightly muffled. Simply put, there was an issue of auditory masking with the earbuds. For those who are not aware, it is a phenomenon where a loud sound covers the soft sound. So, if you like genres like Country Music and Rock, you will not be impressed with these earbuds. Moreover, in Happier Than Ever, I was quite disappointed with the performance of the earbuds because it was a mess when different sounds were played at the same time.
Coming to the call quality, the OPPO Enco Buds does a decent job. The company claims that it uses intelligent call noise reduction technology that uses the microphone to pick up your voice from the surrounding noise during a call. The microphone quality was pretty decent during the testing. The person over the call was able to hear my voice clearly indoors. In outdoor conditions, the voice was significantly muffled, and the buds also picked up external noises. Moving on, the 80ms low-latency Game Mode works well and I didn't notice any lag or stutter while playing video or games with the Enco Buds.
Battery Life
The OPPO Enco Buds are probably one of the most reliable budget TWS earbuds in terms of battery life. The company claims that the earbuds deliver up to 6 hours of playback time on a single charge. During the testing period, I found that the earbuds deliver around 5 hours and 20 minutes of backup on a single charge. Plus, I was able to get three charging cycles with the case, which, in my opinion, is one of the best results you can get on a budget TWS priced under Rs 2,000. Moreover, the earbuds can provide up to one hour of playtime with a 15-minute charge, which could have been better.
Should You Buy the OPPO Enco Buds?
For Rs 1,999, the OPPO Enco Buds are reliable earbuds that offer some solid battery life along with some customisable touch controls, a comfortable wear experience, and great connectivity features. While it is not a game-changer when it comes to sound quality, it does a fair job provided the price segment it is catering to. The HeyMelody application is a bonus that allows you to control various aspects of the earbuds. So, if you are planning to buy a budget-centric TWS under Rs 2,000, then the OPPO Enco Buds can be considered as an option. However, if you can extend your budget slightly, then you have Realme Buds Q2 that brings interesting features to the table.
