Best Keyboards with Aftertouch (2026): 5 Picks Compared
Updated Nov 13, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Ranked from listed specifications · How we rank
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The Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII leads for aftertouch: 88 weighted hammer-action keys with aftertouch, 16 pads, 9 faders and 9 knobs. If you want polyphonic aftertouch in a board that slides into a backpack, the ESI Xkey 37 is the pick, with 37 full-size keys and a 0.6-inch aluminum body.
The picks at a glance
Which one should you buy?
- Players who want 88 weighted keys with aftertouch: Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII 88 Key Weighted See pick 1More picks: Best Weighted Keyboard
- Players who want a board that slides into a backpack: ESI Xkey 37 Ultra-Thin MIDI Controller Keyboard See pick 2
- Players who want Bluetooth and 37 full-size keys: Artesia Xkey 37 Air Bluetooth MIDI Keyboard See pick 3
- Players who want 73 weighted keys with aftertouch: STUDIOLOGIC See pick 4More picks: Best Weighted Piano Keyboard
- Players who want polyphonic aftertouch over each note: Ashun Sound Machines ASM Hydrasynth Keyboard 49 Key Synthesizer See pick 5
Want the full range? Best Keyboard Pianos ranks the top portable keyboards for every buyer, or browse all 48 guides.
The 5 picks, ranked
1Best Overall
Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII 88 Key Weighted
- Keys: 88, the most here
- Touch-sensitive keys
It earns Best Overall with 88 weighted hammer-action keys, aftertouch, 16 pads, 9 faders and 9 knobs.
Who it suits
- Players who want 88 weighted keys with aftertouch
- Players who want 16 pads, 9 faders and 9 knobs
Skip it if
- You need a board under 33.1 lb
- You want fewer than 88 keys
It has an 88-note Fatar TP/100LR keybed, 16 RGB-backlit pads, 9 faders and 9 rotary knobs. It connects over USB MIDI and includes Analog Lab V software. A stand is not included.
2Runner-Up
ESI Xkey 37 Ultra-Thin MIDI Controller Keyboard
- Keys: 37
- Touch-sensitive keys
- 3-year warranty stated
It earns Runner-Up with 37 full-size keys, polyphonic aftertouch and a 0.6-inch aluminum body at 1.9 lb.
Who it suits
- Players who want a board that slides into a backpack
- Players who want polyphonic aftertouch on 37 keys
Skip it if
- You want more than 37 keys
- You want a board that weighs over 2 lb
It has 37 full-size smart velocity-sensitive keys with polyphonic aftertouch, configurable in the free Xkey Plus app. The included Xcable adapter adds a 5-pin DIN MIDI output and 1/4-inch connectors for Expression and Sustain pedals. It connects over USB-C with no drivers, and it carries a 3-year warranty.
3Also Great
Artesia Xkey 37 Air Bluetooth MIDI Keyboard
- Keys: 37
- Touch-sensitive keys
- 3-year warranty stated
It earns Also Great with 37 full-size keys, polyphonic aftertouch and Bluetooth for wireless play.
Who it suits
- Players who want Bluetooth and 37 full-size keys
- Players who want on-the-go music creation
Skip it if
- You want more than 37 keys
- You want a board over 2 lb
It has 37 full-size velocity-sensitive keys with polyphonic aftertouch, configurable in the free Xkey Plus app. Bluetooth gives a wireless connection with ultra-low latency, and the 0.6-inch aluminum frame weighs 2 lb. It carries a 3-year warranty and works with PC, Mac, iPhone and iPad.
4Also Great
STUDIOLOGIC
- Keys: 73
- Touch-sensitive keys not stated in the listing
- 2-year warranty stated
It earns Also Great with 73 weighted keys, aftertouch, a color display and a USB-C audio interface.
Who it suits
- Players who want 73 weighted keys with aftertouch
- Players who want MIDI 2.0 and DAW transport controls
Skip it if
- You want more than 73 keys
- You want a board under 24.7 lb
It has 73 weighted keys with TP/110 Premium Hammer Action and aftertouch, and a color display with visual codes for quick navigation. The USB-C port carries power, MIDI and a connection to the Numa Player for direct sound management. It supports MIDI 2.0 and works with Ableton Live, Logic Pro and Cubase, and it carries a 2-year warranty.
5Also Great
Ashun Sound Machines ASM Hydrasynth Keyboard 49 Key Synthesizer
- Keys: 49
- Touch-sensitive keys not stated in the listing
- 2-year warranty stated
It earns Also Great with a Polytouch keybed, polyphonic aftertouch over each note and a 4-octave ribbon controller.
Who it suits
- Players who want polyphonic aftertouch over each note
- Players who want a 4-octave ribbon controller
Skip it if
- You want more than 49 keys
- You want a board under 32.4 lb
It has a Polytouch keybed with polyphonic aftertouch over each note, and a 4-octave ribbon controller with pitch and mod wheels. The wavetable synthesis engine has 3 Oscillators, dual Wave Mutators and 2 filters that can run in series or parallel. It weighs 32.4 lb and carries a 2-year warranty.
Side by side
| Product | Keys | Touch-sensitive keys | Built-in sounds | Presets / patterns | Speaker power | Runs on batteries | Headphone output | Weight | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII 88 Key Weighted | 88 | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 33.1 lb | Not stated |
| ESI Xkey 37 Ultra-Thin MIDI Controller Keyboard | 37 | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 1.9 lb | 3-year |
| Artesia Xkey 37 Air Bluetooth MIDI Keyboard | 37 | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 2 lb | 3-year |
| STUDIOLOGIC | 73 | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 24.7 lb | 2-year |
| Ashun Sound Machines ASM Hydrasynth Keyboard 49 Key Synthesizer | 49 | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 32.4 lb | 2-year |
How we ranked these portable keyboards
Every pick ranks in Amazon's best-seller list for its category and has a listing with real specifications. The order mixes two things: how each model compares on the specs below (higher share of the best value in this group scores more), and how widely it is bought. The spec score runs from 9.0 to 9.8 and only compares these picks with each other. A spec the listing does not state is left out and the other specs are re-weighted; a listing with fewer than 2 stated specs is scored at half. We do not test gear in person. Full method.
- Keys weight 3
- Touch-sensitive keys weight 2
- Built-in sounds weight 2
- Presets / patterns weight 1
- Speaker power weight 1
- Runs on batteries weight 1
- Headphone output weight 1
Buying advice: keyboards with aftertouch
Check polyphonic aftertouch
Aftertouch lets you change a note after you press it, by pressing harder on the key. Polyphonic aftertouch works on each note on its own, so a note can change while the rest hold still. The ESI Xkey 37, the Artesia Xkey 37 Air and the Hydrasynth name polyphonic aftertouch, while the Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII and the Studiologic SL73 MK2 name aftertouch. If you hold several notes at a time and want each note to change on its own, pick a board that names polyphonic aftertouch.
Match the key count to your setup
Key counts here run from 37 to 88. The Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII has 88 weighted keys, the Studiologic SL73 MK2 has 73 weighted keys, and the Hydrasynth has 49 keys. The ESI Xkey 37 and the Artesia Xkey 37 Air have 37 full-size keys each. A board with fewer keys takes less desk space, and a board with 88 keys gives a full piano range.
Weigh the board before you buy
Weights here run from 1.9 lb to 33.1 lb, so check the figure for the board you pick. The ESI Xkey 37 weighs 1.9 lb and the Artesia Xkey 37 Air weighs 2 lb, while the Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII weighs 33.1 lb and the Hydrasynth weighs 32.4 lb.
Frequently asked questions
What is aftertouch on a keyboard?
Aftertouch lets you change a note after you press it, by pressing harder on the key. Every keyboard here has aftertouch, and the ESI Xkey 37, the Artesia Xkey 37 Air and the Hydrasynth name polyphonic aftertouch.
Which keyboard here has 88 keys?
The Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII has 88 weighted hammer-action keys with aftertouch. The Studiologic SL73 MK2 has 73 weighted keys, and the Hydrasynth has 49 keys.
How do the ESI Xkey 37 and the Artesia Xkey 37 Air connect?
The ESI Xkey 37 connects over USB-C with no drivers, and it works with Mac, PC, macOS, Windows, iOS, Linux and Android. The Artesia Xkey 37 Air connects over Bluetooth and works with PC, Mac, iPhone and iPad.
What software comes with these keyboards?
The Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII includes Analog Lab V software. The ESI Xkey 37 and the Artesia Xkey 37 Air use the free Xkey Plus app, and the Studiologic SL73 MK2 works with the Numa Player.
Gear that goes with it
Best Sustain PedalTop pick: M-AUDIO SP-2 Universal Sustain Pedal Classic Piano-Style
Best Piano BenchTop pick: Liquid Stands Piano Bench Adjustable Stool
Best Piano StandTop pick: tipatyard Keyboard Stand & Bench Set
Best Mixing HeadphonesTop pick: beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro Studio HeadphonesMore portable keyboards guides
Specifications and availability come from each Amazon listing on Nov 13, 2026 and can change. Check the listing before you buy.