Realme Buds Air 5 Pro vs OPPO Enco Air 3 Pro: Which is Better?

If you have ₹5,000 to spend on wireless earbuds right now, you’ve likely hit a wall. If you’re caught in the middle of the Realme Buds Air 5 Pro vs OPPO Enco Air 3 Pro debate, you aren’t alone.Both boast flagship-level specs, both cost the same, and both claim to “silence the world.”

But specs are just marketing after putting both through a side-by-side “real-world” gauntlet from noisy commutes to high-res Audio sessions. I found that while they look similar, they are tuned for two completely different listeners.

Realme Buds Air 5 Pro vs OPPO Enco Air 3 Pro

Design & Build Quality

Both buds use the classic “stem” design, but they feel very different in the hand.

• Realme Buds Air 5 Pro: Comes in a classic pebble-shaped case with a high-gloss finish. It looks Premium out of the box, but it is a massive fingerprint and scratch magnet.
• Oppo Enco Air3 Pro: Features a unique translucent “shadow” lid. It has a slightly more “boutique” look. The buds themselves are incredibly lightweight at just 4.3g.

🎨 My Take on Design: I’ll be honest, the Realme case feels a bit more “solid” in the hinge, but the Oppo case is much easier to live with. Because the Oppo case isn’t as shiny, it doesn’t look “beaten up” after a week in your pocket. Also, Oppo’s buds are more comfortable for long 4-hour stretches because they are smaller.

Sound Quality

• Realme Buds Air 5 Pro: Uses a dual-driver setup (11mm woofer + 6mm tweeter). It delivers a “V-shaped” sound, with deep Bass and sharp highs. It’s perfect for Pop, EDM, and movies.
• Oppo Enco Air3 Pro: Uses a world-first Bamboo Fiber diaphragm. This makes the Audio sound incredibly natural and “airy.” The vocals are crisp, and the instruments have more room to breathe.

🎧 My Take on Sound: Out of the box, the Oppo sounds more “audiophile-grade.” However, Realme has a secret weapon: their app lets you fully customize the EQ. If you’re willing to spend 5 minutes tweaking the settings, you can make the Realme sound nearly as clean as the Oppo, but with much more powerful sub-bass.

ANC: Can They Actually Block the Bus?

Both brands claim a massive 49-50dB of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).

• Realme: It feels slightly more aggressive. It does a better job of muting the high-pitched “hiss” of an AC unit or the sharp sound of a keyboard.
• Oppo: Focuses on “Adaptive ANC.” It’s excellent for low-frequency rumbles (like a bus engine) but lets in a tiny bit more ambient chatter than the Realme.

🔇 My Take on ANC: In a crowded cafe, the Realme creates a slightly more isolated “bubble.” Oppo is great, but its ANC feels a bit more “relaxed.” If you want maximum silence, Realme wins by a hair.

Call Quality

• Realme: Features a sophisticated 6-microphone system.
• Oppo: Uses a dual-microphone system with an AI wind-noise algorithm.

🎙️ My Take on Calls: This is a clear win for Realme. During my tests near a busy road, the Realme Buds Air 5 Pro did a much better job of isolating my voice. The Oppo tends to make your voice sound a bit thin or “robotic” when it’s fighting loud wind.

Battery & Charging

• Realme: Offers a massive 40 hours of total playback. Most importantly, it has incredible fast charging—just 10 minutes in the case gives you 7 hours of playback.
• Oppo: Offers roughly 30 hours of total playback. A 10-minute charge gives you only 2 hours of use.

🔋 My Take on Battery: Realme’s fast charging is a literal lifesaver. I’ve often forgotten to charge my buds before heading out, and that 10-minute “emergency charge” getting me through almost a full day is a feature I can’t live without. Oppo’s 30 hours is “fine,” but Realme gives you that extra week of peace of mind.

Final Verdict

After weeks of switching between these two, here is the breakdown of who should spend their hard-earned money on which pair:

Buy the Realme Buds Air 5 Pro IF:

• You are a “Bass-head”: You want that deep, impactful sub-bass for your music.
• You are a Power User: You need that 40-hour battery and the elite 7-hour “emergency” fast charge.
• You take calls on the go: The 6-mic system is objectively better for noisy environments.
• You like to “tweak”: You want a full manual Equalizer to adjust every frequency yourself.

Buy the Oppo Enco Air3 Pro IF:

• You are a “Vocal Purist”: You listen to podcasts, acoustic music, or tracks where the singer’s voice is the star.
• You want Volume Control: You need the ability to slide or long-press to change volume directly from the buds.
• You are an Outdoor Enthusiast: The IP55 dust resistance makes these much safer for the gym or hiking than the Realme.
• You want “Natural” Sound: The Bamboo Fiber driver delivers a smoother, more “high-end” feel right out of the box.

🏆 My Personal Favorite

If I had to pick just one pair to use every day in the Realme Buds Air 5 Pro vs OPPO Enco Air 3 Pro battle, my favorite is definitely the Realme Buds Air 5 Pro.

Why? Even though the OPPO has slightly “cleaner” vocals, the Realme Buds Air 5 Pro is the more complete package for a busy life. The fast charging (7 hours in 10 mins) has saved me countless times when I was heading to the gym with a dead battery. Plus, the 6-mic call quality means I don’t have to worry about finding a quiet corner to take a work call.

While the OPPO sounds like a “musical instrument,” the Realme feels like a “flagship tool” that does everything a little bit more reliably. You might also wanna checkout OnePlus Buds 4 vs Realme Air 7 Pro.

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