Best Portable Keyboard Controllers 2025: MIDI Keyboards for Your Hand Luggage
Travel-Friendly MIDI Controllers
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Best Portable Keyboard Controllers 2025: MIDI Keyboards for Your Hand Luggage · Source: M-Audio
Like to travel light? A portable keyboard controller fits in your hand luggage and lets you get creative in your favorite DAW software wherever you are. These are our favorite portable keyboard controllers in 2025.
Portable Keyboard Controllers
Best Portable Keyboard Controllers
If you travel a lot, but don’t want to haul your full-size MIDI controller around every time you hit the road, a small portable keyboard controller is the way to go. While these don’t offer all the bells and whistles of bigger models for studio use, many of them are surprisingly capable and let you take control of software synths and your DAW. What better way to pass the time on the plane, train, or tour bus than to get creative?
Portable keyboard controllers are available in a variety of sizes and with different feature sets. Before you purchase, you should decide which features are most important to you. Some controllers offer little more than a MIDI keyboard, but are so tiny they fit in your laptop bag or even shirt pocket. Others come with assignable controls such as faders, rotary knobs, or pads, which makes them a bit larger, but also more versatile. And if you want to control hardware synths or even a Eurorack system, you should make sure the controller offers a MIDI output (not just USB) and/or CV/Gate outputs.
While all portable keyboard controllers on this list will work with any software that receives MIDI data, some are optimized for specific programs such as Ableton Live or FL Studio. It’s always a good idea to check whether a controller supports your DAW software directly, as that usually means a deeper level of control.
Note: As the requirements vary greatly, this article is not a ranking! Instead, we’ve listed some of the best and most popular portable keyboard controllers available today, so you can decide for yourself which one is the best fit for your specific application.
AKAI Professional MPK Mini MK3 Series: Versatile Portable Keyboard Controllers
Now in its third generation, AKAI’s long-running MPK Mini series is still among the best portable keyboard controllers. These controllers impress with their versatile features, sturdy build quality, and surprisingly playable action for mini keys. Thanks to AKAI’s cooperation with Native Instruments, the series now supports the NKS standard for intuitive control over compatible software instruments such as the NI Komplete bundle and many others.
The MPK Mini is available in three versions. The base model (MPK Mini MK3) offers 25 velocity-sensitive mini keys and a 4-way joystick for pitch bend and modulation. You also get eight illuminated pads with the Note Repeat and Full Level features from the MPC series. In addition, the MPK Mini MK3 offers eight assignable 360° encoders for controlling software synths and other things in your DAW. Thanks to NKS compatibility, you don’t need to assign the controls manually when controlling compatible instruments. Furthermore, the AKAI MPK Mini MK3 is equipped with an arpeggiator. One drawback is that the connectivity is rather basic, with a sustain pedal jack being the only other connector alongside the USB port.
The MPK Mini MK3 is available in various colors at Thomann*.
Fancy some internal sounds? The AKAI MPK Mini Play MK3 is similar in size to the MPK Mini, but comes with over 100 built-in sounds and a built-in speaker and headphone output. To make room for the speaker, AKAI replaced the eight 360° encoders of the standard model with four standard rotary knobs, which can be assigned in two banks. This controller also features an arpeggiator and supports the NKS standard.
The AKAI MPK Mini Play MK3 is available at Thomann*.
If you want a slightly larger keyboard that also offers versatile features for controlling hardware synths and modular systems, the AKAI MPK Mini Plus is the way to go. This keyboard controller not only offers an extra octave (37 mini keys) and dedicated wheels for pitch bend and modulation, but also comes with a polyphonic step sequencer and analog CV/Gate connectivity. In addition, the MPK Mini Plus features 5-pin MIDI connectors for controlling hardware synths. While it is a bit larger, these features make it one of the most versatile portable keyboard controllers available today.
The AKAI MPK Mini Plus is available at Thomann*.
Arturia MiniLab 3: Keyboard Controller with Hundreds of Included Sounds
Like the MPK Mini, the Arturia MiniLab has also been around for a long time and is now in its third generation. This portable keyboard controller features 25 velocity-sensitive slim keys and two touch strips for pitch bend and modulation. You also get eight velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads, eight assignable encoders, four faders, and an arpeggiator. This gives you plenty of versatility for controlling your DAW software and software instruments on the go.
Speaking of software instruments, the Arturia MiniLab 3 comes with Analog Lab Intro, a collection of hundreds of sounds from Arturia’s acclaimed software synths. These are automatically mapped to the knobs and faders of the keyboard, so you don’t need to assign anything manually.
The Artuia MiniLab 3 connects via USB-C and runs on bus power. It also offers a sustain pedal jackand a 5-pin MIDI output for controlling hardware instruments.
The Arturia MiniLab 3 is available in several colors at Thomann*.
Novation Launchkey Mini MK4 and FLkey Mini: Portable Keyboard Controllers for Ableton Live and FL Studio
Novation was one of the first manufacturers to release a series of keyboard controllers specifically designed for Ableton Live. The Launchkey Mini MK4 is the most portable keyboard controller in the current MK4 range, offering 25 or 37 velocity-sensitive mini keys and two touch strips. It also features 16 Launchpad-style pads with polyphonic aftertouch for launching clips and recording drums in Ableton Live and other DAWs, as well as eight continuous encoders for controlling software instruments. Other features include DAW transport buttons, an arpeggiator, and Scale and Chord modes. In addition to a USB-C port, the Launchkey Mini MK4 offers a 3.5 mm MIDI output and a sustain pedal jack.
It’s important to note that while the Launchkey Mini MK4 has been optimized for Ableton Live, it also works seamlessly with many other DAWs such as Logic Pro, Cubase, Bitwig Studio, Reason, FL Studio, Ardour, and more.
Prefer FL Studio? The Novation FLkey Mini is similar to the Launchkey Mini, but optimized for FL Studio. This controller with 25 slim keys seamlessly integrates with the DAW for intuitive control of the Channel Rack, step sequencer, instruments, and other features.
The Novation Launchkey Mini MK4 and FLkey Mini are available at Thomann*.
AKAI APC Key 25 MK2: Portable Keyboard Controller for Ableton Live
AKAI Professional also offers a portable keyboard controller that has been optimized for the Ableton Live workflow. Alongside 25 velocity-sensitive slim keys, the APC Key 25 MK2 features a 5 x 8 pad matrix for launching and controlling clips in Ableton Live. It also offers eight rotary knobs, which can be assigned to volume, pan, send, or device parameters. One drawback of the APC Key 25 MK2 is that it offers no other connectors besides the USB port, so you can’t connect a sustain pedal or use the keyboard to control hardware synths directly.
The AKAI APC Key 25 MK2 is available at Thomann*.
KORG nanoKEY series: Tiny, Tinier, Tiniest
KORG’s long-running nanoKEY series is still among the most popular portable keyboard controllers on the market. If you want something that you can slip into your briefcase or the seatback pocket on the plane (just remember to grab it when you deplane!), these tiny controllers are a great option. That said, you’ll have to get used to a rather unusual keyboard action.
The nanoKEY 2 is available in black and white. It offers 25 velocity-sensitive keys that are more like rubber pads, but surprisingly playable once you get used to them. It also has buttons for pitch bend, octave shift, modulation, and sustain. That’s about it, but in many cases, that’s all you need to get creative on the go. Unfortunately, KORG hasn’t updated the nanoKEY 2 in a while and it connects via an outdated mini-USB port, but it still gets the job done if portability is key.
If you want a little more, you can opt for the nanoKEY Studio, which adds eight velocity-sensitive pads, eight rotary knobs, an X/Y pad from the KAOSS Pad series, and wireless Bluetooth connectivity. This controller also has a built-in arpeggiator.
The KORG nanoKEY 2 and nanoKEY Studio are available at Thomann*.
Want something even smaller? Then check out the new KORG nanoKEY Fold. This tiny foldable keyboard controller is no larger than a modern smartphone when folded and slips right into your jacket pocket. Despite the miniature size, it’s surprisingly versatile, offering 25 velocity-sensitive membrane keys, scale and chord modes, an arpeggiator, USB-C, and even TRS MIDI. It doesn’t get any more portable than this!
The KORG nanoKEY Fold is available in five striking colors at Thomann*.
- KORG nanoKEY 2 product page
- KORG nanoKEY Studio product page
- KORG nanoKEY Fold product page
- More from KORG
M-Audio Oxygen Pro Mini: Portable Keyboard Controller with a Long Heritage
M-Audio’s Oxygen series has been around for a long time – in fact, the original Oxygen was the first widely available USB keyboard controller back in the early 2000s. Featuring 32 velocity-sensitive mini keys, the Oxygen Pro Mini is the most portable model of the current Oxygen Pro line. It’s also got pitch and modulation wheels, as well as eight velocity-sensitive RGB pads with Note Repeat for launching clips and recording drum grooves. Moreover, the Oxygen Pro Mini features four assignable faders, knobs, and buttons each for controlling your virtual software instruments, plugins, and DAW mixer.
Other features of the Oxygen Pro Mini include Smart Scale and Smart Chord modes, as well as a versatile arpeggiator. For easy configuration and mapping, the Oxygen Pro Mini comes with pre-installed templates for most major DAWs. In addition to a USB port, the compact controller offers a MIDI output for controlling hardware gear. It also has a sustain pedal jack.
The M-Audio Oxygen Pro Mini is available at Thomann*.
Nektar Impact GX Mini: Portable Keyboard Controller with Deep DAW Integration
The Nektar Impact GX Mini is an especially compact and affordable option when it comes to portable keyboard controllers. It offers 25 velocity-sensitive mini keys, a 4-way joystick for pitch bend and modulation, and a set of octave and DAW transport buttons. Despite its tiny size and affordable price, it comes with Nektar’s signature DAW integration for easy mapping to most major DAWs. The Impact GX Mini connects via USB and offers a sustain pedal jack, although the latter unfortunately requires the use of a dangly adapter (included).
The Nektar Impact GX Mini is available at Thomann*.
Arturia KeyStep Series: Portable Keyboard Controllers for Hardware and Modular Systems
Head to any modular meet or performance, and you’ll likely spot one or more Arturia KeySteps on stage. There’s a simple reason for this: the KeyStep was the first portable keyboard controller that not only came with a built-in step sequencer, but also featured CV/gate outputs for controlling modular gear. This was a clever move on Arturia’s part, as the KeyStep still reigns supreme in the modular world.
The base model offers 32 velocity-sensitive slim keys with aftertouch (another advantage of the KeyStep). In addition to an 8-voice polyphonic step sequencer with up to 64 steps, there’s an arpeggiator with eight modes. With 5-pin MIDI in/out, gate and two CV outputs, and analog sync in/out, the KeyStep is unrivaled when it comes to controlling external hardware. That said, you can of course also hook it up to your computer to control software synths in your DAW.
Building on the success of the original KeyStep, Arturia later added the larger KeyStep 37 and KeyStep Pro to the line-up. While these models are slightly less portable, they offer additional features for more complex control applications.
The Arturia KeyStep series is available at Thomann*.
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