A MIDI keyboard doesn't make sound by itself. It plays and controls the instruments inside your music software, from pianos and synths to drums and orchestras. The right one makes writing music faster and far more fun.
The main choice is size: how many keys you need, and how much desk space you have. We've picked four keyboards available on Amazon UK, from a compact 25-key starter to a full 88 keys.
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Our picks at a glance
Best overall:Novation Launchkey 49 MK4. Semi-weighted keys, expressive pads and built-in chord and scale tools for writing music fast.
Best compact:Akai Professional MPK Mini IV. The hugely popular 25-key starter, now with proper pitch and mod wheels and a colour screen.
Best software bundle:Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 mk3. 61 full-size keys, nine faders and one of the best bundles of sounds you can get.
Best 88-key:Nektar Impact LX88 mk3. A full 88-key range with pads, knobs and faders, and integration with almost every DAW.
Side-by-side comparison
Novation Launchkey 49 MK4
Akai Professional MPK Mini IV
Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 mk3
Nektar Impact LX88 mk3
Price tier
Mid-range
Budget
Mid-range
Mid-range
Keys
49 semi-weighted
25 mini
61 full-size
88 semi-weighted
Pads
16
8
8
8
Faders
Yes
No
9
8
Pitch/mod wheels
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Five-pin MIDI out
Yes
Yes
Yes
See listing
1. Best overall: Novation Launchkey 49 MK4
The Launchkey 49 MK4 is designed for writing music. Its 49 semi-weighted keys feel more substantial than typical controllers, and its 16 pads respond to pressure for expressive drums. Built-in chord, scale and arpeggiator modes help you find ideas even if you don't play keys well, and it integrates deeply with Ableton Live (included as Live 12 Lite) as well as Logic, Cubase, FL Studio and others. It also has a five-pin MIDI output for hardware synths. It has been reviewed by MusicRadar, Sound On Sound and Attack Magazine.
Key features
49 semi-weighted keys
16 pads with polyphonic aftertouch
Chord, scale and arpeggiator modes
Deep DAW integration
Five-pin MIDI out
Great for
Ableton users
Writing chords and melodies
Producers who aren't trained pianists
Not ideal for
Pianists who want weighted keys
Very small desks
Worth knowing: Small screen. Mapping third-party plugins can be fiddly.
The MPK Mini has been many producers' first controller, and the fourth version is the best yet. It now has real pitch and modulation wheels instead of a joystick, a colour screen, eight MPC-style pads for drums and eight knobs for controlling software. It's small enough to sit in front of a laptop, and it comes with a big software bundle including Komplete Select and Ableton Live Lite. MusicRadar recommends it for beginners. The trade-off is the small keys, which are fine for beats and melodies but cramped for two-handed playing.
Key features
25 velocity-sensitive mini keys
8 MPC-style pads
Pitch and mod wheels
Colour screen and 8 knobs
Bundle includes Komplete Select and Ableton Live Lite
Great for
Beginners
Beat makers
Small desks and travel
Not ideal for
Two-handed piano playing
Pro Tools users wanting the bundled instruments
Worth knowing: Mini keys feel cramped for pianists. The bundled instrument collection doesn't support Pro Tools.
3. Best software bundle: Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 mk3
If you want room for both hands and lots of physical controls, the KeyLab Essential 61 mk3 delivers. It has 61 full-size keys, nine faders and nine knobs for mixing and tweaking, eight pressure-sensitive pads and a screen for browsing sounds. Its bundle is outstanding: Arturia's Analog Lab V with thousands of synth and keyboard sounds, Ableton Live Lite, Komplete Select and a quality piano. It integrates with major DAWs and works with Native Instruments' NKS sounds.
Key features
61 full-size keys
9 faders and 9 encoders
8 pressure-sensitive pads
Analog Lab V, Ableton Live Lite and Komplete Select
Scripts for major DAWs
Great for
Two-handed playing
Mixing with physical faders
People who want lots of sounds out of the box
Not ideal for
Very small desks
Players who want aftertouch
Worth knowing: Plastic body with some flex. Limited stock on this listing; check availability.
For piano parts and orchestral writing, nothing beats having all 88 keys. Nektar's Impact LX88 mk3, launched in 2025, pairs a full-size semi-weighted keybed with eight pads, nine knobs and eight faders. Nektar is known for integration with a very wide range of music software, including Ableton, Bitwig, Cubase, FL Studio, Logic, Reaper and Studio One, and it supports NKS sounds. Note that it's semi-weighted rather than a weighted piano action.
Key features
88 semi-weighted keys
8 pads, 9 encoders and 8 faders
Integration with most major DAWs
NKS support
Great for
Keyboard players
Piano and orchestral parts
Users of less common DAWs
Not ideal for
Small desks
Players who want a weighted, piano-like feel
Worth knowing: Not a hammer-action piano feel. Needs a wide desk or keyboard stand.
25 keys suits beat-making, basslines and small desks. 49 keys gives you room for chords with one hand and melodies with the other. 61 keys suits two-handed playing, and 88 keys gives you the full piano range for classical and orchestral parts.
Key feel
Synth-action keys are light and fast. Semi-weighted keys have a little more resistance and feel more substantial. If you're a trained pianist, you may prefer a fully weighted, hammer-action keyboard, which is heavier and usually more expensive.
Pads, knobs and faders
Pads are great for programming drums. Knobs and faders let you tweak sounds and mix without reaching for the mouse. More controls mean more physical control, but also a bigger, busier keyboard.
Check your music software
All of these work with any music software as standard MIDI devices, but deeper integration (where the controls automatically map to your software) varies. Check the keyboard supports your DAW, especially if you use Pro Tools or something less common.
How we chose
We started with MIDI keyboards recommended by independent music publications including MusicRadar, Sound On Sound and Attack Magazine, then checked which are currently available on Amazon UK. We compared key count and feel, pads and controls, DAW integration, connectivity and bundled software.
We haven't tested these keyboards in person. Our picks are based on manufacturer specifications, independent reviews and listing information, which we checked on 16 October 2026. Prices and availability change, so always check the details on Amazon before buying.
Frequently asked questions
What about Native Instruments Kontrol keyboards?
Native Instruments' Kontrol S-series and Komplete Kontrol A-series are excellent, especially if you use Kontakt and NI's sounds, but they were unavailable or out of stock on Amazon UK when we checked. We'll add them when they're back.
Does a MIDI keyboard make sound on its own?
No. A MIDI keyboard sends notes and control information to software on your computer, which makes the sound. All four of our picks come with software instruments so you can start making music straight away.
Do I need an audio interface for a MIDI keyboard?
Not to connect the keyboard: it plugs in by USB. You'll want an audio interface for better sound quality and lower delay when playing, and for recording microphones or connecting studio monitors.
Why don't you show prices?
Prices on Amazon change often, and we only want to show you accurate information. Use the 'Check price on Amazon' buttons to see the current price and delivery options.
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