This post is all about the cheapest touch sensitive keyboard.
Touch sensitivity refers to the ability of the keyboard to produce a level of sound based on the pressure applied to the keys. All acoustic pianos are touch sensitive, though not all digital pianos and keyboards feature touch-sensitive keys. By and large, the better the touch responsiveness of a keyboard, the more expensive it is.
However, it is absolutely essential for beginners to start learning with touch sensitive keys to develop proper finger technique and dynamics, especially if they plan on transitioning to an acoustic piano in a later phase.
Luckily, touch sensitivity can be found on a wide range of price points, and even the cheapest keyboards nowadays will have it.
Therefore, in this post, we’ll delve into the most affordable yet top-performing touch-sensitive keyboards available. We’ll look at both 61-key and 88-key keyboards, exploring the best cheap touch sensitive keyboards for each category.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the list.
Best Budget 61 Key Touch Sensitive Keyboards
MUSTAR Piano Keyboard
The Mustar 61 key keyboard is currently one of the cheapest touch-sensitive keyboards on the market. If you don’t want to spend more than 150$ on a touch sensitive keyboard, this one is your best bet. This is a really popular keyboard among beginner players who are on a budget, and I think it’s a decent keyboard to start with.
This keyboard features 61 keys and comes in a full kit with a keyboard stand, headphones, a microphone, and a power adapter, making it an excellent value for the price. The sound quality is surprisingly decent and definitely not what you would expect from this price point.
With 200 rhythms, 200 tones, and 10 demo songs, it also comes with a rich library for beginners to play around with.
The LCD screen on this keyboard is a huge plus, especially for kids. It displays important information like the keyboard layout, tone, rhythm, song, tempo, and metronome while giving you feedback on the keys you’re pressing.
What has surprised me even more is that the speakers are covered in a metal grill, which helps the keyboard produce superior sound quality with richer bass compared to regular plastic grill covers.
Overall, the Mustar 61 Key Keyboard is a perfect value for the price and an ideal first keyboard for budget-conscious beginners.
TERENCE TS-01
If you’re willing to slightly expand your budget to around $150 or above, the Terence keyboard piano emerges as an outstanding choice. It is one of the best touch-sensitive keyboards you can get at that price point with the surprising quality and range of features it offers. Plus, it comes with a full package including a piano stand, note stickers, a music stand, earphones, and a carrying bag.
With its semi-weighted keys, this keyboard has also made it into our list of the Best 61 Key Weighted Keyboards In 2024.
The Terence keyboard features 61 full-sized semi-weighted keys that are made from durable ABS material, which prevents slipping during playing and helps the keys maintain their glossy finish over time. Overall, this keyboard does a good job of emulating the feel of a real acoustic piano at this price point.
It also boasts excellent portability features. Coming with a rechargeable lithium battery, Terence allows for extended periods of playing without the need to plug into a power source. Plus, it is super lightweight, so you can take it anywhere and play wherever you want.
Equipped with 140 sounds, 128 rhythm patterns, 61 keyboard percussion, and 60 demo songs, the TS-01 offers an extensive library, which is perfect for any beginner or kid player.
It also has Bluetooth and MIDI connections, so you can link it to piano learning apps. Plus, even if you don’t connect it to any device, it’s loaded with helpful features that make learning the piano fun and straightforward for beginners.
Casio CT-S300
The Casio CT-S300 is honestly one of the best quality touch-sensitive keyboards you’ll find in the under-$200 range. I’ve had the chance to review it multiple times for different posts, and I truly believe it’s the perfect pick for beginners because of its superior features and authentic feel compared to its predecessor models.
Related: Best Cheap Casio Keyboards In 2024
In addition to 61 touch responsive keys, it is equipped with powerful speakers, 10 different reverb types, and a pitch bend wheel to deliver the most realistic and expressive piano sound. With a vast library of 400 tones, 77 rhythms, and 60 preloaded songs, it offers an incredibly diverse range of sound options, perfect for beginners eager to explore various musical styles.
What’s more, its Dance Music mode and seamless integration with the Chordana Play app make it an outstanding learning keyboard suitable for both kids and adult beginners.
On top of these, its slim and lightweight design, complete with Casiotones’ signature built-in carrying handle makes it effortless to take this keyboard anywhere you go.
Yamaha PSRE373
While Yamaha PSRE373 can’t be considered cheap compared to other options on this list, it is still the cheapest Yamaha touch sensitive keyboard available. If you wish to have Yamaha quality and touch-responsive keys, the PSRE373 is the best cheap option.
Related: Best Cheap Yamaha Keyboards Under $300 – Quality Picks
It can be considered more of an arranger keyboard and is overall a fantastic value for the price. It comes with a whopping 622 instrument sounds, a vast array of accompaniment rhythm styles, and a range of fun features, perfect for getting inspired whether you are a beginner, a hobbyist, or a music maker. Best of all, the sound quality is pretty good, especially for the piano and string tones.
Moreover, it comes with Yamaha Education Suite and a range of connectivity options that let beginners utilize piano learning apps. Overall, the touch sensitivity feels pretty realistic and the learning features make it an ideal keyboard for beginners.
One notable feature of this keyboard is its inclusion of 11 Super Articulation Lite Voices that replicate the nuances of stringed instruments and increase realism. If you’re only going to play with piano sounds, this feature may not be an important deciding factor for you though. It’s a useful feature for those who will use this keyboard for its arranger features, but it’s still nice to have while playing around with string instruments.
Best Budget 88 Key Touch Sensitive Keyboards
GLARRY 88 Key Digital Piano
If you’re in search of a cheap velocity sensitive keyboard that has 88 keys, this one by Glarry is one of the best cheap options on the market. It comes with 88 full-sized keys with a lighting option, which is a useful learning feature that makes the keys light up based on the notes to be played in a particular song.
Related: 10 Best Cheap 88-Key Keyboards & Digital Pianos in 2024
Overall, this keyboard offers all the basic features of an 88-key keyboard and everything for beginners to get started. The sound library includes 128 tones, 128 rhythms, and 15 demo songs, and the 64 notes of polyphony on this keyboard is what I expect to see at minimum at this price range.
With Bluetooth and MIDI connectivity options, you can connect the instrument to your devices, enjoy various teaching apps, and accelerate your learning. Best of all, this keyboard can operate on batteries, which means you can play it outside without the need for a power source.
Add to these the decent touch sensitivity and you have the ideal budget 88-key digital piano.
Vangoa 88 Key Piano Keyboard
If you’ve been reading this blog, you might have heard me praising Vangoa keyboards several times. I own the foldable version, the VGD-882, which is slightly more expensive than this model, though both are pretty similar except for the folding feature. If portability is a top priority for you, I recommend that you check out the VGD-882 as both keyboards are almost the same but the VGD-882 comes with a foldable design.
Overall, the VGD-880 is a decent starter keyboard at a pretty competitive price. It boasts touch-sensitive keys as well as 128 rhythms, 128 tones, and 20 demo songs. Additionally, it includes MIDI and Bluetooth connectivity for expanded functionality.
What makes this keyboard very convenient is that it has the option to operate on batteries like the Glarry keyboard and it boasts an impressive battery life, offering up to 12 hours of playtime on a full charge. For added convenience, the keyboard comes with a large waterproof bag that keeps the instrument safe and dry.
NikoMaku Swan X
If you value not only touch sensitivity but also portability, then you should definitely have your eye on the folding pianos. NikoMaku Swan X is currently one of the best budget folding pianos on the market.
Related: 5 Best Folding Piano Keyboards – 2024 Guide
The touch sensitivity of the NikoMaku Swan X comes in various levels and overall delivers a satisfying and realistic playing experience. In terms of sound library, it is on par with other 88-key keyboards on this list, offering 128 different sounds, rhythms, and 21 demo songs.
Another feature that sets this folding piano apart is its exceptional sound and speaker system that delivers a clear and powerful sound.
This keyboard is also equipped with a unique noise cancellation technology, which significantly reduces the noise of the keys when playing with headphones and enhances your playing experience by providing a more focused practice session.
Furthermore, this piano keyboard from NikoMaku provides USB MIDI and Bluetooth connectivity options, making it easy to connect to other devices or audio equipment.
Wrapping Up
To sum up, these were the cheapest touch sensitive keyboards on the market that still deliver decent quality and essential features for beginner players. If you have a question about any of these keyboards or another keyboard that is not on this list, please post it below!
