Oppo Enco Air 2 Vs Realme Buds Air 3 Neo: The Ultimate Comparison

I have two amazing earbuds with me. Today I will compare both of them and let you know which is the best.

Both have a similar design with a transparent case, but are they identical in performance?

Oppo Enco Air 2 are renowned half-in earbuds that come with 13.4 mm sound drivers and sound presets via the HeyMelody app. They also support a game mode and have customizable touch functions.

On the other hand, Realme Buds Air 3 Neo have 10 mm sound drivers and features like Sound Equalizers, customizable functions, and app support. They also have a 30-hour battery life.

Want to know which performs better and is worth your money? Then, let’s get straight into the review.

How to Choose The Best TWS For You?

There are a lot of factors that go into choosing the right TWS. It is essential to keep your personal preferences in mind and choose accordingly. Design plays an important role, with most people either preferring half in-ear design or silicone ear tips.

Preferences also come into play with things like sound quality and customization. Some people might have a preference for bass and want sound equalising options, while others may prefer earbuds with excellent multimedia capabilities like Dolby Atmos Support.

Make sure to go through this review with your preference in mind and make a choice accordingly.

Overview of Both The TWS

Here’s an overview of Oppo Enco Air 2 and Realme Buds Air 3 Neo.

1. Oppo Enco Air 2

Oppo Enco Air 2 is one of the most popular half-in-ear earbuds in the market. Some of their standout features include 13.4 mm titanized drivers, sound equaliser options, and AI Noise Cancellation technology for clear voice calls.

You will also get many customization options when you download the heymelody app.

2. Realme Buds Air 3 Neo

Realme Buds Air 3 Neo are popular earbuds that are the more affordable version of the Realme Buds Air Series.

Some features of Buds Air 3 Neo include a 10 mm sound driver plus features like Sound Equalizers, Customizable functions, and app support.

These earbuds also come with a low-latency gaming mode.

Oppo Enco Air 2 vs Realme Buds Air 3 Neo: 5 Factor Comparison

We tested Oppo Enco Air 2 and Realme Buds Air 3 on all these crucial aspects.

1. Design

Here is how design differs across Oppo Enco Air 2 and Realme Buds Air 3 Neo:

Oppo Enco Air 2

Oppo Enco Air 2 has a similar design to Realme Buds Air 3 Neo but also has some differentiating features. The earbuds case features a minimalistic design, and you’ll find a translucent jelly cover. Both earbuds feature a similar case design, but the lid on Realme is translucent, while the lid on Oppo Enco Air 2 is more transparent.

The case is compact and lightweight, and I could easily fit it inside my pocket and carry it around. You’ll find Oppo’s logo on the back with an LED indicator at the front. Similar to Realme, it also has a type C charging port on the bottom of the case.

The only con with the case is that the magnet on the case isn’t that strong, so your earbuds risk falling out.

The earbuds are stem-shaped with a half-in-ear design and clear left and right markings.

Overall, the design is simplistic and something most people will like.

Realme Buds Air 3 Neo

Realme Buds Air 3 Neo comes in 2 different colour variants: Starry Blue and Galaxy White. I have the Starry Blue variant with me, which features a blue/purple and has a different look.

It features a similar design to the Oppo Enco Buds 2 case and has a translucent cover.

You get silicone ear tips that provide a secure fit and feel comfortable. These ear tips are also generally better for bass-heavy sounds and provide good sound isolation.

You’ll also get Realme branding on the case and a type-C charging port at the bottom of the case.

Who wins?

Both are similar in terms of design. Which one you should choose ultimately boils down to personal preference.

2. Durability

Considering factors like build quality and IPX rating, we decide which of these earbuds is more durable.

Oppo Enco Air 2

Oppo Enco Air 2 comes with IPX4 water resistance. They have half-in ear tips, so their fit is not as secure, and I don’t recommend wearing them in the gym. They have a lower IPX rating compared to Realme, so if they were to fall, they could incur some damage.

These earbuds have a good build quality. The only con I can point out is that the lid felt flimsy in comparison to Realme Buds Air.

Realme Buds Air 3 Neo

Realme Buds Air 3 Neo come with an IPX5 water and sweat-resistant rating, so they are quite gym friendly. They also have a secure fit because of the silicon earbuds, so you can easily wear them to the gym or even take them with you for outdoor activities.

The overall build quality is also excellent. The plastic on the earbud case feels quite sturdy and can even take a few falls with no issue.

Who wins?

In this case, Realme takes the win because these earbuds have a secure fit due to their silicone ear tips which provide a more secure fit, and they also have a higher IPX rating.

3. Sound Quality

Here is how sound differs across Oppo Enco Air 2 and Realme Buds Air 3 Neo:

Oppo Enco Air 2

Oppo Enco Air 2 comes with 13.4 mm sound drivers, and you get great clarity with the sound. If you want clarity with your vocals, then Enco Air 2 would be an excellent choice for you.

I tested them across several different media, like songs, movies, and videos, and they performed well.

The only thing missing from them is the bass because of the ear-tip design. However, the highs are good, and you also get tons of preset options, so you can switch around the sound according to your preference.

Oppo Enco Air 2 comes with a gaming mode, but the latency is slightly high compared to other earbuds, so I can’t recommend them for gaming.

Realme Buds Air 3 Neo

The highlight of Realme Buds Air 3 Neo is that you get incredible bass on these earbuds. These earbuds come with 10 mm bass-boosted drivers, and you also get adequate loudness.

Buds Air 3 Neo also features app support, so you can utilise the volume enhancer option through the Realme link app.

These earbuds also have a balanced sound output with adequate highs, lows, and mids. You’ll have a great experience listening to all media.

Realme claims that with their gaming mode, you get latency close to 80 ms, which is slightly high in my experience, as I have tested out earbuds in a similar price range with lower latency of around 40 – 50 ms.

However, you’ll get a better sound experience gaming on Realme because of the bass-heavy sound.

Who wins?

Realme wins this round for the overall better sound experience and the high-quality bass you get because of the silicon ear tips.

4. Battery Backup And Charging

Let’s compare the battery capacity and backup on these earbuds.

Oppo Enco Air 2

Oppo Enco Air comes with a 440 mAh battery on the charging case, while the individual buds have around 27 mAh of battery each. With the case, you get a battery backup of around 24 hours, and with the buds, you’ll get a playback time between 4 to 5 hours.

The battery claim of brands is always higher than the actual output. So after testing, I’d say they lasted me for around 18 to 19 hours. This makes the battery backup even less on the earbuds.

The charge felt slightly less than all the earbuds I’ve tested so far. There are a lot of options in the market, including some I’ve tested, so if battery backup is an essential feature for you, these are probably not the best option.

Realme Buds Air 3 Neo

With Realme Buds Air 3 Neo, you get a battery backup of around 30 hours on the case and a 6 to 7 hours of playtime with the earbuds.

Realme also offers a fast charging feature, so you get 2 hours of playback with just 10 minutes of charging time.

You’ll get a battery backup of around 30 hours with Realme Buds Air 3 Neo’s case. While testing, these earbuds lasted me for around 25 hours.

These earbuds will easily last you throughout the day. If you’re a moderate user, it might even last 2 – 3 days on a single charge.

Who wins?

Realme Buds Air 3 Neo wins this round for having better battery backup.

5. Value For Money

Let’s compare which out of Oppo Enco Air 2 and Realme Buds Air 3 Neo which one is more value for money based on pricing.

Oppo Enco Air 2

Oppo Enco retail for around 2500, which I personally feel is slightly overpriced. 

You will get better earbuds at this price point with a better battery backup, latency in gaming, and sound quality.

Realme Buds Air 3 Neo

Realme Buds Air 3 retails for around Rs 2000 and provides great value for the price you pay. You get great features and can get them at an even lower price during sales.

Who wins?

The specs of both these earbuds are similar, and Realme performs even better in certain areas, so they are certainly a better deal.

Highlights For The TWS

Here are all the highlights for Oppo Enco Air 2 and Realme Buds Air 3 Neo:

Oppo Enco Air 2

• Sound: Well-balanced output
• Comfort: Design provides comfort
• Features: App support with customization

Realme Buds Air 3 Neo

• Sound: Great bass with balanced output
• Battery: Great battery life; better than average
• Features: Sound equalisers and customization

Who won?

Our winner is Realme Buds Air 3 Neo

Realme Buds Air 3 Neo are an excellent choice and a value for money. Despite being the cheaper option in this comparison, they performed better than Oppo Enco Air 2 on almost all fronts. Their sound quality was excellent, and so was the comfort.

The Realme app gives you access to many features, and these earbuds also come with Dolby Atmos support.

Their battery life is also excellent at 30 hours and will last you a few days with moderate usage.

Winner’s Pros And Cons in Detail

Pros

• Battery: Great battery life
• Sound: Balanced sound output with great bass
• Features: Dolby Atmos support and sound equalisers

Cons

• Gaming: High latency; not suited for gaming

Why Did Oppo Enco Buds lose?

Despite being a great pair of earbuds, Oppo Enco Buds could not compare when paired against Realme Buds Air 3 Neo.

Their half-in-ear design provides some comfort but compromises on some crucial aspects, such as sound quality. Their sound did not compare to Realme, and the bass wasn’t as punchy as expected.

Conclusion

Both Oppo Enco Air 2 and Realme Buds Air 3 Neo performed really well individually and were fierce contenders, but ultimately we had to crown Realme Buds Air 3 Neo the winner.

Despite the lower price tag, they were the better value for money and performed well in terms of sound quality and battery backup. Their functionality is impressive, with app support, sound equalisers, and customization options.

The design of Realme Buds Air 3 Neo is also a definite head-turner. If you’re looking for a great pair of earbuds under Rs 2000, then these are it.

This doesn’t mean we are scrapping Oppo Enco Air 2 off our list. If you have a preference for the half-in-ear design, then you should definitely check them out.

We’ve also done individual reviews on both of these headphones, so feel free to check them out.