Roland GO:PIANO88PX Review: 88 Keys, 12 Pounds
A Roland GO:PIANO88PX review covering the 88 full size keys, 12.8 lb weight, battery power, and the key action difference against a weighted digital piano.
Eighty eight full size keys in a piano light enough to carry, and the compromise that makes that possible.
The verdict: The GO:PIANO88PX gives a beginner the full 88 note range in an instrument that weighs less than thirteen pounds and runs on batteries, which no weighted piano can do. Buy it if portability is the deciding factor or the player is casual. Skip it if the student is taking classical lessons, because a teacher will want weighted keys and this is where the weight was saved.
Roland GO:PIANO88PX Entry-Level Portable 88-Note Digital Piano
~$350
An entry level portable 88 note digital piano with full size keys, an elegant simple interface, a lightweight 12.8 lb body and power from AA batteries or the included AC adaptor.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Keys | 88 full size |
|---|---|
| Weight | 5.8 kg, 12.8 lb |
| Power | AA batteries or the included AC adaptor |
| Interface | Simple controls for acoustic piano style performance |
| Use | Pop to classical repertoire per Roland |
Specifications above come from Roland's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- Eighty eight full size keys means no repertoire runs off the end of the keyboard, which is the practical failure of a 61 key instrument.
- Twelve and a half pounds is genuinely portable. A student can take it to a lesson, a grandparent's house or a bedroom in a way no weighted piano allows.
- Battery power removes the need for a socket, which matters more for casual playing and outdoor use than a specification sheet suggests.
- Roland's piano sounds at this price are good, and the sound is not where the compromise was made.
Where it falls short
- The keys are not weighted in the way a hammer action piano's are, and that is the compromise that buys the light weight. A classical teacher will notice within a lesson.
- Light keys teach a different touch, and a student who moves to an acoustic piano finds the transition harder than one who learned on weighted keys.
- The simple interface means limited onboard control, and there is no three pedal option.
- The built in speakers are small, as they must be in a body this light.
What owners report
Published owner reports praise the weight and the full key count, and describe the piano sounds as better than expected at this price. Casual players and travelling musicians are the happiest reporters.
The recurring criticism is the key action, which is exactly the specification that makes the weight possible. Reports from parents of lesson students consistently note that a teacher preferred weighted keys, which is the most useful signal on this page.
Who it suits
- Casual players who want the full range without the weight.
- Students who need to move the instrument regularly.
- Second instruments for travel, holidays or a second home.
Who should skip it
- Classical lesson students, who need a weighted hammer action.
- Anyone whose teacher has specified weighted keys, which most do.
- Players who want three pedals or room filling sound.
Alternatives worth considering
Roland FP-10 Compact 88-Note Digital Piano
~$500
A hundred and fifty dollars more for Roland's PHA-4 Standard weighted action, which is what a piano teacher will ask for. Heavier and mains powered, and the right choice if lessons are the plan.
Check price on AmazonAlesis Recital Pro MKII 88-Key Digital Piano
~$314
Thirty five dollars less with 88 weighted hammer action keys, a 20 watt speaker system and a lesson mode. Heavier and less refined than Roland, and it has the action the GO:PIANO does not.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- 61 vs 88 key keyboard
- Keyboard vs piano
- Best beginner keyboard
- Roland FP-10 review
- Alesis Recital Pro MKII review
- How long it takes to learn piano
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need weighted keys?
For classical lessons, yes, and teachers will say so: weighted keys build the finger strength and control that transfer to an acoustic piano. For casual playing, chords, songwriting or accompaniment, unweighted full size keys are perfectly usable. Be honest about which you are doing.
Is 88 keys necessary?
It matters more than weighting for some repertoire, because a 61 key keyboard simply runs out of notes. If you must choose one, a lesson student needs weighted keys and a casual player needs the range. Our 61 versus 88 key comparison sets out where each limit bites.
Can it run on batteries?
Yes, on AA batteries, with an AC adaptor included. That is genuinely useful for busking, camping, classrooms without sockets and children who want to play in a different room. Few 88 key instruments can do it.
Will a teacher accept it?
Some will for the first months, many will not for long. Ask before buying if lessons are planned. The objection is always the action rather than the sound, and no amount of practice on light keys builds the touch an acoustic piano needs.
GO:PIANO or a 61 key keyboard?
If you are choosing between unweighted options, take the 88 keys: the range limitation on a 61 key instrument arrives sooner and is more absolute than the touch limitation. Our keyboard versus piano comparison covers the wider question.