Review: OPPO ENCO Buds3 — sound that belies the $99 price

Last year OPPO released the Enco Buds2 Pro and even though they were under $100 we were left disappointed with them.  This year, they are back with a new offering, the ENCO Buds3 and after using them for a couple of weeks, I am comfortable saying they far outshine the Buds2 Pro.

The OPPO Enco Buds3 come in under $100, and at that price, I wasn’t expecting much, but to say I was surprised would be a big understatement.  

Design and fit

The design of the Enco Buds3 is something I’m not a fan of.  Sure, the original AirPods were incredibly successful, but their design is backwards, and the earbud design has come a long way since then.

Unfortunately, OPPO has decided to copy the original AirPod design, from the stem all the way down to the inner ear section.  There is no silicone seal for the ear canal and there is no way to make these earbuds feel even remotely secure in the ear.  For this reason, I DO NOT recommend them for anything where movement is involved, such as strenuous workouts etc.

The Buds2 Pro had a similar design but they had a silicone seal to not only secure the earbuds into the ear but also to help isolate the ear canal from the outside environment.

The Buds3 are thus earbuds that can only be used effectively in quiet environments and when not exercising.  This regression in the design is hugely disappointing, especially considering the sound quality improvements that accompany it.

Sound quality

As mentioned above, I was not expecting much from the Enco Buds3 from OPPO, given how disappointing the Buds2 Pro were at the same price point.  I was pleasantly surprised though, with the sound quality.

Listening to my usual headphone testing playlist alongside the Buds2 Pro, the difference was night and day.  The sound was crisper, the bass was deeper and the sound stage was much broader.  

My following comparison was to the now-aging JBL Live Pro 2 (my go-to for value-for-money earbuds).  I had to go back and forth a few times and listen closely to discern any differences between the two, which was encouraging.

The sound across the mids and highs was extremely comparable, with the only difference a subtle one where the JBL earbuds produced a slightly more powerful bass.  That being said, the bass from the Buds3 was still good, having improved significantly from last year.

Battery life

The charging/carry case for the Enco Buds3 is small.  It is virtually identical to what I remember the first-generation AirPods case was like.  It is small, tiny in fact, barely fitting the earbuds themselves.  The case is thus easily pocketable and extremely portable.  

Even with its small stature, the case packs a punch, with OPPO stating that the earbuds offer 9.5 hours of music playback (at 50% volume), and the case extends that to 48 hours.  Personally, I didn’t understand this, and I doubt many would – who listens to music at only 50% volume?  

The battery life though, was still really good, and I have not had to charge the case yet and it’s been two weeks of constant use.

AI Translate and other features

OPPO has included extra smart features in the Enco Buds3 and they are excellent, especially considering the earbuds are only $99. The problem is that when using the new Pixel 10 you do not get these options anywhere. It is only when they are paired with an OPPO phone that you get those options.

Advanced features enabled with an OPPO phone are:

• OPPO Alive Audio
• AI Translate, including live translation
• Camera control

Final thoughts

The OPPO Enco Buds3 represent a significant improvement over the Enco Buds2 Pro from last year, boasting sound quality that far exceeds expectations for a sub-$100 price.

Their design is very similar to the AirPods Gen 1, with a notable looseness in the ear. For $99, they are great earbuds, but they will not be great for working out due to the lack of a decent fit or seal. If you are in the market for a cheap pair of earbuds to use on the bus, in the train, or simply around the house, then these are certainly contenders. The sound quality is good and the price is even better.

The OPPO Enco Buds3 are available now on the OPPO store for $99 in white.