Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro True wireless headphones review: back in shape
Active noise cancellation (ANC) is not unheard of on true wireless earbuds priced below Rs. 5, and brands continue to push the boundaries of performance and functionality in this segment. Indeed, recent models from Realme and OnePlus have proven that working ANC and decent sound quality are possible even in the budget TWS segment. Throwing its hat into this ring is Oppo with its latest true wireless earbuds, the Enco Air 000 Pro.
Priced at Rs. 3, the Oppo Enco Air 499 Pro was launched shortly after the Enco Air 2 and features significant differences such as a good in-channel fit and active noise cancellation. Its current price makes it more affordable than the OnePlus Buds Z2, its direct competitor. Are the Enco Air 2 Pro the best true wireless headphones with ANC you can buy right now? Find out in this review.
Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro headphones are IP54 rated for dust and water resistance
12,4mm dynamic drivers, active noise cancellation on the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro
The Oppo Enco Air 2 delivered pretty average performance for the price, and I expect more from the 'Pro' model. The Enco Air 2 Pro received a few key changes in design, specs, and features. This includes an in-channel fit with silicone tips and a larger charging case.
That said, there are some similarities between the two models, such as the design of the earbud stems, the touch areas for the playback controls, and the glossy finish of the plastics of the earbuds and the charging case. A rather neat touch is that the 'L' and 'R' symbols on the ear cups are cut out to form openings for the internal microphones. The headphones are IP54 rated for dust and water resistance.
The Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro is available in two colors, white and gray. The white version is much prettier in my opinion, due to its obvious aesthetic similarities to Apple's AirPods Pro. The charging case has a translucent top panel, which I found rather eye-catching and unique. The bottom of the charging case has the USB Type-C port, there is an Oppo logo on the back, and the front has an LED indicator. The shape and size of the case makes it easy to store with other items such as a wallet or smartphone.
The Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro's touch controls worked well for me. They are customizable using the HeyMelody app (available for Android and iOS). Touch gestures let you control playback, summon the default voice assistant on your smartphone, cycle through noise cancellation and listening modes, activate game mode, switch between the two devices most recently paired and adjust the volume. This flexibility allowed me to be in control of my listening experience without having to access my smartphone too often.
The top of the charging case has an interesting translucent panel, and the case itself has a convenient shape and size
The HeyMelody app displays the battery levels of both earbuds as well as the charging case. It lets you toggle ANC and Transparency modes on or off, as well as enabling Game Mode for which it claims a low-latency transmission of 94ms. It also lets you switch between three equalizer presets (called Enco Live sound effects) and update the firmware of the headphones. This app is very well designed, easy to use and works great with Enco Air 2 Pro.
The Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro has 12,4mm dynamic drivers and uses Bluetooth 5.2 with support for SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs. The headphones have a frequency response range of 20-20 Hz, and there's active noise cancellation and AI-based environmental noise cancellation that claims to sound better in calls.
There's also in-ear detection to play and pause playback when either earbud is worn or removed, and that worked well enough for me. Additionally, the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro supports quick pairing and can be used to control your phone's camera shutter provided you have an Oppo smartphone running ColorOS 11.3 or later.
The battery life of the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro wasn't too good, even considering its price. The headphones worked for about three hours with ANC on and the volume at about 60%. The charging case charged them three times from empty to full, for a total run time of around 12 hours per charge cycle. That's considerably less than what the OnePlus Buds Z2 offer.
The Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro performs impressively, for the price
The Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro offers good sound quality. Listening to Netsky's Get Away From Here, the headphones had a loud, attacking sound that nicely maintained the detail and rhythm of this track. The sound signature was reasonably balanced, although the tight, towering bass was a bit pronounced.
This helped bring out the character of this drum and bass track, while allowing the vocals and highs to come through without being overwhelmed. Above all, the track sounded pleasant and was pleasant to listen to even at the 50% volume level thanks to the precise and careful adjustment.
Turning up the volume to around 70% brought out the best in the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro. Adjusting the noise isolation and decent active noise cancellation certainly helped as well. Slower tracks such as You by Mk.gee sounded engaging and cohesive at this volume level, with the headphone tone particularly impressive for true wireless headphones in this price range.
The Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro's battery life is ordinary, but the sound quality and ANC performance make up for it
That said, going anywhere above the 80% volume level tended to make music shrill and a bit too aggressive. This can be a problem when you're listening outside and need that volume level, but in most cases you should be happy with direct, crisp sound as long as the volume is at reasonable levels.
The active noise cancellation performance on the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro was pretty good, if not the best, for a TWS headset in this price range. It certainly made it easier to listen indoors and outdoors. This headset was successful in reducing many common background noises such as the hum of a ceiling fan or air conditioner, as well as some traffic noise. Combined with good passive noise isolation, it was able to drown out most ambient sounds in the home or office quite well.
Connection stability and call quality were good on the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro, and I had no issues with these headphones. The connection was stable and lag-free at distances of up to 4m between the headphones and the source device, even without a direct line of sight between them. Game Mode made a slight difference in improving latency when playing mobile games, but at the cost of a slight reduction in sound quality.
Verdict
Oppo's audio lineup in India has generally offered great value for money, although some of the company's more recent launches, such as the Enco Air 2, have been pretty average overall. With the Enco Air 2 Pro, Oppo is back in shape. These are a very good pair of true wireless earbuds for the price, and come with useful features like active noise cancellation and app support.
Above all, the sound quality is very good on the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro, and combined with good ANC, this is one of the best TWS headphones you can buy for under Rs. 5. The only real downside is the ordinary battery life, which somewhat detracts from it being a great all-rounder. It might be worth considering the more expensive OnePlus Buds Z000 if battery life is a major concern. Overall, the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro earns my recommendation for this price segment if your priority is good ANC performance from a TWS headset.
