We’ve come a long way since the launch of Apple’s Airpods which not only built an unexplored section of “truly wireless earbuds”, but also carried a design that many fellow tech brands aimed to achieve. Allegations aside, it is considered to be one of the most realistic ways to design a pair of earbuds that feel familiar but without the hassles of cables.
In recent times, the wireless earphones market is undoubtedly on the rise and has emerged out as one of the fastest-growing product categories in the market. Off-late, we’ve seen the launch of numerous wireless earbuds from different brands. And it’s safe to say buyers have no shortage of options to choose from. Thanks to the increasing number of smartphone companies ditching the conventional 3.5mm headphone jack.
Recently, OPPO has also joined the bandwagon with its new wireless earphone – the OPPO Enco Free, with the same design language from Airpods and adding its own flair to it via extremely intuitive gesture controls. The Enco Free will compete against offerings from realme, boAt, Xiaomi, Noise, Detel, OnePlus, 1More, Skullcandy, and others.
So, how does OPPO Enco Free True Wireless Headphones compete with numerous others in this crowded product segment? Let’s find it out in our review.
OPPO Enco Free True Wireless Headphones Review
Today, in the following review, we are going to talk about the OPPO Enco Free’s built & design, audio performance, connectivity, and battery life. Let’s get started.
Look & Feel: OPPO Enco Free Initial Impression
The OPPO Enco Free TWS comes in a small premium looking case in three color options – Black, White, and Pink. We have got the white color variant which has a dull matte texture on the casing with an OPPO branding engraved on an aluminum strip at the front. There is also an LED indicator placed on the aluminum strip, which blinks green light when you open the lid. It also works as a battery status indicator.
At the bottom of the compact case, it has a Type-C port and a pairing button on the right side that can also be used to reset the earbuds. Honestly, there’s nothing much that can be done on a pair of wireless earphone’s cradle.
Sturdy & Premium Design: OPPO Enco Free Built Quality
The built quality of the OPPO Enco Free is good, and it does not feel cheap by any means. For the earbuds, the same can be said as it feels premium. The earbuds of the device have the same dull matte texture on the inside part with a glossy finish on the rear side, which has touch gesture controls.
We used the Enco Free TWS with both Android and iOS devices (both iPhone and iPad) and even with Windows and Mac notebooks and did not encounter any connectivity or pairing issues. You just need to open the lid of the case, and the Enco Free earbuds connect to the device instantly.
The OPPO Enco Free uses Bluetooth v5.0 to establish a connection with smart devices. It also ensures that both the earbuds receive the signal simultaneously. The company describes this as “binaural simultaneous Bluetooth transmission.”
As per the company, OPPO Enco Free wireless earbuds feature an FPC Positioning System that is present in high-end stereo equipment.
Comfort: OPPO Enco Free Wearing Experience
The OPPO Enco Free is outer-ear fit earbuds that are comfortable and easy to wear for long use. Each earbud weighs 4.6 grams and feels light on the ears. During my test, I was able to wear these TWS for more than an hour without any major discomfort. This is the reason OPPO has used “liquid Silicone rubber” for the ear-tips. Inside the box, the company offers two complementary rubber tips to help you find the best fit depending upon your ear size.
In my case, I settled with the default small-sized tips as medium and large tips did not offer a secure fit. Moreover, even with the default rubber tips, these earbuds fail to provide the most secure fit. I often felt the earbuds would fall off from the ears, and it did too. The Realme Buds Air offers a more secure fit than the OPPO Enco Free.
Gesture Control: OPPO Enco Free Software Support
The OPPO Enco Free comes with touch-centric gesture controls support, something that works as advertised. You can double-tap on either side of the earbuds to answer calls or switch music on and off. You can also simply adjust the volume by sliding your finger up or down on the left earbud. And swipe up or down on the right earbud to change music tracks.
Whereas, pulling out any of the earbuds from the ears pauses the music; however, the music won’t auto resume every time you put the earbuds back in ears. I had to manually resume the music most of the time when I took out the earbuds from the ears. Also, the earbuds can invoke your phone’s voice assistant (Siri or Google Assistant). All you need to do is touch the earbuds for three seconds to activate your phone’s smart assistant.
It is also worth noting that OPPO provides additional gesture customization on its smartphones. I got the “Earbud Controls” working on OPPO Reno3 Pro while the same was not present on Redmi Note 9. Additionally, OPPO devices offer a much better pairing experience as compared to other Android devices and also allow users to update the firmware of the earbuds.
Audio Performance: OPPO Enco Free Bass, Treble and Clarity
OPPO Enco Free TWS earbuds are powered by 13.4mm ultra-dynamic drivers with dual magnetic circuits and have a frequency response range up to 20,000Hz. OPPO has also added a magnalium-titanium composite for the diaphragm. Sadly, the Enco Free works on AAC Bluetooth codec and lacks Qualcomm aptX Bluetooth codec support, which is a downside considering the pricing of the earbuds.
Now, let’s talk about the audio quality of the TWS. We tested a wide range of songs, content, and scenario to check the quality of the OPPO Enco Free. This includes watching movies and shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime, playing games like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile, and streaming music on Spotify. This pair of wireless earbuds performed admirably on all fronts.
It is worth noting that the volume levels on the TWS are quite high. I found myself turning the volume up to about 75% for a comfortable listening experience. However, one can turn the volume up to 85% or even 90% to drown out the surrounding noise. These TWS produce crisp and clear audio.
The track Spectre by Alan Walker sounded immersive. Some tracks like the Moonrise by Zimmer lacked the overall depth because at times I felt that the Enco Free earbuds aren’t playing audio at their maximum volume capacity.
On the other hand, the sound never felt distorted even at maximum volume. The earbuds showcased the good dynamic range and decent bass reproduction in SICKO Mode by Travis Scott. Hymn To The Fallen by composer John Williams for Saving Private Ryan showcased good mids and the details in instruments. Whereas, Armin van Buuren pushed the earbuds to the limit with This is a Test.
High Bass lovers might not like the overall sound signature though, as these TWS earbuds aren’t turned towards producing booming bass. Overall, the audio produced by the OPPO Enco Free is clean and enjoyable, but it lacks depth and is light on bass delivery.
The OPPO Enco Free has its microphones at the end of the tail part – pointing directly to my mouth. I did not face any issues with voice calling on the Enco Free TWS as it features dual-microphones that clear two-way communication. Excellent job once again, OPPO!
BTW, there were few issues with the OPPO Enco Free though. The biggest was the tendency of the TWS to drop the connection with the connected device suddenly. The connection between two devices would suddenly disappear, and I have to reconnect the earbuds to the device. I don’t know if this is any software issue, but it can get irritating, especially if it happens in the middle of a movie or a phone call.
Oppo Enco Free Battery Backup & Performance
I am pretty impressed with the OPPO Enco Free battery life. These TWS can last for around 4-hrs on one full-charge. Also, the case was successful in charging them back four times over. It means that in total, one can get about 20 hours of playback time. It was enough for four days of regular use for me.
OPPO’s claim of 5 + 20 hours of battery backup (buds and case combined) held true for the most part. In my usage, the Enco Free lasts an entire week without needing refueling. The Enco Free earbuds are water-resistant with an IPX4 rating.
OPPO Enco Free True Wireless Headphones Pricing & Availability
Launched alongside the OPPO F15 and Reno 3, the OPPO Enco Free is priced at NPR 9,990 in Nepal. These earbuds from OPPO come in black and white color variants and are available for purchase at the company’s authorized offline stores across the country.
With OPPO Enco Free, OPPO is aiming to grab a piece of the sub Rs. 10K segment, which has begun to get squeezed with multiple great offerings from different brands that specialize in their respective aspects.
| Model Name | Price in Nepal & India | Availability |
| OPPO Enco Free (Black, White) | NPR. 9,990 | Available Offline |
| OPPO Enco Free (Black, White) | INR. 7,990 | Available Online & Offline |
OPPO Enco Free True Wireless Headphones Specifications
| Model (Headphones) | ETI02 |
| Product Colours | White/Black/Pink |
| Model (Charging Case) | ETI03 |
| Driver | 13.4 mm dynamic driver |
| Driver Sensitivity | 120 dB @ 1 kHz @ 1 mW |
| Frequency ResponsecRange | 16 Hz~20 kHz |
| Microphone Sensitivity | -42 dBV/Pa |
| Bluetooth® Version | 5.0 |
| Wireless Range | 10 m |
| Battery Type | Rechargeable lithium-ion battery |
| Battery Capacity | 31 mAh (headphones), 410 mAh (charging case) |
| Music Playtime (50% volume) | 5 h (single charge), 25 h (with charging case) |
| Charging Time | 70 min (headphones), 110 min (charging case) |
| Charging Port | Type-C |
| Water-resistance (Headphones) | IPX4 |
| Weight (Entire Device) | 48.2g |
OPPO Enco Free Unboxing & Initial Impression Video
Verdict: Should You Buy Oppo Enco Free True Wireless Headphones?
Simply understand, the OPPO Enco Free isn’t the most affordable pair of TWS earbuds for what it offers singly in terms of audio output. But the entire listening experience is leaps ahead of most other TWS buds while maintaining to look petite and pretty. They aren’t nearly as expensive as Apple’s Airpods, aren’t flimsy as the Realme Buds Air and don’t bulge out of the ears like the Samsung Galaxy Buds.
But things could have been improved with the comforts of wireless charging and Qualcomm aptX codec support.
Anyway, if you are looking for mid-range true wireless earbuds with good design, clean audio delivery, and good battery life, the OPPO Enco Free is the answer. The audio lacks depth, and the bass delivery is definitely on the lighter side. But these TWS also works well for calling and offer seamless connectivity with smart devices.
If you’re looking at something more musical, or you want a proper in-canal fit, However, you can go for other options from Realme, 1More, and more to save some money.
So should you be buying the OPPO Enco Free True Wireless Headphones? Well, if you are seeking for a decent pair of TWS that do not blow a big hole in your pocket and yet are much better than basic budget offerings, we would say these definitely come into contention. The OPPO Enco Free True Wireless Headphones tries to strike a golden balance in between those who use AirPods and those who don’t, by delivering good performance without compromising on quality even while keeping the price nearly on the affordable side.
The Review
OPPO Enco Free True Wireless Headphones
At the time of writing this review, OPPO Enco Free is a bang in between the AirPods and the budget segment and perhaps the king of the truly wireless earbuds in mid-segment. It is perfect for anyone who wants a good pair of TWS without getting into the five-figure category and yet does not want to make the compromises that inevitably accompany relatively low budget offerings. OPPO Enco Free are not quite in the premium segment, but they are well above the low-end segment, and come with specs and features like USB Type-C charging, water resistance, comparatively better sound quality, good design, and good battery life.
PROS
- Premium Design & Comfortable To Wear
- Crisp & Clear Audio Quality
- Seamless Connectivity
- Good Battery Life
- Intuitive Gesture Control
- Dust and Water Resistance
CONS
- Underwhelming Bass Delivery
- No aptX Codec Support
- Gesture Controls Are Too Sensitive
- Connection Drops Abruptly
Review Breakdown
- Design & Comfort
- Overall Performance
- Sound Quality
- Battery Life
- Value For Money
Amazon Indiavia ©GadgetsBeat.
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