Artesia
PA-88H
$250
Artesia PA-88H: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
4.4 Beginner 5.5 Night Practice 6.0 Portability 4.9 Touch Reality 6.5 Value
88 11 kg
Artesia PE-88 Review
Artesia PE-88: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
88 Keys 11.5 kg Hammer Action Beginner
Scores
Where to Buy
MSRP
$350
Retail prices change, so check current pricing at retailers.
These buttons open retailer search results and may include affiliate tracking where available. Stock and listing status can change without notice.
How These Scores Were Calculated
Beginner
7.1| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 3.0 |
| Lesson Function | Yes | +1.5 |
| App Connectivity | No | +0 |
| Recording | Yes | +1 |
| Metronome | Yes | +0.5 |
| Transpose | Yes | +0.3 |
| Layer / Split | Yes | +0.3 |
| Preset Songs | 0 | +0 |
| Sound Variety | 137 sounds | +0.5 |
Night Practice
5.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 2.0 |
| Headphone Jacks | 1 | +1 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm | +1 |
| Headphone Optimization | No | +0 |
| Key Action Quietness | Hammer Action | +0.5 |
| Volume Control | Yes | +1 |
| Bluetooth Audio | No | +0 |
Portability
6.0| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 5.0 |
| Weight | 11.5 kg | +1 |
| Width | 1320 mm | +0 |
| Battery | No | +0 |
| Foldable | No | +0 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +0 |
Touch Reality
5.3| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Key Action Quality | Hammer Action (grade 5) | +3 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +1.5 |
| Polyphony | 128 notes | +0.8 |
| Sound Modeling | No | +0 |
| Key Surface | Standard | +0 |
Artesia PE-88 review verdict
This Artesia PE-88 review reads the published specifications from a comparison-first point of view: touch, sound, practice fit, value, and limits.
Artesia PE-88 is best read as a portable digital piano for beginners and returning players. This review looks at weighted-key feel, sound, practice features, value, and realistic comparison points instead of treating the spec sheet as advertising copy.
Pros
- • Key count: 88 keys, a clear basis for digital piano comparison.
- • Touch: weighted hammer action, so the review stays focused on practice feel.
- • Quiet practice: Headphone practice support.
- • Connectivity: USB MIDI.
- • Use case: Its best fit is home practice.
Cons
- • Main limit: the need for a furniture-style living-room instrument.
- • Stand cost and compatibility are separate checks.
- • Nearby current models may offer a better match for some players.
Artesia PE-88 is a portable digital piano that makes most sense when its strengths are matched to the right practice situation. The useful points are 88 keys, weighted hammer action, 128-note polyphony, 20W speakers, and a weight of 11.5 kg. In a digital piano review, those details matter more than broad claims about being the best digital piano overall. For home practice, this model can be a sensible candidate if the layout and feature set match the way the instrument will actually be used. It is still worth comparing as a current buying candidate. The fairest comparison is with models in the same price and use class, where touch, speakers, headphone practice, and connectivity can be judged side by side.
Artesia PE-88 evaluation points
Artesia PE-88 key action and touch
Artesia PE-88 uses a weighted hammer action. For a digital piano with weighted keys, the important question is not only whether the keys are heavy, but whether they help steady daily practice. The specification does not make the key surface the main selling point. The specification lists 128-note polyphony; that is enough for ordinary pieces, while more layered playing or heavy pedal use benefits from a higher number. This makes the key action a practical comparison point rather than a decorative specification.
Who the Artesia PE-88 is for
Artesia PE-88 is most relevant for beginners and returning players. The main use case is home practice. Strengths: portability and easy placement. Limits: the need for a furniture-style living-room instrument. Buyers comparing digital pianos should also check the stand, pedal, headphone jack, app support, and local availability before deciding.
Artesia PE-88 sound and speakers
Artesia PE-88 offers 137 sounds and 20W speakers. That is the sound side of the review: enough variety for practice, but the real experience depends on speaker power, headphone use, and the room where it will be played. The headphone output supports quiet practice. For lessons, apps, or recording workflows, the useful connectivity is USB MIDI.
What to know before buying the Artesia PE-88
Before buying Artesia PE-88, compare it with nearby alternatives on touch, sound, portability, and value. A stand may need to be budgeted separately. A damper pedal is included, though some players may still want a fuller pedal unit. It is still worth comparing as a current buying candidate. For searchers looking for a Artesia PE-88 review, the practical conclusion is to treat it as one candidate in a digital piano comparison, not as a universal answer for every player.
Demo Video
Video coming soon for this model
We embed videos from manufacturer official channels and trusted reviewers. As soon as a suitable demo or review is available, it will appear here.
Specifications
| Keys | 88 |
| Key Action | Hammer Action |
| Polyphony | 128 notes |
| Sounds | 137 |
| Weight | 11.5 kg |
| Speakers | 20W (×2) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Key Surface | — |
| Sound Modeling | |
| Headphone Jacks | 1 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm |
| Headphone Optimization | No |
| USB MIDI | Yes |
| Line Out | No |
| Lesson Function | Yes |
| App Connectivity | No |
| Recording | Yes |
| Metronome | Yes |
| Transpose | Yes |
| Layer / Split | Yes |
| Preset Songs | 0 |
| Battery | No |
| Foldable | No |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 1320×330×125 mm |
| Stand Included | No |
| Pedal Included | Yes |
Spec terms are explained in the glossary. Glossary →
Will it fit your space?
Enter the space you have and we'll check it against this piano's footprint.
Enter your available space above to check the fit.
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.
Where to Buy
MSRP
$350
Retail prices change, so check current pricing at retailers.
These buttons open retailer search results and may include affiliate tracking where available. Stock and listing status can change without notice.
How It Compares
PE-88 vs SP201
The PE-88 scores higher in portability. Choose the PE-88 if portability matters most.
Medeli SP201 →PE-88 vs DEP-60
The PE-88 scores higher in beginner support. The DEP-60 costs $101 less. Choose the PE-88 if beginner-friendly features matters most.
Donner DEP-60 →PE-88 vs Recital Pro
The PE-88 scores higher in beginner support, while the Recital Pro is stronger in portability. Choose the PE-88 if beginner-friendly features matters most.
Alesis Recital Pro →Related Guides
88 Keys vs 61 Keys: Which Digital Piano Size Is Right?
The number of keys on a digital piano seems like a simple spec, but the decision affects how you learn, what you can play, and how much you spend. The honest answer isn't "always get 88" — it depends on your goals. This guide walks through who genuinely needs a full keyboard, who is better served by fewer keys, and what the practical differences look like in daily practice.
Read more →Best Console Digital Pianos for the Home (2026)
A console digital piano is the closest thing to an acoustic upright you'll find without tuning and hammers. With a fixed cabinet, built-in three-pedal unit, and speakers voiced for the room, it behaves like a piece of furniture first and an instrument second. This guide explains what separates a great console from a middling one, which features actually matter at home, and which models deliver the best balance of touch, tone, and craftsmanship.
Read more →Best digital pianos for beginners: what actually matters in 2026
Choosing a first digital piano can feel harder than starting the music itself. A good beginner instrument is not the one with the longest feature list. It is the one that lets you sit down every day, change the volume quickly, practise with headphones, and build hand strength without making the keyboard feel like a toy. This guide focuses on what helps during the first six months, what is easy to overvalue, and when it is sensible to start with a portable model instead of a heavy console piano. If you learned piano years ago and are returning rather than starting fresh, the priorities are different — see our [guide for returning players](/en/guides/digital-piano-for-returning-senior-players/).
Read more →Best Digital Pianos for Church and Worship Use (2026)
A church piano has a harder job than a home piano. It needs to cover hymn accompaniment on Sunday morning, lead a praise set on Saturday night, back a choir rehearsal midweek, and survive the move between sanctuary and youth room. This guide explains what matters most in a worship context — reliable sounds, simple controls under stage lighting, clean connection to the sound desk — and which models serve that role without overspending. It also addresses when a stage piano or an arranger keyboard is a better fit than a standard digital piano.
Read more →What reviewers say online
A synthesis of recurring points from price-comparison sites, Amazon reviews, music-store staff videos and forum threads. Not a star-rating average — we read across multiple reviews and pulled out the points that came up repeatedly.
The Artesia PE-88 is a budget beginner-oriented hammer-action instrument that adds sounds, lesson features and recording to the PA-88H. In-depth independent reviews are few, and most assessments rest on retailer and listing-page descriptions and beginner-oriented blogs. Within that scope, the main voices praise getting a full basic set of features at a low price.
Praised most often
-
A full basic set of features at a low price
On top of hammer-action 88 keys, having a generous set of sounds, recording and lesson features is raised as an advantage for entry use. The take is that it makes for a more complete practice setup than the lower PA-88H.
-
Learning features that support self-study
A package that comes with online-lesson perks and music-production software is featured, and there are voices saying it makes it easy for a self-taught beginner to get a foothold. It can also connect to apps via the USB port.
-
Light and easy to handle
Being light, and so easy to carry and store, is praised. Being able to combine sounds with layer and split is also featured.
Common cautions and criticisms
-
The keys and piano sound are in line with the price
There is the point that the evenness of the hammer-action keys and the depth of the piano sound do not reach the majors in the same price class. The take is that it works for learning, but you may outgrow it as you improve.
-
Independent reviews are limited
In-depth third-party reviews that put this model through extended playing are few, so the evidence base is limited. It is safest to back up any judgment by trying the actual instrument or comparing it with other instruments in the same price class.
By source
-
Retailer / listing-page product information
On retailer and listing pages, there is a tendency to emphasise that it has the features in place for entry use, such as the generous sounds, lesson perks, recording and light weight.
-
Beginner blogs / independent reviews are limited
Some beginner-oriented introductory articles can be found, but in-depth reviews based on extended playing are on the few side, so the assessment is hard to pin down.
Net take
All in all, the PE-88 is an instrument aimed at those for whom 'the PA-88H has too few features, but who want to keep the budget down.' Getting sounds, lesson features and recording at a low price is a solid advantage, and it is a reasonable entry point for self-study. On the other hand, the quality of the keys and the piano sound is in line with the price, and because independent reviews are also few, there is a side to it that is hard to pin down. Once you have used it for a couple of years and improved, it is worth considering a step up to a major maker's instrument. Artesia is a US budget brand with limited distribution in Japan, so it is reassuring to check the retailer's support setup before buying.
We do not compute a numeric star average. The points below are recurring themes we identified by reading across multiple reviews.
Sources & transparency
This page is written by the operator, who has run the piano-learning site Piano Juku since 2017, based on published manufacturer specifications. We are not a retailer or tied to any maker — every model is compared by the same criteria. About the operator
- Last verified
- Data referenced from
- Manufacturer official
How the 5-axis scores are calculated
We do not aggregate user reviews or star ratings (see methodology for why).
Spot a mistake or have a question about what's on this page? Let us know and we'll review it.
Suggest a correctionSimilar Pianos
Closest in the same lineup
Same brand and the same product category, sorted by smallest price gap.
Alternatives from other brands
Different makers in the same category and a similar price band, ranked by how closely the spec-based scores match this model.
Donner
DEP-60
$249
Donner DEP-60: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
6.6 Beginner 5.5 Night Practice 6.0 Portability 5.3 Touch Reality 7.2 Value
88 10 kg
Medeli
SP201
$300
Medeli SP201: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
7.1 Beginner 5.5 Night Practice 5.5 Portability 5.3 Touch Reality 7.0 Value
88 12 kg
Ringway
RP35
$300
Ringway RP35: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
5.7 Beginner 5.5 Night Practice 5.5 Portability 4.9 Touch Reality 6.6 Value
88 12 kg
Search retailers
Artesia PE-88