Gold Digital and Electronic Device Design · 2020
Oppo Enco M31 Wireless Headphones
by Oppo Industrial Design Division
- A' Design Award 2020 Gold Winner in Digital and Electronic Device Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd.
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 59,637
- Verification code 123712D237 · Verify this award
About Oppo Enco M31 Wireless Headphones
The Oppo Enco M31 is a pair of wireless neckband headphones designed for all-day use. The neckband weighs 22 grams and is made of liquid silicone overmolded around a memory titanium alloy thread, so the shape is retained after bending and the headphones can be folded and stored in a pocket. The earbud housings are made of a polycarbonate composite for strength and low weight. Hidden magnets draw the two earbuds together, which disconnects the paired device automatically and saves power. Ldac audio coding supports up to 12 hours of playtime.
The Enco M31 Wireless Headphones by OPPO Industrial Design Team exemplifies the sophisticated material and chromatic sensibilities that have come to define excellence in contemporary personal audio device design, representing a thoughtful meditation on how functional objects might achieve visual distinction while serving their primary acoustic and ergonomic purposes. The work demonstrates remarkable command of color relationship, deploying a deep teal reminiscent of precious patinated metals against champagne gold tones that suggest both warmth and luxury without ostentation. One observes in this design a dialogue between industrial precision and organic fluidity, where the rigid earbud housings with their faceted surfaces contrast productively with the supple curves of the neckband and the sinuous paths traced by the connecting cables. The presentation strategy, showing two states of the same product, invites consideration of the object both as worn device and as autonomous sculptural form, suggesting the designers understood their creation possessed sufficient formal interest to reward contemplation from multiple perspectives. Technical accomplishment manifests in the seamless transitions between materials, the careful radius treatments at every edge, and the sophisticated surface finishing that allows light to describe form through carefully controlled reflection and gradient. The chromatic choice of deep teal positioned against gold-toned elements participates in broader design traditions that associate such pairings with refinement, quality, and considered taste, while the specific values selected avoid cliche through their particular richness and restraint. This work invites viewers to consider how everyday technological objects might contribute to aesthetic experience, transforming utilitarian necessity into opportunity for visual pleasure and material appreciation.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The Oppo Enco M31 differentiates itself from mainstream neckband headphones through its ultra-lightweight at 22 grams, ergonomically curved neckband and streamlined design. It offers users best-in-class wearing experience through the liquid silicone neckband with built-in memory titanium alloy thread, which allows it to be flexed and stored in a pocket on the go.
Featuring Ldac audio coding technology, the Oppo Enco M31 delivers an excellent audio experience with up to 12-hour playtime. - Dimensions & Packaging
- Earbuds: width 17.3mm x height 12.8mm x depth 15mm(ear tip excluded),
neckband: width 120mm x height 140mm x depth 11.2mm - Tags
- wireless neckband headphones, On The Go product, lightweight, compact design, flexibility
- Production Technology
- The neckband is liquid silicone overmolded with a built-in memory titanium alloy thread, which can retain its shape despite bending and twisting. The main material of the neckband housings, buttons and earbuds are made of Polycarbonate - Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene composite that ensures strength and lightness. A textured Polycarbonate - polymethyl methacrylate plate is placed on top of either earbud with magnets hidden beneath, which allows them to be drawn together when not using. The silicone ear tips ensure secure and snug fit for human ears.
- Design Challenge
- The main challenge of the design was to seek a balance between form and functionality, such as balancing the light volume and battery capacity. Meanwhile, the product also needed to reflect the Oppo Enco design value and follow the family's unique product identity.
- Project Duration
- The project started in October 2019 in Shenzhen, China and will be released on March 30, 2020.
- Operation Flow
- The Oppo Enco M31 comes with smart magnetic power control. The headphones automatically disconnect from the paired device when both earbuds are taken off and drawn together by the magnets. When users put them on again, the connection will instantly be restored. This simplifies users' operation and saves power on the go.
All other controls can be reached with ease on one side of the neckband. - Research
- Extensive research(user interviews, focus groups, workshops) were taken by the design team to identify users’ most essential needs for wireless neckband headphones. Comfort wearing and flexibility were the most frequently used phrase by interviewees, which led to detailed design tasks, such as defining the right volume and weight of the product, developing the shape of the neckband, etc. Numerous rounds of mockups later were built to testify the ergonomic design.
- Inspiration
- Through extensive user interviews, we discovered that comfort wearing, ease of use, and high-quality audio experience are the three key elements users expect from a wireless neckband headphone. Having that in mind, the design team strived to build a lightweight and flexible neckband headphone that is comfortable for all-day wearing.
- Image Credits
- Copyright © 2004-2020 OPPO.
- Patents
- Copyright © 2004-2020 OPPO.
Colors of Oppo Enco M31 Wireless Headphones
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