[Digital Today reporter Jinju Hong] Japanese audio company Final has unveiled Porta, an ultralight wireless on-ear headphone weighing 40 grams. It is an on-ear design with a headband, but it cuts weight by building the structure from a single wire.

On Oct. 19 local time, IT outlet The Verge reported that Porta targets users looking for light wireless headphones but who find earbuds or clip-on products uncomfortable or a poor fit. It uses an on-ear design that rests on the ears rather than being inserted. A key point is that it is much lighter than typical headband-style products. Marshall's Milton A.N.C., cited for comparison, is also a compact on-ear headphone but weighs 200 grams.

Final is taking preorders for Porta on its online store. The price is 12,800 yen, and buyers can choose black or orange earpads. Deliveries are set to start from Oct. 23. Final also runs an Amazon store for U.S. consumers, but Porta is not listed yet.

The design is meant to evoke lightweight headphones once bundled with Sony Walkman players. The feature set, however, is simple. It has a 57 mAh battery and charges via USB-C. A single charge provides up to 8 hours of use.

For wireless connectivity, it supports Bluetooth 5.4. It supports SBC and AAC audio codecs. Active noise cancelling is not included. Given that on-ear headphones do not fully seal the ears, this is not unusual.

Instead, it includes a water-resistant function for everyday use. Porta carries an IPX4 rating, allowing use in rain or sweaty conditions. This means users do not need to worry much about moisture damage during exercise or outdoor travel.

This product appears to focus on wearing style and weight differentiation rather than feature competition. Unlike the recent wireless audio market's competition centered on noise cancelling, long battery life and high-quality sound, Final put forward a comfortable fit as an earbud alternative. That leaves the question of whether Porta can secure niche demand on the strength of its ultralight design alone.

最高の装着感は、「軽さ」がつくる。 約40gの超軽量オンイヤーワイヤレスヘッドホン「PORTA（ポタ）」を10/23(金)に発売します。 本日10/16(金)より予約受付スタート！ カラー：オレンジ／ブラック 価格：各12,800円（税込） https://t.co/PSce5XZguk #final #PORTA #ワイヤレスヘッドホン https://t.co/VVKAEBl0L4