Final ZE300 Review – Affordable TWS Earbuds with Powerful Sound

Affordable TWS earbuds delivering impressive sound with ANC, balanced bass, and premium build at a budget-friendly price.

A New Benchmark in Budget Earbuds

When I first heard about the Final ZE300 earbuds from the Japanese brand Final, I was intrigued. Known for their distinct design philosophy and attention to engineering details, Final has crafted what is arguably their lightest and most tech-packed earbuds yet. After putting these buds through their paces for a couple of weeks, I can confidently say they quickly became my favorite budget earbuds.

Priced under $80, these earbuds pack in surprisingly effective active noise cancellation (ANC), punchy bass, crystal-clear vocals, and solid build quality. While not perfect, they stand tall among the best cheap wireless earbuds you can grab right now.

Quick Glance at Final ZE300

• What are they? Wireless earbuds featuring effective ANC and excellent sound.
• Who are they for? Anyone craving fantastic sound without breaking the bank.
• Price point? Around $80.
• What’s great? Comfortable fit, premium build, balanced audio, ANC, and affordability.
• What’s lacking? No companion app or wireless charging, and battery life is somewhat limited.

Price and Availability

If you want earbuds that sound great with active noise cancellation but don't want to splurge, Final ZE300 are worth considering. These latest and lightest Final earbuds retail for about $80 and are available in classic black and a chic "greige" (gray-beige) color combo.

Compared to others in the budget segment, the ZE300s are a steal. They’re priced similarly to JLab JBuds Mini earbuds (~$65), which lack ANC, and are cheaper than JLab JBuds Pods ANC (~$95), EarFun Air 2 NC (~$95), and Soundpeats Air5 Pro (~$110). In some ways, ZE300 actually outperforms these competitors.

Design and Comfort: Featherweight with a Perfect Fit

• Pressure-relieving design for all-day comfort
• Final’s lightest earbuds to date
• Premium-feeling charging case

The ZE300 earbuds are incredibly comfortable to wear for extended listening sessions. Like their sibling model ZE500 ASMR, these buds feature tiny, almost invisible air vents inside that help balance pressure within the ear canal. This clever design reduces strain on your eardrum, making long listening sessions much easier on your ears.

Each bud weighs a mere 4 grams, making them the lightest in Final’s lineup. For context, JLab JBuds Pods ANC feel noticeably heavier.

Despite their featherweight build, these earbuds sit snugly in your ears using the standard ear tips (with three additional sizes included). No matter if I was briskly walking or shaking my head to a beat, the buds stayed firmly in place without falling out. I comfortably wore them for five hours straight without any discomfort.

The matte finish on the earbuds and case gives a premium look that belies their affordable price. Honestly, I prefer this matte texture over the glossy plastic often seen on rivals like EarFun Air 2 NC. Plus, with an IPX4 rating for splash and sweat resistance, these buds are gym-ready.

Seamless Connectivity

• Bluetooth 5.2 with AAC, SBC, and LDAC codecs
• Google Fast Pair and multipoint functionality
• No wear sensors

The ZE300 packs Bluetooth 5.2 with support for AAC, SBC, and surprisingly LDAC—the latter usually reserved for pricier models. This was a delightful surprise since some more expensive earbuds don’t even include LDAC.

Multipoint connectivity lets you pair the earbuds with two devices simultaneously. In my case, they worked flawlessly switching between my MacBook Air M2 and Google Pixel 10 Pro XL. Thanks to Google Fast Pair, my Pixel instantly recognized the earbuds upon opening the case.

A minor drawback: there are no wear sensors. So, music won’t automatically pause when you take an earbud out. But let’s be real—this is a common omission in earbuds at this price point.

Controls and Software Experience

• Easy touch controls, no physical buttons
• No companion app (yet)

The ZE300 relies on touch-based controls for everything—switching ANC modes, answering calls, and managing playback. Despite their small size, I found the touch sensors responsive and intuitive.

Unfortunately, there’s currently no companion app. This means no EQ customization or control remapping. The brand’s other models do have an app called Final Connect, so it’s a bit surprising this one doesn’t. Hopefully, that changes soon.

Sound Quality That Surprises

• Balanced soundscape for most genres
• Surprisingly powerful bass for their size
• Slight ringing at max volume (expected)

I’ll admit, I had low expectations for earbuds under $80. But the ZE300 quickly proved me wrong once I queued up my test playlist on Qobuz.

With no option to tweak an equalizer, you’re stuck with the factory tuning. Thankfully, it’s excellent and doesn’t feel like it needs any adjustment. Unlike some flat-sounding budget buds, the ZE300 deliver a natural, balanced sound.

On Sophia Isella’s track "Above the Neck", vocals were loud, clear, and full of character—even with overlapping lyrics, each word remained distinct.

On "Cocoon" by 070 Shake, the bass was deep and full-bodied without feeling muddy.

Pink Floyd’s "Money" came through warm and punchy, with just the right amount of distortion grit.

What really impressed me was how the ZE300 handled complex tracks without turning them into an indistinct mush. In the orchestral piece "Une vie à rêver", the earbuds nicely separated the instruments, letting you appreciate each layer.

Active Noise Cancellation: Punching Above Its Weight

• Solid ANC for the price range
• Transparency mode works well

The hybrid ANC here is good enough to impress when you consider the price. Don’t expect the magic of Bose QuietComfort or AirPods Pro, which cost three to four times as much ($200+). But for sub-$80 earbuds, the ANC blocks out a significant amount of noise.

Indoors, I couldn’t hear my mechanical keyboard clicking at all. Outdoors, the earbuds didn’t completely silence traffic noise but made walks far more pleasant.

There’s also a transparency (ambient sound) mode that lets outside sounds in—handy for runners or when you need to stay aware of your environment.

Battery Life: A Slight Trade-Off

• Up to 21.5 hours total with charging case
• Competitors offer longer playback
• No wireless charging support

Battery life is where the ZE300 fall a little short. Final claims 5.5 hours per charge with ANC on, and 21.5 hours total including the case. In real-world use, I got roughly 5 hours of playback.

If you prize longer battery, rivals like EarFun Air 2 NC deliver nearly 9 hours per charge. Also, the ZE300 case lacks wireless charging, which some competitors include. But for $80, these are minor quibbles.

Final ZE300 Specs at a Glance

Final Verdict on Final ZE300

For budget earbuds, the Final ZE300 are a triumph. Despite the low price, they deliver balanced sound, powerful bass, and crisp vocals that punch above their weight.

Sure, battery life and app support could be better, but these are small trade-offs. If you want premium sound and build quality without burning a hole in your wallet, the ZE300 might just be your next favorite pair.

"ZE300 sound balanced and natural, unlike the flat, lifeless sound of other budget buds." — Reviewer

FAQ

• How good is the ANC on Final ZE300?
  The active noise cancellation is excellent for the price, effectively reducing ambient noise indoors and improving comfort outdoors.
• Can I customize the sound or controls via an app?
  Currently, there is no companion app for the ZE300, so no EQ or control customization is available.
• Do these earbuds support multipoint connection?
  Yes, you can connect the ZE300 to two devices simultaneously with multipoint functionality.
• What is the battery life like?
  Expect about 5.5 hours of playback with ANC enabled and up to 21.5 hours total including the charging case.
• Are the earbuds water-resistant?
  Yes, they have an IPX4 rating, making them splash and sweat resistant—great for workouts.

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