Final Porta headphones bring retro style and ultra-lightweight listening

By Tom MarshallNovember 6, 20268 mins read

Final’s Porta wireless headphones weigh just 40g, combining a minimalist on-ear design with Bluetooth connectivity and USB-C charging. Here’s what makes the lightweight headphones stand out.

Modern wireless headphones are usually packed with features such as noise cancellation, spatial audio and larger batteries. But Japanese audio brand Final is taking a different approach, with its new Porta headphones which weigh just 40g.

Inspired by portable headphones from the cassette era, the new on-ear headphones bring a familiar retro design into the present with a lightweight structure, wireless connectivity and everyday listening features.

Design and comfort

The standout feature of Final’s Porta headphones is their weight. At approximately 40g, they’re exceptionally lightweight compared with many modern wireless headphones that include padded headbands and larger earcups.

Final achieves this thanks to its Air Wire structure, which replaces the conventional padded headband with a slim wire support. This reduces the amount of material touching the head, with the aim of minimising pressure during extended listening sessions.

The headphones use small on-ear pads, making them a great option for those who find over-ear headphones uncomfortable or don’t enjoy wearing in-ear earbuds.

They also offer a distinctly retro design, recalling the lightweight headphones once bundled with portable cassette players.

Final’s Porta headphones come in black and orange, with the colour difference coming from the ear pads rather than the main headphone body. The pads are replaceable, with individual replacements planned for 2027. This gives owners flexibility over the appearance of their headphones while helping to extend their lifespan.

All-in-all, the minimalistic design is a major part of Porta’s appeal. Rather than competing with premium headphones on features, Final is focusing on portability, comfort and a more understated listening experience.

Sound quality

Final describes the Porta headphones’ sound as “light and refreshing”, with a particular focus on giving vocals body in the mid-low range so the overall listening experience isn’t compromised.

They have a specified frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz, although this alone doesn’t tell us how the headphones sound in practice.

The on-ear design means Porta won’t provide the same level of isolation as over-ear headphones. Combined with a lack of active noise cancellation, and surrounding sounds are likely to remain audible. So, for anyone looking to block out noise, these probably aren’t the headphones for you.

Battery life and connectivity

Despite its minimalistic design, Final’s Porta includes the essentials for everyday wireless listening.

The headphones offer up to eight hours of continuous music playback. USB-C charging keeps things familiar, with a full charge taking approximately 90 minutes.

Bluetooth 5.4 connects the headphones to compatible smartphones, tablets and computers, with support for the SBC and AAC audio codecs.

They also carry an IPX4 rating, meaning they can withstand splashes of water. This offers some reassurance when walking in light rain or exercising, although it doesn’t mean they’re waterproof or suitable for submersion.