Active noise cancellation (ANC) is not unheard of on truly wireless headphones priced under 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 good sound quality are doable even in the low-cost TWS segment. Putting its hat on this ring is Oppo with its latest true wireless earbuds, the Enco Air 2 Pro.
Valuation Rs. 3,499, Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro was launched shortly after Enco Air 2, and there are some significant differences such as in-tube fit and active noise cancellation. Its current price makes it more affordable OnePlus Buds Z2, its direct competitor. Are the Enco Air 2 Pro the best value true wireless earbuds with ANC you can buy right now? Find out in this review.
Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro Earphones IP54 rated for dust and water resistance
12.4mm dynamic drivers, active noise cancellation on Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro
The Oppo Enco Air 2 delivers decent average performance for the price, and I had higher expectations for the ‘Pro’ model. Enco Air 2 Pro has received some major changes in terms of design, specifications and features. This includes an in-tube fit with silicone ear tips and a larger charging case.
That said, there are some similarities between the two models such as the design of the body of the earphones, the touch area for playback controls, and the glossy finish on the plastic of the headphones and the charging case. An interesting highlight is that the ‘L’ and ‘R’ symbols on the earphones are cut out to form openings for the internal microphone. The headphones are IP54 rated for dust and water resistance.
Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro comes in two colors, white and gray. The white version looks a lot better in my opinion, because of its obvious aesthetic similarities with Apple AirPods Pro. The charging box has a translucent top, which I find quite eye-catching and unique. The bottom of the charging box has a USB Type-C port, the back has the Oppo logo, and the front has an LED indicator light. The shape and size of the case makes it easy to pocket along with other items like a wallet or smartphone.
The touch controls on the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro work fine for me. They are customizable using the HeyMelody app (available for Android and iOS). Touch gestures let you control playback, invoke your smartphone’s default voice assistant, cycle through noise cancellation and listen through modes, activate game mode, switch between two most recently paired devices and adjust the volume. This flexibility allows me to take control of my music 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 is a convenient shape and size.
The HeyMelody app shows the battery level for both the headset as well as the charging case. It allows you to enable or disable ANC and transparency modes, and enable a game mode that requires 94ms low latency transmission. It also lets you switch between three equalizer presets (called Enco Live sound effects) and update the headset’s firmware. The app is very well designed, easy to use and works quite perfectly with the Enco Air 2 Pro.
Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro has 12.4mm dynamic drivers and uses Bluetooth 5.2 with support for Bluetooth SBC and AAC codecs. The headphones have a frequency response range of 20-20,000Hz and feature AI-based active noise cancellation and environmental noise cancellation that claim to deliver better sound on calls.
There’s also in-ear detection for playing and pausing playback when the headphones are on or off, and this worked pretty well for me. In addition, Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro supports quick pairing and can be used to control the phone’s camera shutter provided you have an Oppo smartphone running ColorOS 11.3 or later.
The battery life on the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro isn’t too good, even considering its price point. The headphones ran for about three hours with ANC turned on and the volume at about 60 percent. The charging case charged them from empty to full on three occasions, for a total run time of about 12 hours per charge cycle. This is significantly lower than what the OnePlus Buds Z2 has to offer.
Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro performs impressively, for the price
Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro for good sound quality. Listen to Netsky’s Get Away From Here, the headphones have a punchy, offensive sound that pleasantly maintains the detail and tempo of this track. The timbre feels reasonably balanced, although the tight and imposing bass feels a bit pronounced.
This helped bring out the personality of this drum and bass track, while allowing vocals and highs to be pushed up without being overpowering. All in all, the track sounds pleasant and enjoyable to listen to even at 50 percent volume thanks to sharp and careful tuning.
Turning up the volume to around 70% brings out the best in the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro. The noise isolation and pretty good active noise cancellation will definitely help you too. Slower tracks like You by Mk.gee sound engaging and cohesive at this volume, with the headphones’ timbre particularly impressive for a truly wireless headset in this price range.
Battery life on Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro is average, but sound quality and ANC performance make up for it
That said, going over the 80% volume level tends to make the music sound shrill and a bit too offensive. This can be a problem when listening outdoors and you need this level of volume, but in most cases you should be satisfied with simple and clear sound as long as the volume is at a reasonable level.
Active noise cancellation performance on the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro is pretty good, if not the best for a TWS headset in this price range. It certainly makes it easier for you to hear both indoors and outdoors. This headset has succeeded in reducing many common background noises such as the hum of ceiling fans or air conditioners and some traffic sounds. Combined with good passive noise isolation, it can drown out most ambient sounds at home or in the office quite well.
The connection is stable and call quality is good on the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro and I had no trouble during my time using this headset. The connection is stable and lag-free at a distance of up to 4m between the headset and the source device, even when there is no direct line of sight between them. Game mode did make a bit of a difference in improving latency when playing mobile games, but at the cost of slightly reduced audio quality.
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Oppo’s range of audio products in India usually offers excellent value for money, although some of the company’s most recent launches like Enco Air 2 Overall pretty average. With the Enco Air 2 Pro, Oppo is back in shape. This is a really good pair of wireless headphones for the price, and comes with useful features like active noise cancellation and app support.
All in 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. 5,000. The only real drawback is the mediocre battery life, which makes it an excellent all-round device. It could be considered more expensive OnePlus Buds Z2 if battery life is a big concern. Overall, the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro wins my recommendation for this price segment if your priority is good ANC performance from the TWS headphones.
