Roland
FP-60X
$1,100
Roland's mid-range powerhouse with mic input
9.7 Beginner 8.5 Night Practice 5.0 Portability 8.2 Touch Reality 7.0 Value
88 19.3kg
View Details Kawai
ES920
Kawai's best portable action with OLED display
MSRP
$1,300
Source: Sweetwater product page (manufacturer site unavailable) (2025-04-06)
88 Keys 14.5 kg responsive hammer iii
Bluetooth
Scores
Our Verdict
If how the piano feels under your fingers matters more than anything else, the ES920 has the best key action you can get in a portable piano at this price.
Pros
- ● Responsive Hammer III with let-off — Kawai's best portable action
- ● 256-note polyphony with Harmonic Imaging XL
- ● Powerful 40W speakers
- ● OLED display for intuitive operation
- ● Bluetooth Audio + MIDI
- ● 100 built-in rhythms
- ● Dual headphone jacks with spatial optimization
Cons
- ● No battery option
- ● 14.5 kg — heavier than slim portables
- ● Only 38 sounds (fewer than Roland competitors)
The ES920 is the piano player's portable. While the Roland FP-60X has more sounds and a microphone input, the ES920 wins on what matters most: how it feels to play. The 40W speakers fill a room beautifully, the OLED display makes settings easy to navigate, and Kawai's key action is simply the best in its class. If you're returning to piano and want an instrument that respects your experience, this is it.
Technical Deep Dive
About the Key Action
These keys have a richness and depth to the touch that's immediately noticeable. Low notes feel heavy and substantial; high notes feel light and quick — just like on a grand piano. When you press a key very slowly, you'll feel a gentle resistance partway through the stroke, which helps you control the softest passages with precision. The keys also have a slight counterweight, so they spring back naturally and don't feel 'floppy' at the top. Among portable pianos in this price range, this is the closest you'll get to the feel of a real instrument.
Who Is This Piano For?
You took piano lessons as a kid or played through school, and now — decades later — you want to come back to it. You remember what a real piano feels like, and the cheap keyboards at the electronics store just feel wrong. You want something that rewards your existing skills and makes practice feel genuinely musical, not like pressing buttons.
Specifications
| Keys | 88 |
| Key Action | Responsive Hammer Iii |
| Polyphony | 256 notes |
| Sounds | 38 |
| Weight | 14.5 kg |
| Speakers | 40W (×2) |
| Bluetooth | Audio + MIDI |
| Key Surface | Simulated Ivory |
| Sound Modeling | Harmonic Imaging XL |
| Headphone Jacks | 2 |
| Headphone Type | 3.5mm, 6.3mm |
| Headphone Optimization | Yes |
| USB MIDI | Yes |
| Line Out | Yes |
| Lesson Function | Yes |
| App Connectivity | Yes |
| Recording | Yes |
| Metronome | Yes |
| Transpose | Yes |
| Layer / Split | Yes |
| Preset Songs | 100 |
| Battery | No |
| Foldable | No |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 1340×375×145 mm |
| Stand Included | No |
| Pedal Included | Yes |
Recommended Accessories
🪑
Stand
Stand not included (sold separately)
A sturdy X-stand or furniture-style stand is essential if one isn't included.
🎧
Headphones
Closed-back headphones with good bass response make practice sessions more enjoyable.
🎹
Sustain Pedal
The included pedal is usually basic. A half-damper pedal upgrade is worthwhile for expressive playing.
💺
Bench
An adjustable-height bench helps maintain proper posture during long practice sessions.
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