Top 10 Best Affordable Digital Pianos with Weighted Keys


Are you looking for the best digital piano with weighted keys?

This is common if you are used to an acoustic piano and you want to have a digital piano that provides a similar feel to an acoustic one.

I remember this was the main feature I was looking for when I decided to buy a digital piano as I wanted to make sure I kept developing muscle memory in the same way I was when playing an acoustic piano.

The market is filled with piano brands advocating for their own special features, and weighted keys are common across all high-quality digital pianos.

In this article, we are reviewing ten of the best digital pianos with weighted keys. Each instrument was rated by key action, quality of sound, and common features.

Our Top 5 Digital Pianos with Weighted Keys in 2022

Before delving into the detailed list of the top ten pianos, this is a quick briefing on our top five products.

Piano ModelNo. & type of keysDimensions & weightBest for
Casio Privia PX-870
88 Keys, Weighted55.08 x 11.77 x 31.54 inches / 75.62 lbsIntermediate/ Professional Pianists
Yamaha DGX-670
88 Keys, Weighted66 x 18 x 8 inches / 68 lbsIntermediate/ Professional Pianists
Roland F-140R
88 Keys, Weighted53.65 x 13.65 x 35.85 inches / 76 lbsIntermediate/ Professional Pianists
Kawai ES110
88 Keys, Weighted57 x 14.5 x 11.5 / 38 lbsBeginner / Intermediate Pianists
Yamaha P125
88 Keys, Weighted52.19 x 11.63 x 6.56 inches / 26 lbsBeginner / Intermediate Pianists

And now let’s have a look at the top 10 digital pianos and learn more about them!

10. Korg SP-280 Digital Piano

The Korg SP-280 is one of the basic Korg Digital Piano models. It features big speakers and it has 88 Weighted Keys. The lower keys are heavier while the higher ones are lighter. Korg SP-280 has an easy-to-understand layout.

This digital piano has simple commands and this makes it accessible to anyone. With this model, you can also play two different sounds together (Dual Sound).

Korg SP-280 is not super light but technically it can be carried around.

Features

  • Number of voices: 30
  • Polyphony: 120
  • Speakers: Oval (16 cm – 8cm) x 2 with an output of 44 W
  • Headphone output: Yes
  • Built-in metronome: Yes
  • Dual mode (layer two sounds): No
  • USB to Host Connectivity: No (only MIDI In/Out)
  • Sustain pedal included: Yes
  • Music rest included: Yes
  • Stand included: Yes
  • Transpose: Yes
  • Bluetooth connectivity: No

Pros

  • Natural Weighted Hammer Action
  • Easy-to-understand layout and controls
  • Has a nice array of sounds
  • Stand provided with the piano

Cons

  • No USB connectivity
  • Not so light to move around even if it’s lighter than previous Korg models

9. Yamaha P45 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano

Yamaha’s P45 is among the most popular digital pianos on the market for under $500. It’s part of the Yamaha P-series (the portable series).

The instrument is affordable yet it offers a surprising level of quality for its price including graded hammer action. This means that the key weight gets lighter when moving from the bass to higher keys in a similar way to what you see on a real upright piano or grand piano.

The weighted keys are better than anything else in the price range, and the Yamaha samples are considered some of the best in the industry.

Dual mode allows you to layer together two sounds (e.g. piano and strings).

The P45 is the lowest-cost weighted keyboard with 88 keys in the Yamaha selection and it has minimal controls that can make features less accessible.

Beginners should consider purchasing the P45 model as their first digital piano.

Features

  • Number of voices: 10
  • Polyphony: 64
  • Speakers: 12 cm x 2 with an output of 6 W x 2
  • Headphone output: Yes
  • Built-in metronome: Yes
  • Dual mode (layer two sounds): Yes
  • USB to Host Connectivity: Yes
  • Sustain pedal included: Yes
  • Music rest included: Yes
  • Stand included: No
  • Transpose: Yes
  • Bluetooth connectivity: No

Pros

  • Graded hammer action based on Yamaha’s GHS (Graded Hammer Standard)
  • Affordable and reliable brand
  • Excellent Yamaha sounds
  • Headphone output

Cons

  • Minimal controls make features harder to access
  • The quality of the included sustain pedal could be better
  • Bluetooth connectivity is not supported

8. Korg LP-380U 88-Key Digital Piano

The first selling point of the Korg LP-380U digital piano is its RH3 key action which can be found on Korg professional digital pianos that cost in the range of thousands of dollars. And the build quality is very high considering its price.

The keys of this digital piano are weighted based on the register like in a traditional acoustic piano. This provides a perfect instrument if you want to practice for your piano exams.

Furthermore, the three pedals included with the piano make a difference in recreating an authentic acoustic piano experience.

The LP-380U’s built-in sounds are based on the high-quality standard for Korg products.

Features

  • Number of voices: 30
  • Polyphony: 120
  • Speakers: 10cm x 2 with an output of 22 W x 2
  • Headphone output: Yes
  • Built-in metronome: Yes
  • Dual mode (layer two sounds):
  • USB to Host Connectivity: Yes
  • Sustain pedal included: Yes (three pedals like a real grand piano)
  • Music rest included: Yes
  • Stand included: Yes
  • Transpose: Yes
  • Bluetooth connectivity: No

Pros

  • RH3 (Real Weighted Hammer Action 3) keyboard
  • Low noise keys
  • High-quality Korg samples and sound library
  • Great build quality for the price

Cons

  • Bluetooth connectivity is not supported

7. Yamaha Arius YDP-165 Digital Console Piano

The YDP-165 Arius model is one of the best digital pianos with weighted keys that Yamaha offers.

It’s a bulky device, but the rosewood finish and increased height make this one of the most realistic digital pianos on the market.

The YDP-165 provides a piano sound sampled from Yamaha’s CFX concert grand piano.

It has 353 built-in songs and more than 300 practice exercises based on famous methods like Czerny and Hanon.

Features

  • Number of voices: 10
  • Polyphony: 192
  • Speakers: 12 cm x 2 with an output of 20 W x 2
  • Headphone output: Yes
  • Built-in metronome: Yes
  • Dual mode (layer two sounds): Yes
  • USB to Host Connectivity: Yes
  • Sustain pedal included: Yes
  • Music stand included: Yes
  • Stand included: Yes
  • Transpose: Yes
  • Bluetooth connectivity: No

Pros

  • GH3 (Grade Hammer 3) keyboard with synthetic ebony and ivory keytops
  • Excellent Yamaha samples
  • Elegant build and finish

Cons

  • Bluetooth connectivity is not supported

6. Roland FP-30X Digital Piano

Roland FP-30X is a great balance between quality and budget. It features onboard speakers and it has 88 Weighted Keys (PHA-4 Standard keyboard).

This Digital Piano includes a wide variety of onboard sounds and an acoustic-like piano touch.

Roland FP-30 is also a nice traveling companion. It does not weigh much and it’s easy to carry around.

Features

  • Number of voices: 56
  • Polyphony: 256
  • Speakers: 12 cm x 2 with an output of 11 W x 2
  • Headphone output: Yes
  • Built-in metronome: Yes
  • Dual mode (layer two sounds): Yes
  • USB to Host Connectivity: Yes
  • Sustain pedal included: Yes
  • Music rest included: Yes
  • Stand included: No
  • Transpose: Yes
  • Bluetooth connectivity: Yes

Pros

  • PHA-4 action
  • Features Roland’s SuperNATURAL Piano technology
  • Has powerful onboard stereo speakers
  • It can be easily carried around

Cons

  • The quality of the included sustain pedal could be better
  • Switching from one sound to another is not as simple as on some other digital pianos

5. Yamaha P125 Digital Piano

Yamaha P125 has a lot of five-star reviews. It has a split mode that allows you to play a different voice with each hand.

The tuning goes from 414.8 Hz to 440.0 Hz and 446.8 Hz. Yamaha P125 tries to get close to the acoustic pianos by having the graded hammer standard action lighter when it comes to high keys and heavier when it comes to low keys. Also, the sound engine imitates a grand piano.

The black keys have a matte finish and the purpose of that is to prevent your fingers from slipping while you play.

Another great thing about Yamaha P125 is that it is capable of using Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI). MIDI is a full digital musical interface that allows you to connect sound-controlling devices.

The difference in price from the Yamaha P45 (also covered in this guide) can range between $100 to $200. This difference in price is justified by a higher number of voices, better polyphony, and more accessible controls than the Yamaha P45.

If you want to buy a Yamaha digital piano and for budget-related reasons, you are trying to choose between the Yamaha P45 and P125, you should make the extra effort and go for the P125 (or even go further with the Roland FP-30X covered below).

Features

  • Number of voices: 24
  • Polyphony: 192
  • Speakers: 12 cm x 2 + 4 cm x 2 with an output of 7 W x 2
  • Headphone output: Yes
  • Built-in metronome: Yes
  • Dual mode (layer two sounds): Yes
  • USB to Host Connectivity: Yes
  • Sustain pedal included: Yes
  • Music rest included: Yes
  • Stand included: No
  • Transpose: Yes
  • Bluetooth connectivity: No

Pros

  • Graded hammer action based on Yamaha’s GHS (Graded Hammer Standard)
  • Authentic piano sound
  • Matte finish on black keys
  • Headphone output
  • Easily portable

Cons

  • Bluetooth connectivity is not supported
  • The quality of the included sustain pedal could be better

4. Kawai ES110 Digital Piano Black

Kawai ES110 has a great sound at an affordable price. It has 88 weighted keys created with harmonic imaging technology. Kawai ES110 also features 19 sounds, of which 8 are exceptional piano sounds.

This digital piano also has dual-mode and split mode allowing you to either use two sounds together or to split the keyboard to have one sound on the left and a different one on the right.

The sustain pedal the Kawai ES110 comes with is a lot better that the one provided with other models like Yamaha P45/P125 and Roland FP-30X.

Kawai ES110 is a great piano for students because it has built-in piano lessons.

Features

  • Number of voices: 19
  • Polyphony: 192
  • Speakers: 12 cm x 2 with an output of 7 W × 2
  • Headphone output: Yes
  • Built-in metronome: Yes
  • Dual mode (layer two sounds): Yes
  • USB to Host Connectivity: No (only MIDI In/Out)
  • Sustain pedal included: Yes
  • Music rest included: Yes
  • Stand included: No
  • Transpose: Yes
  • Bluetooth connectivity: Yes

Pros

  • Responsive Hammer Compact Action (Grade-weighted hammers)
  • Excellent sounds
  • Keys are made with harmonic imaging technology
  • Built-in lessons
  • Comes with a good sustain pedal

Cons

  • The quality of the included sustain pedal could be better
  • Slightly noisier key action compared to other models
  • No USB connectivity

3. Roland F-140R Digital Piano

The Roland F-140R is a well-known powerhouse in the industry. The F-140R is a state-of-the-art device with Bluetooth capabilities, smart accompaniment, and a library of over 300 sounds.

The piano’s full build is also extremely elegant and its clear sound is based on Roland’s SuperNATURAL Piano Sound system.

On top of that, it comes with great accuracy in simulating the feeling of acoustic keys.

The support for Bluetooth connectivity allows unlocking lots of different functionalities through the Roland mobile app (e.g. auto-accompaniment rhythms and built-in sheet music).

The piano cover also works as a music rest and it cannot be removed from the piano. This is not a piano you would move around.

Features

  • Number of voices: 11 grand piano tones + other 305 tones
  • Polyphony: 128
  • Speakers: 12 cm (4-3/4 inches) x 2 with an output of 12 W x 2
  • Headphone output: Yes
  • Built-in metronome: Yes
  • Dual mode (layer two sounds): Yes
  • USB to Host Connectivity: Yes
  • Sustain pedal included: Yes
  • Music stand included: Yes
  • Stand included: Yes
  • Transpose: Yes
  • Bluetooth connectivity: Yes

Pros

  • Great sound based on the SuperNATURAL Piano engine
  • Hyper-realistic feeling based on PHA-4 action
  • Great selection of voices
  • Bluetooth and other advanced features

Cons

  • It is not portable

2. Yamaha DGX-670 Digital Piano

According to many piano enthusiasts, Yamaha is the most consistent overall brand. The DGX-670 is a device that includes all of Yamaha’s premier features at a reasonable price.

The Yamaha DGX-670 is a lot more complex as a digital piano compared to the ones we have seen so far in this guide. It has 601 voices and 263 backing styles!

The backing styles are not just simple rhythms but they dynamically include multiple instruments based on the notes you play. And this digital piano also creates intros and outros for you. Great for full live performances.

It’s a workstation that can also help you learn how to play. And if you are a more advanced pianist you can also use it to compose music.

Recording music is also a very strong feature of this digital piano with its 16-track recording studio. Also, the microphone input allows you to sing with your voice coming out of the speakers of the piano.

Features

  • Number of voices: 601 Voices + 29 Drum / SFX Kits
  • Polyphony: 256
  • Speakers: 12 cm x 2 + 5 cm x 2 with an output of 6W x 2
  • Headphone output: Yes
  • Built-in metronome: Yes
  • Dual mode (layer two sounds): Yes
  • USB to Host Connectivity: Yes
  • Sustain pedal included: Yes
  • Music rest included: Yes
  • Stand included: No
  • Transpose: Yes
  • Bluetooth connectivity: Yes

Pros

  • GHS (Graded Hammer Standard) keyboard
  • Outstanding Yamaha library of sounds and backing styles
  • 256-note polyphony
  • Authentic piano sound
  • Handy 4.3-inch color LCD screen to keep control of your performance
  • Built-in songbook of 100 songs (notes displayed on the LCD screen)
  • It has a microphone input and provides vocal effects

Cons

  • Can be heavy to carry around but it’s still portable

1. Casio Privia PX-870 Digital Home Piano

As with most Casio hardware, the Privia PX-870 is a workhorse among digital pianos. This is the flagship of the Casio Privia line.

The PX-870 has received a lot of praise for its excellent speaker quality; these speakers get loud, and they never sacrifice quality at high volume.

The sound quality, with 256 notes of polyphony, is comparable to the quality of a real acoustic piano.

This piano is perfect for practice or small-scale performances which makes it one of the best digital pianos with weighted keys for intermediate and professional pianists.

Also, Concert Play allows you to play along with ten well-known orchestral pieces. Really cool feature!

Features

  • Number of voices: 19
  • Polyphony: 256
  • Speakers: 12 cm x 2, 4 cm x 2, 2-Way, 4-Speaker with an output of 40 W
  • Headphone output: Yes
  • Built-in metronome: Yes
  • Dual mode (layer two sounds): Yes
  • USB to Host Connectivity: Yes
  • Sustain pedal included: Yes
  • Music stand included: Yes
  • Stand included: Yes
  • Transpose: Yes
  • Bluetooth connectivity: No

Pros

  • Graded hammer action based on Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard Ⅱ
  • Built-in pedals and body
  • Realistic ebony and ivory feel
  • Loud built-in 4-speaker system
  • High-quality effects

Cons

  • Bluetooth connectivity is not supported

Conclusion

Finding the best digital piano with weighted keys comes down to your own needs as a pianist.

Beginners don’t need to venture into the luxury piano range. On the other hand, advanced pianists can go with Yamaha Arius YDP165 or Casio Privia PX-870.

Claudio Sabato

I'm a passionate pianist and I want to help you learn how to play the piano!

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