Featured model: Casio PX-S1100

Many people are eager to tackle a new hobby or master a new skill, which often ends up being learning a new instrument.

When it comes to the best digital pianos for beginners, at Casio we consistently strive to deliver a blend of reliability, innovative features, and affordability. Below are three of our Casio top picks to help you find the right beginner piano for you and to help launch your musical journey this year.

The CDP-S105 is a fantastic entry point for anyone starting out. Renowned for its slim, lightweight design, this digital piano can fit into almost any living space—ideal for those with limited room or who anticipate moving it frequently. Despite its compact size, the CDP-S105 features 88 fully weighted keys, giving you a realistic touch and feel that mimics an acoustic piano. This weighting is a crucial beginner piano feature for those who want to develop proper technique.

Moreover, the CDP-S105 offers a rich sound engine and built-in speakers that deliver impressive tone clarity. You don’t need a lot of extra gear to get started—just plug it in and play. And if you’re into late-night practice sessions, you can connect your headphones for quiet playing. It’s also compatible with Casio’s free educational app, Casio Music Space, which offers interactive lessons and real-time feedback to help accelerate your learning.

If you’re looking to elevate your beginner piano playing experience just a bit further, the CDP-S160 is a step up from the S105. It shares the same slim profile and weighted keys as many of our compact digital pianos, but with a striking red colour and inputs for three pedals. It also includes a song recorder function which can help you enhance your practice sessions, by being able to listen back to your performances to spot areas for improvement.

The CDP-S160 is also designed to work seamlessly with popular music learning apps, making it an excellent choice for those who value technology-assisted practice. From basic exercises to guided lessons, you can pair your piano with a tablet or smartphone to access tutorials and track your progress.

Rounding out this trio is the Casio PX-S1100, part of the acclaimed Privia series. While still beginner-friendly, this model boasts a sleek, contemporary design and offers a more detailed sound, with string resonance that mimics a grand piano. This creates an even more realistic response which can help you develop a nuanced playing technique that will serve you well as you progress.

If style is a priority—whether for a modern apartment or a more polished stage presence—the PX-S1100 certainly delivers. The piano is available in three different colours and holds the title of ‘the world’s slimmest digital piano with built-in speakers.’ Built-in Bluetooth audio and MIDI connectivity makes it simple to stream songs, use interactive learning apps, or even record your performances.

This connectivity can keep your practice sessions fresh and motivating, whether you’re learning classical pieces or popular tunes. Plus, the updated speaker system ensures your performances resonate with clarity and depth. 

Each of the above options could be described as the best digital piano for beginners in its own right. The CDP-S105 is budget-friendly and compact, perfect for first-time players in smaller spaces. The CDP-S160 adds a bit more power under the hood for those who want a richer, more expressive sound. The PX-S1100 offers advanced connectivity and a sleek aesthetic that will inspire you to keep playing day after day.

Whichever model you choose, you’ll be investing in a lifetime-long skill which offers multiple benefits to your well-being. Casio’s longstanding commitment to creating instruments that support growth, creativity, and authentic musical expression ensures you’re receiving an instrument that will support you for your entire musical journey. By starting with a quality digital piano, you’ll set yourself up for success as you embrace your new musical learning journey..

Starting your journey on a digital piano offers numerous advantages that traditional instruments simply can't match. Unlike old acoustic pianos, which are costly to maintain, digital models provide a perfect balance of authenticity and practicality.

They are much more affordable, require minimal maintenance (no expensive tuning), and come packed with features designed to accelerate your progress. For a first piano, this reduces the initial investment risk and allows you to focus purely on the joy of learning without the added burdens of a full acoustic model.

The best digital piano for a beginner is one that supports proper technique. Weighted piano keys and hammer action are critical, as these realistically mimic the feel of an acoustic instrument to build up your finger strength. Look for touch sensitivity, making sure that the volume changes based on how hard you strike the key.

You should also consider polyphony (the number of notes that can sound simultaneously)—we recommend at least 64 notes for beginners to keep your sound rich. Finally, motivating sound quality and appropriate sizing are key for making your home piano playing more enjoyable.

Key action is the soul of any piano. For proper development, you should ideally avoid non-weighted keys as a beginner, as these can feel ‘floppy’ and prevent your fingers from building up strength. The best beginner pianos include fully weighted key systems, providing the right amount of resistance to prepare you perfectly for an acoustic instrument.

Casio beginner models feature highly realistic actions where keys are subtly heavier in the bass registers, just like a grand piano. It’s also best to choose a beginner piano with 88 keys, or at least 64; while a smaller beginner keyboard might feel adequate at first, a full key range is essential for developing correct technique and eventually tackling more complicated pieces.

Great sound motivates you to practice longer! Modern digital pianos use advanced sound engines and detailed sampling technology to capture the depth of concert grands. Quality speaker systems are important when playing for a crowd, but the practicality of headphone options for silent practice can be just as crucial—a must-have for shared homes.

The flexibility to adjust the volume control for different settings (bedroom, living room) and explore a variety of instrument sounds keeps practice fun and will help to keep you interested once you’ve learned the basics.

The built-in tools of a digital piano are designed to be your personal tutor. Every learner needs a steady beat, so built-in metronomes and rhythm functions are invaluable. For guided learning, features like split keyboard and duet modes allow a teacher to play alongside you during lessons.

Connectivity is essential in today’s world: USB, MIDI, and Bluetooth inputs allow you to link your piano to learning apps and software (like Casio Music Space) for interactive lessons. Plus, recording features allow you to listen back to your playing—perfect for self-assessment and hearing your improvement as it happens.

Choosing the best digital piano for beginners sets the stage for a lifetime of musical enjoyment. The ideal first piano must blend an authentic feel (like weighted keys) with modern practicality (like silent practice and connectivity).

Whether you prioritise the slim profile and value of the CDP-S105, the enhanced features of the CDP-S160, or the premium aesthetic and connectivity of the PX-S1100, CASIO UK offers a beginner piano perfectly suited to your space and learning style.

Don't wait to start your journey—explore the full range of CASIO beginner pianos today and give your musical future the perfect start.