final's ZE3000 true wireless earbuds deliver excellent sound and come with an eye-catching, unique design that sets them apart from a world filled with circles. The combination makes them well worth your time, and you can't go wrong with either color option.

Specifications
  • Brand: final
  • Battery Life: 7 hours from earbuds, 35 hours with carry case
  • Bluetooth: 5.2
  • Additional Tips: 5 pairs
  • Noise Cancellation: No
  • Charging Case: Yes
  • Codecs: AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX Adaptive
  • Drivers: 6mm "f-Core for Wireless"
  • IP rating: IPX4
  • Weight: 4.7g/0.16oz per earbud
Pros
  • Excellent audio quality, wide and tight soundstage
  • Unique design
  • Great battery life
  • Comfortable for prolonged listening sessions
Cons
  • Some will miss ANC
  • Earbud shape might not fit some ears
Buy This Product
final ZE3000

If there is one thing earbud manufacturers don't do enough of, it's innovating around style. Earbud design typically falls into two categories: stem or bud. They're the established design reference for an entire industry, and while we would like to see more striking designs, we can concede that creating something truly unique on a canvas the size of your thumbnail is difficult.

But not for Japanese audio outfit final, whose final ZE3000 comes with a style-flourish that sets them apart from most other earbuds on the market. So, unique design aside, what else do the ZE3000s bring to the table?

Read our final ZE3000 review to find out!

final ZE3000 Style and Comfort

Let's continue from the intro and look more at how final has sculpted the ZE3000 earbuds. Straight out of the box, you'll note the sharp, straight lines employed throughout the design. final has gone for a slightly industrial style, though this is balanced out with the "shibo" wrinkled texture on the earbuds. The delicate texture adds another flavor to the ZE3000, and if you want earbuds that will stand out from the crowd, these should definitely be on your list. You'll find the same shibo texture on the ZE3000 carry case, too.

final ze3000 black white buds side

The final ZE3000 is available in either black or white. Both look good, though I think the black version shade it for me—just. You won't be disappointed with either color selection, mind, as the white option oozes class and looks great from every angle.

Part of the ZE3000's design comes down to how that shape fits within your ear. If you take a regular earbud, you're likely to find a circular design that may or may not fit comfortably. It all comes down to the shape of your ear, and although you can always swap out the tips for a snug or different fit, sometimes your ear is just the wrong shape for the earbud you've bought. final's approach to the ZE3000, the slightly blockier, angular take on things means you stand a better chance of finding a comfortable fit. And when it comes to earbuds, a comfy fit is half the battle.

Take the time to switch between the various ear tip sizes, but when you find the right combination, you're likely to find the ZE3000 earbuds very comfortable, fitting naturally to the contours of your ears. For me, at least, the ZE3000 is lightweight (4.7g/0.16oz per earbud), and it's easy to adjust to the design, experiencing almost zero ear fatigue during long listening sessions.

final ZE3000 Battery Life, Connectivity, and Codecs

The final ZE3000 buds will deliver up to seven hours of playback on a single charge, and the battery rating is accurate. You'll also find another 35 hours of playback in the carry case, giving you at least three full charges while you're on the go. All in all, these battery specs are good, seven hours of playback is typically enough for most activities or a day in the office, and you'll be unlucky to get caught short given the multiple charges available to you in the carry case.

final ze3000 white buds top down

When it comes to connectivity, the ZE3000 uses Bluetooth 5.2, which enables super-fast pairing between the earbuds and your device. Indeed, as soon as you pop the lid on the carry case, the earbuds will reconnect the previously paired device if in range, and it does it almost instantaneously. The initial pairing process is also a cinch, taking seconds to make the connection and pair. The ZE3000 maintains a strong Bluetooth connection once up and running, and you'll experience very few dropouts or other connection issues.

However, despite the ZE3000 using Bluetooth 5.2, the buds do not come with a multipoint feature, and you can only connect to one device at a time. Given that's how most earbuds were until very recently, you're not losing out on much, but it's worth considering if that's something you use with other buds. Another thing to note is that these earbuds won't pause automatically when you take them out and put them down. Unless you tap to stop the music or manually stop your playback device, the ZE3000's will just keep going.

final ze3000 white buds one standing

In terms of Bluetooth codecs, the ZE3000 supports SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX Adaptive. Although aptX Adaptive features in more earbuds than ever, it's a useful feature to point out. Qualcomm's aptX Adaptive provides a powerful dynamic low latency mode that will keep your music playing and in sync in all manner of listening scenarios, while its adaptive audio bitrate can ramp up and down to deliver better audio quality where possible. In short, it'll make your music sound as good as it can, no matter the situation.

final ZE3000 Controls

One frequent bug-bear for earbuds is touch controls. Are they too sensitive? Do they fail to respond to your touch? Thankfully, the final ZE3000 touch controls suffer from neither of these issues, allowing you to adjust the buds in your ear without skipping a track, but responding quickly and accurately when you do want to change something.

final ze3000 black white buds pile

There are no custom controls, so you're making do with final's touch control settings that cover what you'd expect: skip, pause, play, and volume. You can also triple-tap either earbud to activate the smart assistant on your phone, which is handy.

final ZE3000 Sound Quality

Now, onto the big question: how does the final ZE3000 sound? Well, for one moment, think back to the unique style and design of the ZE3000. That design also provides space for final's "f-Core for Wireless" driver unit, a specially designed driver that will deliver audio without distortion, no matter what genre you love. final's design is meant to bring the quality of its premium wired headphones to its wireless earbud range.

final ze3000 cases

The ZE3000 and the f-Core for Wireless driver deliver a really tight overall sound, pushing a wide soundstage driven by the brilliant frequency response. There's enough room for any instrument to shine through in the mids, and even if you crank the volume, final's driver handles the increase with ease, never distorting even up against rapid transitions found in jungle or other similar genres. Of all the ZE3000's excellent tuning, final's best work is in the mid-range. It's one of those things you hear when you compare to other earbuds at similar price levels; the subtle layering of tracks and transitions between phases conjured with precision and clarity.

Now, one thing to note is that the bass on the ZE3000 won't appeal to anyone looking for something really punchy and in your face. The low-end is very much present and delivers, but it does miss the mark a little. I found it just fine for the most part and overall, it contributes to the wider soundstage, but on tracks that rely on a pronounced low-end, you might find it lacking. On other tracks where the bass is a more subtle affair, it's different again, the other aspects of the ZE3000 working together wonderfully to deliver a clean and natural sound.

final ze3000 black buds in case

Overall, final's ZE3000 wireless earbud tuning is definitely pushing towards a flatter EQ. You won't find bonkers, ear-bursting bass, nor will the top-end poke and stab your ears or turn tinny when you least desire. You will find an excellent soundstage, crafted for musical immersion.

Is the final ZE3000 Worth Buying?

The final ZE3000 retails for $149, and if you're all about sound, the final ZE3000 is a great shout. Furthermore, they look brilliant, final's straight lines and strong angles setting these earbuds apart from the rest of the regular, circular crowd. Certainly, if you want someone to take note of the earbuds you're wearing, the ZE3000 should be on your radar.

But, the final ZE3000 does have one issue for buds at this price point that might make you shy away to other options: There is no ANC. During testing, I found the ZE3000 buds extremely comfy, and with the right ear tip, you'll get a decent amount of passive noise cancellation. But if you're someone that demands ANC for the gym, long journeys, and so on, you might find that the passive noise cancellation doesn't quite do the job.

If you can live without ANC, the final ZE3000 earbuds are well worth your consideration.