Now that you’re getting eager about piano lessons, you may consider buying some equipment so you can practice at home. Luckily for you, this category has been closing the gap with professional models so don’t be surprised if the sound quality of some keyboard piano models out there leaves you stunned.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Keyboard Pianos
- OUR TOP PICK: Casio CT-X3000
- RUNNER-UP: Yamaha PSR-E463
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Roland GO:KEYS
Table of Contents
Are All Keyboard Piano The Same?
Overall, they will look the same for most people. The only difference they can tell will be if they have big or small keys, what type of LCD screen and if they have built-in speakers.
But, the options keyboard pianos are providing vary a lot. They may aim at different age groups and may adapt the features towards such users. They also may target a different skill level so they will provide onboard lessons for complete beginners while for experienced players they will provide advanced rhythm patterns and much better sound options such as split, layer, arpeggiator or a sequencer.
Can You Really Find a Quality Keyboard Piano That’s Affordable?
Honestly, these keyboards were never made to excel in build quality. This leaves enough place to lower the overall price while still offering good features. Thus, it is possible to find both an affordable and quality keyboard.
Casio is doing an excellent job making such models with more than good sounds and features that can surprise even the intermediate players. But in case you’re looking for something more basic, you shouldn’t be afraid of buying a “no-name” brand, too, especially if you’re buying it for kids' age users.
Consider those models more like a “trial version” than long-term solutions.
How to Choose a Keyboard Piano
Let us help you with some advice on how to choose your keyboard piano:
Who is Meant For?
Some models will be designed for kids and their features are made to keep children’s minds occupied and amused. They can come with smaller keys, while others will focus on providing lessons for those who have never played a piano or keyboard before.
Casio, 61-Key Portable Keyboard (CT-X3000)
If you don’t fit into any categories mentioned above, you may ignore such models and buy a model that focuses its advertising on sounds and other features more.
Playing Skill Level
Do you have some skills or you’re a complete beginner? Yamaha has great onboard lessons while Casio has models which sound quality is extremely good.
External Sources
If you’re good with computer software, you should know that you can find a lot of free audio software instruments and they usually beat most onboard sounds of your keyboard piano. So in case your keyboard piano has a USB port, simply connect your device to the computer and you’re ready to play. And you can use Aux Input to play a sound from your computer, too!
Comparison of the Best Keyboard Pianos
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Review of the Best Keyboard Pianos
As keyboard pianos come in different formats and target different audiences, let us pick the winner for each category:
Best Overall:
Casio CT-X3000
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
They were amazed by the sound options and that you can even mute individual rhythm parts you don’t need or plug your USB flash drive directly. They even comment that the build quality exceeds their expectations and look upon it like it’s a semi-pro model.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Sound quality is a lot more than you would expect from this type of model. Brasses are so good that their expressiveness surpasses what some professional keyboards offer. We can also say the same for effects and we would wish that some big brands have such a rotary speaker effect.
Who Will Use This Most
While this still is a model designed mostly for beginners, more advanced players will appreciate the sound and the features it provides. USB-MIDI works with the computer software perfectly and the MIDI recorder makes it possible to compose on board without any external devices included.
Bottom Line
This is one of the best keyboard pianos on the market. It’s not meant to replace a professional model, but thanks to the sound and features it provides, you can play as a professional player on it.
Runner-up:
Yamaha PSR-E463
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers confirm that Groove Creator mode is quite intuitive to play with and that it’s a big upgrade compared to the previous PSR-E363 model. However, they are somewhat confused that Yamaha offers this model without power supply since there is no support for battery work on board.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Acoustic and electric piano presets sound excellent and the variety for the other sound categories is just right. Groove Creator will help you create your own rhythms while you can utilize Quick Sampling mode and sample virtually any external sound and use it layered on keys, loop or one-shot sample.
Who Will Use This Most
It’s worth mentioning that it comes with a lot of rhythm presets aimed toward the Latin population, too, while those who are into modern music will definitely love the Groove Creator. People who would like to use it for MIDI playback will be glad to know that XG Lite sounds enhance the output of their MIDI files.
Bottom Line
If you’re a Yamaha brand fan, this is their best offer currently. It’s capable of doing more than an average regular keyboard and you will have a lot of fun playing with it. In case you would want more keys, check out PSR-EW410.
Best for the Money:
Roland GO:KEYS
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PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Players comment that the keybed is slightly heavier than the regular synth-action keys and that it doesn’t feel cheap. Pianos are commented to sound even better than some older professional models. But, they do comment that external speakers ruin the sound quality a lot because it’s all about mid frequencies.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It’s so nice that Roland decided to provide their sound palette at this price range. There are many professional sounds inside that sound exactly the same as on their professional models. And it also supports Bluetooth audio so you can actually stream backing tracks directly from your mobile device and jam over it.
Who Will Use This Most
This is a nice keyboard for not just beginners but intermediate players as well. It’s lightweight and compact and thanks to battery support you can play on it anywhere. Also, the Roland sound engine in this unit is capable of more than a decent street performance.
Bottom Line
This might be considered overkill for beginners’ needs. But, with the given price it’s not such a big stretch while you get a lot more sound quality compared to what you get from most home keyboards.
Best Keyboard Piano for Beginners:
Casio LK-S250
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PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
People comment that children had real fun with this model and that the mobile apps work just fine. There are also some reports that this light-up keybed interface was working really nice for autistic children as it provided a different approach for their music learning.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It's an extremely lightweight device while still coming with full-size keys. It can work on batteries for a long while and the built-in handle makes it easy to carry around. It has a very straightforward interface and it supports mobile device apps for additional features.
Who Will Use This Most
Thanks to free apps such as Chordana, Casio keys light up in red when they need to be pressed. You can easily set it up to wait for your input and make it an ideal tool for your piano or keyboard learning. And on top of that, it comes with 60 pre-installed songs, too.
Bottom Line
Illuminated keys are an excellent and innovative learning tool for complete beginners of all ages. It makes learning feel more like playing a music video game and can easily drag you to play for hours.
Best Portable Keyboard Piano:
Casio CTK-6250
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
It is considered to be a very versatile keyboard that offers more than what you have paid for. It sounds fantastic to them and they would highly recommend it to others. It is also considered as more beginner-friendly compared to other top-class Casio models.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Sound quality surprised us a lot. If you close your eyes and just take a listen you would bet for some sounds this is a professional keyboard. But, actually, it comes for the price of a home piano keyboard and is as portable as expected.
Who Will Use This Most
It has a solid middle ground so it’s not very complex for beginners while it provides enough capabilities for advanced users. They can especially benefit from USB-MIDI connectivity as it can serve as a MIDI controller in the studio and may even consider performing on some smaller venues with it.
Bottom Line
Casio made an excellent portable keyboard at this price range. It’s packed with everything you’re going to need as a beginner so you won’t have an urge to upgrade your gear for a long while.
Best Roll Up Piano Keyboard:
Lujex 61 Keys Electronic Hand Roll Piano
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers are aware that this is a low-quality product so their expectations aren’t high and feel like it’s worth the price it asks for. They think it can help you learn the basics about the notes and hand placement. The battery is reported to be able to last up to 15 hours.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Roll-up keyboards are the keyboard interface that takes the least space and is easy to set up anywhere. This one comes not only with a built-in speaker and headphones output but also has MIDI support.
Who Will Use This Most
This unit will be an interesting device for kids, enthusiasts, and hobbyists who don’t take music seriously and would take it to the beach vacation. But, strangely enough, it has a MIDI port so we can imagine a scenario where you would use it as a spare MIDI controller at your home studio.
Bottom Line
This is not your typical keyboard. Consider it more like a very interesting gadget that you can take anywhere with you than a good sound quality keyboard. And the best thing is that it could fit into some of your jacket pockets!
Best Mini Keyboard Piano:
Yamaha PSS-A50
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PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers love how this unit can fit every backpack. It’s excellent for practicing anywhere and it seems to work with the iOS software such as GarageBand flawlessly. Battery life also provides enough juice for a long fun time and the only remark is that some presets aren’t balanced properly regarding volume levels.
Why it Stands Out to Us
While it comes at a kid size, it is capable of making surprisingly nice sounds. The phrase recorder can be a nice tool for instant song inspiration or a quick jams and hand picked arpeggios can only improve the experience you’re getting from this mode.
Who Will Use This Most
While the size factor is ideal for children, the features it provides are meant for adults as well. It’s an ideal travel companion and thanks to USB-MIDI, you can link it with your computer or a mobile device, too. And with metronome built in, you can practice anytime anywhere.
Bottom Line
Yamaha decided to take the mini keyboard category seriously and provide the best sound quality ever found on these models. This model can be more than just a kid’s keyboard and you should have really nice fun playing it.
Best Piano Keyboard Under $100:
RockJam 54-Key Portable Electronic Keyboard
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PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
They were aware of the price this unit comes and are kind of satisfied with the outcome. But, we need to mention that these keys don’t have a piano feel, only the appearance. Luckily, Simply Piano works nicely on both Android and iOS apps as advertised.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It’s one of the cheapest keyboard models with full-size keys currently on the market. LCD displays the note you play and it’s the neat feature for this tier as well as the note stickers for keys and free vouchers for Simply Piano app.
Who Will Use This Most
It aims more towards youngsters. But, thanks to full-size keys, any beginner regardless of age can use it to learn the piano or keyboard basics and you can seriously enhance its feature if you include tablet or smartphone devices with apps vouchers provided.
Bottom Line
In case you’re on a tight budget this will be okay for a first keyboard. But, if it’s possible, we would advise you to save a little bit more and pick other models as the sound difference is significant.
Best Keyboard Piano Under $200:
Casio CT-X700 EDP
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
People don’t complain about this purchase and would gladly pay double for it. Keybed is reported to be just fine and they especially like the sound variety it provides. But, they feel that the educational software should provide a little bit more advanced lessons.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This model comes with the same AiX sound engine found in the best Casio models at a more affordable price. Acoustic presets are wonderful and clavs and rhodes have an excellent phaser effect. Casio also thought about their user’s needs and habits so they even provided a built-in shelf for smartphone devices.
Who Will Use This Most
This model is slightly biased towards beginners thanks to an on-board Step-Up lesson system and 100 built-in songs. Yet, because of the sound engine, it can be just good for intermediate players as well. Those who rely on mobile devices will appreciate the music rest as it can support tablets, too.
Bottom Line
This is one of the best offers currently on the market. It’s not that you’re getting just the same sound quality as their best model has, but you’re also getting additional equipment so you can focus more on your playing.
Types of Keyboard Pianos
There is no official category ranking among keyboard piano models. But, based on their main purpose and size, we will categorize them so you can understand the differences:
Portable (Home) Keyboard
These are often referred to as home keyboards. It’s the standard keyboard piano model and can come in all price ranges, from entry-level up to models that match semi-professional keyboards.
Casio top tier models are currently the closest to that range.
Mini Portable Keyboard
These models are considered to be more of a child’s toy than a real instrument, a way to get kids interested in music. We could apply the same for roll-up keys models, too.
However, Yamaha showed us with PSR-A50 that mini portable keyboards can sound nice, too.
Portable Pianos
These models excel in recreating the sound of an acoustic piano. They come with a lot fewer features than portable keyboards but provide you with more keys (88 to be precise) and allow you to play any classical or modern piano piece on it. These are ideal for users who want to learn to play the piano and not keyboards.
Let’s mention Alesis Recital as the most affordable portable piano out there.
Alesis Recital (Source)
Conclusion
Depending on your current budget, keyboard pianos can be a very long or short term solution. But, in any case, they are ideal choices for anyone’s first keyboard. We also hope that we managed to break the usual low sound quality prejudices and present you hidden gems from this category.
People Also Ask
Lets take a couple of minutes and provide you with some useful answers about keyboard basics, how to utilize it with your computers. We will also help you out with the doubts about how hard it is to learn to play keyboard piano and what’s the best way to learn it.
How Many Keys Are on a Keyboard Piano?
It comes in different sizes. The most usual is 61 keys and it’s also the most usual size of professional models, too. But, there are models that may extend to 76 or 88 keys. On the other hand, some more portable models have 49, 37 or 32 keys in both full and mini size.
How to Connect Keyboard Piano to a Computer
Nowadays, computers are getting plug and play compatibility with digital pianos. All you need is a single type-B USB cable that you plug directly to your computer and for the most of the time both modern Win and Mac will find automatically necessary drivers and you will be ready to go.
Who Invented the Electric Piano Keyboard?
The first electric piano was created in 1929 and it was called Neo-Bechstein and it was made by Walther Nernst. It was made upon the Oskar Vierling prototype from 1922. Sound was much different from any acoustic piano because there was no sound board. Instrument had a speaker cabinet with a radio and phonograph.
Why Are Piano Keyboards so Expensive?
Keyboard Pianos can be considered as expensive only when they provide you with some advanced features and sounds that you might not need at all if you’re a beginner. As we showed in reviews list, if you need a basic keyboard piano, you can actually find models for even under $100
Is Playing Keyboard and Piano the Same?
You can play piano on a keyboard and digital pianos may come with the keyboard sounds. But, keyboardists will think about other instruments (rhodes and organs, for example) or analog synthesis as well. Trained pianists have a quite different mindset about sound design compared to a keyboardist.
Can You Learn Piano on a Keyboard?
While not being an ideal choice, as long as keys are full-sized, yes, you can learn. You won’t get the feel and response of weighted keys and it can shorten the dynamic range of your playing, especially if you switch to the piano at some point, but you can learn a lot.
How Long Does it Take to Learn Piano For Adults?
You can learn basic piano pieces in less than six months. Of course, it varies based on how dedicated you are and what background knowledge you have, but you will be able to play some less-demanding pieces from most famous classical music composers such as Mozart or Bach.
How Much is a Keyboard Piano?
Keyboard Piano price range can go incredibly low starting at even slightly over $30 up to over $400. The difference between those models is in keys size, build, keybed, and sound quality and additional software and hardware features and offers that come in the bundle.
Should I Practice Piano Every Day?
It can’t do you any harm, that’s for sure, but, it’s not mandatory. An hour or two of continuous practice three or four times a week is just enough, especially if you’re a beginner. Putting too much effort into practicing can be counter-effective at the early stages, actually.
