Best Portable and Digital Keyboards for Beginners
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Purchasing a piano for your beginner can be quite a daunting task. The options are endless: upright acoustic pianos, grand pianos, digital keyboards. Beyond that, these days many different companies manufacture reliable pianos from Yamaha to Kawai. Pianos are quite the investment, so it is imperative that enough research goes into looking for a keyboard that will be the best fit for the beginning pianist. Here are our picks for portable and digital keyboards for beginners.
Keyboards Options:
1. YAMAHA P-125
Price: $999.99
Overview: The Yamaha P-125 is a compact and portable digital piano with Graded Hammer Standard action. The P-125 offers high-quality sound and realistic touch and response comparable to an acoustic piano.
Pros:
- 4-types of touch sensitivity
- Provides sustain pedal
- Onboard variety of instrumental and drum styles
Cons:
- Heavier action than real acoustic pianos
- No soft pedal
2. KAWAI ES110
Price: $959.00
Overview: The Kawai ES110 is a lightweight portable digital piano with grade-weighted keys. The keyboard features Responsive Hammer Compact keyboard action developed by Kawai for a smooth and responsive weighted touch.
Pros:
- Smooth weighted action
- Onboard lesson feature with songs from Alfred’s Basic Piano Course
- Sustain and damper pedals included
Cons:
- Downwards facing speakers
- Heavy low register notes
3. ROLAND FP-30x
Price: $799.99
Overview: The Roland FP-30x has 88 keys with Progressive Hammer action, a concert piano feel with their PHA-4 keyboard technology and quality sound powered by the SuperNATURAL sound engine.
Pros:
- Variety of onboard instrumental sounds
- 5-types of touch sensitivity
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Downwards facing speakers
Conclusion
At comparable price points, the keyboards each have their own strengths. Here’s our roundup of these three options.
- Best Sound: With upwards-facing speakers, the Yamaha P-125 provides the clearest, most direct sound that mimics the sound evoked from an acoustic piano.
- Best Action/Touch: Kawai’s ES110 responsive hammer technology provides the smoothest and most realistic keyboard action.
- Most versatile: The Roland FP-30x provides the greatest number of touch sensitivities and is the most lightweight keyboard in the list.