I’d choose these earbuds over the Pixel Buds Pro 2 every time

I have a love/hate relationship with the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2. The design, sound quality, and functionality are excellent. However, the fit has never been quite right for me.

I’ve worked to overcome this, but they always feel compromised. Then I tried the OPPO Enco X4 true wireless earbuds and found what I’ve been looking for all this time.

I have never gotten on with the Pixel Buds Pro 2’s eartips. They never feel completely secure in my ears, and I find the eartips don’t always create an effective seal for the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) to operate. I find I fiddle about with one earbud more than the other, trying to get the comfort and seal just right.

I’ve swapped the eartips for others too, which has improved things considerably, but I don’t think I should have to buy third-party eartips just to make the earbuds fit me properly. Obviously, not everyone will have the same issue as ears are all different. However, I use many different earbuds on a regular basis, and the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are the hardest to nail a great fit.

I put up with the Pixel Buds Pro 2’s annoying fit because not only do I appreciate the compact dimensions and decent sound quality, but I really like the chance to chat ‘live’ with Gemini. A headline feature on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 at launch, it’s really helpful when I want to brainstorm out loud and get instant feedback. It’s not something I use every day, but I prefer using the earbuds rather than chatting to a smart speaker when I do, as I can move around the house.

OPPO has a long history of making great-quality earbuds and audio products. The Enco X4 arrived alongside the OPPO Find X10 Pro Max smartphone and feature a dual-driver system made up of an 11mm woofer and a 6mm tweeter, along with a dedicated DAC to tune the different frequencies. OPPO has worked with Dynaudio to finesse the sound.

They also feature Hi-Res Audio, LHDC Lossless when paired with the Find X10 Pro Max, ANC with an AI-enhanced adaptive mode, three microphones, an AI Live Translation mode, Bluetooth 6.1, dual connection, and various other features, including IP55 dust and water resistance. OPPO specifically notes in the press release a set of ‘Low-Strain Noise-Cancelling Ear Tips’ are fitted.

What’s more, the OPPO Enco X4 work with Gemini Live. Simply say the ‘Hey Google, let’s talk live’ wake word, and you’re good to go. On paper, the Enco X4 seem to have everything that makes me like the Pixel Buds Pro 2, but in a different design with ear tips made for comfort and a tight in-ear seal. I’ve been finding out if reality meets expectations.

The OPPO Enco X4 have a traditional earbud design, with a curvy body and a short stem. The body nestles in my ear, and because they’re so light — just six grams — and with a small twist after putting them in, they have stayed securely in my ear without strain or fatigue. The eartips are very soft and pliable, have a wax guard inside, and haven’t needed much adjustment to keep them in place.

It’s a good thing, too, as the earbud nozzle is a stadium shape, which means finding third-party ear tips that fit over it will be a challenge, just as it is with the Pixel Buds Pro 2. However, I don’t think I need to worry about it, as the fit is really good. What I will say is, if you like a really tight in-ear seal, such as that from foam tips, these won’t be for you. The difference between the Enco X4 and Pixel Buds Pro 2 is that the OPPO earbuds don’t move around at all, yet I don’t think they’ll cause any fatigue long-term. I certainly haven’t noticed anything yet.

The earbuds fit inside an oval-shaped case. OPPO claims 13 hours of use on a single charge without ANC, and a total of 53 hours with the case’s battery. I’ve used them connected to the Find X10 Pro Max and an Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max, and switching between the two devices has been seamless and reliable. The Hey Melody app lets you customize settings and sound, and is available for both Android and iOS.

The OPPO Enco X4’s arrival coincided with the release of NMIXX’s Strange Muse and IVE’s Looks Can Kill mini-albums. What was immediately noticeable is just how different the Enco X4 sound depending on your phone. They sound good with an iPhone, but fantastic connected to the Find X10 Pro Max. There’s more volume and more body to the sound, which is fuller and wonderfully punchy.

NMIXX’s Birthday Wish sounds superb, as the Enco X4 let you fully appreciate the power in the members’ voices, and how the track itself flows and builds, with a crescendo that will make you tingle at high volume. That said, the earbuds require some careful tuning in the Hey Melody app. There are several Dynaudio modes, and while I find the High Vocal mode suited the music, they needed the BassWave mode active at a low level to round out the sound.

It’s much too easy to overpower the Enco X4, though. Listen to IVE’s Snakeskin and use the Dynaudio Thundering Bass setting, and the bass can get muddy and less defined. Even with the BassWave mode turned off, I don’t think the bass response is all that precise. But it’s a small thing, and provided you’re sensible with the EQ — Pure Vocals with BassWave at 2 for me — the Enco X4 sound good.

What about live chats with Gemini? Using the feature with the Find X10 Pro Max, the only issue I found was a delay in hearing Gemini’s replies. The audio would start a few words into the AI’s replies, something I never experienced with the Pixel Buds Pro 2. It may be a settings issue, but I haven’t found the right one to reliably solve it yet. This aside, the experience is equal to that on the Pixel Buds Pro 2.

I’ve found the OPPO Enco X4 so easy to live with due to the incredibly comfortable, highly secure fit, which, for me personally, is a world apart from the Pixel Buds Pro 2 irritations. Once I’d tuned the audio, I found they sounded just as good as the Google earbuds, especially connected to the Find X10 Pro Max. The ANC performance is also excellent, and the swipe controls on the stems, which have a subtle texture to make them easy to locate, are precise and easy to use.

If the OPPO Enco X4 are available where you live, they’re an easy recommendation. You’ll have to import them in the US, but they’re available for £219 in the UK, the same retail price as the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2. Frequent deals reduce the Pixel Buds Pro 2’s price, though, taking the $230 US price down to $190 or less. I’m going to stick with the Enco X4’s for a while but will still miss the Pixel Buds Pro 2’s lovely shape and compact design.