Oppo is not the first iteration of headphones, but the new Enco X model completes the company's audio portfolio. OPPO Enco X were announced in China in October 2020, followed by a European launch. There are wireless in-ear headphones with ANC and wireless charging, but the interesting things don't stop there. Here we have the complete review of the Oppo Enco X wireless headphones after two weeks of intense use, both in the gym, in the deafening noise of the subway, and in office activities.
When Apple launched Airpods a few years ago, the jokes kept popping up. Many likened them to earrings and did not anticipate the success of the Cupertino company in this segment, but history has repeated itself with several launches of the manufacturer with the bitten apple. Finally, what I wanted to say is that Apple was not the first manufacturer to offer this type of product on the market, but the format of wireless eardbuds became mainstream once Apple launched it. Then all the big audio makers launched their own models, and the smartphone makers didn't stand aside either and put their own models on the shelves. Basically, if you have a headset, smartwatch and smartphone, an ecosystem has been created. Add a laptop here and the ecosystem is complete.
Co-Created with Dynaudio
Returning to our headphones today, Oppo Enco X are manufactured in partnership with Dynaudio, and you can see this directly from the case, where you find the message "co-created with Dynaudio" very stylized. I received the white helmets for testing, and this means that the protective case, with a role in the battery, also comes in this shade.
We have an aluminum edge that surrounds the case, and the OPPO manufacturer's logo is only noticeable at first glance. At the bottom is the USB C charging port, on the right we have a physical button with a role in connecting to the phone, while on the front there is a status LED. Unlike Samsung headphones, the shape of the case reveals the position from which it should be opened from the start, thanks to the front LED, which always indicates the ideal position.
Each headset weighs 4.8 grams, while the case weighs 42.5 grams without headphones and 52.5 grams with headphones inside. They are IP54 resistant to water and dust resistance, which means they can be used without problems in sports or when it is raining outside. They are small and light and are comfortable when you choose to wear them for long periods of time, nor can I say that I felt any discomfort when using them daily.
The headphones support wireless charging by Qi standard, charging in almost 2 and a half hours from zero to 100% on a regular Qi stand. In terms of technology, the headset supports the LHDC (Low Latency High Definition Codec), but it only works with an Oppo smartphone, even if you can use the headset with other smartphones, including iOS and generally any device that can be connected via Bluetooth.
It also accepts AAC and SBC codecs, and if you want to update and don't use an Oppo smartphone, install the Heymelody app. Here you will also be able to set the touch controls, but personally, apart from the Play / Stop, which is done with a single tap, the touch controls seem cumbersome on all headphones of this type. It accepts a tap, two or three, but also a slide for volume control, while a longer press can add other commands.
Oppo Enco X - headphones with ANC and wireless case
The headset has a Bluetooth 5.2 connection and low latency binaural support. This ensures fast and smooth transmission and delivers sound to both ears simultaneously, provides synchronized sound, eliminates delays and other disturbances, and increases signal quality.
In terms of battery life, each headset has a 44 mAh battery, which should last up to 5.5 hours without ANC and up to 4 hours with ANC enabled. The case has 535 mAh, allows wireless charging and can offer up to 25 hours and 20 hours with ANC active. In practice, you should expect 3.5-4 hours of operation regardless of the mode chosen, and this is not an impressive figure. However, I never woke up wearing headphones for so long, but fast charging would make up for it.
Audio quality is one of the most important issues when it comes to headphones or any other audio device. At Oppo Enco X, the sound is clear and the volume is high, the frequencies are balanced and the bass is enough. They're not audiophile headphones, but they're a great smartphone or laptop accessory, and you can keep them connected to two devices and quickly switch from one to the other with a long press on one of the headphones.
The ANC is working well. I took a subway ride just to see how it was doing, and the background noise cancellation was great, and at the gym it not only covered the music which usually sounds too loud and distorted, but I didn't mind the sound either. which makes him the treadmill and no other noises. The ANC is not exactly perfect, but the experience is similar to what I have encountered in other similar models. We must keep in mind that there are no 300-400 euro headphones with cups and that they cover our entire ear.
Overall, I was delighted with the user experience and did not encounter any annoying shortcomings during the testing period. You shouldn't worry that your smartphone doesn't support LHDC codec, I tested it with a smartphone other than OPPO, and I didn't notice any noticeable differences.
Conclusion
After using a dozen wireless earbuds I can conclude: Oppo Enco X are excellent value for money. They are comfortable, have a very good sound and an elegant case, and in terms of technology they have ANC, wireless charging and a series of gestures, with which I still did not feel comfortable to use them on any pair of wireless headphones so far. It costs 179 euros in Europe, we do not yet have an official price for Romania, but they will be available in stores in the country starting from the next period.