Like most device manufacturers, Oppo also produces many audio accessories. Their flagship product in this category is the Oppo Enco X and this year they also offer the Oppo Enco X2 and X2 Pro as replacements. Last year, the Enco X was one of the best TWS we've ever tested – how about this X2?
After weeks of using this TWS as a daily accessory, this is a review article for me to share with you all the usage experience and give an opinion on whether it is worth having or is it better to buy competitor brand TWS only?
Specifications And Design
Oppo Enco X2
Type of in-ear headphones
11mm Audio Driver dynamic type +
6mm planar diaphragm
Codec: LHDC/AAC/SBC
Microphones 3x Bone Voiceprint microphones
ANC, Smart ANC, ANC Max
Sound penetrating mode
Vocal enhancement
Bluetooth 5.2 sensor
Auto pause
57mAh earphone battery
566mAh charging pod
6.5 hours
27 hours with charging pod
Bluetooth 5.2 tethering
Google Fast Pair
USB-C charging
Wireless Qi
HeyMelody app support for non-Oppo devices
Controls Squeeze and press
IP54 waterproof capability
Selling Price RM799
The build quality of the Enco X2 is still premium and satisfying. It has a build quality and design that is very similar to AirPods. The only difference lies in the charging pod and the stalk. The Enco X2 uses a USB-C connection for charging and also supports Qi wireless charging. It also comes with a button on the side to perform tethering and an LED light below to show the battery level and connection to the device.
The Enco X2 uses dual 11+6 mm dynamic type audio drivers and also a planar diaphragm. It uses three microphones for vocal enhancement and noise cancellation, and also has its own sound-through mode. The connection is with Bluetooth 5.2 or also via the fast tethering of Google Fast Pair. This TWS also comes with IP54 protection which makes it sweatproof when used in exercise sessions for example.
Audio Quality
Bass/Lows
The Enco X2 offers comfortable bass to listen to throughout the frequency spectrum of audio waves. In the mid bass it is a little dense and controlled but not enough to give an impact, that is a thump for a satisfying bass. Overall, the bass of the Enco X2 is pleasant. I who like to listen to pop music will always feel happy while using this TWS, but if it's rock music with heavier instruments - this TWS is not powerful enough for deep bass.
Vocals/Mids
A fan of pop music like me, again if you regularly listen to songs from Grace VanderWaal and Taylor Swift - the vocals of the female voice are not so clear and bright because they seem closed. It is not flashy or carefree. Male vocals however are quite good and have just enough detail. It is not so deep and not so exposed. Overall, the vocals produced on the Enco X2 are on the slightly concave and uneven side.
High Tone/Highs
In the many TWS I've tested, I've rarely found a TWS that has a soothing high-pitched quality. It's not sharp enough to hurt the ears and it's not too loud. The high-pitched music on the TWS is nice, but it's not quite up to par. If there was an ability to tune only this high pitch part, it would surely satisfy everyone.
ANC, Noise Canceling Mode And More
As for the noise cancellation quality of the Enco X2, it is not quite satisfactory because you can still hear the noise in the environment. Compared to the previous Enco X which is tighter and has better performance. Although not the best, it is still adequate and can be said to be a common thing for TWS under RM1000. True it can't compete with Apple or Sony, but it's better than Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro, Nothing Ear (1) or ROG Cetra. The sound-through mode and the normal mode also seem to have not much difference and only the rate is the same.
Overall, its soft, calm and bright audio delivery is actually quite satisfying for many people. But because it's not good enough on the vocal side and doesn't really stand out, I can't crown it as the best TWS on the market.
Application
In Oppo and OnePlus devices, the Enco X2 control is already built-in with ColorOS which makes it easy to use. On other devices, the HeyMelody app needs to be used. The application allows updates to be done, change the settings on this TWS and also tune the audio to suit the user.
The HeyMelody app includes an Enco Master EQ to select audio profiles that have been tuned by Dynaudio. ANC mode can also be customized for different users like Golden Sound – for studio quality vocals which for me is just a gimmick, Game Mode to lower lag, LHDC feature and dual-connection mode to two devices. Without this app, TWS can still be used just fine – only with it the usage experience will be many times better.
Battery
The Oppo Enco X2 is advertised to last up to 6.5 hours of continuous use. But that's without ANC activated, if activated it is said to last around 5 hours. In my use which is mostly with ANC, I can get close to 5 hours of use. Also without ANC if the earphones are kept in the charging pod they should be able to last up to 27 hours and only 20 hours with ANC. Based on a few weeks of use, what is advertised is achievable.
My main problem is only one which is the 1 hour charging time for the battery which is only 566mAh. OnePlus has a fast charging system Warp Charge but why is it not used?
Conclusion
Although the noise cancellation quality isn't as good as last year's Enco X, the audio quality on the Enco X2 is much better. It's still nice and clear, the vocals are still bright and have solid bass. The Enco X2 is for those who want audio quality over extra features and functionality. The audio quality of this TWS is quite satisfying and makes you think, should you spend up to RM799?
If you want an audio product from a smartphone manufacturer and not an audio company, this is probably one of the best on the market right now. The design is also beautiful, neat, simple and compact. Despite its small size, it is quite powerful. It's also friendly to all Android devices and isn't tied to one platform as you can use Google Fast Pair for tethering and the HeyMelody app for additional control.
Compared to the Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro that we reviewed earlier in the day with spatial audio gimmicks – well add a little more money to get the best overall.
Pro
Solid and premium build
Has the best audio capabilities and is quite stable
Easy to tether and Android device friendly
Worthwhile premium category TWS
Cons
ANC that is not very satisfactory and not smart enough
White color that gets dirty quickly
The design of the earphones is similar to the boring AirPods Pro