Oppo Enco Clip2 Unboxing and Hands-On - GSMArena.com News

Open-ear clip-on earbuds have seen a surge in popularity over the past two years, as users look for options that let in ambient sound for safety during commutes or workouts while avoiding the pressure of in-ear tips. Oppo is the latest brand to refresh its entry in this category with the Enco Clip2, a successor to its earlier clip-style earbuds that brings a host of hardware and software upgrades. We spent time with a Luminous Gold review unit to test the unboxing experience, design, audio performance, and daily usability.

The Enco Clip2 unboxing experience is minimal, matching most competing clip-style earbuds on the market. The retail box includes only the charging case with the earbuds pre-inserted, with no additional accessories such as a charging cable, extra ear cushions, or carrying pouches. This aligns with the trend of reducing e-waste and packaging waste from audio accessory brands, though users who need a charging cable will have to supply their own USB-C cable.

Our review unit comes in the Luminous Gold colorway, which features a pearlescent finish on the round charging case and reflective silver accents on the earbuds themselves. The metallic bud finish enhances a jewelry-like "earring look" that may appeal to style-focused users, though some may find the shiny finish too flashy for everyday wear. Each earbud weighs just 5 grams, and the total weight of the case plus both buds is 46 grams. The compact round shape of the case slides easily into small pockets, making it convenient for commuting or workouts.

Oppo uses a unibody ear cuff design for the Enco Clip2, with no sharp lines interrupting the smooth curve of the bud body. A key durability upgrade over previous models is the nitinol (nickel-titanium) alloy strip that joins the two sides of the clip. Nitinol is a shape-memory alloy that retains its structural integrity even after thousands of bends, a common point of failure for clip-on earbuds that use thinner titanium or aluminum strips. Oppo rates this strip to withstand repeated bending from daily use without losing its clamping force. The buds also carry an IP55 rating, meaning they are resistant to dust ingress and low-pressure water jets, making them suitable for gym sessions, rainy commutes, and sweaty workouts, though they should not be submerged in water.

Audio performance is a major focus for the Enco Clip2, which uses a dual-driver setup co-tuned with Danish high-end audio brand Dynaudio (https://www.dynaudio.com/). Each bud includes an 11mm woofer for low-frequency response and a 9mm tweeter for high-frequency detail, a configuration that delivers a more balanced soundstage than single-driver open-ear buds. In quick testing, the Enco Clip2 produces impressive bass response for an open-ear model, with clear vocal reproduction and minimal distortion at high volumes. As with all open-ear earbuds, there is a tradeoff compared to high-end in-ear models: the lack of ear canal sealing reduces bass impact and lets in ambient noise, so they are not ideal for noisy environments like airplanes or busy trains.

Connectivity is handled via Bluetooth 6.1, making the Enco Clip2 the first earbuds to use this latest Bluetooth core specification (https://www.bluetooth.com/specifications/specs/bluetooth-core-specification-6-1/). Bluetooth 6.1 introduces improved encryption for better privacy during audio transmission, along with power optimization features that reduce idle power draw, contributing to the buds' extended battery life. The Enco Clip2 supports dual-device pairing, allowing users to connect to a phone and laptop simultaneously, and Hi-Res audio streaming via the LHDC 5.0 codec (https://www.lhdc.info/), alongside legacy AAC and SBC codecs for compatibility with all Bluetooth devices.

A 6nm AI Quad-Core Chip with a dedicated NPU (neural processing unit) handles on-device audio processing and AI features. The NPU enables real-time translation when the Enco Clip2 is paired with newer Oppo phones, processing speech locally on the earbuds rather than relying on cloud servers for faster response times and better privacy. The buds also include Oppo Alive Audio, a spatial audio feature that adds immersive surround sound for movies, TV shows, and supported music content.

Touch controls on each bud support programmable taps and swipes, which can be customized via the Oppo Hey Melody app (https://www.oppo.com/en/apps/hey-melody/). The app also lets users toggle between four built-in EQ profiles, adjust noise reduction settings, and enable secondary features like using the buds as a remote camera shutter for Oppo phones or a quick-launch shortcut for Spotify. Non-Oppo users can still use the Hey Melody app to customize controls and access core features, though some proprietary integrations are limited to Oppo devices.

Oppo claims the Enco Clip2 delivers up to 40 hours of total playback when using the charging case, with 9.5 hours of playback per charge in AAC mode and 8 hours per charge in LHDC mode. This is a notable improvement over previous Enco clip models, and the low power draw of the Bluetooth 6.1 chip and 6nm processor helps maintain consistent battery life even with features like spatial audio enabled.

The Enco Clip2 fits into Oppo's broader mobile ecosystem, with several features exclusive to Oppo devices. Real-time translation, quick Spotify launch, and full Hey Melody app integration work best with newer Oppo Find X series phones and other recent Oppo devices, similar to how Apple's AirPods offer exclusive features with iOS devices, or Samsung Galaxy Buds integrate deeply with Samsung Galaxy phones. Users of other Android brands or iOS devices can still access all core features including Bluetooth 6.1, dual-device pairing, LHDC audio, and spatial audio, but will miss out on the proprietary AI and convenience features tied to Oppo's system software.

The Oppo Enco Clip2 is available now on Amazon Germany for just under €180, with wider regional rollout expected in the coming months. For users interested in the open-ear clip style, the Enco Clip2 offers a compelling mix of durability, audio quality, and battery life, with the added benefit of ecosystem integrations for Oppo users.