Oppo Enco Air5s unboxing and ears-on

Hands-on with the New Oppo Enco Air5s: A Different Kind of Comfort

Following our recent look at the Oppo Enco Air5, we’re switching gears to check out the new Oppo Enco Air5s. Available in Lunar White, Midnight Black, and Starlight Purple, these earbuds mark a significant shift for Oppo as their first semi-in-ear offering. Because they use an open-ear design, you won’t find any silicone tips in the box—which is a welcome change for anyone who finds traditional ear tips uncomfortable.

What’s Under the Hood?

While the Enco Air5s share the same 12mm dynamic drivers found in the standard Air5 and Air5 Pro models, there are some notable trade-offs to achieve that compact size. The case remains quite portable, housing a 530mAh battery, though the individual buds have downsized to 40.5mAh units (down from 62mAh on the Air5). Real-world usage brings total playback to about 48 hours, just a step below the 52-hour mark set by their predecessor.

However, Oppo added a feature that I personally consider a total game-changer: sliding gestures for volume control. If you’re tired of fumbling for your phone to tweak the volume, this addition alone makes the Air5s feel like a major upgrade in day-to-day usability.

The Open-Ear Experience

The core appeal here is long-term comfort. Since these aren’t forcing their way into your ear canal, you can wear them for hours without that “plugged-up” feeling. Of course, that design choice comes with a trade-off regarding sound isolation. Without the tight seal of silicone tips, ambient noise isn’t blocked out nearly as well as it is with standard in-ear monitors.

You do get Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), but it’s best to manage your expectations. It’s effective at taking the sharpest edge off a noisy environment, but it isn’t going to silence the world around you. As for sound signature, the mids and highs are crisp and prominent. You won’t get deep, thumping bass—mostly due to the open-ear design—but for casual listening and podcasts, they offer a very balanced and airy soundstage.

Stay tuned as we put these through their paces to see how they hold up during a full week of commuting and office work.