Nokia E3511 Review: A Deserving New Essential

The Nokia brand has been around in the technology and gadget business ever since being a major player in the early mobile phone era. It has retained its name in the industry until now by coursing through different related businesses such as Network Solutions, laptops, headphones/audio products, among others.

In 2020, Ruishentong Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd., better known as RichGo Technology, a company that mainly serves well-known international consumer electronics, acquired the license for the Nokia branding for headset and audio-visual accessories products for markets in China and the Asia-Pacific region. Since then, the company has been releasing a series of quality audio products bearing the Nokia brand.

However, RichGo Philippines recently announced its rebranding. They are now known as HOLO Space. The new branding represents Signeo Design-RichGo Singapore brands, Monster Gaming, and Nokia Personal Audio.

Creating Luxury from the Essential

One of the company’s most successful line-ups is the Essential series (E-series) which grew recently with the launch of Nokia E3511, an upgrade of the 2020 release Nokia E3500.

The Nokia E3511 is the current premium offering from RichGo’s Nokia E-Series. It features Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), enhanced voice pick-up, a long battery life, an IP44 rating for ingress protection, and comes with a lightweight metal battery case.

Unboxing the Nokia E3511

The packaging box is straightforward, with a photo of the device on the front and a promotional photo on the back. Everything necessary for any wireless Bluetooth is included in the box: a Battery case, additional pairs of different sized ear tips for fit adjustment, charger cable, user manual, and warranty manual.

Design and Controls

The material is light but strong

The E3511 is a classy chic with a heart inside. The buds are made with halogen-free materials to reduce environmental impact and the charging box is coated with aluminum for a durable and premium feel. It is an eye-catcher anywhere and goes out with the typical cobble-shape casing we normally see on the earbuds market nowadays. Aside from looks, another thing worth examining is its construction itself, as it is rated IP44. It means it will be protected from solid particles that are over 1mm in size and from low-velocity sprays of water from every direction. It would be ideal for active listeners because rain or sweat would not disrupt your music marathon, phone calls, or workout – regardless of the weather.

Simplicity with functionality

The controls and indicators on the earbuds are being designed with a minimalistic approach. On the charging box, you’ll see a conveniently placed LED indicator to tell the earbuds’ battery level and the charging box’s charge level as well. The user manual explains how the led indicator tells charge – basically, the light that illuminates when you open the box tells the charge level of the buds, while the light that illuminates when you plug in the charger cable tells the case battery level. Opening the box, you’ll see the buds securely placed by magnets and a round button in the middle used to reset connections. The buds themselves are equipped with touch-response features that can adjust volume, navigate songs, activate the device assistant, and activate the Active Noice Cancellation (ANC) feature.

Removing the buds from the box instantly activates them and searches for paired devices. I have been using other Bluetooth audio devices and I find the Nokia E3511 lives up to the promise of “seamless pairing” as it really connects more quickly than any other device I have. Having the latest Bluetooth 5.2 could have helped with the instant auto-pairing and having a more stable connection. It promises an effective connectivity range within line of sight of approximately 30 feet or 10 meters, which I think the E3511 lives up to consistently.

Fit and Comfort

Generally, the buds are very light and compact. Selecting the right ear tip size could make for a very comfortable fit and can be in-ear for hours without feeling any ear stress. You won’t have to worry about your earbuds slipping out when playing sports or doing chores that require a lot of movement because of the snug fit in-ear of the earbuds. Since the touch panel of the buds is placed on the lower part of the handle rod, you can only hold the buds on the upper portion to avoid accidentally touching the panel. It can be annoying at first, but you’ll get used to it after a few days of use.

The charging box is also compact enough to fit inside pockets. Since it is box-shaped, it can easily be placed on any flat surface without the worry of rolling. It is also comfortable in the hands because of the rounded corners and the matte finish of the aluminum surface.

Performance

A lasting in-ear companion

Both the left and right earbuds of the Nokia E3511 are equipped with 45mAh 3.7V built-in Lithium rechargeable batteries. These battery specifications translate to 4.5 hours of continuous music playback at 70% volume with ANC turned on and 6.5 hours with ANC turned off. The charger case, however, comes with a 350mAh, 3.7V built-in lithium rechargeable battery and can hold three additional charges, so you can stay connected all day long. Charging can take up to 2 hours max to reach the full level for both the box and the buds. It is definitely enough to be an in-ear companion for your whole day.

Essentially, sound quality is well-balanced.

The E3511 is powered by a Hi-Fi 10mm dynamic driver to deliver a rich and enjoyable music experience. The sound profile I observed is that it gives off crisp highs, a rich mid-range, and balanced bass. I consider this configuration well-tuned and really a treat to the ears as it makes music vibrant and alive yet retains the natural and accurate sounds as it was intended to be.

The Music I really enjoyed with the Nokia E3511 is the song Light Switch by Charlie Puth. The song demanded intricate sound delivery as its orchestra involves a series of highs and lows with crisp taps of percussions. The E3511 delivers, making it a delightful musical journey for me.

Matched with the Active noise cancellation, it is definitely an immersive concert or theater experience. With its Smart EQ, you’ll be delivered an adaptive level of noise cancellation when you are answering a call, allowing you to focus on what matters.

Also worth mentioning is the retention of the unique Ambient Mode from its predecessor, the Nokia E3500. It allows you to hear what’s going on outside while you’re listening to music. It’s ideal for conversing or being informed about flights or queuing numbers without having to take off your headphones.

Price and Availability

The Nokia E3511 is available in three metallic colors: white, black, and blue. It is available online for only 4,199Php at the Nokia Personal Audio Flagship stores via Shopee and Lazada, now under rebranded HoloSpace.

Verdict

These earbuds are definitely something you can wear confidently anytime. Its biggest assets are surely its looks and built quality. The Nokia brand has always been incorporated with durability. With the IP44 rating, aluminum charging box, and minimalistic design language, the E3511 lives up to it.

Should you buy the Nokia E3511?

These earphones are priced in a very difficult market as expectations are already high in the 4K price range. One expectation it missed is wireless charging capability. For me, this could be a game-changer, as we are now in the era of making things wireless, and this technology is our future. Another thing it missed is a dedicated app to manage, control, and customize sound profiles. This is acceptable as I already like its tuning, but definitely be a great addition.

These buds could be for those who would like to keep things straightforward. It did manage to hit all the checks for the essentials of a wireless earphone. Use it for what it is and it will not disappoint. That is something I can vouch for. If you have to consider these first before the budget, the Nokia E3511 is for you. Also, Nokia fans would really love to have these as they live up to what we liked about the brand before.

Nokia E3511 TWS Earphones Specifications

• Wearing styles: True Wireless Earphones
• Ear couplings: Ear Canal
• Frequency responses: 20 Hz to 20kHz
• Transducer principles: Dynamic driver
• Transducer sizes: 10 mm
• Power supply: Built-in Lithium rechargeable batteries, 3.7V.
• Operating times: 6.5hrs with ANC off, 4.5hrs with ANC on(music playback via A2DP) with rechargeable batteries of the earphones.
• Charging time: Earphones:- approx. 2 hours and Charging case: approx. 2 hours
• Volume control: Yes

If you’re looking for more budget earbuds, you can check our review of the DIZO GoPods and the EarFun Free 2.