Oppo Enco Air5 Review: Testing the Most Anticipated Budget Earbuds

Explore the standout features and surprising nuances of Oppo Enco Air5 earbuds, delivering impressive noise cancellation and sound quality on a budget.

A First Listen: Budget Earbuds that Deliver Goosebumps?

Can budget earbuds really serve up a sound experience that sends shivers down your spine, or are we just looking at another forgettable model? The latest Oppo Enco Air5 earbuds have landed on our desk, and the initial tests sparked a wild curiosity—will they genuinely impress even the most discerning listener?

Inside our office, we’ve got the newest Oppo Enco Air5 and Air5s ready for unboxing. Let’s start with the Air5. These are in-ear buds with active noise cancellation (ANC), seemingly positioned a notch below the Air5 Pro, though both sport the same 12mm dynamic driver and a trio of microphones.

The Air5 come in two sleek colors: glossy white and "midnight black," accompanied by three sets of silicone ear tips to ensure a comfy fit.

Surprisingly, the Enco Air5 fit snugly in the ear. Not everyone is a fan of in-ear headphones, but I personally got used to them fast. Unfortunately, as I’ve mentioned, the Air5 lack sliding touch controls—a bummer since the Air5 Pro and Air5s both support this feature.

This is a convenient way to adjust volume that’s hard to give up.

Budget Sound with Unexpected Details

The Oppo Enco Air5 and Air5s arrived with mixed first impressions. Both pack the same 12mm driver and triple mic setup, yet their design and controls diverge notably. The Air5 stick to classic in-ear design with ANC up to 52 dB and an impressive battery life stretching up to 54 hours. The Air5s, however, debut as Oppo’s first semi-in-ear earbuds with ANC, weighing just 3.9 grams per bud.

The most glaring difference? Only the Air5s and Air5 Pro have touch gestures for volume control; the standard Air5 lacks this convenience.

Design and Fit: Two Worlds Apart

The Air5 use silicone tips that seal the ear canal tightly, offering solid passive noise isolation. At 4.3 grams each, they feel noticeably heavier than the Air5s. In contrast, the Air5s sport a hard plastic shell without silicone tips, resting lightly in the ear’s bowl without creating a vacuum seal. This design is perfect for all-day wear comfort but sacrifices some passive noise canceling.

For those accustomed to the secure fit of in-ear models, the Air5s’ fit might feel unusual. The lack of tight sealing directly impacts bass perception and the effectiveness of noise cancellation.

Specs & Features: What Powers These Buds?

Both models feature 12mm dynamic drivers delivering robust volume and sharp mids and highs. The Air5 boast adaptive ANC up to 52 dB that can suppress noises up to 5000 Hz—ideal for drowning out office hum and city traffic noise. The Air5s include adaptive ANC with voice suppression, but its open design limits overall noise reduction.

Bluetooth 6.1 on the Air5 versus 6.0 on the Air5s makes little practical difference in connection stability. Both support dual-device pairing and low-latency mode for gaming.

The Major Drawback & Its Workaround

The absence of touch volume controls on the Air5 is genuinely puzzling. This feature is available on the pricier Pro and semi-in-ear Air5s. Air5 users must either pull out their phone or accept fixed volume levels. The HeyMelody app offers EQ tweaks and some control options, but it doesn't replace hardware gestures. Oppo seems to have sacrificed this feature to hit a budget-friendly price point and differentiate models. Otherwise, these buds work solidly, and many users will adapt well enough.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Oppo Enco Air5

Here lies a classic budget dilemma: impressive specs paired with frustrating omissions. The Air5 lead with top-tier noise cancellation and long battery life. The Air5s focus on comfort and modern gesture controls. Choosing between them boils down to personal preference for fit and feature trade-offs.

Air5 Advantages

• Active noise cancellation up to 52 dB and frequency range up to 5000 Hz, rivaling much pricier models
• Up to 13 hours per charge, 54 hours total with the case—among the best battery lives in its class
• Classic in-ear design for reliable fit and sound isolation
• Three AI-powered microphones effectively hush background noise during calls
• Bluetooth 6.1 and 47ms low latency mode for gaming and video

Areas for Improvement

• Missing touch volume controls are a notable inconvenience
• Bass out of the box feels a bit weak but can be boosted via the app’s EQ
• Slightly heavier at 4.3 grams might bother sensitive ears
• No LDAC or LHDC support in basic model; Pro offers these at a higher price

Why Air5s Might Win Comfort Seekers

The Air5s’ semi-in-ear design at 3.9 grams is almost invisible even after hours. Gesture controls for volume are a real plus for those who prefer tactile ease. The open fit lets users stay aware of surroundings—great for office or street use—but bass and ANC effectiveness drop due to the lack of vacuum seal.

Voice suppression tech works on par with flagship ANC buds, ensuring clear calls.

Risks and How to Manage Them

The biggest frustration with the Air5 is the lack of gesture volume control—anyone used to swiping to adjust sound will notice this immediately. Bass may disappoint unless tweaked via equalizer. For Air5s, the airy fit reduces passive noise cancellation, making ANC less powerful in noisy areas.

The real-world effectiveness of ANC depends heavily on fit and ambient noise type.

ANC ratings (52 dB) are ideal maxes under lab conditions. They excel at muffling hums but struggle with sharp high-pitched sounds.

Battery Life vs. ANC: The Classic Trade-Off

Turning ANC on drops Air5 battery life from 13 to about 6.5 hours, and total runtime with the case from 54 to 27 hours—a typical compromise for noise-canceling buds. Using the AAC codec at high volume drains battery even faster.

Sound quality leaps forward using the 10-band EQ in the app, so investing 10 minutes in tuning your sound profile is a game-changer.

Solving Control Shortcomings

Without volume gestures, you can compensate through voice assistants or your phone’s native controls. Oppo phone users benefit from ColorOS features to change volume without unlocking the device.

Third-party apps like HeyMelody allow remapping some touch commands but don’t add missing gestures. Ultimately, many will just get used to adjusting volume on their phone or media player.

A Fresh Take on Semi-In-Ear Design

The Air5s carve out a new budget niche with ANC in semi-in-ear buds—a rarity since this form usually skips ANC due to isolation challenges. Instead, Oppo relies on smart algorithms to tackle noise, favoring comfort over maximum noise blocking.

This could spark a trend toward earbuds that prioritize wearability without sacrificing too much in sound quality, especially for those who dislike the sealed sensation of traditional in-ear plugs.

Versatility Beyond Music

The lightweight, open design makes Air5s ideal for office work, letting users hear colleagues without removing buds. They even double as hearing aids for mild hearing loss using transparency modes.

AI translation in 24 languages turns these buds into handy travel companions, and their safer fit for runners and cyclists allows ambient awareness for street safety.

Changing the ANC Earbud Landscape

Affordable ANC in semi-in-ear buds priced between $50–$80 could shake up the market. Competitors will need to innovate to keep up, possibly pushing advances in adaptive ANC rather than relying solely on passive isolation.

Users would benefit from a broader choice—comfort or maximum noise isolation—without sacrificing quality or budget.

Sound Philosophy: A Breath of Fresh Air

Removing the vacuum seal results in a lighter, airier sound profile. The bass isn’t as thunderous, but mids gain clarity and nuance, appealing to fans of acoustic, jazz, and classical tunes.

Oppo is subtly shifting away from the traditional "V-shaped" bass-heavy sound toward a more natural audio experience, which might inspire future genre-specific designs.

Who Should Consider the Oppo Enco Air5?

• Air5: Ideal for commuters and anyone craving solid ANC without splurging. Perfect for noisy environments needing focus and concentration.
• Air5s: Best for those who wear earbuds for long stretches and dislike in-ear pressure, plus anyone valuing gesture controls.

Both models boast IP55 ratings, making them suitable for workouts and outdoor runs.

Who Might Want to Pass?

• Audiophiles expecting rich, balanced sound with deep bass might be disappointed by these budget drivers.
• Lack of LDAC/LHDC support limits appeal for high-res audio lovers.
• Those needing ultra-low latency for pro video sync should look elsewhere.
• People who blast music at max volume may notice distortion.
• iPhone users face reduced app functionality as HeyMelody on iOS is limited.

Comparing the Competition

Samsung and Xiaomi offer better sound balance at this price but lag in ANC. Sony commands higher prices for superior noise canceling tech. Nothing Ear (a) stands out with design but falls short in battery and controls.

Oppo Enco Air5 stands out for combining strong ANC, solid sound, and battery life at a wallet-friendly price. The choice boils down to your priorities: comfort, sound, ANC power, or cost.

Final Thoughts: Which Model Should You Pick?

• If ANC is your top priority and you can live without volume gestures, Air5 is your pick.
• If comfort and gesture controls trump maximum noise suppression, Air5s make sense.
• Heavy users spending hours with earbuds will find Air5s noticeably easier on the ears.
• Oppo phone owners enjoy bonus perks with integrated app features.

Both deserve a spot on your radar for affordable, quality wireless earbuds.

Oppo managed to create two distinct models that don’t compete but complement each other within the lineup.

Conclusion

The Oppo Enco Air5 and Air5s don’t revolutionize the budget earbud space, but they carve out strong niches. The missing volume gestures on the Air5 feel like a deliberate cut, yet in all other respects, these earbuds deliver excellent noise cancellation and battery life hard to find at their price point.

The Air5s’ introduction of ANC semi-in-ear buds is a bold move, offering a fresh alternative for users craving comfort without sacrificing modern features.

Ultimately, your choice hinges on how you prioritize fit, controls, and noise cancellation. Ready to take your next step in sound?

FAQ

• What is the main difference between Oppo Enco Air5 and Air5s? The Air5 are classic in-ear buds with silicone tips and stronger ANC, while the Air5s feature a semi-in-ear design prioritizing comfort and gesture controls but with less noise isolation.
• Does the Oppo Enco Air5 support volume touch gestures? No, volume swipe gestures are only available on the Air5s and Air5 Pro models; basic Air5 users must adjust volume via their device or app.
• How effective is the ANC on Oppo Enco Air5? The Air5 offer up to 52 dB ANC, effective against steady noises like office hum and traffic but less so for sudden sharp sounds.
• Can I use these earbuds for gaming? Yes, both models feature a low latency mode (47 ms on Air5), suitable for gaming and video watching with minimal audio lag.
• Are Oppo Enco Air5 earbuds suitable for workouts? Yes, both have an IP55 rating, providing protection against sweat and dust, making them good companions for exercise.

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