A Budget-Friendly Treat: Unveiling the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro’s Sound and ANC Prowess
The quest for affordable true wireless earphones with active noise cancellation (ANC) is a constant battleground for budget-conscious audiophiles. Brands are pushing boundaries, proving that functional ANC and decent sound quality are attainable even under Rs. 5,000. Enter the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro, a TWS headset priced at Rs. 3,499, competing directly with the OnePlus Buds Z2. But can the Enco Air 2 Pro truly stand out and deliver the best value for money in this crowded market? Let’s delve into the review and find out.
Design and Features: A Look Under the Hood
The Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro boasts a significant upgrade from its predecessor, the Enco Air 2. This includes a secure in-canal fit with silicone ear tips and a more substantial charging case. While the stem design, touch controls, and glossy finish are shared between the two models, the Enco Air 2 Pro offers a noticeable step up in build quality and comfort. The earpieces themselves are IP54 rated for dust and water resistance, providing some level of protection against everyday use.
The Enco Air 2 Pro is available in two color options: white and grey. The white rendition, with its striking resemblance to the Apple AirPods Pro, certainly grabs attention. The charging case, featuring a translucent upper panel, adds a touch of visual appeal. Its compact and convenient shape ensures easy storage alongside your wallet or smartphone.
Key features of the Enco Air 2 Pro include:
- 12.4mm dynamic drivers: Delivering richer audio experiences.
- Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC and AAC codecs: Offering a stable and efficient connection.
- Active noise cancellation (ANC) and AI-based environmental noise cancellation: Enhancing audio quality on calls.
- In-ear detection: Automatically pausing and playing music when you put on or remove the earphones.
- Customizable touch controls: Allowing seamless control over your music, calls, and other functions.
- HeyMelody app support: Provides comprehensive customization options, including noise cancellation modes, equalizer presets, and firmware updates.
- Fast pairing and camera control (with compatible Oppo smartphones)
*The Enco Air 2 Pro comes with multiple customizable touch controls, allowing you to:
- Control playback
- Invoke the voice assistant
- Cycle through noise cancellation and hear-through modes
- Activate game mode
- Switch between two recently-paired devices
- Adjust the volume
This feature-rich ecosystem provides a greater level of control over your listening experience without needing constant smartphone interaction.
Battery Performance: A Mixed Bag
While the Enco Air 2 Pro offers a plethora of features, its battery life isn’t its strong suit. Expecting up to three hours of playback with ANC enabled and the volume around 60%, the charging case provides an additional three full charges. In total, you can expect a maximum playback time of around 12 hours. This falls short of the OnePlus Buds Z2’s battery life, but it remains a reasonable performance considering the price point.
Sound Quality: Surprising Clarity at an Affordable Price
Despite its budget-friendly price, the Opco Enco Air 2 Pro delivers surprisingly good sound quality. Testing the earphones with tracks like "Get Away From Here" by Netsky, the Enco Air 2 Pro showcases a strong, attacking sound with a pleasantly balanced sonic signature. While the bass is noticeably pronounced, it doesn’t overwhelm the vocals or highs. This tonal balance contributes to an enjoyable listening experience, even at lower volume levels.
Tuning the volume up to 70% brings out the best in the Enco Air 2 Pro. The noise-isolating fit and decent active noise cancellation enhance the listening experience. Slower tracks like "You" by Mk.gee sound engaging and cohesive at this volume, showcasing the impressive tonality for a TWS headset in this price range.
However, pushing the volume beyond 80% might result in a shrill and harsh sound, a trade-off with higher volume levels. In most cases, you’ll find yourself content with the crisp and straightforward sound quality at more reasonable volume levels.
Active Noise Cancellation: Effective for Everyday Use
The Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro’s ANC performance is impressive for a TWS headset in this price range. It effectively reduces routine background noises such as ceiling fan hum, air conditioner noise, and traffic sounds. Combined with the good passive noise isolation, the Enco Air 2 Pro delivers a peaceful listening experience both indoors and outdoors, effectively blocking out everyday ambient noises.
Connectivity and Call Quality: Reliable and Clear
The Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro delivers reliable and uninterrupted connectivity, with a stable lag-free connection up to 4 meters away from the source device, even without a direct line of sight. For gaming enthusiasts, the game mode offers improved latency, at the cost of a slight reduction in audio quality. Call quality is also commendable, with clear and audible conversation.
Verdict: A Strong Contender in the Budget TWS Market
Oppo has delivered a strong competitor in the budget TWS market with the Enco Air 2 Pro. This headset boasts a combination of features, good sound quality, and effective ANC, all at a very attractive price point. While the battery life could be improved, the stellar sound quality and impressive ANC performance easily make up for this drawback. The Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro is a solid recommendation for audiophiles seeking a budget-friendly TWS headset with reliable ANC.
However, if battery life is your top priority, you might prefer the pricier OnePlus Buds Z2. Overall, the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro sets a high bar for budget TWS earphones with its impressive combination of features and performance.
