Best Digital Pianos: Eight Models That Earn Their Place

Who Should Buy It

• You want the best action under the FP-60X without compromise elsewhere
• You stream backing tracks over Bluetooth and record over USB
• You gig and need line outs plus two headphone jacks

Skip It If

• Weight and depth are the constraint; the PX-S1100 is lighter and slimmer
• You prefer the Kawai sound signature
• You never leave the house and want a console with three pedals built in

Pros

• PHA-4 Standard action with escapement at a mid-range price
• 256-note polyphony and 56 tones
• Bluetooth audio and MIDI plus USB audio
• Quarter-inch line outputs and two headphone jacks

Cons

• Heavier than the slim Casio and Yamaha portables
• Included DP-2 pedal is a basic switch
• SuperNATURAL grand can sound bright next to the Kawai ES120

Who Should Buy It

• You prefer Kawai's rounder piano sound to Roland's brighter voicing
• You want Bluetooth MIDI and audio without buying an adapter
• You carry the piano and want line outs at a sensible weight

Skip It If

• You want a three-sensor action with escapement; try the FP-30X
• You record over USB audio
• You want the slimmest possible cabinet

Pros

• Warm, natural piano tone from 88-key sampling of Kawai grands
• Responsive Hammer Compact action with a smooth, even weight
• Bluetooth audio and MIDI built in, no adapter
• Light at 26.5 pounds with quarter-inch line outputs

Cons

• No escapement simulation and two sensors per key
• Plain matte key tops without texture
• No USB audio

Who Should Buy It

• You want the best piano sound in Yamaha's portable range below the P-525
• You need line outs for a stand mixer, PA or interface
• You play layered or pedal-heavy pieces that exhaust 64-note pianos

Skip It If

• Key feel matters more to you than tone; try the FP-30X or ES120 first
• You want built-in speakers that can fill a room
• You are a complete beginner on a tight budget; the P-145 covers you

Pros

• CFX concert grand sample with damper and string resonance from VRM Lite
• 192-note polyphony handles layered, pedaled playing
• Dedicated line outputs plus a headphone jack
• Bluetooth audio and USB audio built in

Cons

• GHC action is lighter than the actions on the Roland FP-30X and Kawai ES120
• Speakers are small for the sound quality on offer
• Three-pedal unit and stand sold separately

Who Should Buy It

• You want let-off and counterweights in a home console
• Kawai's warm SK-EX tone is the sound you prefer
• You want three pedals that feel like a grand's

Skip It If

• You want hundreds of tones and a screen; look at the Roland RP701
• Recording audio to USB matters; look at the Casio PX-870 or Yamaha YDP-184
• The cabinet finish matters as much as the playing

Pros

• RHIII action with let-off, triple sensors and counterweights
• SK-EX concert grand sampled across all 88 keys
• 2 x 20 W speakers and Bluetooth audio and MIDI
• Grand Feel pedal system with weighted, graded pedal resistance

Cons

• Nineteen sounds is modest for the price
• No USB audio recording
• Satin cabinet is plain next to Yamaha's gloss options

Who Should Buy It

• You play intermediate to advanced repertoire and need accurate repetition
• You want a console loud enough for a living room without external speakers
• You record practice to USB and want on-screen control

Skip It If

• Wireless streaming or app connection over Bluetooth is important
• You want wooden key construction; look at the Clavinova CLP-735 and up
• The piano has to go upstairs without professional help

Pros

• GH3 three-sensor action with synthetic ivory tops, the best action in the Arius line
• Full Virtual Resonance Modeling, not the Lite version
• 256-note polyphony and 60 watts of speaker power
• LCD screen makes settings and recording easy

Cons

• No Bluetooth on a piano at this price
• Heavy at 123 pounds
• Clavinova CLP models offer wooden keys for not much more

Who Should Buy It

• The piano will be played through its speakers in a living room
• You want to record practice as audio without a computer
• You want 256-note polyphony for layered, pedaled playing

Skip It If

• Wireless streaming matters; look at the AP-S200 or Roland RP107
• Touch is the priority and the budget stretches to the YDP-184 or CN201
• You only practice on headphones; the PX-770 is the same touch for less

Pros

• Four-speaker 40 watt system that projects up and out like an upright
• 256-note polyphony
• Records audio to a USB flash drive
• Same three-sensor textured action as the PX-770

Cons

• No Bluetooth
• Cabinet is plainer than Yamaha and Kawai consoles at the price
• Action is a step below the Kawai CN201 and Yamaha YDP-184

Who Should Buy It

• You want let-off, counterweights and a long pivot in a portable
• You perform and need strong onboard speakers and line outs
• You record over USB audio and use the Virtual Technician

Skip It If

• Weight matters; the ES120 and P-225 are far lighter
• You practice only on headphones and will not use the speakers
• You want a console with three pedals built in

Pros

• RHIII action with let-off, triple sensors and counterweights
• Harmonic Imaging XL with SK-EX and EX grands sampled across all 88 keys
• 2 x 20 W speakers, the most powerful in a portable at this price
• Bluetooth audio and MIDI plus USB audio and an OLED display

Cons

• Heavy at 37.5 pounds
• Costs roughly double the ES120
• Plain, utilitarian styling

Who Should Buy It

• Touch is your first priority and you will practice mostly on headphones
• You want wireless app connection for lessons
• You plan to keep the piano for years as a controller even after upgrading

Skip It If

• You want to perform through a PA from a dedicated output
• You layer sounds with heavy pedal and need more polyphony
• You want Bluetooth audio for play-along tracks

Pros

• PHA-4 Standard is the most realistic action at this price, with escapement and textured keys
• SuperNATURAL engine models the piano rather than looping samples
• Bluetooth MIDI connects to apps without a cable
• Compact 1284 mm width fits narrow spaces

Cons

• 96-note polyphony is low for layered playing
• Headphone jack is the only audio output
• Speakers are quiet and the included DP-2 pedal is a simple switch