A portable digital piano with weighted keys is a sensible starting point if you want to practise chord changes, but key resistance is a personal preference and doesn’t, by itself, tell you how quickly you’ll improve. Measure the space for the complete set-up and check the headphone socket if you need to be considerate of others. The keys can still make mechanical noise, even when you’re using headphones.
You repeat chord shapes and transitions, and mainly want to know how the keyboard responds to your fingers. Yamaha and Roland describe weighted keyboards on various models, so compare the feel of the piano you’re considering.
You practise where other people might hear you and want a useful headphone socket. Headphones won’t automatically block out the mechanical sound of the keys.
You want to set up or put away the piano without the music rest, stand and playing area getting in the way. So compare the space needed for the complete set-up, not just the piano’s casing.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Key feel when changing chords | Try repeating chord shapes and making quick transitions on the exact model. Yamaha describes the P-145BT as having 88 GHC keys; Roland lists a PHA-4 keyboard for the FP-10, and Casio a scaled hammer-action keyboard for the CDP-S110BK. These model specifications are not an independent performance test. | If I repeat lots of chord shapes and transitions, I want to know how the keys feel under my fingers. Around 36% of consumers say key feel is their top buying priority. |
| Practising with headphones | Check the type and accessibility of the socket, and listen for mechanical key noise in the room too. Roland lists two headphone outputs for the FP-30X; Kawai lists a socket on the front of the ES60. | If I want to practise without sound coming through the speakers, I also check whether the keys themselves can still be heard. Around 29% of consumers say being considerate of others is their top priority. |
| Setting up and storage | Measure the available width and depth where you’ll play, including space for the music rest, stand and seat. Yamaha gives the P-145BT’s width as 1.326 mm and its casing depth as 268 mm without the music rest; Casio lists a casing depth of 232 mm for the CDP-S110BK. | If my practice space is limited, I want the piano to fit with the necessary set-up and be easy to put away. Around 21% of consumers say space for setting up is their top buying priority. |
| Timing and playing along | Compare only the features you’ll use. Roland lists a metronome for the FP-10; Yamaha describes Bluetooth audio on the P-145BT, letting you play music from a phone through the piano’s speakers. This doesn’t confirm a wireless headphone connection. | If I want to practise in time or play along with music, I check which features are available. Around 14% of consumers prioritise practice aids. |
The stated casing dimensions don’t necessarily include the music rest or the complete playing set-up. The piano might appear to fit on paper, but you may not have enough room to play comfortably.
Measure the complete set-up where you plan to practise and check what’s included with the version you’ve chosen.
A stand, seat and pedal also take up space, so include them in your layout.
For the P-145BT, Yamaha describes playing audio from a phone through the piano’s speakers. This doesn’t automatically mean the model can send audio to wireless headphones.
Check the audio and headphone connections on the exact model, and make sure your headphones can connect to them.
Accessories vary by model and version. Casio lists an SP-3 pedal as included, while Yamaha describes the LP-5A console and Roland lists certain upgrade pedals as optional.
Before buying, check what’s included in the specific bundle and whether any upgrades you want are compatible.
The portable P series includes the P-145BT, which offers a straightforward set-up with weighted keys.
The FP-10 and FP-30X are portable models worth comparing if the PHA-4 keyboard and connections suit your set-up.
The CDP-S110BK is a portable model worth comparing if a shallow piano casing is important to you.
The ES60 is a portable option to consider if you want to combine headphones, USB-MIDI and separate stereo line outputs.
As well as the piano casing, measure the space needed for the music rest, stand, seat and pedal. The stated casing dimensions of the Yamaha P-145BT and Casio CDP-S110BK are a starting point, not the measurements for the complete playing area.
When connected to the appropriate socket, headphones stop sound coming through the speakers, but they don’t guarantee complete silence: you may still hear the keys being pressed. The Dutch government advises people to discuss noise with their neighbours first.
The digital pianos discussed here produce sound using a digital system and don’t have strings that need tuning like an acoustic piano. Follow the manual for your model when cleaning it, using the adapter and accessing any software features.
According to ACM ConsuWijzer, for a standard online product purchase you generally have a statutory cooling-off period of up to 14 days after delivery. Check which exceptions and return terms apply. You’re also entitled to a statutory guarantee if a product doesn’t do what you could reasonably expect under normal use. A shorter manufacturer’s warranty doesn’t replace this statutory right.
