When it comes to Oppo, the spotlight generally shines on their smartphones. But, let's not overlook their Enco earbuds, because they’re like an underrated gem in the tech universe.
From the cheap and cheerful Enco Buds 2, to the flagship Enco X2s, Oppo’s earbuds generally punch above their weight.
And now, we have the new mid-range Enco Air 3 Pros, which are priced at ₹4,999.
Can they maintain Oppo's legacy of making great earbuds?
Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro Design
The Enco Air 3 Pros look quite identical to the more expensive Enco X2s. They come in an oval case which is slim enough to easily fit in the coin pocket of your jeans.
The lid of the case has this dual layer finish which adds a nice 3D effect to it. But, on this green colour, it can make the lid look discoloured under certain light conditions.
The buds themselves have a familiar stem design and feature removable silicone eartips. The fit in my experience was secure and quite comfortable.
You also have bold L & R embossed in each earbud, just in case you forget what’s what.
The overall plastic quality, of both the earbuds and the case, is really high, and can give some more expensive earbuds a run for their money.
The IP55 rating of the earbuds will surely ensure peace of mind if you are the athletic type, however, the case has no water resistance.
Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro Connectivity
The Enco Air 3 Pros connect to your iOS or Android smartphone through Oppo’s Hey Melody app. The Buds come with Bluetooth 5.3, Google Fast Pair, as well as dual-connection support.
They also support the high quality LDAC codec, which is quite a welcome addition on mid-range earbuds.
In my testing, connectivity was super quick with Android phones, but connecting them to a Windows PC was quite a task.
Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro Controls
The Enco Air 3 Pros have pretty straightforward tap-based controls. The controls are also customisable to a large extent.
A good thing is that these earbuds have wear detection which takes care of play & pause. So, you can basically disable the single tap option which is quite prone to accidental triggers.
Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro Audio Quality & Call Quality
Now, let's dive into what really matters: the audio. Oppo's Enco series has always set the bar high, and these earbuds do not disappoint.
The buds feature 12.4mm dynamic drivers, and come with the world's first bamboo fibre diaphragm. All the marketing jargons aside, these earbuds do pack a punch.
You get 3 audio profiles to choose from. Starting with the "Original Sound" profile, the balance achieved in this mode is admirable, with just a hint of treble boost that lends an overall brightness to the sound signature.
Whether you're grooving to your favourite rock tunes or listening to soothing acoustic melodies, the "Original Sound" setting ensures every note is precisely where it should be.
Now, let's talk about the surprise package – the "Bass Boost" setting. Oppo's engineers seem to have cracked the code of delivering deep, thumping bass without allowing it to overpower the mids and highs.
It's hard to achieve, but the Enco Air 3 Pros excel in this department.
The third “Natural Inspiration” mode pushes a treble heavy sound. While it's a good choice for some genres, extended listening in this mode might lead to listening fatigue.
That being said, since these earbuds are quite capable, it is a missed opportunity not to give a proper 5 band equaliser support here.
Oppo has also added support for 360-degree audio on these earbuds. I personally am not a fan of 360 audio, but it's there if you like it.
Coming to call quality, this is an outdoor call sample from the Enco Air 3 Pros, and it is quite good by segment standards (this will be a recorded sample).
Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro ANC
The Enco Air 3 Pros have both active noise cancellation and transparency mode. To my surprise, the performance of both modes was at par with the much more expensive Enco X2s.
In fact, the ANC was slightly better in my opinion since it did not create as much artificial suction in my ears as the Enco X2s.
You also get personalised and adaptive noise cancellation on the Enco Air 3 Pros which work decently well.
Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro Battery Life
The battery backup of the Air 3 Pros is quite average. Oppo claims up to 7 hours of battery life per earbud, but with ANC and LDAC codec enabled, there is no way you'll ever touch that number.
I got around 4 hours of music playback per earbud, which is not bad, but not the best either.
Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro Verdict
Oppo's Enco Air 3 Pros are among the finest TWS earbuds available in India for ₹4,999. They sound fantastic for the price, and their active noise cancellation performance is good as well.
While the battery life may not be class-leading, the Enco Air 3 Pros are still an excellent deal.
Also watch: Nothing Ear (2) review: A worthy sequel
