These $50 earbuds have completely changed how I feel about budget buds — they sound just as good as $200 ones

It's a new year, which means new product launches and more tech for me to review — from audio gear and computing peripherals to cameras and drones. 2026 is already off to a great start because I've just tested a pair of earbuds that has changed how I used to feel about budget buds.

I'm not saying I used to hate budget earbuds, but they often left a lot to desire — the Final ZE300 have changed that, though.

Final is a Japanese audio brand known for creating some downright fantastic-sounding earbuds which look different. Here at Tom's Guide, we've reviewed many of Final's audio products, such as the ZE500 ASMR (which I loved, even as an AMSR hater), and now the ZE300.

Final ZE300: $49 at Amazon

The ZE300 are Final’s lightest earbuds yet, and they’re perhaps some of the most comfortable buds I’ve tested yet. For less than $50, you’re getting excellent sound quality across many genres and highly effective ANC indoors, packaged into a pressure-relieving design with a comfortable fit.

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When I first put the ZE300s in my ears and played my favorite tunes, I couldn't believe how good they sounded... because they cost just $49 / £39. These earbuds have got it all: they look premium, they sound amazing, and they're extremely comfortable. In fact, they can hold their own against heavy lifters like Bose and Sony. I know it sounds too good to be true, but hear me out...

Bose-level sound quality for less?

I've reviewed many, many earbuds and headphones in my time as a writer (and audiophile), so I would never recommend a pair if it didn't sound absolutely top-notch — and the Final ZE300s excel at making your favorite music sound beautiful. Regardless of the song I listened to, from bass-heavy to vocals-first track, I was thoroughly impressed.

Vocals in tracks like ‘Above the Neck’ by Sofia Isella and 'The Chain' by Fleetwood Mac sound nothing short of spectacular, detailed, loud and clear. Every word has plenty of character to it, and this applies to instrument-heavy songs too. The bass in ‘Cocoon’ by 070 Shake and 'Money’ by Pink Floyd sounds warm and punchy, with the right amount of distortion as the artists intended. There's lots of low-end impact too, which adds to the song's soul.

Unlike some cheap earbuds I've tested in the past, the ZE300s, to their credit, don't get overwhelmed when there are many instruments involved either. This is rare in most budget audio gear as they struggle to balance heavy instruments against multiple guitar riffs, for instance. Not the ZE300s. In tunes like ‘Une vie à rêver’ from the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 soundtrack, each instrument sounded well-balanced against the other, while Alice Duport-Percier’s high notes never sounded too shrill or piercing.

You can read all about my in-depth sound quality testing in my full Final ZE300 review.

You wouldn't guess they cost so little

Aside from the sound quality, there's another thing I love about the Final ZE300s, and something that makes them even more impressive. The ZE300s are extremely light, weighing just 0.14oz / 4g, and they're very small and compact too. They are so small that I didn't even realize I had them in my ears at times. But just because they're light doesn't mean they don't sit snugly in your ears, and I didn't experience them falling out regardless of the activity I was doing.

I also love the Airflow Ports Final has fitted into the ZE300s. These are tiny, non-visible internal ports that release the air pressure inside the ear canal, thereby reducing strain on the eardrum. This essentially means that you can wear the earbuds for hours and hours without feeling any discomfort.

If someone saw you wearing the ZE300s, they wouldn't be able to guess that they cost less than $50, and that's thanks to the premium matte finish on the earbuds as well as the charging case. They look clean and don't pick up fingerprints as quickly as glossy-finish earbuds, like the JLab JBuds Pods ANC.

But they aren't perfect...

The Final ZE300s are great, yes, but that doesn't mean they're perfect. It's important to remember that these earbuds cost much, much less than premium ones from the likes of JBL, Bose and Sony. As you're paying less than $50 for them, you should expect some flaws, but thankfully, none of them are major enough to stop you from buying the ZE300s.

One of my gripes with the ZE300s is the lack of a companion app. Although the Final Connect app exists and is used for all other Final earbuds and headphones, it does not support the ZE300s. This means that you can't customize the equalizer (something I love playing around with), but since the earbuds sound terrific straight out of the box, you don't necessarily need to adjust the EQ.

There's also no wear detection, so music doesn't automatically pause when you take an earbud out of your ear, but it's important to note that no earbuds (that I know) in this price range have this feature. The case can't be charged wirelessly either, which isn't a massive drawback.

I will reiterate: the ZE300s cost less than $50. For this reason, these feel like minor tradeoffs. If you're on the hunt for cheap earbuds for yourself or to gift to your loved ones, and you don't want to spend a fortune on them, I can't recommend the ZE300s enough.

Even if you're on the fence about budget earbuds, trust me when I say Final's latest pair will convert you.

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More from Tom's Guide

• These Final earbuds cost less than $50… but they sound better than my Bose QuietComfort
• Best cheap wireless earbuds in 2026
• I just tested the new Final ASMR earbuds — and now I want Kathryn Hahn to read me a bedtime story through these every night