Review of OPPO Enco Clip2: a lot of technology in just 5 grams
The Open-Ear Earbuds
Open-ear earbuds are no longer just a niche in the audio market. In recent years, this category has attracted the attention of users who want to listen to music, make calls, and follow multimedia content without sacrificing the perception of their surroundings.
The OPPO Enco Clip2 is born with this philosophy in mind. The second generation of the Chinese manufacturer's clip earbuds hits the market with the goal of improving every aspect of its predecessor, focusing on comfort, sound quality, and software integration.
The formula remains typical of open-ear designs: no insertion into the ear canal and a structure that clips onto the ear. The result is a product designed to accompany the user throughout the day without the feeling of pressure that is typical of many traditional in-ear earbuds.
After several weeks of use, it is clear that OPPO has chosen to prioritize the everyday experience, seeking a balance between practicality, audio quality, and smart functionalities.
Technical Specifications and Construction
The first striking element when observing the OPPO Enco Clip2 is undoubtedly the design. With the second generation, the company has abandoned any reference to traditional true wireless earbud shapes in favor of a solution closer to a wearable accessory.
The rounded lines resemble the shape of a water droplet, and the glossy surfaces help create an elegant and modern look. The Luminous Gold variant is certainly the most eye-catching due to its shiny metallic finish, while Slate Grey offers a more discreet approach that easily matches any context.
From an ergonomic perspective, the work appears particularly thorough. OPPO claims to have studied over 3,500 ear configurations during the development phase. The result is a structure that evenly distributes pressure on the ear.
Each earbud weighs just 5.2 grams. This is an extremely lightweight value that significantly impacts overall comfort. After just a few minutes of use, you almost tend to forget about the presence of the earbuds.
The clip utilizes a nickel-titanium alloy that ensures good elasticity and allows the earbuds to adapt to different ear sizes. Stability and comfort coexist convincingly; indeed, we had no issues during walks, work sessions, and light sports activities.
The case also impressed us with its build quality. Its compact dimensions and weight of about 46 grams make it easy to transport in a pocket, although we would have preferred a more elongated and less circular shape.
The technical sheet highlights a fairly rich set of features for the open-ear category:
- 11 mm and 9 mm co-axial dynamic drivers
- Dual independent DACs
- Bluetooth 6.1
- AAC, SBC, and LHDC 5.0 codecs
- Hi-Res Audio certification
- IP55 rating against water and dust
- Multipoint connection
- Up to 40 hours of total battery life
Audio Quality, Software, App, and ANC
Although it is no longer necessary given their popularity, discussing audio quality in the open-ear world requires different considerations compared to traditional in-ear headphones. The distance between the transducer and the ear canal indeed makes it harder to achieve deep bass and a complete sound immersion. For this reason, the choice to adopt a configuration with dual coaxial drivers is particularly relevant.
During listening, a balanced and mature sound signature emerges. The mid frequencies are likely the system's main strength. Vocals, podcasts, and acoustic instruments are reproduced with good precision and naturalness.
The lower frequencies are present but not intrusive. Those seeking the physical impact typical of in-ear headphones with passive isolation may be partially disappointed. However, for those who understand the philosophy of open-ear, a well-studied balance will be found in line with the design.
The high frequencies maintain good extension without becoming aggressive. Even after several hours of listening, there are no significant signs of fatigue.
Much of the credit goes to the collaboration with Dynaudio. The renowned Danish manufacturer contributed to the sound tuning by introducing four different profiles:
- Maximum Sound: offers a versatile and balanced setup.
- Pure Vocal Sound: emphasizes clarity of voices.
- Lively: increases perceived energy and is better suited for sports activities.
- Dynaudio in Focus: attempts to reproduce the typical sound character of the Northern company's speakers.
Support for LHDC 5.0 is one of the most interesting elements of the entire technical specification. By using compatible smartphones, it is possible to enjoy Hi-Res content with a superior detail compared to traditional Bluetooth codecs.
Also present is OPPO Alive Audio, a technology dedicated to spatial audio that expands the sound stage and makes films, concerts, and video content more engaging.
Another novelty is Spotify Tap, where users can activate the app directly using touch controls without needing to open it from their smartphone.
The HeyMelody app plays a crucial role in the user experience. Available for both Android and iOS, it allows the management of practically every aspect of the earbuds. Among the available options, we find:
- Personalization of touch controls
- Firmware updates
- Selection of equalizers
- Management of multipoint connection
- Activation of smart features
Also of great interest is the support for real-time translation. The earbuds can work together with the smartphone to facilitate conversations in different languages, a function that could prove useful during travels or professional meetings.
On the calling front, OPPO has integrated three microphones per earbud, accompanied by a bone conduction sensor and AI-based noise reduction algorithms. Conversations generally remain clear even in urban environments characterized by traffic and background noise. Of course, within the limits of an open structure.
Indeed, the OPPO Enco Clip2 does not incorporate traditional active noise cancellation. This choice appears perfectly consistent with the open-ear philosophy, which aims to maintain contact with the surrounding environment. Instead of total isolation, we find technology designed to reduce sound leakage externally. The system effectively limits audio losses, improving privacy during listening in public places.
Battery Life
Battery life is one of the most convincing aspects of the OPPO Enco Clip2. The company claims up to 9.5 hours of continuous playback on a single charge, a particularly interesting result considering the weight and size of the earbuds. In real usage, this figure appears credible, especially when keeping average volume levels.
The case allows for a total of up to 40 hours of use, enabling several days of listening without the need for frequent recharging of the system. The rapid charging feature is also very useful. A mere ten minutes connected to a power source provides up to 3.5 additional hours of playback, a feature that proves invaluable in emergency situations. Full recharging times are around one hour for the earbuds and about eighty minutes for the complete system with the case.
Price in Italy
The OPPO Enco Clip2 arrives on the European market with a launch price of 179.99 euros. All details can be found on the official OPPO website. This is not an exorbitant figure, especially when compared to some open-ear models from lesser-known brands.
However, analyzing the technical equipment, build quality, LHDC 5.0 support, collaboration with Dynaudio, and numerous software functions, the positioning appears coherent with the market segment to which the product is aimed.
Final Considerations, Pros, and Cons
The OPPO Enco Clip2 does not aim to replace traditional in-ear headphones. Its goal is different and focuses on providing a more natural, comfortable experience suitable for continuous use. Under this perspective, the result has been decidedly convincing for us.
Exceptional comfort, extremely low weight, and high stability constitute the main strengths of the product. Sound quality above the average of the category and very generous battery life complete a package that leaves a positive impression from the very first days of use.
Some compromises remain inevitable. The low frequencies cannot compete with those of a traditional in-ear earbud, and the absence of active noise cancellation might deter those looking for maximum isolation.
For everyone else, especially those who wish to experience content while maintaining awareness of their surroundings, the OPPO Enco Clip2 represents one of the most interesting and complete options available today in the open-ear segment.
In short, the OPPO Enco Clip2 is a mature product, well-designed and capable of interpreting the open-ear philosophy to the fullest. Comfort and practicality are the main reasons to choose it, but audio quality, battery life, and software functions contribute to making it one of the most comprehensive solutions in the category.