Arturia MIDI Keyboard roundup
The Best Arturia Midi Keyboards for the Money
At every price point in the Arturia range, one model stands out as the best value. Here is which one that is, and why — from £85 to £900.
When it comes to getting the best value from an Arturia midi keyboard, the range consistently punches above its price in every tier. The bundled software alone sets the brand apart — and the hardware has improved substantially with the mk3 generation. Chloe picks the best option at each budget.
Best Overall Value: KeyLab Essential 49 (£150)
The KeyLab Essential 49 is the most recommended all-rounder in the range. Forty-nine full-size, velocity-sensitive unweighted keys, sixteen pads, nine faders, eight encoders and the Analog Lab software suite. At £150, it undercuts many competitors with fewer features. The key action is lighter than the professional KeyLab line but comfortable for both keyboard playing and software triggering. This is the keyboard most producers and songwriters will be happiest with.
Best Budget Option: MiniLab 3 (£85)
The MiniLab 3 is the most affordable Arturia midi keyboard and one of the best compact controllers available at any price. Twenty-five velocity-sensitive minikeys, eight encoders, two touch strips and Analog Lab. USB-powered, lightweight, and portable enough to fit in a laptop bag. The minikeys are not suitable for pianists or players who want full-size keys — this is firmly a producer's tool for software control. At £85, the software bundle alone is worth close to the purchase price.
Best Mid-Range: KeyLab Essential 61 (£185)
For players who want the full two-octave reach that 61 keys provides, the KeyLab Essential 61 adds ten additional keys over the 49 for a small price premium. Workflow advantage is meaningful: being able to play basslines in one hand and chords in the other without transposing is practically useful. The rest of the spec matches the Essential 49, including the pads, faders and Analog Lab bundle.
Best Professional Option: KeyLab 49 mk3 (£350)
The KeyLab 49 mk3 is the entry to Arturia's premium line: aluminium construction, improved semi-weighted keybed, USB-C, MIDI 2.0 and deeper DAW integration than the Essential range. It ships with Pigments (Arturia's flagship synthesiser, worth £90 alone) and three additional V Collection instruments. For producers and keyboard players who use the controller for hours daily and need better feel and DAW integration, the mk3 is a worthwhile investment over the Essential line.
Best for Live Performance: KeyLab 61 mk3 (£450)
The 61 mk3 adds motorized faders over the 49 mk3 — and those faders make a substantial practical difference for live work. Motorized faders recall their positions automatically when you switch presets or DAW scenes, which means no manual adjustment mid-performance. The build quality is also better suited to regular transport and setup. For anyone who takes the keyboard between home and stage, the 61 mk3 is the recommended choice in the range.
Best for Pianists: KeyLab 88 mk3 (£900)
The only option in the range with a true hammer-action weighted keybed, the KeyLab 88 mk3 is designed for players who also compose and produce. The 88-note hammer action provides the resistance and rebound of a digital piano, which matters for players who switch between acoustic piano and studio production. This is not a controller for producers who do not play piano — but for those who do, nothing else in the range comes close.
Summary Table
- £85 — MiniLab 3: Best compact/portable option
- £150 — KeyLab Essential 49: Best all-round value
- £185 — KeyLab Essential 61: Best mid-range with more keys
- £350 — KeyLab 49 mk3: Best premium build for daily producers
- £450 — KeyLab 61 mk3: Best for live performance
- £900 — KeyLab 88 mk3: Best for pianists
For the full breakdown of features across the range, the overview explains every specification in detail. Buying for the first time? The beginner's guide is the place to start.
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