Closer Examination

The charging/carry case for TWS earphones is a critical component of the overall user experience and final's take on it for the ZE8000 MK2 is a statement and a half. The original ZE8000 case is basically the same albeit missing on the two white stripes we see here. This is a plastic case that gets the same textured finish we saw on the final UX3000 and ZE3000 before; it reminds me of the same type of finish on DSLR bodies and I really like how it makes for a grippy surface which is fairly resistant to dust and spills. It is relatively bulky though at 77 x 62 x 32 mm and 63 g, not easily fitting in a pocket. On the top is final branding with a Type-C port on the back used for charging. There are four red indicator LEDs on the front showing you the current case battery level, including during charging, in 25% intervals. The case slides open to reveal a reset button as well as compartments large enough to fit and charge the earphones which have their own indicator LEDs for the same function. The case has a 420 mAh battery inside with each side of the ZE8000 MK2 containing a 54 mAh battery. As such, final conservatively claims three full cycles of charge, which is about average for TWS IEMs these days.


The final ZE8000 MK2 earphones adopt the stem-style design of true wireless earphones in that there is a rectangular extension which comes from the ears and is generally directed towards your mouth to better pick up your voice. These have the same textured finish to the plastic as the case, making them quite easy to install and remove. As too with the case, the two white stripes at the bottom help distinguish these from the original ZE8000 earphones. Note also the holes on the stem for the various microphones inside, with the indicator LED also helping confirm the connection status in addition to the battery level. A look from the side reveals the more unique nature of these earphones with not one but two separate circular sections for the various components inside. These allow final to go for a relatively large and thick dynamic driver, a dedicated Class-AB amplifier compared to the integrated Class-D powering stage from the Bluetooth SoC, and the various electronics used for wireless connectivity and onboard controls. There is a touch sensor on the outside which is also large and receptive enough to work fine in the absence of physical buttons. Removing the ear tips provides a better look at how they are oriented over the short nozzle that has the expected dust filter. The ear tips are thus also specifically shaped to be left or right sided with equivalent markings on the earphones themselves to help you identify the left and right channels.