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MagyarOppo Enco W31 headphones Review - The design makes the difference
The Oppo Enco W31 can be bought over the counter for just 79 Euros (RRP; ~$93) and are therefore much cheaper than the top model Enco Free (129 Euros, ~$151). Technically a few concessions have to be made on the datasheet, for example the Dolby Atmos certification is missing and the batteries are much smaller. The biggest difference, however, lies in the usage method. While the W31 are inserted into the ear canal, the Free headphones simply lie in the auricle cavity.
Specifications
| Wearing method | In-Ear |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Speakers | 7 mm driver, dynamic, 95 dB @ 1 kHz, 20 - 20,000 Hz |
| Audio Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Battery capacity (earphones) | 25 mAh |
| Battery capacity (charging case) | 350 mAh |
| Charging port | USB-C |
| wireless loading | is not supported |
| Weight (per earphone) | 4 g |
| Weight (loading case) | 42 g |
| Sensors | k. A. |
| Microphones | Two microphones per earpiece |
| Scope of delivery | headphones, charging case, silicone ear pads (S, M, L), documentation |
| Price (UVP) | 79 EUR |
Case and ergonomics - Enco W31 with IP54 certification
The Oppo Enco W31 headphones are available in black and white. The in-ears are inserted into the ear canal and the three tips should provide a secure and comfortable fit.
Like most TWS headphones, the Enco W31 are made of plastic. The workmanship is good and does not give cause for criticism. In addition, the Oppo headphones are protected against dust and splash water according to IP54. This, by definition, does not mean completely dust-proof and protection against splashing water from all sides, and refers only to the headphones themselves.
The charging case is securely closed by a magnet and the earphones are also magnetically locked to the charging contacts.
Equipment and operation - Only a few gestures to control
If you own a suitable smartphone from Oppo such as the Find X2 Pro, you will be offered a simple setup, because then the charging case simply has to be opened the first time the smartphone recognizes the TWS headphones directly. Other smartphones, tablets or laptops must perform a conventional pairing using the button in the case. There is no special app for controlling the Oppo Enco W31. Potential firmware updates should be installed automatically, but unfortunately this cannot be checked.
A plus point is that both headphones are simultaneously supplied with data from each other, so that optimal synchronicity can be guaranteed. The control is a bit more spartan than with the Enco Free headphones. Double-tap gestures can only be used to skip a track forward during music playback or to activate the voice assistant. During a phone call, the same gesture can be used to answer or end the call.
Voice Quality and Noise Cancelling - For occasional callers only
The Oppo Enco W31 microphones record sound clearly, naturally and with little noise. Ambient noise cancelling is not noticeable during telephone calls, and people in the same room are recorded intelligibly. When it gets really loud, even the user of the Enco W31 is difficult to understand and the sound image is marked by interference.
Sound - Hardly worse than Enco Free
We like the sound of the Oppo Enco W31 very much and despite the smaller drivers it is on the same level as the more expensive Enco Free headphones, although there is no Dolby Atmos certification. However, the basses are a bit less present in the W31. The Chinese company wants to compensate for this with a so-called bass boost, which can be activated by gesture if necessary. Acoustically, however, this is not convincing, as every note is accompanied by a hum, which sounds neither natural nor harmonic.
Battery runtime - Enco W31 with regular runtimes
Although the batteries are much smaller than those of the more expensive sister model, the battery life of the TWS headphones is only minimally shorter. The Enco W31 are certainly not long-lasting, but over four hours is a very good result.
A full charge in the case takes about 80 minutes.
| Battery life (@ 65 dB) | 4 h 6 m |
Verdict - Solid sound and good runtimes
With the Enco W31, Oppo offers a compact and lightweight pair of true-wireless headphones, which will please with its harmonious overall package. Frequent callers are certainly not the focus here, but thanks to the IP54 certification, sporty users who like to consume audio content on the move and occasionally want to take a call are certainly in focus.
If you are looking for compact and weatherproof TWS headphones, the Oppo Enco W31 will make you happy.
The gesture control was a bit cumbersome in the test and doesn't offer too many possibilities, and the Enco Free can do that much better. But when it comes to sound, the two are surprisingly close together. The battery life is also on a decent level, so that reaching for the cheaper model could well be the better choice.
