- Long battery life
- Secure, open fit
- Solid microphone quality
- Hard to use in loud environments
- Sound could be more detailed
- Finish is prone to smudges
It feels like clip-on earbuds have exploded in popularity as of late. They might not be for everyone, but their appeal makes sense. The fit is more universal (and as such, more secure) than open-fit earbuds, and you can be more aware of the world while listening to your music or podcasts.
As the name might suggest, the Enco Clip 2s are OPPO’s second attempt at clip-on earbuds, although the first to launch in Australia. While we’re not seeing a huge amount of differentiation in the clip-on space yet - almost all of these buds all look pretty similar, OPPO’s pitch is around high-end audio and “crystal clear” call quality.
On the listening front, the Enco Clip 2s sound pretty good, but with room for improvement. The audio quality certainly isn’t bad, but it isn’t quite as detailed as I’d like. Individual instruments in densely layered tracks like Opeth’s “The Funeral Portrait” or Radiohead’s “The National Anthem” can be tricky to make out. You get the big picture, but you might not always be able to see the individual brush strokes.
Bass can be hit and miss on open-fit earbuds, but the Enco Clip 2s still provide a punchy bass presence. You even get some decent sub-bass response on tracks like Childish Gambino’s “3005”, but don’t expect the same kind of impact that you’d get from a pair of in-ear buds like the AirPods Pro 3 or the Galaxy Buds Pro 4.
You’re not gonna be unhappy with the overall sound of Enco Clip 2s, but they’re not your best bet for intent listening. This does, admittedly, go hand-in-hand with the form factor.
Call quality is a clearer strength, with Enco Clip 2s offering some of the better voice quality on earbuds I’ve tested. In addition to crisp audio on calls, the buds also do a reliable job of cutting background noise during conversations.
While OPPO would love it if you use the Enco Clip 2s with one of its phones, they play nicely with any Android device, and even with an iPhone. You can use the HeyMelody app on iOS and Android for adjusting the EQ, “find my earbuds” functionality, and customising controls. If you’ve got an OPPO phone, all the Enco Clip 2 settings are built into ColorOS.
On the subject of controls, the Enco Clip 2s are surprisingly user-friendly for only having touch and tap-based options. Sliding up and down either bud adjusts your volume, and taps and double-taps can be configured for functionality like pause and skip. The buds are reasonably responsive; it didn’t feel like I needed to tap too hard to trigger a command, and I didn’t get false positives from adjusting Enco Clip 2s, other than when putting them in.
The Enco Clip 2s come with the usual trade-offs you get with a clip-on or open-ear design. Since the buds aren’t directly in your ear, they let a lot more noise in. Obviously, that is the point. The Enco Clip 2s give you more situational awareness, but at times, this is a drawback. Listening to my music on a crowded train was a struggle; I was almost more aware of the conversations around me with the buds on.
You don’t get any options for noise cancellation either, which is understandable, but the AirPods 4 are open earbuds that still offer solid noise cancellation for when you want it. It would be nice to see a pair of clip-on earbuds that also have noise cancellation for a best of both worlds type approach. On the plus side, no noise bleed, so even if someone is sitting next to you on a train, they won’t hear what you’re listening to.
Since there’s no noise cancellation, the Enco Clip 2s offer a rather robust battery life. Expect just under ten hours of listening time from the buds alone, and up to a total of 40 hours with the charging case.
Lastly, one minor niggle: my Enco Clip 2 review unit came in a blinged-out gold that picks up fingerprints pretty easily. There’s a grey option with a matte finish also available, which, in theory, shouldn’t be more fingerprint resistant, but I haven’t seen these in the flesh.
OPPO Enco Clip 2 - Final Thoughts
At $299, OPPO’s Enco Clip 2s are worth considering if you’re after a pair of clip-on earbuds. The call quality is great, sound quality is solid, and battery life won’t disappoint. Of course, it is worth considering whether the clip-on form factor is right for you. While earbuds that don’t cut you off entirely from the world can be useful, there are times when the world is too loud for the Enco Clip 2s to be usable.
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Alex Choros
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