Last month, we reviewed the Pro model in the Oppo Enco Air5 series and were charmed by its lush soundstage, efficient noise cancellation, and good range of secondary features. Now, we turn our attention to the base variant, which is currently priced at Rs 3,299. These earbuds are more affordable by Rs 1,700, but pack the same 12mm driver as the Pro buds. Being the base model, it misses out on the LHDC 5.0 codec. We used the TWS for a week to find out if it’s a better deal than its Pro counterpart. Here is our Oppo Enco Air5 review.
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In This Article
Oppo Enco Air5 Review: Design
Box Contents
- Charging case with earbuds inside
- Extra eartips (S and L)
- User guide
The Enco Air5’s charging case has the same look as its Pro counterpart. Its pebble-like shape and compact form factor make it easy to slide in and out of pockets. Walking around with this case is not a hassle at all since it weighs only 43.5g. The matte finish wards off any fingerprints or smudges. The in-hand feel of the case is fine. The ‘OPPO’ lettering is etched just below the lid, while the LED notification light is placed further down. The USB-C port and pairing button are positioned at the bottom of the case.
The lid can be flipped open with a single finger. The hinge feels strong and durable enough to withstand rough use over a long period of time. The all-plastic build of the case does not feel cheap. The chassis does not flex upon being pressed.
The in-ear earbuds have a compact form factor and weigh just 4.3g. Their ergonomic design reduces ear fatigue by a considerable degree. We wore them for multiple hours on end without feeling any discomfort or irritation. There are extra eartips (Small and Large) in the box for users who aren’t comfortable with the default medium attachments.
The recessed section in the earbud stems is touch-sensitive. The touch controls are nicely tuned. You do run into accidental triggers every now and then, but they don’t amount to an annoyance. Oppo’s Hey Melody companion app lets you customise the touch controls. You can set the slide gesture to change the volume of the output. If you keep accidentally triggering the controls, you can turn them off entirely.
The earbuds are rated IP55 for dust and water resistance. We put them through rigorous workouts and were pleased to find out that they remained unfazed by exposure to sweat. Unlike their Pro counterparts, these earbuds have a glossy finish, which somewhat weakens the fit when things get sweaty.
Oppo Enco Air5 Review: Performance
As mentioned earlier, the Oppo Enco Air5 uses the same 12mm dynamic driver as the Pro model to deliver its audio output. It supports Bluetooth 6.1, which is a small upgrade over its Pro counterpart, which uses Bluetooth 6.0. Pairing the TWS to a smartphone or PC is a very seamless process. You just need to flip its lid open and long-press the pairing button at the bottom for the pairing notification to pop up on your device. There are 2 audio codecs on offer – SBC and AAC. The high-definition LHDC 5.0 codec is exclusive to the Pro variant.
We like that the base and Pro models have identical soundstages. If it’s good audio quality you’re after, you don’t need to spend an extra Rs 1,200 on the Pro model. The base variant gives enough room to the mid and high frequencies to express themselves on the soundstage while maintaining a thumping low end at the same time.
We listened to Charli xcx’s new album ‘Music, Film, Fashion’ using these earbuds and found the listening experience to be highly enjoyable. The output did justice to the moody guitar riffs and booming drum beats. There are 3 sound equaliser profiles to choose from – Ultimate sound (default), Pure vocals, and Thundering bass. You can set up a custom profile if the native presets don’t rock your boat.
Apart from a fine soundstage, the Enco Air5 also offers delectable Active Noise Cancellation. The earbuds can nullify up to 52dB of surrounding sounds. In an indoor setting, we are able to tune out the noise from the ceiling fan, air conditioner, and distant chatter. The keystrokes still managed to find their way through, although in a muted capacity. The Hey Melody app unlocks 3 ANC levels – High, Moderate, and Low. If you want to be aware of your surroundings, you can switch to Transparency Mode to let the background sounds pass through.
We did not face any issues while using this TWS to take audio calls and virtual meetings. The triple-mic AI call system, comprising a talk mic, FF mic, and FB mic, did a wonderful job of minimising the background noise and relaying the speaker’s voice perfectly to the listener. The call quality takes a small hit in noisy outdoor conditions, but that’s something to be expected from any TWS in this price bracket.
If you’re into gaming, you’ll be pleased to know that the Game Mode in the Hey Melody app backs gaming visuals with seamlessly synced audio by dropping the latency of the earbuds to 47ms. Turning on the toggle switch next to ‘Enhanced sound effects’ boosts the subtle details like the sounds of footsteps, gun reload, and more in the gameplay. Dual connection is another feature that comes in quite handy while driving this TWS daily.
Each earbud is equipped with a 62mAh battery pack. The charging case packs an additional 530mAh. With ANC turned on, the earbuds can last just over 6 hours on a full charge. The case extends the battery life to 27 hours. The earbuds take just under an hour to reach a 100% charge inside the case. Charging the case with a Type-C cable takes 90 minutes.
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Verdict
The Oppo Enco Air5 buds offer tremendous value for money. If you’re not interested in Hi-Res audio facilitated by the LHDC 5.0 codec, we recommend getting this TWS over the Pro model. The 12mm dynamic driver delivers a powerful audio output. The soundstage leans towards a bass-centric profile, but it gives enough room to the mids and highs to express themselves. The result is an enjoyable listening experience, no matter which genre of music you play. On top of that, the 52dB ANC lets you restore your peace of mind in noisy situations, be it a public bus or a shared working space.
Pros
- Compact form factor
- Good audio output
- 52dB ANC
- Affordable
Cons
- Glossy finish on the earbuds
