OPPO continues to expand its lineup of affordable TWS earbuds, and the Enco Air 5 and Enco Air 5 Pro have become some of the most interesting offerings of 2026 in the mid-range segment. At first glance the difference seems minor — only about $10. However, in practice the quality differences are quite noticeable, especially when evaluating sound quality and noise cancellation. Let’s take a closer look at these models.
Design
Both models feature a popular stem design similar to AirPods. The earbuds are lightweight (around 4.2–4.5 g each), fit comfortably in the ear and are barely noticeable even during extended wear. The matte finish resists fingerprints well.
The cases are also nearly identical — compact, with a pleasant texture and USB‑Type‑C support. Both models have IP55 water and dust resistance for the earbuds, which is more than enough for workouts and rain.
Visually, the OPPO Air 5 and Air 5 Pro are virtually indistinguishable, much like most other stem‑type TWS systems. The differences become apparent during actual use.
What’s in the Box
In the box of both models you’ll find:
- the earbuds;
- the charging case;
- a set of silicone ear tips in various sizes;
- documentation.
Connectivity
Both models support Google Fast Pair, so pairing with Android smartphones is instantaneous — just open the case. They also support multipoint connection, making it easy to switch between a phone and, say, a laptop.
The pairing process is nearly identical. We noticed no difference in connection stability between the models — both hold a solid signal even in a crowded RF environment.
Controls
Both the Air 5 and Air 5 Pro feature touch controls. Via the official Heymelody app you can assign the following actions:
- Single tap — play/pause
- Double tap — next track
- Triple tap — previous track
- Long press — noise‑cancellation adjustment (Pro version)
However, there is an important difference. In the Pro model you can adjust volume using a single earbud — swipe up on the touch area to increase volume, down to decrease it. In the standard Enco Air 5 this gesture isn’t available, but you can set the left earbud tap to raise volume and the right earbud tap to lower it.
Both systems include an in‑ear sensor for auto‑pause. Removing one or both earbuds pauses playback; putting them back resumes automatically.
Sound Quality and Noise Cancellation
It’s when evaluating sound that the main differences become clear. The Enco Air 5 sounds decent for its class. The audio is balanced, bass is present, mids are fairly clean. They’re sufficient for podcasts, calls, and pop music. However, they lack detail and depth — tracks can feel a bit simplified.
The Enco Air 5 Pro sounds noticeably better. Thanks to more powerful drivers and support for newer codecs — especially LHDC 5.0 — the audio becomes richer and more detailed. Bass is tighter and more controlled, vocals sound more natural, and high frequencies are cleaner. The difference is especially evident on high‑resolution recordings and in genres such as electronic, rock, and hip‑hop.
In short, the Enco Air 5 is ‘good enough’, while the Air 5 Pro delivers genuinely high‑quality sound.
| Parameter | OPPO Enco Air 5 | OPPO Enco Air 5 Pro |
| Driver | 12 mm dynamic driver | 12 mm driver with titanium coating |
| Certification | Standard sound | Hi-Res Audio Wireless |
| Codecs | AAC / SBC | LHDC 5.0 / AAC / SBC |
| Frequency Range | 20 Hz – 20 kHz | 20 Hz – 40 kHz |
| Spatial Sound | OPPO Alive Audio | OPPO Alive Audio |
Effective noise cancellation is the second key advantage of the Pro version. The Enco Air 5 offers only basic passive isolation thanks to the ear tips. They reduce low‑frequency rumble somewhat but struggle with voices and office chatter.
The Enco Air 5 Pro features full active noise cancellation (ANC). According to the maker, attenuation reaches up to 45–49 dB. In practice this lets you use the earbuds comfortably on public transport, in the office, or on a busy street. A transparency mode is also included and works quite naturally.
The system not only dampens low‑frequency hum (think subway or airplane cabin) but also neutralizes human voices and sharp high‑frequency sounds twice as effectively by analyzing the anatomy of the user’s ear canal. Having ANC makes the Pro version far more appealing for daily use.
Both models pack triple microphones with AI‑based noise reduction (Triple‑Mic AI Clear Call). They confidently suppress wind noise up to 25 km/h, delivering crystal‑clear voice transmission during calls.
Battery Life
Here there are no major differences, as both models deliver solid endurance:
- Enco Air 5 — up to 13 hours on a single charge and roughly 54 hours with the case;
- Enco Air 5 Pro — about 6.5–7 hours with ANC enabled and up to 30 hours with the case. Without noise cancellation the earbuds last 13 hours on their own and 54 hours with the case.
The difference is small because with ANC turned off the Pro lasts almost as long as the standard Air 5. Fast charging is also present on both models.
Which Should You Choose?
If your budget is tight and you just need lightweight earbuds for calls, podcasts, and background music, the OPPO Enco Air 5 will get the job done.
However, if you listen to music more attentively and often find yourself in noisy places, the Enco Air 5 Pro looks like a far smarter buy. Better sound and full ANC for just about $10 extra is one of the best upgrades in this price bracket.
So, for that small price difference you get:
- Full Hi-Res Audio support and the LHDC 5.0 codec with a titanium‑coated driver.
- Noticeably deeper and smarter noise cancellation rated at 55 dB, capable of blocking even human speech.
- A more pronounced 360‑degree spatial sound.
Therefore, for most users we recommend the Pro version. The real‑world difference feels larger than the price gap.
Read the full comparison OPPO Enco Air 5 vs Enco Air 5 Pro: Is It Worth Paying an Extra $10 for the More Advanced Model? on the HiTech.Expert website.
