It could be very tough for players to move around a heavy instrument. For those who wish to play the piano anywhere or play it in certain situations, get the best portable keyboard piano is essential to you.
Some features do affect the weight of a keyboard piano. You need to get to know which features are necessary for you and which features are not.
We’re bringing a list of top 10 Best Portable Keyboard Piano to help you find out the right portable keyboard piano. Use the following information and choose one that comes with the features you need.
Top 10 Best Portable Keyboard Piano On the Market
Before reading the reviews of Top 10 portable keyboard pianos, let’s look at a table giving you the first impression of these keyboards.
Choosing the Best Portable Keyboard -Buyer’s Guide
Buying a keyboard is never an easy thing. The weight of the best portable keyboard pianos varies from model to model. Some features can certainly add more weight to the keyboard and some keyboards trade-off certain features for being more portable.
What are these and how can you balance the portability and those features?
Well firstly, before picking up the right keyboard for you, you should figure out what’s your main goal to buy this keyboard. Is it for you or for your kids? What factors do you consider?
Let’s talking about some factors you may concern about.
1.The Number of Keys
The number of keys is one of the main reasons to add weight to the keyboards. The weight of a keyboard with 61 keys can range from 7lbs to 12 lbs. Well, on the other hand, the weight of a standard 88-key keyboard is at least 24 lbs.
So, if you need a portable keyboard piano with a full range of 88 keys, the best one you can choose is Alesis Recital Digital Piano weighing 15 lbs.
61 keys allow you to play most modern songs but may struggle with play complex classical pieces. But if you’re gonna get an 88-key keyboard, there is no such worry.
2. Weighted Keys
The portable keyboard piano with weighted keys can certainly increase the weight of the keyboards.
Weighted keys can be divided into semi-weighted keys and fully-weighted keys. If you’re serious about learning the piano or you’re already a pro player, I recommend you to buy a fully-weighted one to get more realistic key action.
The best portable keyboard piano with weighted keys could be Casio Privia PX-160, Roland FP-10.
3. Connectivity
A portable keyboard piano can be used in the home, gig, or on the road. For those who need a portable keyboard to use on the gigs, connectivity is one of the main things that you should consider. You’ll need different jacks to connect other external devices like amplifiers.
Some portable keyboards are equipped with several connection jacks, including headphone jacks, line out jacks, etc. If you’re a gigging musician, you probably need a line out jack to connect other devices. The portable keyboards with line out jacks on the list are Casio Privia PX-160 and Yamaha P125.
10 Best Portable Keyboard Piano Reviews
1. Best Overall –Casio CTK-3500 61 Key Keyboard
Weight: 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg)
- 61 touch-sensitive keys
- Very affordable keyboard
- Dance music mode with 50 built-in rhythms and effects
- Built-in lesson system with LCD display
- 400 voices & 150 rhythms
- Free Chordana Play app for learning your favorite songs
- Non-weighted keys
- Not MIDI-capable
We’ll start at a truly lightweight keyboard with 61 touch-sensitive keys. Casio CTK-3500 (Full review here) combines responsive keys and only 7.5 lbs weight, making it a great portable keyboard piano for practicing wherever you want.
Casio CTK-3500 is one of the best affordable keyboards for beginners not only because of its portable design but also due to the fact that it comes with lots of powerful educational features and touch-sensitive keys.
The model comes with 3 levels of touch sensitivity (one level is to turn off). The touch-sensitive key means the keyboard is not volume-controlled. The harder you press the key, the louder sound you’ll get. So, you can express the pieces more naturally.
You can learn to play the piano fun and simple thanks to the onboard lesson system with LCD display, which is able to show which keys you should press and how to read notes on the staff. Especially, Casio CTK-3500 comes with a unique feature for learning, which is an inbuilt voice simulated fingering guide. Your finger movement can be tracked and it can correct you by calling the finger numbers.
Additionally, Casio has created an app called Chordana Play App. You can extend the song library and get more features for learning on it.
Plus, Casio CTK-3500 can be operated by batteries. So, there is no need to worry about the power if you want to practice it on the road. It’s arguably a great portable keyboard piano to practice anywhere. Wherever you go, you can take it without troubles.
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2. Best Portable Weighted Keyboard Piano –Casio Privia PX-160
Weight: 24.5 lbs (11kg)
- 88 weighted keys with ivory and ebony key surfaces
- Best portable keyboard piano with weighted keys
- 3 levels of touch sensitivity
- 60 built-in songs for learning with guidance
- 2-track recorder
- Portable and compact
- Poor quality sustain pedal
- The buttons may be confusing
For aspiring beginners and pro players, it’s essential to have a keyboard with weighted keys. With the weight of 24.5 pounds, Casio Privia PX-160 (Full review here) has become one of the best portable keyboards with weighted keys. And it’s probably the most weighted keyboard on the list.
Featuring its excellent weighted keys with textured surfaces, delicate line out jacks, and high-quality sound, Casio Privia PX-160 is a solid option for beginners and intermediate players as well as gigging musicians.
Casio CTK-3500 is equipped with Casio’s famous Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II weighted action, which uses actual hammers to simulate the accurate response of weighted action and catch the dynamics of your performances. So, you can have an authentic weighted action of every touch, just like playing on an acoustic piano.
Impressively, the model comes with simulated ivory and ebony surfaces on the top of keys. When you touch the keys, you’ll have more realistic feels rather than plastic.
There are multiple ways for you to connect other external devices, including USB to Host, sustain jack, 2 headphone jacks, and line out jacks. If you’re a gigging musician, you can use them to connect amplifiers or PA systems.
With the portable and compact design, Casio CTK-3500 can be used in your studios, home or even on the go.
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3. Best Portable 88-key Keyboard –Alesis Recital Digital Piano
Weight: 15.5 lbs (7kg)
- A portable keyboard with 88 Semi-weighted keys
- Very portable
- 128-note polyphony
- 3 month online piano lessons for free
- The volume is quiet sometimes
- Not for advanced players
If you want the best budget portable keyboard with 88 keys, here you’ve found it. Alesis Recital Digital Piano is a great beginner keyboard piano with 88 semi-weighted keys.
Though the keys of this keyboard piano are not fully-weighted, it trades off it for being more portable.
What features make it special?
Alesis Recital is one of the best affordable keyboards with 88 keys. The low price is very appealing. With the set of 88 keys, you won’t struggle with playing complex classical pieces.
The model weighs only 15 pounds, which can even compete with some completely non-weighted keyboard.
The sound of the Alesis Recital piano is not the best, but it has a very natural sound for you to enjoy. Together with the 128-note polyphony which contributes to the quality of the sound, you can truly enjoy the ultimate playing experiences.
4. Best Budget –Casio LK-265 Keyboard
Weight: 7.9 lbs(3.5kg)
- 61 keys with touch sensitivity
- Lighted keys for learning
- Affordable price
- Super portable and compact
- Chordana App for learning your favorite sounds
- Dance Music Mode
- No built-in recording function
- Non-weighted keys
Now, we’ve seen another portable keyboard piano from Casio. Casio is very famous for producing high-quality keyboards and digital pianos that have more portable weight and affordable price than their competitors from other brands.
Casio LK-265 (Full review here) is specially designed for beginners to learn playing and music skills thanks to the light-up keys and step-up lessons. The lighted keys are used while learning your favorite song. It’s easier to follow along with lighted keys to know which keys you should press.
The portable keyboard comes with 60 built-in songs. Well, you think it’s not enough for you, then you can also use Chordana App to extend the song library by downloading the MIDI files of your favorite songs.
Apart from educational features, Casio LK-265 has interesting features for you to explore the fun of the music world as well. For example, Dance Music Mode allows you to remix different dance music by using different styles of dance music and effects.
Overall, Casio LK-265 is arguably one of the best portable keyboards for beginners. Additionally, it’s also one of the best cheap keyboard for beginners thanks to its features for learning and affordable price.
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5. Best Portable Weighted Digital Piano for Practice –Yamaha P71
Weight: 25 lbs(11.3 kg)
- best portable keyboard with 88 weighted keys
- Realistic sound with 64-note polyphony
- Duo and Dual mode
- Easy to operate
- Kids-friendly
- No line out jacks
- Flimsy sustain pedal included
Without bells and whistles, Yamaha P71 (Full review here) is a serious portable keyboard piano for beginners to practice. It’s one of the best digital pianos under $500. If you’re looking for a portable keyboard piano that you can fully-concentrate to it while practicing, Yamaha P71 is your choice.
The P71 is equipped with all the high-quality pianist essentials such as hammer-action weighted keys, realistic sound, and touch sensitivity. At the same time, it trades off some unnecessary features to distract you.
It’s a great choice if you want to replace your non-weighted keyboard, giving you more room for growth and improvement.
Yamaha P71 uses Yamaha’s famous GHS weighted action, which simulates the key action of an acoustic piano. It means you can have heavier touch in the low end and lighter touch in the high end.
Touch sensitivity allows you to feel the melodies going up and down and play pieces with massive expressiveness. Plus, the portable keyboard offers 3 levels of touch sensitivity, so you can adjust it to suit any of your playing styles.
Wanna explore different voice combinations? You can layer two different voices together by using the Dual Mode.
With the weight of 25 lbs and high-quality features, Yamaha P71 is considered to be one of the best portable keyboard pianos with weighted keys for practice. Plus, check the price, you’ll love it.
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6. Casio CDP-240 Portable Keyboard with Weighted Keys
Weight: 24.9 lbs(11.2kg)
- 88 fully-weighted keys
- Onboard recording function
- 700 voices & 200 Auto-Accompaniment Rhythms
- Can be used as a MIDI controller
- Grand piano sound
- No line out jacks
- A bit complicated to use
Casio CDP-240 is a versatile digital piano. It not only comes with the features and functions of a real piano, but also the features of the synthesizers.
Casio CDP-240 is one of the best portable keyboard pianos with weighted keys. Compared with other weighted keyboards, there are some differences. The weighted action can be adjusted on this model. It comes with 3 levels of weight, giving you more flexible choices without finding it’s hard to practice the keys.
The learning process can be more engaging thanks to the step-up lessons and Music Challenges that offer games for learning. Plus, Casio CDP-240 comes with 152 built-in songs and 50 finger exercises for you to get improved.
Not like other weighted keyboard pianos that only comes with a dozen of instrument voices in this price range, Casio CDP-240 is loaded with 700 voices and 200 rhythms for you to use.
It can be used as a MIDI controller for working with DAWs by connecting to your computers.
Casio CDP is a great option for those who’re looking for a portable keyboard with tons of voices and rhythms or to use it as a MIDI controller. With the educational features, you can use it to improve your skills as well. But be aware this is not the right keyboard if your main goal is to learn the piano because it has too many features that you may get confused.
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7. Best Small Portable Keyboard Piano -Yamaha PSR E-263
Weight: 11 lbs (4.9 kg)
- One of the best small portable piano keyboard with 61 keys
- Affordable price at around $100
- Aux line input for playing along with your favorite songs
- Stereo sound
- 400 instrument voices & 112 accompaniment styles
- No onboard recording function
- No power supply included (need to buy separately)
Would it be great to get a portable beginner keyboard piano without spending tons of money?
Yamaha PSR E-263 is from the Yamaha PSR series that stands out for producing portable keyboards and arrangers. It’s one of the best small portable keyboard pianos that is easier for you to carry around.
The model is equipped with 61 keys. You may struggle with playing complex classical pieces. But it can be more portable than a full-size keyboard and you can play most modern songs on a 61-key keyboard.
The Aux line input allows you to play along with your favorite songs by connecting any smart devices through a headphone jack and the songs will play through the internal speakers.
You can listen to the high-quality sound thanks to the AWM stereo sampling. It generates stereo sound, offering great-sounding experiences.
Yamaha PSR E-263 is marketed as a portable keyboard piano for beginners. It comes with onboard lessons and Yamaha’s Education Suite that has a 3-step lesson to teach your onboard songs and help you to build your skills.
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8. Best for Kids –Casio SA-76 MINI Keyboard Piano
Weight: 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg)
- 44 small-sized keys
- 5 drum sounds & 50 drum beats
- Specially designed for kids
- Easy-to-real LCD screen
- 100 instrument voices & 50 rhythms
- One of the best portable mini keyboard
- Not high-quality sound
It could be a lovely moment to see your kids sitting in front of a piano and playing it. Study shows that playing instruments can exercise kids brain as well as improve their ability in spatial intelligence and mathematics.
If you want to encourage your kids to develop their interests or unlock their talents, Casio SA-76 can be their first piano.
As a mini portable keyboard piano, Casio SA-76 is equipped with 44 mini-sized keys which are more suitable for the little hands of kids.
The keyboard comes with 5 drum sounds and 50 drum beats, allowing your kids to have fun by hitting on it.
Additionally, the features and functions of Casio SA-76 are not complicated. It’s easy to operate. There is an orange button for you to get back to the grand piano sound quickly. So you won’t get lost where you are.
If you’re looking for a keyboard piano for kids, Casio SA-76 is a great option!
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9. Best 88-key Portable Keyboard Piano -Roland FP-10
Weight: 27 lbs (12.2 kg)
- 88-key portable keyboard piano with weighted keys
- Bluetooth MIDI connectivity
- Realistic sound quality
- 5 levels of touch sensitivity
- Additional features on Roland Piano Partner 2 app
- No built-in lesson system
Roland FP-10 is an 88-key portable digital piano with weighted keys. It’s from Roland manufacturer that provides realiable quality for every piano players. Featuring its high-quality pianist essentials and some tech features you can rarely see in this price range, Roland FP-10 is considered to be one of the best digital pianos under $500.
It’s a portable keyboard piano with weighted keys that weighs only 27 pounds. So you can take it to gig or friend gatherings easily. And because of its compact design, you can place it in your house or apartment without taking up too much space.
The Bluetooth connectivity is one of the main areas that makes Roland FP-10 shines in its class. It allows you to connect other devices wirelessly instead of using a USB cable. Plus, you can use it to connect the Piano Partner 2 App to unlock extra features, including recording function, tracking daily performances, and flash card game for learning, etc.
Roland FP-10 uses SuperNATURAL Piano engine to create rich and crispy grand piano sound. With the 12 cm x 2 onboard speakers and 11 W x 2 amplifiers, the keyboard delivers impressive and realistic sound.
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10. Best Sounding –Yamaha P125 Portable Digital Piano
Weight: 26 lbs (11.7 kg)
- 88-key fully-weighted hammer action keys
- Very resonated sound with 192-note polyphony
- Sound boost system and improved 2-way speaker system
- 2-track build-in recorder
- Free smart pianist app
- 24 instrument voices
- Not textured keys
Featuring its incredible high-quality stereo sound, 2-track recorder and other updated features, Yamaha P125 (Full review here) is a solid option for entry-level and intermediate players as well as gigging musicians.
You’ll be impressed by its sound as soon as you touch the keyboard. Yamaha P125 uses a Pure CF sound engine to recreate the sound of the famous Yamaha CFIIIS concert grand piano.
The newly improved 2-way speaker system and sound boost system also contribute to the quality of the sound, creating an immersive sound by generating remarkable boosted sound projected towards the players and audiences.
In order to avoid players getting lost with the settings and buttons on the board, Yamaha P125 has created a Smart Pianist App that you can use it as a remote controller. Additionally, this app is able to analyze the songs and generate music scores for you to play along with.
Overall, Yamaha P125 is one of the best 88-key portable keyboard pianos, which comes with loads of high-quality features to enhance the quality of your playing experiences. It could be a long-term investment that will grow as you advances.
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FAQs About Best Portable Keyboard
1. Is 61 Key Portable Keyboard Enough to Learn Keyboard?
Learning to play the keyboard doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. You don’t need an elaborate grand piano with 88 keys or top of the line products. A simple 61 key portable keyboard is sufficient enough to learn on.
The only thing that will differ is the touch feel of the keys because cheaper keyboards will have lighter keys and thus the touch feel is not as realistic as an acoustic piano.
More expensive keyboard models are designed to act more like a real piano, with some including as many keys as a real piano. You can press multiple keys with great fluidity on the more high-end keyboard models and you’ll find them easier to play on than the less expensive versions.
However, it should be noted that the octave is still the same no matter what brand you decide to purchase. Middle C is the most commonly taught first because many beginning songs can be learned in this position.
Once you know the basics and need to switch octaves, then you will need the additional keys. A keyboard with 61 keys is sufficient for both a beginner as well as most intermediate players.
2. Benefits of A Portable Keyboard?
There are many different benefits to learning on a keyboard with 61 keys. Although there are other choices for the number of keys to start out with, (such as 44, 49, 61, 76), learning to play piano offers:
- Reduces Stress – Studies have shown that spending time playing the piano can in fact decrease blood pressure which brings your stress levels down.
- Increases the Ability to Multitask – Being able to read music and play piano at the same time requires you to do multiple things at once. As you improve your skills playing the piano, you will find your ability to multitask in other areas improving as well.
- Boosts Brain Activity – Playing the piano improves neural connections in the brain. In other words, students who play the piano will actually receive better grades in school.
- Develop Stronger Hand Muscles – Improve dexterity, build arm strength, and tighten the muscles in your hand all at the same time as you play. As long as you hold the proper position, you will increase your natural strength over time.
- Increases Language Skills – Broaden vocabulary learning new terminology. You will also see a boost in verbal sequencing. This will also ultimately improve the ability to read.
- Stimulate Growth Hormones – Playing the piano has scientifically been proven to stimulate growth hormones that increase energy levels and reduce body aches and pains as you age.
3. What is the Best Portable Keyboard for Beginners?
- Acoustic Piano Feel - Touch-sensitive keys allow for true expression and dynamic performance. The weighted action replicates the acoustic piano experience
- Elevated Sound - Choose from 10 unique Voices, including the richness and resonance of a Yamaha grand piano, with full dynamic sound and deep bass
- Effortless Control - Simple one-button operation and streamlined functionality designed to keep you focused on your music
- Layered Sound - Dual Mode lets you blend two Voices, like piano and strings, creating a rich, layered sound for an inspiring new playing experience
- Included sustain pedal allows for subtle variations and greater expression in your performances
The best portable keyboard for beginners should have decent key sensitivity. Cheaper models won’t allow you to get the sound of pianissimo (which means to play very quietly in Italian).
If you can, test out some different keyboards to see which brand is the most compatible with your learning style. Don’t be misled by all of the bells and whistles.
Many beginner keyboards have multiple options for pre-programmed additions for songwriters to play with or as additions to spice up a song you’re practicing in your lesson book. True beginners may become overwhelmed by all of the options. Stick to something more basic and once you have advanced in some of your skills, then maybe invest in something more professional.
Another thing to consider when purchasing a digital keyboard is whether or not to buy one with a foot pedal. Intermediate players may find the feature the most beneficial.
A beginner player may wish to avoid spending more to obtain the feature until having learned more. Most piano songs for beginners are very simple and only involve mastering a few notes. Once you’ve gotten decent with your right hand playing melody, experiment playing with the left hand and reading the bass clef.
Just be sure the key width is wide enough to comfortably fit your fingers. Some keyboards are designed for younger learners, while some just don’t accommodate all finger types. Once you find the right product for you, you’ll discover that learning the piano is easier than you ever thought.
3 Top Recommended Portable Keyboard Piano On the Market
Conclusion
Have you got the right portable keyboard for you?
Every keyboard has unique features that offer to players. What kind of situations you gonna use the keyboard? Whether choose a non-weighted keyboard or weighted keyboard? Is it for an adult or a kid?
There are quite a lot of different factors that you should consider before making your decisions.
We explained the different features and reviewed each portable keyboard on the list. So, check the features carefully and you’ll get your keyboard!
You can keep reading to find the right keyboard you need: