Active noise cancellation (ANC) is not unheard of on true wireless earphones priced below Rs. 5,000, and brands continue to push the boundaries of performance and features in this segment. Indeed, recent models from Realme and OnePlus have proven that functional ANC and decent sound quality are possible even in the budget TWS segment. Oppo is throwing its hat in this ring with its latest true wireless earphones, the Enco Air 2 Pro.
Priced at Rs. 3,499, the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro was launched shortly after the Enco Air 2 and has some key differences such as a snug fit in the duct and active noise cancellation. Its current price makes it more affordable than the OnePlus Buds Z2, its direct competitor. Is the Enco Air 2 Pro the best value-driven true wireless headset with ANC you can buy right now? Find out in this review.
12.4mm dynamic drivers, active noise cancellation on the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro
The Oppo Enco Air 2 delivered fairly average performance for the price, and I have higher expectations for the ‘Pro’ model. The Enco Air 2 Pro has undergone some significant changes in design, specifications and features. This includes an in-channel fit with silicone eartips and a larger charging case.
That said, there are some similarities between the two models, such as the design of the earcups, the touch zones for playback controls, and the glossy finish of the plastic of the earcups and charging case. A rather interesting detail is that the ‘L’ and ‘R’ symbols on the earcups are cut out to form openings for the internal microphones. The earphones have an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance.
The Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro is available in two colors, white and gray. The white version looks a lot nicer in my opinion, because of the obvious aesthetic similarities to the Apple AirPods Pro. The charging case has a translucent top panel, which I found quite striking 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 make it easy to store along with other items such as a wallet or smartphone.
The touch controls on the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro worked well for me. They can be customized using the HeyMelody app (available for Android and iOS). With the touch gestures you can control playback, call up the default voice assistant on your smartphone, cycle through noise cancellation and hearing modes, activate game mode, switch between the two most recently paired devices and adjust the volume. This flexibility allowed me to manage my listening experience without using my smartphone too often.
The HeyMelody app shows the battery levels for both the earphones and the charging case. It allows you to enable or disable ANC and transparency modes, as well as activate the game mode for which it claims a low latency transmission of 94ms. You can also switch between three equalizer presets (called Enco Live Sound Effects) and update the earphone’s firmware. This app is very well designed, easy to use and worked quite flawlessly with the Enco Air 2 Pro.
The Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro has 12.4mm dynamic drivers and uses Bluetooth 5.2 with support for the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs. The earphones have a frequency range of 20-20,000 Hz, and there’s active noise cancellation and AI-based ambient noise cancellation that claims to provide better audio on calls.
There’s also in-ear detection to play and pause playback when one of the earbuds is worn or removed, and this worked pretty well for me. In addition, 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 with ColorOS 11.3 or higher.
The battery life of the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro was not great, even considering the price. The earphones ran for about three hours with ANC turned on and the volume at about 60 percent. The charging case charged them three times from empty to full, for a total run time of approximately 12 hours per charge cycle. This is significantly lower than what the OnePlus Buds Z2 offers.
The Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro performs impressively, for the price
The Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro delivers good sound quality. Listening to Netsky’s Get Away From Here, the earphones had a strong, attacking sound that pleasantly maintained the detail and tempo of this song. The sonic signature felt fairly balanced, although the tight and imposing bass did feel a bit pronounced.
This helped bring out the character of this drum-and-bass song, while also allowing the vocals and highs to penetrate without being overwhelmed. Above all, the song sounded pleasant and was pleasant to listen to, even at the 50 percent volume level, thanks to the sharp and careful tuning.
Turning the volume up to about 70 percent brought out the best in the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro. The noise-isolating fit and decent active noise cancellation certainly helped too. Slower tracks like You by Mk.gee sounded captivating and cohesive at this volume level, with the earphones’ tonality being particularly impressive for a true wireless headset in this price range.
That said, if you went anywhere above the 80 percent volume level, music usually sounded shrill and a little too offensive. This can be a problem if you’re listening outside and you need this volume level, but in most cases you should be happy with the straightforward and clear sound as long as the volume is at a reasonable level.
Active noise cancellation on the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro was pretty good, if not the best, for a TWS headset in this price range. It has definitely become easier to listen both indoors and outdoors. This headset has managed to reduce many routine background noises, such as the hum of a ceiling fan or an air conditioner, and some traffic noises. Coupled with good passive sound insulation, it was able to drown out most ambient noises at home or in the office quite well.
Connection stability and call quality were good on the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro, and I had no issues with either during my time with these earphones. The connection was stable and lag-free at distances of up to 4m between the earphones and the source device, even without a direct line of sight between them. Game mode made a small difference in improving latency when playing mobile games, but at the cost of a small reduction in sound quality.
verdict
Oppo’s audio product range in India generally offers excellent value for money, although some of the company’s most recent launches, such as the Enco Air 2, have generally been quite average. With the Enco Air 2 Pro, Oppo returns to form. These are a very good pair of true wireless earphones 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 coupled with good ANC, this is one of the best TWS headsets you can buy for less than Rs. 5,000. The only real downside is the ordinary battery life, which makes it somewhat of an excellent all-rounder. It might be worth considering the more expensive OnePlus Buds Z2 if battery life is a major concern. Overall, the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro wins my recommendation for this price segment if you prioritize good ANC performance from a TWS headset.