10 Best Weighted Keyboards — Choose the Right Instrument for Composing and Play

The Yamaha P121 electronic keyboard is our Editor’s Choice for a reason. This instrument will have you thinking you’re playing a fine old grand piano because it’s weighted to perfection and packed full of the quality electronics that you’d expect to find in a Yamaha musical instrument.

What you get with the Yamaha P121 electronic piano is refinement and quality that is hard to beat. This product produces an impressive 192 polyphony level, which makes it almost unbeatable in this, and many other classes of digital instruments. The keys here are weighted, to produce the feel and player feedback of an old acoustic piano. That sort of manufacturing ability comes from years spent developing musical instruments to a very high standard indeed, and that’s exactly what Yamaha has been doing for a very long time now.

The Yamaha P121 is a 73-key electronic piano, and it really looks the part. This is no budget keyboard by any standards, and you’ll be proud to call it your own, no matter what your musical ability or learning stage.

The Yamaha’s Pure CF Sound Engine is the outcome of what is truly the practice of combining old-school piano craftsmanship with the technology of the modern-day to produce a stunning sound that’s almost indiscernible from a traditional piano.

That sound is combined with Yamaha’s 2-way sound system, unique because it projects both upward and downward to give unbelievable tone, even when played on a hard surface, such as a table in the home.

You can also use Yamaha’s Smart Pianist App with this keyboard. That gives you the ability to control piano settings with ease, massively increasing the enjoyment you’ll get from this machine.

All in all, the Yamaha P 121 is a great musical instrument, with fantastic pedigree and tone that is built on the craftsmanship of the traditional piano makers, enhanced by the technology of today.

What do we love it for?

• Amazing polyphonic range
• Great build quality
• Yamaha’s 2-way sound system

What were we disappointed with?

• Only 73 keys

The next piano on our list of the ten best weighted keyboards is the excellent and fully functional ONE Smart Keyboard, and you get a very useful eighty-eight premium and full-sized hammer action keys on this product. That’s enough to get you a full seven octaves of range, and you’ll be producing stunning musical compositions on this piano for years to come.

The ONE Smart Keyboard also arrives with a very well-conceived adjustable touch response for the keys, which allow a musician or student the chance to improve in proficiency quickly due to the feature showing you which notes to play. When learning, it’s possible to engage adjustable touch response and once you’ve grasped the basics of a piece you can try without the setting. That will accelerate learning a great deal, and it makes the ONE Smart Keyboard a keyboard which is well worth considering for students of music.

The ONE Smart Keyboard comes with relatively powerful built-in speakers, which will provide great tone and scale. One of the best features here for the cost is a very respectable 128-note maximum polyphony level, and that’s a whole lot of simultaneous range for an instrument in this class. The keyboard on the ONE Smart Keyboard is weighted, and that delivers an ultra-realistic, almost acoustic playing experience and sound.

If a student follows the light-up keyboard, they can start playing new pieces quickly and without too much effort. It’s possible to use this keyboard with a free app too, which makes it a full system for learning and a great option for both teachers and students.

You can connect the ONE Smart Keyboard to your, or your teacher’s computer by using the USB-MIDI output. This makes it a great choice for using with educational software and virtual instrument plugins. All of this reinforces the ONE Smart Keyboard’s position as a very useful learning device. You can even use record mode to listen back to your highlights and mistakes.

Overall, this is a great piano for beginners and will be just as useful for pianists looking to move up a level with their play.

What are its best features?

• Great novice piano
• USB-MIDI output
• Fantastic sound and volume
• Weighted keys provide realistic play
• Light-up keyboard
• 88 keys and seven octaves

What could be improved?

• Some units supplied with missing parts

There isn’t a great deal to say about the Yamaha P45, because the name says it all. This machine will deliver a certain amount of quality because of where it comes from – Yamaha just don’t build bad pianos, period.

This piano is limited in terms of features compared to the Yamaha further up the list in the number one spot. However, it does come with a full-size eighty-eight keyboard. That’s going to see a lot of Yamaha shoppers forsake that number one pick, and this is subsequently perhaps, a better option for more accomplished players, or those seeking a more extensive octave range.

You get ten preset sounds here, the polyphony is extremely limited for a piano in this price range, at 64. That’s one of the most disappointing aspects of the Yamaha P45. It’s not what you expect when you look at the specifications for a piano at this price point, and it’s hard to fathom.

The keys are variably weighted, and yes, it is a Yamaha, but it’s a poor one. All in all, either look at taking a hit on octave range and choose the better Yamaha P 121 – or look elsewhere completely.

What makes it stand out?

• A budget Yamaha piano
• Nice variably weighted keyboard

Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?

• Limited polyphony
• Limited features

The LAGRIMA 88 Weighted Key Digital Piano is another piano that fully deserves to be in the top half of our list of the ten best weighted keyboards. This keyboard doesn’t come with the pedigree of a Yamaha model but boy does it make up for that in the effort that’s gone into producing it.

You get eighty-eight fully weighted keys when you opt for the LAGRIMA 88 Weighted Key Digital Piano and the tone that comes out of this very well made instrument is superb. You’ll feel just like you’re listening to a traditional acoustic piano when you strike a note on this keyboard, and the playing experience is realistic too.

One of the best features on this piano is the variable weighting to the keys. They weigh more at the lower end of the scale and less at the higher end. That gives a very nice playing experience, and you’ll be flying through all types of pieces of music on this instrument in no time. It’s a great option if you’re downsizing from a traditional piano.

The LAGRIMA 88 Weighted Key Digital Piano backs up that realistic feel with technology from the modern-day. You get a three-pedal system, an LCD display and the polyphony is mid-range but very usable at 64 simultaneous tones.

You get a USB-MIDI option here too, and you can connect this to an external speaker if the volume output isn’t enough for you. All in all, it’s a good little piano, with excellent octave range at a fair price.

What makes it special?

• Good price for what you get
• Great connectivity
• Realistic variably weighted keys
• 88 keys and seven octaves

What cons did we find?

• Only 64 Polyphony level

The Alesis Recital Pro will give you great enjoyment whether you’re new to the piano or you’re an old hand. This keyboard provides near perfect traditional piano fee and feedback via hammer-action keys.

The Alesis Recital Pro comes fitted with a full set of eighty-eight of those hammer-action keys too, so you’ll never be short on range and whether you’re composing your own music, earning a new piece, or simply learning the ropes, the Alesis Recital Pro has a full seven octaves.

Add to that the fact that the keys on the Alesis Recital Pro are full-sized and you’re on to a traditional piano play-a-like winning formula. There is also adjustable touch response built into this design, so the piano is very versatile and will suit many types and styles of play.

You can learn away on the Recital Pro because it has a fully adjustable metronome incorporated, and the handy Lesson & Record modes will see you improving fast. Recital Pro is another good choice for wither the student or teacher, and you can record performances to listen back to, which is a great teaching or learning aid.

The Alesis keyboard also comes with a good polyphony rating, at 128. Overall, this is a decent keyboard, although it doesn’t really pull up many trees.

What are our favorite features?

• Good teaching/learning features
• Good Polyphony at 128

What could be better?

• Questionable customer service

The first thing to say about the next piano on our list of the ten best weighted keyboards is that it’s perhaps mislabeled as a beginner’s piano. Unfortunately, I’m not saying that in a positive sense either. The RockJam 88-Key Beginner Digital Piano has been called so because it’s a limited piano when it comes to features. There are far better student pianos out there. In fact, there are far better student pianos on this list that aren’t as limited in terms of quality as the RockJam 88-Key Beginner Digital Piano.

What you do get here is a full eighty-eight key version of a keyboard, and that’s equipped with full-sized semi-weighted keys, which is a great touch. One of the best things about this little piano is that those keys are also adjustable, and you can use that to make the piano better suit your playing style.

You get ten preset piano sounds with the RockJam 88-Key Beginner Digital Piano, including Hammond organ, which might make playing a little more fun.

Where this piano does excel is connectivity. There are just too many ports to mention, and you’ll be able to use this for a wide variety of purposes, with many devices. That includes both Android and iOS connectivity, via the supplied app access.

Overall, this isn’t really a student piano, the RockJam 88-Key Beginner Digital Piano is more accurately labeled as a great budget option, and that’s why we’ve rated it so in this list.

What do we love it for?

• Good connectivity
• Full 88-key piano

What were we disappointed with?

• Keyboard functionality problems
• Some customers report a very electric sound

The Korg B1SPBK Digital Piano is another keyboard on our list of the ten best out there that comes with an impressive pedigree behind it. Korg are a pioneer in the electronic piano industry and have been responsible for many of the innovations and advances that we see right across the digital keyboard marketplace today.

Having said that, this is a relatively basic Korg model, and it won’t win many awards in the electric piano world. Noether it seems will Korg’s packaging department, there have been many, many reported problems with this keyboard where packaging, and therefore, damage in transit has been a problem. This is a shame because there’s almost no doubt that this piano will have decent components inside.

There’s not much to see here, and that includes the absence of USB-MIDI connectivity, which seems strange and makes one think that this piano has been designed to be cheap, achievable and cheerful for that reason.

What you will get if you buy the Korg B1SPBK Digital Piano, is a great range of preset sounds. Harpsichord, organs and two different electronic versions are represented.

All in all, the Korg B1SPBK Digital Piano is technically a very well manufactured product, as you’d expect from Korg. However, this is ultimately an extremely basic model – so, bear that in mind before you buy.

What do we love it for?

• Good at being simple
• Adequate polyphony, at 120
• Full 88 keys

What were we disappointed with?

• Packaging poor, resulting in many damaged products

The Casio Privia PX-870 is what you might call a mixed bag. Let me explain that by saying that even though Casio is also a pioneer of electronic keyboard technology and has been around since some of the earliest mass-produced versions of digital keyboards, there are some problems reported with the logistical element of making a purchase – and that’s a real shame.

The PX-870 does, however, include variable string resonance, which gives a more in-depth and enjoyable sound output. The PX-870 also features a variety of 19 preset instrument sounds, which will please many people, and you can mess around with layering those to produce a vast amount of individual sounds and tones.

The Casio gives you a comprehensive 256 notes of polyphony, which allows for a hugely interesting and genuine level of audible depth.

Add to all that the PX-870’s clever and innovative Sound Projection system, and you will find yourself able to fill the room with clear, yet organic sounds. There’s a very powerful 40-watt, 4-speaker system which is perfect for both the player and the audience. Adjust that with the Casio Volume Sync EQ, and you’re on to a winner from the start. All you need now is to live up to the depth this instrument can produce.

The Casio PX-870 also has a built-in two-track MIDI recorder. It’s supplied in either a black or white design, and it’s compact enough to be a good choice for most homes – even with a full eighty-eight keys.

The PX-870 is excellent in terms of connectivity, via via USB for use with any PC, Mac, iOS, or Android device. You get hammer-action keys for great realism; they’re even made out of ebony and (hopefully ethically sourced) ivory.

The Casio wins on included Accessories. You get a lovely bench, a set of headphones, a handy polishing cloth, and even a music stand. Great touch.

Overall, if Casio could sort out their customer service and shipping, this would be a keyboard that would take some beating.

What makes it special?

• Great polyphony
• Casio quality
• Great sound
• Huge list of included extras, including a bench

What cons did we find?

• Missing parts problems
• Questionable customer service in response

The Nord 3 Compact 73-Key Digital Stage Piano is not the best keyboard on this list, but it’s here for a reason. We’ve included this keyboard for gigging musicians out there who want professional features at a great price. The Nord doesn’t disappoint on those terms.

Not only that, but the Nord 3 Compact 73-Key Digital Stage Piano offers great possibilities as a studio keyboard, because it comes equipped with the ability to control a great number of external instruments, and that’s really going to please the music producers out there.

You get a nice depth of sound with the Nord 3 Compact 73-Key Digital Stage Piano. Everything works as it should and you won’t be left wanting for simultaneous tones, you get 120 polyphony here.

Where the Nord won’t please professionals and advanced amateurs out there is with a limited keyboard – the Nord 3 Compact 73-Key Digital Stage Piano only comes with, as the name suggests, seventy-three keys. Those keys are semi-weighted, however, which produces good player feedback and a realistic, yet digital piano feel.

Overall, this is a very technically advanced piano, and it’s not one for beginners. The Nord 3 Compact 73-Key Digital Stage Piano would make a great interim option for players reaching more advanced levels of ability, who want a reasonably priced piano to get gigging with, and its versatility offers much scope for resale.

What makes it stand out?

• Master keyboard control
• Adequate polyphony

Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?

• Only 73 keys

The next keyboard on our list of the ten best weighted keyboards is also here to provide depth. This is a piano that’s aimed at the portability seekers out there, of which there will be many. This small 32-key piano is going to be a great option for those who have limited space or are always on the move. Beware, however, that the portability might be compromised if you want to use this as a true connective keyboard, because there have been reported problems with power via USB.

What you get here is semi-weighted feel and feedback, you’re obviously limited in octave range – but, then that’s the price you’ll pay for super portability. The M-Audio Keystation 61MK3 is also extremely lightweight, which is another bonus for those on the move. It’s iOS connectable, and it’s a basic but accessible device.

All in all, the M-Audio Keystation 61MK3 is a cheap and cheerful – and very portable little keyboard. It’s never going to be the world’s best, and neither will it get you all the way to Carnegie Hall – but it does fill a specific role adequately. Just don’t expect a grand piano.

What stands out?

• Great portable option

What cons did we manage to find?

• Connectivity issues via USB