Following the October launch of its Find X9 smartphone line in Barcelona, Oppo is further bolstering its presence in the consumer electronics market with its latest audio offering. Headlinez.news received a unit of the Oppo Enco X3s earbuds for evaluation, and our testing indicates a strong emphasis on delivering a high-fidelity listening experience with robust active noise cancellation. Priced at 119 euros, the Enco X3s aim to provide premium audio quality at a competitive price point, and represent Oppo’s continued expansion beyond mobile devices.
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Oppo unveiled its new Find X9 and Find X9 Pro smartphones in Barcelona last October, boasting a redesigned aesthetic, a two-day battery life, and a 200-megapixel telephoto lens. The launch signaled Oppo’s renewed push into the premium smartphone market. Alongside the new phones, the company also introduced its latest audio offering: the Oppo Enco X3s earbuds.
After several months of testing, Oppo sent a unit of the Enco X3s to headlinez.news for review. The earbuds deliver a notable audio experience, prioritizing high-fidelity sound and active noise cancellation for immersive listening.
Comfort-Focused Design
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The Oppo Enco X3s maintain a similar design language to their predecessors, emphasizing a minimalist and functional aesthetic. Oppo prioritized comfort, a key consideration for wireless earbuds, resulting in a design that allows for extended wear without fatigue. The earbuds feature a stem-style design with a slightly oval-shaped head that conforms to the natural shape of the ear canal.
Each earbud weighs just 4.7 grams, making them barely noticeable during use. The company’s focus on comfort is evident, prioritizing a comfortable fit over a more striking visual design. The charging case is also lightweight and easily pocketable, despite its seemingly large size. Its flat, oval shape makes it convenient to carry without feeling bulky. Overall, the design of the Oppo Enco X3s remains a strong point. However, the touch controls could be improved; they sometimes feel slow, requiring a sustained press, and can occasionally register false touches when the earbuds brush against surfaces.
Enhanced Sound Quality
Beyond the design, the Oppo Enco X3s represent a step forward in sound quality thanks to their dual-driver coaxial architecture. Each earbud incorporates two small speakers: an 11mm driver for low frequencies like bass, and a 6mm driver for high frequencies like vocals and cymbals. This configuration delivers a high-fidelity audio experience across the entire frequency range.
Oppo partnered with Danish audio company Dynaudio to fine-tune the sound signature, resulting in a rich, detailed, and impactful audio profile. To fully experience the earbuds’ capabilities, a mobile device supporting the LHDC 5.0 codec is recommended. Testing with the Oppo Find X9 Pro (which supports the codec) and the Google Pixel 10 Pro (which does not) revealed a noticeable difference in audio quality. The Enco X3s also perform well during phone calls, utilizing a three-microphone system and AI algorithms to isolate the user’s voice from background noise. While the noise cancellation works effectively in controlled environments, the AI can sometimes introduce slight robotic artifacts in extremely noisy conditions – a common limitation for earbuds in this price range.
Effective Noise Cancellation
The Oppo Enco X3s offer active noise cancellation up to 55 decibels. In practice, this means that sounds like television noise from another room are significantly reduced, allowing for focused listening. The noise cancellation is particularly effective at blocking out disruptive sounds in outdoor environments, such as traffic or public transportation.
However, the noise cancellation isn’t perfect. It struggles to eliminate all high-frequency sounds in very noisy environments. For office workers, combining the active noise cancellation with music may be necessary to achieve complete focus.
All-Day Battery Life
The Oppo Enco X3s provide ample battery life for a full workday. During testing, with active noise cancellation enabled and volume set to around 50%, the earbuds lasted over six hours on a single charge. Actual battery life will vary depending on usage patterns.
Disabling active noise cancellation extends battery life considerably. The included charging case provides additional power, allowing for quick top-ups throughout the day.
Conclusion: High-Fidelity Audio, Accessible Price
Oppo has successfully democratized high-fidelity sound in the wireless earbud market. After extensive testing, the Enco X3s are a compelling option for audio enthusiasts. They represent a significant value proposition, offering a level of audio quality typically reserved for higher-priced products. The Enco X3s retail for 119 euros.
To unlock the full potential of the earbuds, a mobile device compatible with the LHDC 5.0 codec is recommended. While the earbuds sound good with other devices, the experience is noticeably enhanced with LHDC 5.0 support. We recommend testing the earbuds with multiple devices to appreciate the difference. The design, sound quality, and noise cancellation all contribute to a positive overall experience.
Improvements could be made to the touch controls, potentially switching to a pinch-style control for greater precision. Enhancing the active noise cancellation algorithm and adding wireless charging to the case would also be welcome additions. However, these are minor drawbacks considering the overall value and performance of the Oppo Enco X3s, making them a strong contender in the competitive wireless earbud market.
