Best Beginner Digital Pianos Under $500

Best Digital Pianos for Beginners

Note: Due to rising inflation, the prices of digital pianos have increased by 10-20%. As a result, some of the models discussed in this article may slightly exceed the budget we’ve set.


Buying the cheapest possible keyboard with light-weighted keys is not be the best idea even if you’re a complete beginner.

If your main goal is to learn the piano, then you’ll definitely want an instrument with fully weighted keys.

This article will guide you through all the necessary information to make sure you know all the ins and outs of choosing your first digital piano.

We’ll also take a close look at the market and choose the best digital pianos for beginners that cost around $500, which will make your research that much easier.

Note: This article includes only portable (slab) digital pianos. If you’re looking for a console (home) digital piano, follow this article.

If you’re not a complete beginner, you might want to take a look at our Top List for Intermediate Players (around $700), which covers portable digital pianos.

These keyboards usually have more sounds, features, and better realism, which makes them a better long-term investment. This means, there’s more time before you ‘outgrow’ your instrument.

Best Digital Pianos Under $500

With the advent of digital pianos, it has become easier than ever to start learning the piano.

You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on an acoustic upright (that’s like a heavy piece of furniture) and all the maintenance costs that come with it.

Nowadays, digital pianos come pretty close to recreating the real thing and offer a number of unique features that are not available on an acoustic instrument.

And while the advantages of acoustic pianos are still valid today, more and more people are opting for a digital alternative.

There’s a huge variety of instruments to fit any space, budget, and skill level.

But what makes a good keyboard for those who are just starting out?

I do believe that one can learn on any keyboard (cheap or expensive, with 61 or 88 keys), provided you want it bad enough.

The best option, however, is to find the right instrument for your needs and experience. And this is what this article is all about.

Regarding the budget market for keyboards priced below $500, I’d divide it into two segments:

Portable Keyboards Under $300
Digital Pianos Under $500 (focus of this article)


Under $300Under $500

This segment consists of relatively cheap portable keyboards, which often have lots of built-in sounds, songs, rhythms and other so-called “bells and whistles” but not very realistic piano sound and touch.

Such keyboards most commonly have 49, 61, 73 or 76 non-weighted or semi-weighted keys which don’t feel anything like a real piano. So it isn’t a good choice for those who want to develop proper finger strength and technique.

The quality of the piano tones is usually average; the dynamic range is very limited, partly due to the unweighted action, and short, compressed samples.

At the same time, these portable keyboards are perfect for anyone on a tight budget who doesn’t know if they’re going to stick with playing for many years.

You’ll be able to get a taste of what it’s like to play the keyboard without breaking the bank, which makes it a very popular choice for kids and young adults.

Another advantage of these type of keyboards is that they’re usually a lot more portable and lightweight than their more expensive counterparts due to the unweighted action.

The main difference from the $300 segment is that for about $500 you can actually get a keyboard with a full range of 88 fully weighted keys, which aims to replicate the action of an acoustic piano.

Therefore, these keyboards are much more suitable for learning and playing piano.

Apart from hammer-action keys, they usually have better quality samples with a better dynamic range, which results in a much more realistic piano sound.

From this point on, a keyboard can rightly be called a digital piano.

These entry-level digital pianos are perfect for beginning piano students who mainly need an instrument for playing piano rather than making music, experimenting with different styles, etc.

So don’t expect these keyboards to have hundreds of built-in sounds, rhythms and fancy features like a 17-track MIDI-recorder or on-screen score/lyrics display feature.

Some digital pianos offer both an authentic piano playing experience and lots of features for learning and music production, but they are a  bit pricier and usually cost well over $500 (Yamaha DGX-670, Casio PX-360, Casio PX-S3100, etc.)

Today we’re going to talk about the second segment ($500) of entry-level keyboards.

Not all keyboards in this price range have fully weighted keys. In fact, there are keyboards that cost $400-500 and have semi-weighted or even non-weighted keys.

But I purposely didn’t include those keyboards on this list.

You may ask:

What’s the big deal about weighted keys?

The answer is simple:

Best Beginner Keyboards weighted keys

If you want to get a realistic piano playing experience, you’ll definitely want a keyboard with fully weighted keys.

As I previously mentioned, this type of keyboard resembles the action found in a real acoustic piano, and it feels much more natural and realistic than all the other types of keyboard actions (semi-weighted and unweighted).

Weighted keys will help you build proper finger strength and technique, making it much easier to transition to an acoustic in the future.

However, if you have a limited budget or built-in sounds/extra features are more important to you than realistic sound and feel, consider buying a portable keyboard under $300, which will typically have 61, 73, or 76 unweighted keys.

Now let’s take a look at what we think are the best beginner digital pianos under $500:

  • Roland FP-10 – No-frills, Yet Arguably the Best Piano Playing Experience
  • Yamaha P-45 – Yamaha’s Best-Selling Beginner Digital Piano
  • Korg B2/B2SP – Powerful Sound, Minimal Features
  • Casio CDP-S160 – Slim and Affordable Alternative to the PX series

I know, I know, you can’t wait to tickle the keys of that shiny beckoning keyboard that you’ve read all about. But don’t click that “Order Now” button just yet.

Before moving on to reviews of our selected models, make sure you familiarize yourself with the most common terms and features you’ll run into when shopping for a digital piano.

It’s important to know them so you understand exactly what you’re getting (or not getting) with your instrument.

KeysAction TypesTouch sensitivityPolyphonyModesLesson FunctionMIDI recorderAudio RecorderAccompaniment Transpose, Tuning USB type A USB type B

Modern acoustic pianos have 88 keys. Most keyboards and digital pianos have 88, 76, 73 or 61 keys.
73 keys are enough to play most (99%) modern pieces. Some advanced (classical) pieces require a full set of 88 keys.

how many keys acoustic piano

There are 3 most common types of actions:

1) Non-weighted – most organs, synths and entry-level keyboards are not weighted.
2) Semi-weighted – common action for budget portable keyboards (usually cost <300$). Spring-loaded mechanism adds more resistance to the keys compared to the non-weighted action.
3) Fully weighted (hammer action) is designed to replicate the action of a real piano. It uses small hammers (rather than springs) attached to each key to recreate the mechanical movements found inside a real piano.

hammer action

If your main goal is to play piano that you’ll definitely want a keyboard with hammer action keys.

It’s the key action that feels close to the real piano keys and will help you build proper finger strength and technique, making it much easier to transition to an acoustic in the future (if you decide to).

Touch sensitivity (a.k.a velocity sensitivity or touch response) is a very important feature of any keyboard or digital piano, which ensures that the volume produced by the instrument will change depending on how hard or soft you play the keys.

It’s not a big deal nowadays as almost any $150+ keyboard have touch-sensitive keys regardless of its action type.

Much more important is whether the keyboard is weighted or not. Keyboards with fully weighted action often have adjustable touch-sensitivity so you can adjust it to your playing style.

polyphony digital piano

Polyphony is the number of notes a digital piano can produce at the same time.

These days, most digital pianos are equipped with 64, 128, 192 or 256-note polyphony.

You may wonder how it is possible to have 32, 64, or even 128 notes playing at the same time, if there are only 88 keys and we never play them all together.

First of all, many of today’s digital pianos use stereo samples, which sometimes require two notes for each key played.

Furthermore, using the sustain pedal, sound effects (Reverb, Chorus), dual-mode (layering), and even the metronome ticking sound takes up additional notes of polyphony.

For example, when you depress the sustain pedal, the earliest played notes continue to sound while you’re adding new ones and the piano needs more memory to keep all the notes sounding.

Another example of polyphony consumption is when you’re playing along with a song playback (can also be your own recorded performance) or auto-accompaniment.

In this case, the piano will need polyphony not only for the notes you’re playing but also for the backing track.

When you reach the polyphony cap, the piano starts to drop the earliest played notes to free up memory for new notes, which in turn affects the quality and fullness of the sound.

You’ll rarely need all 192 or 256 voices of polyphony at once, but there are cases when you can reach 64 or even 128 note limits, especially if you like to layer several sounds and create multi-track recordings.

For an intermediate player it’s desirable to have 128 notes of polyphony or more.

Along with the standard “Single” keyboard mode, digital pianos often offer additional modes that allow you to use two instrument sounds at the same time or playing four hands.

Here are the most popular modes that digital pianos have:

1) Split Mode – divides the keyboard into two parts, allowing you to play a different instrument sound in each of them. For example, you can play guitar with your left hand and piano with your right hand at the same time.

split mode
2) Dual Mode (Layering) – allows you to layer two different sounds so that they sound simultaneously whenever you press a key. For example, you can layer strings with the piano sound or combine whatever sounds you like to get some new interesting combinations.

dual mode layering
3) Duo Mode (a.k.a. Duet Play, Partner Mode, Twin Piano) – divides the keyboard into two halves with identical pitch ranges (two middle Cs) allowing two people to play the same notes at the same time.

Duet Play is particularly useful when you use it with your teacher or tutor who will play you some tunes on one side of the keyboard, and you’ll be able to follow along on the other side, playing the exact same notes at the same time.

duo mode duet play

lesson function

Some digital pianos allows you to turn off the left- or right-hand part (track) of a song (preset or downloaded from the Internet) and practice it, playing along to the playback of the other part.

Pianos that have this function usually have a multi-track MIDI recorder.

midi recorder

A MIDI recorder allows you to record and play back your own performances without using any additional equipment.

Multi-track recording (2 and more tracks) allows you to record several musical parts onto separate tracks and play them back as a single song. You can also experiment with your recording by turning off some of the recorded tracks.

For example, you can record the right-hand part of the song on track 1, and the left-hand part on track two (while listening to the playback of the first track).

You can also create complex, multi-instrument recordings by recording several instrument parts onto separate tracks and playing them back together afterwards.

MIDI-recording is not the recording of the actual sound of the instrument. Here, we’re recording the MIDI data (a sequence of notes, their length, velocity and other parameters).

audio wav recording

A built-in audio recorder will allow you to record the actual sound of the instrument (native samples) and save it to a flash drive usually in WAV format (Linear PCM, 16bit, 44.1 kHz, Stereo).

You can then share your recording on social media, upload it to SoundCloud, burn to CD, etc.

Audio recordings are more universal than MIDI ones because they provide you with a CD-quality audio file playable on most modern devices, and don’t require any additional software, and sample libraries (VSTs) to render a MIDI recording to audio.

accompaniment function

Accompaniment function will enrich your performance, providing full backing accompaniment (rhythm, bass, harmony) that will follow your playing and make you sound like full band.

The accompaniment changes depending to what notes you play with you left hand (chords or even single notes if you don’t know full cords).

In other words, you manage your “band” with your left hand (by specifying chords) and play the main melody with your right hand.

Some instruments offer several accompaniment modes, and allow you specify chords using the full range of the keyboard.

transpose tuning

1) Transpose function allows you to shift the overall pitch of the keyboard in semitone steps. The function is particularly useful when want to play a song in a different key but don’t want to change your fingering and learn it in a new key.

So, for example, if you know how to play a song in F major, you can transpose the pitch and play it in C major without actually learning it in the new key.

You can also transpose a song written in a difficult key (e.g., many black keys) into a different key with easier chords, but still hear it as if you were playing in the original key.

2) Tuning function allows you to shift the pitch from the standard A440 tuning in 0.1Hz or 0.2Hz steps.

You can use this function to match the piano’s pitch finely to that of another instrument or music (old piano, recording).

usb type A to device

This port is also known as USB to Device port or USB drive port. The port can be used for connecting a flash drive to the piano to exchange files quickly and easily.

For example, you can load MIDI songs into the piano’s internal memory for playback or rehearsal (if the piano offers this option).

Alternatively, you can play back WAV and MIDI files (depends on the piano model) directly from the flash drive without loading them into the piano’s internal memory.

And finally, you can save your own performances recorded with the instrument to the flash drive as well as load them back onto the instrument when needed.

usb type B to HOST

This port is often referred to as USB to Host terminal or USB to Computer port. This port is used to connect your digital piano to a computer or a smart device (using a special adapter) to exchange songs/files, and MIDI data.

This port will allow you to use the piano as a MIDI controller to control various music apps such as GarageBand, FlowKey, Playground Sessions etc.

There are actually tons of other apps that can expand the functionality of your digital piano in terms of learning, composing, recording, editing music.

Some brands offer their own free apps designed for certain piano models. Such apps usually enable you to control all the settings and functions of the instrument using an intuitive graphical interface.

 

Best Beginner Digital Pianos Under $500

  • Model
  • Keys
    Modern acoustic pianos have 88 keys. Most digital pianos and keyboards have 88, 76, 73, or 61 keys.
    In reality, 73 keys are enough to play most modern pieces. Some advanced pieces require a full set of 88 keys.
  • Fully-Weighted Keys
    There are 3 most common types of key actions:
    1) Non-weighted - most organs, synths and entry-level keyboards are not weighted.
    2) Semi-weighted - common action for portable keyboards and workstations. Spring-loaded mechanism adds more resistance to the keys compared to the non-weighted action.
    3) Fully weighted (hammer action) is designed to replicate the action of a real piano. It uses small hammers (rather than springs) attached to each key to recreate the mechanical movements and resistance similar to an acoustic piano action.
  • Ivory/Ebony Finish
    Some digital pianos come with a simulated Ivory (white keys) and Ebony (black keys) key surfaces, which gives them a nice textured feel, helps absorb excessive moisture and prevents your fingers from slipping off the keys.
  • Touch Sensitivity
    The volume produced by the instrument changes depending on how hard or soft you play the keys.
    Touch Response, Velocity Sensitivity, Touch Sensitivity are the same thing .
    Many digital pianos allow you to adjust touch sensitivity (make the keyboard more or less sensitive to the force of your keystrokes) to better suit your playing style.
  • Tone Generator
  • Polyphony
    The number of notes a piano can play at once.
    The more polyphony the better, especially when layering several sounds or using backing tracks, etc. When you reach the polyphony cap, the piano starts to drop the earliest played notes to free up memory for the new ones, which affects the sound and its fullness.
    It’s desirable to have at least 64 notes of polyphony.
  • Built-in Tones
  • Modes
    1) Split - divides the keyboard into two parts, allowing you to play a different instrument sound in each of them.
    2) Dual (a.k.a. Layer Mode) - allows you to layer two different sounds so that they sound simultaneously whenever you press a key.
    3) Duo (a.k.a. Duet Play, Partner Mode, Twin Piano) - divides the keyboard into two halves with identical pitch ranges (two middle Cs) allowing two people to play the same notes at the same time.
  • Lesson Function
    The ability to use built-in/user songs for practice by turning off the left- or right-hand part of a song and practicing it along with the playback of the other part.
  • MIDI Recorder
    Allows you to record and playback your own performances.
    A multi-track recorder (2 and more tracks) allows you to record several musical parts on separate tracks and play them back as a single song.
  • Transpose, Tuning
    1) Transpose function allows you to shift the overall pitch of the keyboard in semitone steps.
    2) Tuning function (aka Fine Tuning, Master Tuning) allows you to shift the pitch from the standard A440 tuning in 0.1Hz or 0.2Hz steps.
  • Metronome
    A useful tool for practice that will help develop your rhythmic and timekeeping skills by providing a steady beat to play along with.
    Some pianos allow you change the conventional click sound of the metronome to various drum rhythms.
  • USB Type B
    This port enables you to connect the keyboard to your computer/smart device and use it as a MIDI controller with VST plugins and music apps like GarageBand, Synthesia, FL Studio, etc.
  • Speakers
  • Bluetooth MIDI
    Allows you to connect your piano to a smart device wirelessly and exchange MIDI data with various music apps (e.g. GarageBand, Flowkey, Simply Piano, etc.). This can be used as an alternative to a USB type B port.
    Note that some pianos can only transfer Audio data via Bluetooth, others can only transfer MIDI.
    Some pianos support both MIDI and Audio data via Bluetooth.
  • Weight
  • Roland FP-10
  • 88
  • PHA-4 Standard with Escapement and Ivory Feel
  • (Ivory only)
  • 5 types, Off
  • SuperNATURAL Piano Sound
  • 96 notes
  • 15 (4 pianos)
  • Dual, Duo
  • (via the app)
  • 6W + 6W
  • 27.1 lbs
  • Yamaha P-45
  • 88
  • Graded Hammer Standard (GHS)
  • 3 types, Off
  • AWM Stereo Sampling
  • 64 notes
  • 10 (2 pianos)
  • Dual, Duo
  • 6W + 6W
  • 25.3 lbs
  • Casio CDP-S160
  • 88
  • Scaled Hammer Action II
  • 3 types, Off
  • Dynamic Stereo Sound Engine
  • 64 notes
  • 10 (3 pianos)
  • Dual, Duo (Duet Mode)
  • 8W + 8W
  • 23.1 lbs

When making this list, we were using the following criteria:

  • 1) 88 fully weighted hammer action keys (full-size)
  • 2) High-quality samples (realistic piano tone)
  • 3) A good range of dynamics: ability to play very softly (pianissimo) up to very loudly (fortissimo)
  • 4) Polyphony: at least 64 notes
  • 5) Price ~$500
  • 6) Standard functions: metronome, transpose, etc.
  • 7) Well-established manufacturers with good reputation (Yamaha, Roland, Korg, etc.)

1) Roland FP-10 – No-frills, yet arguably the best piano playing experience

Roland FP-10 review

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Up until recently, Roland didn’t offer any entry-level digital pianos. You would have to spend at least $700 to get their most affordable model (Roland FP-30X).

Yet, the company realized that this segment of the market is incredibly popular and all of its competitors already had some offerings in this price range.

What was Roland’s move?

Well, they basically took their intermediate model (FP-30X), cut down some of the features, made it a bit more compact, and introduced the new affordable FP-10.

What’s interesting is that they kept the same key action and sound engine as used its older brother, which makes the FP-10 one of the most realistic digital pianos under $500.

The instrument features Roland’s PHA-4 Standard keyboard with escapement mechanism and synthetic ivory key surfaces.

It’s the only piano in this price range that simulates escapement sensation found on an acoustic piano.

Along with the Casio keyboards, it’s also the only piano under $500 that uses a 3-sensor detection system (as opposed to 2-sensor), and has ivory feel keys.

Roland PHA-4 keys

The PHA-4 Standard is found in many beginner digital pianos from Roland, including the much more expensive FP-60X, RP-102, F701.

The keyboard feels very high-quality and nice to the touch, you can feel the actual mechanical movements happening under the fallboard.

Overall the PHA-4 Standard is not only my favorite key action on this list but also among intermediate-level keyboards in general.

The sound of the FP-10 is generated by Roland’s famous SuperNATURAL sound engine, which combines sampling with physical modeling algorithms to provide a full, natural sound with a lot of details.

The FP-10 is the only piano on the list that simulates organic piano elements such as string resonance, damper resonance, and key off response.

While the FP-10 is somewhat low on features (e.g. it doesn’t have a MIDI-recorder or lesson mode) you can easily expand its capabilities by connecting the FP-10 to Roland’s free Piano Partner 2 app via Bluetooth.

This will not only unlock some of the rhythms and features like MIDI-recorder, but it will also allow you to control many parameters and settings of the FP-10 using an intuitive, graphical interface (goodbye “key/button” combinations).

To sum up, the Roland FP-10 turned out a very competitive digital piano, and while it may be inferior to some keyboards on this list in the features department, in my opinion it provides the best piano sound and feel at this price point, which is what really matters if want to get as close as possible to an acoustic piano.

Pros
  • Very compact and gig-friendly
  • Excellent keyboard with Ivory feel keys and Escapement
  • Rich natural piano sound with simulated key-off and string resonance
  • Bluetooth MIDI connectivity
  • Extra sounds and features available via the app
Cons
  • No optional 3-pedal unit
  • No Split Mode
  • No MIDI recorder

2) Yamaha P-45 – Yamaha’s best-selling beginner digital piano

Yamaha P-45 review

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The Yamaha P-45 is the most simple yet very popular model in Yamaha’s P (Portable) line of digital pianos. It’s also the only digital piano in Yamaha’s arsenal that you can get for around $500.

Even though the P-45 was introduced a while ago, it hasn’t lost its appeal today. In fact, it’s one of the best-selling Yamaha digital pianos in the world. And I’m not surprised.

Yamaha is a well-known brand with an excellent reputation which has been making high-quality digital musical instruments for decades, add an affordable price to the package, and the P-45 becomes one of the leaders in its class.

Yamaha p45 keyboard

But of course, the famous name and an attractive price aren’t the only things the P-45 has to offer.

The piano features a full set of 88 Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) keys, also found on the P-125 (next model up).

While to me the GHS action feels less realistic compared to the Casio and Roland key actions, it does provide a fully weighted feel, and has proven to be a reliable entry-level action.

The GHS doesn’t have any textured material on top of the keys, and it uses 2-sensor key detection system.

While I didn’t have any problems quickly repeating notes on the P-45, I found it more difficult to play further up the keys due to the shorter action, especially compared to the Roland’s PHA-4.

Yamaha GHS key action

At the heart of the P-45 is the AWM stereo sampling technology that ensures you get a rich, natural piano sound as well as 8 other beautiful tones including electric pianos, organs, strings, and a few other sounds.

It’s hard to compare the sound to the competition as it’s all quite subjective, but I would say it’s on the same level as the FP-10 and B2 as far as realism is concerned.

Nevertheless, all of these sounds have a different character, so listen for yourself and decide which one is the most pleasing to your ears.

The P-45 has 64 notes of polyphony, which is not something to be excited about but is enough in most situations.

The lack of Split Mode and Line Out jacks is usually not a deal-breaker for a beginner either.

But if you’re planning to use your keyboard for performances, dedicated Line Out jacks would be a nice feature to have (this is only available on the next model up, the P-125).

The lack of a built-in MIDI recorder is another thing to consider. Unfortunately, in this price range, only the Casio CDP-S160 and the Alesis Recital Pro have it.

On the other hand, you can always use the P-45’s USB type B port to connect to a computer, which will allow you to create multi-track MIDI recordings and do many other things (learning, notation creation, music production, etc.) using various music apps.

Overall, the Yamaha P45 is a solid entry-level digital piano with a fairly realistic sound, touch, and an affordable price, which have proved to be an excellent choice for beginners and hobbyists.

Pros
  • Compact & Lightweight
  • No frills
  • 88 Graded Hammer Standard action keys
  • Yamaha’s signature piano sound
  • Perfect for beginners
Cons
  • No MIDI recorder
  • Speakers are not particularly loud (enough for most situations)
  • No Split Mode

3) Casio CDP-S160 / Casio CDP-S360 – Simple, Slim and Affordable

Casio CDP-S100 review

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Sweetwater (CDP-S160) Sweetwater (CDP-S360)

Casio have recently updated their CDP line with two new digital pianos, the CDP-S160 and CDP-S360, which replaced the CDP-S150 and CDP-S350 respectively.

CDP-S series is designed to be a simpler, cheaper alternative to the PX-S series, while still keeping the same compact form factor.

You won’t find fancy touchscreen interfaces or pro-grade features here. Instead, the CDP-S series offers a simple no-frills playing experience and a low barrier for those looking to start their piano journey.

In fact, these instruments are the most affordable digital pianos with fully-weighted keys available in Casio’s arsenal.

The CDP-S110, which was introduced along with the CDP-S160, is only available in certain regions.

The CDP-S160 is identical to the CDP-S110 except for a few added features such as a MIDI recorder, Duet Play mode, 17 preset temperaments, and a ‘Pedal Unit’ jack for connecting the optional 3-pedal unit (SP-34).

The Casio CDP-S360 is another model available in the series. While, it shares the same keyboard action and piano samples as the CDP-S160, it offers much more than that, making it more fun and versatile than its smaller sibling.

Let’s take a look at some of the key differences between these two models.

Casio CDP-S160
  • 10 Built-in Sounds
  • 1-track MIDI Recorder
  • Weighs 23.1 lbs
Casio CDP-S360
  • 700 Built-in Sounds
  • 6-track MIDI Recorder
  • Weighs 24 lbs
  • Built-in Display
  • 152 preset songs
  • 200 Built-in Rhythms
  • Arpeggiator, Auto Harmonize function
  • Pitch Bend Wheel
  • USB type A (flash drive port)
  • Registration memory (32 slots)

What’s unique about these CDP-S keyboards is that they are the only instruments on the list that can run on battery power.

So if want to take your keyboard to the backyard, for example, you don’t have to worry about extension chords to power it up. Casio promises up to 13 hours of continuous operation on 6 AA alkaline batteries (4 hours for the CDP-S360 model).

Both of the pianos are equipped with the Scaled Hammer Action II keyboard, the same one that was used in the predecessors.

The action is mechanically similar to the more advanced Smart Scaled Hammer Action found in the more expensive PX-S series (PX-S1100 and PX-S3100) and also comes with simulated Ivory & Ebony keytops.

Casio CDP-S160 front

When it comes to sound, the CDP-160 doesn’t disappoint either. There are 3 decent grand piano tones, which are not groundbreaking by any means but they get the job done and are more than sufficient for practice and recreational playing.

The CDP-360 has a much wider selection of sounds covering different instrument groups and genres. I really liked the “Stage Piano” preset, which sounded remarkable and reminded me of the same present in the PX-S3100.

Casio CDP-S360

Casio CDP-S360

With that said, neither of these pianos use the piano-focused AiR sound engine found in the Privia instruments, so the piano tones do not have the same level of details as Casio’s Privia models.

I personally felt that some tones sounded a bit flat, and lacked depth; decay length could be improved as well. However, it’s hard to complain considering their price tag and the fact that they are entry-level keyboards.

I’d definitely recommend adding these pianos to your list, if you’re looking for something portable and budget-friendly.

Pros
  • Slim and compact
  • Fully weighted keyboard with Ivory & Ebony simulation
  • Decent piano tones
  • Additional features available via the Chordana app
  • Audio In jack
  • Can operate on batteries
Cons
  • Piano sound is not as sophisticated as in the Privia instruments
  • Low polyphony count

We’ve talked about several instruments already, now let’s take listen to a blind test to see which piano sound you prefer (Casio CDP-S160, Roland FP-10, or Yamaha P-45).


4) Korg B2 – Stylish piano with a powerful sound and minimal features

Korg B2 B2SP review

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Finally, the last piano we’re going to talk about is the Korg B2 – the successor to the popular B1 model.

In June 2019, Korg announced three new B2 models with a sleek design, excellent piano sound and some new features that were missing in the previous generation.

The B2, B2SP (same as the B2 but with a stand and pedals), and B2N have now become the most popular entry-level digital pianos in Korg’s arsenal.

Of these three models, the B2N is the only instrument that features semi-weighted keys as opposed to fully-weighted, so in this article, we’ll focus on the B2 and B2SP models.

The B2 is a more basic version of the B2SP since it doesn’t come with a stand and 3-pedal unit, but it still comes with some nice upgrades over the B1.

 

At the heart of the B2 is the Stereo PCM tone generator, which along with 120-note polyphony and dual 15W speakers delivers a deep, powerful sound with a wide dynamic range.

You get two different acoustic pianos dubbed German Grand and Italian Grand as well as their several variations and a bunch of other instrument sounds.

String resonance and damper resonance are also reproduced quite accurately here, which makes the sound more nuanced.

Here is a nice sound comparison between the Korg B2 and the Casio CDP-S100. Which one sounds better to your ears?

The speakers deserve a special mention using Motional Feedback (MFB) technology, which helps reproduce low frequencies more accurately.

The B2 features 88 full-sized keys that use Korg’s NH (Natural Hammer) action. It’s a good fully weighted action, which will satisfy the beginner’s needs.

It’s on a lighter side of the spectrum and feels pretty similar to Yamaha’s GHS action, so don’t expect anything groundbreaking here.

Korg b2 b2sp piano

If you had a chance to try their higher-end action – RH3, the difference is pretty significant.

However, Korg keyboards that feature the RH3 key action (D1, C1 Air, G1 Air) are also more expensive, so it’s not really a fair comparison.

If we’re talking about keyboards within the B2’s price range, I liked the action of the B2 more than that of the Alesis Recital Pro and Casio CDP-240.

At the same time, it arguably doesn’t feel as good as Casio’s Scaled Hammer Action with textured keys or Roland’s PHA-4 action with a 3-sensor mechanism, ivory feel keys, and escapement simulation.

The good thing about the B2 is that it comes with a piano-style metal sustain pedal unlike the other keyboards on the list that come with one of those cheap box-like footswitches.

In terms of features, Korg has kept the B2 pretty basic. Partner Mode, metronome, transpose function, and master tuning are the only functions this keyboard has to offer.

There’s still no recording function but unlike its predecessor, the B2/B2SP finally boasts a full-fledged USB port that can transfer both MIDI and audio data!

This was one of the biggest turnoffs in the previous B1 model since there was no way to connect it to a smart device to exchange MIDI.

Another new port that the B2 has is a stereo mini Audio In jack that allows you to connect your phone or MP3-player and stream your favorite music directly to the B2’s onboard speakers.

Apart from the unspectacular keys and bare-bones concept, the Korg B2 is a solid option to consider for someone who wants to keep it simple with minimal features but decent sound and touch.

Pros
  • Fresh, stylish design
  • 88 full-size hammer action keys
  • Detailed German and Italian grand piano samples
  • Powerful 30W speaker system enhanced by Motional Feedback technology
  • USB Audio support
  • Audio In jack
  • The included pedal looks and feels nice
Cons
  • No Split/Layer Mode
  • Not as slim as its competitors
  • Limited sound selection
  • No recording function

Keyboards not included on the list (why?)

Alesis Recital Pro

Alesis Recital Pro review

Alesis is not as well-known as Yamaha, Roland or Casio, but you’ll inevitably come across a few models as you’re getting more familiar with the digital piano market.

Although the Alesis Recital has been around for a while, the Pro version, which comes with 88 fully weighted keys, was released not so long ago.

Aside from a new key action and a redesigned cabinet, the Recital Pro is equipped with a bunch of new instrument sounds as well as a small LCD which makes navigation easier.

In total, the keyboard has 12 built-in sounds and a nice set of features that any beginner will appreciate.

The instrument comes with a metronome, transpose function, Split, Layer, and Dual mode and a 1-track MIDI recorder.

The built-in sounds are decent but there’s definitely room for improvement in this department, especially those other than pianos.

The keyboard of the Recital Pro is nothing special. Yes, it’s weighted, but it’s not graded (the keys feel the same across the keyboard range), and it has a regular glossy finish on the keys.

Overall, it’s pretty basic and feels inferior to the keyboards on the list, in my opinion.

The Recital Pro also has a compartment for batteries, which means you can use the keyboard outdoors when there’s no power outlet around.

There’s nothing particularly wrong with this keyboard, I just feel that there are better alternatives out there when it comes to piano sound and feel.


Yamaha YPG-535

Yamaha YPG-535 review

This is a very popular keyboard from Yamaha’s Portable Grand line, which has been around for quite a while.

Unlike most of the keyboards on this list, the YPG-535 offers hundreds of sounds, rhythms, songs, a 6-track MIDI recorder and other so-called “bells and whistles”.

The main reason the YPG-535 is not on this list is that it has semi-weighted action, which doesn’t provide a very realistic feel and isn’t the ideal choice for playing piano.

In addition, the keyboard has 32-note polyphony, which can also be quite limiting in some cases.

You can read the full review of the Yamaha YPG-535 here.


Williams Rhapsody 2

Williams Rhapsody 2 review

This is another popular instrument on the US market of digital pianos.

Williams is a privately owned brand of Guitar Center. Its instruments are produced by an unknown manufacturer in China.

The price of Williams pianos is considerably lower compared to alternative models from Yamaha, Casio, and other well-known brands.

The Williams Rhapsody is a console-style digital piano with 88 hammer action keys, 64-note polyphony, and some nice features.

It looks very good and expensive, and in this price range, you won’t be able to find another digital piano with a furniture-style cabinet.

Everything seems pretty good on paper, but unfortunately the sound and touch of this instrument leave a lot to be desired.

The piano sound is muffled and not very realistic; the action doesn’t offer much dynamic range and expression.

All in all, I can only recommend this instrument for complete beginners/kids and those who’d prefer to have a nice-looking piece of furniture with not very realistic sound/touch over a good sounding and feeling digital piano with a simpler, portable design.


Williams Allegro III

Williams Allegro 3

The Allegro III is a newly released Williams keyboard, which replaced the previous Allegro II model. Same brand, similar problems.

While it’s very affordable, you get what you pay for.

The piano sound is okay(ish), but the main problem I have is with the keys, which feel cheap and hard to control.

The dynamic range is quite limited and doesn’t allow for much expression (soft, loud, and many layers in between).

Again, if you’re a complete beginner, the Williams Allegro 3 would be a satisfactory keyboard for practice, but I’d definitely recommend investing $50-100 more and getting something better quality.

Final Words

So there you have it, folks!

Those who dream to become a piano pro one day remember that the key is to make the first step. You made the right decision opting for a keyboard with fully weighted keys.

We hope this list has helped you pick the “right” keyboard for your needs and budget.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on any of the instruments we covered today as well as any other entry-level digital pianos you have experience with (negative or positive).


What beginner digital piano did you end up buying?

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You might also like:

If after reading this review you still have doubts about what instrument to choose, take a look at our Digital Piano Buying Guide and other popular articles listed below:

The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Digital Piano

Digital Piano Buying Guide

Best Beginner Keyboards Under $300 (In-depth Comparison)

Best Weighted Keyboards Under $700 (for Intermediate Players)

Best Digital Pianos Under $1000 for Home Use

best-digital-pianos-under-1000

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