10 Best Portable Keyboard Pianos To Buy In 2022

Are you a beginner in the world of piano? Or have you been experimenting for a while with your friends’ keyboards and you want to get one for yourself? Maybe neither of them is true, and you are just looking to buy a keyboard for your child. Or you are an advanced musician who needs a portable keyboard for live shows and rehearsals. Whatever the reason might be for looking to buy a keyboard, there is one for you out there. The mass production of keyboards can now ensure that everyone’s needs can be satisfied.

However, this doesn’t come without a cost: there is such a variety of keyboards now on the market, that it has become really hard to choose the right one for you, unless you are very familiar with audio specifications. Many potential buyers spend countless hours trying to figure out the differences between all the keyboards that they can afford, feeling lost between the abundance of choices. To help you with this quest, I have gathered here for you the 10 best portable keyboard pianos currently on the market. I assure you that you can find here something for you, as each choice is quite different from the others, covering all the range of different needs and budgets. If you want to find out more, read on!

best portable keyboard pianos

Best Portable Keyboard Piano Summary:

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Top 10 Best Portable Keyboard Pianos 2022

1. Alesis Recital Pro

The first entry of the list comes from Alesis, a well-known brand in the audio niche. The Alesis Recital Pro is a low-budget portable keyboard that comes with 88 weighted keys, resembling a digital piano but with additional portability features.

It comes with a compact and lightweight design that lets you carry it around with ease. You can adjust the velocity sensitivity of the keys and you can record directly on the keyboard. It comes equipped with 12 different sounds, while it also allows you to split the keyboard in two (for instance, half of the keyboard having a piano sound, while the other half has an organ sound).

In terms of connectivity, it comes with a sustain pedal input (the pedal unfortunately is not included in the package), a headphone output along with speaker outputs. The Alesis Recital Pro can be powered both by an outlet and by D batteries.

If you want to learn the piano by yourself, this keyboard comes with many built-in lessons, as well as a three-month subscription for online piano lessons.

All in all, the Alesis Recital Pro is an affordable solution for those on a low budget, as well as an optimal choice for beginners.
Pros
  • Reasonable price
  • 88 weighted keys
  • Useful inputs and outputs
  • Educational features
Cons
  • It doesn’t include a sustain pedal

2. Casio CTK-3500 EPA

There is no way to make a list of the best keyboards without including at least one Casio product. This brand has been manufacturing high-quality keyboards for years now, and the Casio CTK-3500 EPA is no exception to this rule, besides its low price.

It comes with 61 touch-sensitive keys that are unfortunately non-weighted. On the other side, it comes with a ton of different voices and rhythms (400 sounds and 100 rhythms) that provide you with a great variety of instruments. Dance music lovers will take advantage of the dance music mode that lets you easily create dance tracks.

This keyboard can be powered both with AC and batteries, and it is very lightweight so that you can carry it around easily. Following the tradition of other Casio products, it comes with great build quality that ensures durability, a headphone port lets you play quietly without disturbing others.

Finally, the Casio CTK-3500 features a built-in screen as well as connection to educational apps that you can use to learn how to play the piano.

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Abundance and variety of voices and rhythms
  • Robust build quality
  • Beginner friendly
Cons
  • The keys are non-weighted

3. Yamaha YPG-235 

Yamaha is another reputable company regarding keyboards and digital pianos. The Yamaha YPG-235 is a great option for audiophiles, as it features a collection of very realistic sounds that can satisfy even the most demanding musicians.

It comes with 76 keys with Graded Soft Touch Technology that gives room for musical expression, allowing you to play softly and still be able to hear yourself. The semi-weighted keys give you the feel of an acoustic piano, which is a great feature that is not really common in keyboards.

This keyboard comes equipped with 500 voices, 160 styles as presets as well as 30 songs with a built-in recording feature. Its USB connectivity lets you easily hook it up to your computer and use software to maximize its capabilities.

One amazing thing about this keyboard is its Educational Suite that features built-in exercises to teach you melody and rhythm, along with a system that teaches you songs step by step. You can power it through batteries or an AC adapter that you have to buy separately.

Pros
  • Realistic and high-quality sounds
  • Keys allow for different dynamics
  • Great variety of sounds and rhythms
  • Educational functions
Cons
  • AC adapter not included

4. Casio SA-46

And now for something completely different: this tiny keyboard by Casio is a great solution for those who are looking for an ultra-low budget solution for their kids.

The Casio SA-46 comes equipped with 32 mini keys that are great for your child’s little fingers, allowing it to play with ease. Despite the size, it can provide you with hours of fun, as it comes equipped with 8 voice polyphony (it means that you can play up to 8 keys simultaneously), 100 different sounds, 50 styles and 5 drum pads. Additionally, it comes with 10 practice pieces that your child can use to start learning the piano.

A headphone port allows your kid to connect earbuds and play quietly without disturbing everyone in the house. Although this keyboard is not really suitable for adults or even teens, it is not a toy piano.

On the whole, the Casio SA-46 is a great gift for children that want to start their musical journey with a high-quality small keyboard that is suitable for their needs and bodies.
Pros
  • Low price
  • Mini keys that are suitable for children
  • Great variety of sounds and styles
  • Not a toy
Cons
  • Not really suitable for teens or adults

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5. Yamaha PSR-E263

Here comes another nicely made model from Yamaha that is suitable for low-budget aspiring musicians. The Yamaha PSR-E263 is a 61-key keyboard with very compact and lightweight design that makes it easy to carry around.

It comes with 400 built-in tones and 130 accompaniment styles, it has everything you need, despite the low price. You can hit up to 32 keys at the same time, while it also has effects such as reverb, chorus, wide stereo and equalizer.

This keyboard is perfect for those who plan to learn the piano by themselves, as besides the 102 built-in songs, it comes equipped with the Yamaha Educational Suite that has been made to help you learn the piano. In addition to that, it also features a metronome, a transpose function and a duo mode.

Regarding connectivity, it provides you with an aux in, a headphone output as well as a sustain pedal port (pedal not included). You can operate it via the included power supply or using batteries. A sheet music stand can be found in the package.

To sum up, the Yamaha PSR-E263 is an affordable option with a lot of educational capabilities at a compact size.
Pros
  • Affordable
  • Small and portable
  • Yamaha Education Suite included
  • Built-in effects
Cons
  • Sustain pedal not included

6. Roland BK-3 BK

If you are looking for a premium-quality keyboard, you might want to take a look at what the Roland BK-3 BK has to offer.

This is a 61-key keyboard from a reputable company that can easily create a one-man band. Its features include a variety of more than 800 sounds, 128-voice polyphony, Musical Assistants, playback via USB memory, built-in effects such as EQ, reverb, chorus, a multiband compressor, and multi-effects, along with world-wide rhythms. The keys are velocity sensitive allowing room for expression.

You can record your performances directly to the USB memory using the USB connectivity, and you can also do the opposite (load songs to the USB memory to play along on your keyboard. You can also use time stretching to play the songs slower or faster. A music stand and an AC adapter is included in the package.

The only drawback we found is the lack of speaker outputs.

In short, the Roland BK-3 BK is a great choice for keyboard players that are looking for an instrument that can easily be carried around while having all the sounds and effects.
Pros
  • Lots of sounds and built-in effects
  • USB connectivity
  • Portable and lightweight
  • Time Stretching capability
Cons
  • No dedicated speaker outputs

7. Alesis Melody 61 MKII

The second entry of Alesis on this list is a 61-key keyboard, as its name suggests, that is a great option for beginners, children and adults alike.

It comes with a lot of educational features such as a 3-month subscription to Skoove Premium (online piano lessons) as well as 2 months of free video lessons at TakeLessons.

In terms of included sounds, this keyboard comes with 300 instrument voices (some of which are  sound effects), 300 auto-accompaniment rhythms and 40 built-in demo songs. In addition to that, the package includes everything you need to start playing: it comes with a music stand, a bench with three adjustable height settings, an X-style base for the keyboard, a pair of headphones and a microphone to sing along to the demo songs or whatever you play.

Unfortunately there is no way to adjust the singing volume separately. The dual keyboard mode lets two instrument sounds at once, while the split keyboard allows you to play different instruments with each hand. You can also record your performance directly on the keyboard.

All in all, the Alesis Melody 61 MKII is a great bang for the buck, considering everything it offers regarding both extra accessories and free piano lessons.
Pros
  • Value for money
  • Many educational features
  • Ships with useful extra accessories
  • You can sing along with the microphone
Cons
  • Impossible to adjust the microphone volume

8. RockJam RJ761

If you are a beginner, this choice is a must for you. The RockJam RJ761 is an easy-to-use portable keyboard that comes equipped with everything you need to start playing.

The package features an adapter for speakers, a stand for your music books, a sustain pedal, a pair of foldable headphones, a keyboard stand and a stool, making this keyboard a real bang for the buck.

It comes with 61 keys as well as 30 demo songs, 200 sounds and 200 rhythms with built-in teaching functions. The sounds are not very realistic, perhaps unsurprisingly at this price. An illuminated touch screen and display let you access all the features with ease.

There is also a recording capability that can help beginners improve their playing. Additionally, it features a MIDI output that lets you connect it to your audio software and use it as a MIDI keyboard.

All in all, the RockJam RJ761 is a great low-budget option for beginners as it comes equipped with everything you need to have to start playing immediately.
Pros
  • Value for money
  • Many useful accessories are included in the package
  • MIDI output
  • Touch Screen and display
Cons
  • Sound quality could be better

9. Yamaha PSR-SX700

What about advanced keyboard players who are looking for a portable solution for rehearsals and gigs? I’ve got you covered!

The Yamaha PSR-SX700 comes packed with tons of features: there are 986 standard voices (131 are the high quality Super Articulation voices), 400 Style (including 353 Pro styles, 34 Session styles, 10 DJ styles and 3 Free Play) as well as 1 GB on-board memory that you can use to store your own compositions.

The 7″ color touch screen combined with the joystick and the assignable function make it easy for you to access all the different menus. This keyboard also features robust build quality, ensuring its durability.

Unfortunately, all these features come at a price, resulting in a pretty expensive keyboard.

On the whole, the Yamaha PSR-SX700 is a great choice for amateur and professional musicians that are looking for a portable keyboard.
Pros
  • Lots of sounds and capabilities
  • Great build quality
  • Easy to use controls
  • Built-in memory
Cons
  • Expensive

10. Plixio 61-Key Digital Electric Piano Keyboard

The last entry on this list is great as a first keyboard for either kids or adults.

The Plixio 61-Key Digital Electric Piano Keyboard has 61 full-sized keys, as its name suggests, and it is lightweight and compact to be easily carried around.

It offers 60 demo songs, 40 tones, 100 rhythms, 8 percussions and 61 keyboard percussions that you can use to both learn and have fun. Unfortunately, the keys don’t come with any sensitivity adjustment. A music stand is shipped with the package, along with an AC adapter and an audio cable.

You can also power this keyboard with batteries for maximum portability. A headphone and a microphone port are available for you, to practice quietly or sing along (the microphone is not included).

Finally, the low price of the Plixio 61-Key Digital Electric Piano Keyboard makes it a great gift to someone who wants to experiment with playing keyboards for the first time.
Pros
  • Good for beginners
  • Headphone and microphone port
  • Affordable
Cons
  • No sensitivity adjustment for the keys

As you have probably realized by now, there is a great variety of high-quality portable keyboards out there. Although none of the previously mentioned keyboards will fail you, how can you choose which one is the optimal choice for you? Well, the answer is simple. The best portable keyboard for you is the one that can satisfy all your needs and be within your budget. Fortunately, all ten keyboards of this list cover a wide range of prices, so you will be covered. On the other side, in order to understand what you need, you must take into account certain factors that will determine your choice.

To begin with, you should consider what your playing level is. Beginners would mostly benefit from those keyboards that come with a lot of educational features, while more advanced players are usually looking for a great variety of sounds and styles. Connectivity is also important: if you are planning to use either MIDI or USB connection, you should first check if the keyboard you intend to buy supports it. Another thing that you should pay attention to is the extra accessories. If you don’t already own a base or a bench, you might want to go with a keyboard set that includes these in the package, as that can save you a lot of money. Finally, if you want additional effects, some of the more high end keyboards provide you with such features. All in all, portable keyboards are really fun to play, so you’d better decide on one quickly!

About Traci Schroeder

At KBonet, she’s our music & sounds expert. Traci has dived deep into the worlds of instruments, uncovering the very best in composing music, song writing, sound designing and more — all with an eye towards practicality and affordability.

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