Oppo Enco M32 Review: A Budget-Friendly Neckband That Hits The Right Notes
Oppo has been making waves in the Indian audio market with its growing range of earphones, especially in the popular true wireless category. Recently, the brand has turned its attention to the budget segment, offering accessible options for those seeking basic reliability in connectivity, sound quality, and battery life. Following the success of the Oppo Enco Buds, the company has launched the Oppo Enco M32, an affordable wireless neckband headset designed to deliver value for money. Priced at Rs. 1,799 (though currently available for a discounted price of Rs. 1,499), the Enco M32 promises a comfortable fit, good battery life, and decent audio quality for its price point. But does it live up to its claims? Let’s find out in this detailed review.
A Familiar Design with Focus on Comfort and Convenience
The Oppo Enco M32 adopts a familiar design for wireless neckband headsets, prioritizing comfort and ease of use with its subtle aesthetics. Available only in black, the neckband features a single Oppo logo on the left module. The flexible neckband can be significantly twisted without the risk of damage, ensuring durability. The headset also boasts an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance, providing protection against minor splashes and sweat.
The right side of the neckband houses a USB Type-C port for charging (protected by a rubber flap) alongside playback and volume controls. The earpieces are connected to the modules via short cables and feature magnetic snapping. This magnetic feature also manages power: separating the earpieces turns the headset on, and snapping them together turns it off. While convenient, the magnetic force isn’t overly strong, leading to occasional accidental switching on when stored in bags.
The in-canal fit of the earphones provides comfortable wear and acceptable noise isolation. Each earpiece comes with a removable rubber grip that wedges against the inner ear to enhance stability. This removable feature allows for easy cleaning, a thoughtful design choice. The glossy finish on the outer portions of the earpieces and the reflective silver magnetic zone contribute to a decent aesthetic appeal. The sales package includes three pairs of silicone ear tips and a USB Type-C charging cable.
Connectivity, Features, and Battery Life
The Oppo Enco M32 utilizes Bluetooth 5 for connectivity, supporting the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs. The earphones are equipped with 10mm dynamic drivers and offer a frequency response range of 20-20,000Hz. Another noteworthy feature is dual-device fast switching, allowing for quick switching between the last two paired devices by pressing the volume up and down buttons simultaneously for two seconds.
Battery life is a key selling point of the Enco M32. Oppo claims a remarkable 28 hours per charge with a 10-minute charge promising up to 20 hours of listening. Our testing yielded similar results, achieving around 21-22 hours of playback on a single charge at moderate volume levels. Furthermore, a 10-minute charge provided ample power for 14-15 hours of usage, confirming the effectiveness of the fast charging feature. The full charge time for the headset was approximately 35 minutes using a 10W charger, matching Oppo’s claims. These impressive battery figures are excellent for a wireless neckband headset in this price range.
Sound Performance: A Bass-Heavy Focus with Mixed Results
The Oppo Enco M32 primarily focuses on providing a solid foundation of basic features, and it performs fairly well in terms of sound quality and voice call performance. The inclusion of AAC Bluetooth codec support is commendable and contributes to a stable connection during usage.
The sound signature leans towards a bass-focused tuning, a common approach for earphones under Rs. 2,000. The earphones can reach very loud volumes, allowing comfortable indoor listening at even 50% volume. Increasing the volume to around 60% reveals more attack in the sound, while exceeding this level results in unpleasant loudness or distortion.
Testing the bass response with tracks like "Keep It Close" by Seven Lions, the rumble and sub-bass growl were prominent, as expected. Even the mid-bass ranges stood out, making the beat and bassline particularly noticeable and adding energy to the listening experience. However, this bass emphasis became slightly fatiguing when listening to tracks like "Boom" by Tiesto and Sevenn. While initially impressive, the powerful bass-driven beat overwhelmed the other frequencies, highlighting a recurring issue present in many affordable headsets.
This bass-heavy tendency of the Enco M32 affected various genres, making tracks like "Golden Brown" by The Stranglers sound somewhat awkward. The bass elements dominated, even when unnecessary, and while some details could be heard, the finer nuances were obscured by the rumbling bass. The Enco M32 is best suited to fast-paced, energetic tracks where detail in the mids and highs isn’t crucial for enjoyable listening.
Connectivity proved stable throughout testing, with the headset working flawlessly up to 4m from the source device. Call quality was decent indoors, the high volume and comfortable fit allowing for good communication even during lengthy conversations. Indoor microphone performance was satisfactory, but the quality dipped in noisy outdoor settings.
Verdict: A Solid Budget Option with Strengths and Weaknesses
The affordable wireless headphones segment has numerous decent options, such as the Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro, which even features active noise cancellation. However, for those on a tighter budget seeking a headset that gets the basics right, the Oppo Enco M32 is worth exploring.
The energetic and lively sound, comfortable earpiece fit, and impressive battery life make it a compelling choice. The inclusion of fast charging, delivering 14-15 hours of usage from a 10-minute charge, is a major selling point. While sound detail suffers and outdoor call quality leaves room for improvement, the Enco M32 manages to deliver on the core promises expected at its price point. It provides a reliable and convenient audio experience with a good balance of features and performance.
