By Shahadat Shahi Published Updated
Head-to-head
Five matched pairs · three 88-key pianos and two 61-key keyboards.
Quick verdict
Best choice: match the model to how you'll play
Choose Yamaha for the CFX piano sound, Bluetooth built into the piano, USB audio into a computer, and arranger keyboards with a mic input.
Choose Casio for battery power, the slimmest pianos, Bluetooth adaptors in the box, and the lightest keyboards.
Every spec comes from Yamaha's and Casio's own pages; we haven't played these instruments.
Yamaha vs Casio: which keyboard or digital piano should you buy? Both brands make 61-key keyboards and 88-key pianos at every level, so we compare them model for model: three pairs of digital pianos (entry portable, mid portable and home console) and two pairs of 61-key keyboards. Every spec comes from Yamaha's and Casio's own pages. We haven't played these instruments, and we don't quote prices, because they change.
Before the individual matchups, here's how the two brands compare across the ten models in this guide:
| Feature | | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| GHC on the P-145BT and P-225; GHS on the YDP-146 | Key action (88 keys) | Scaled Hammer Action II on the CDP-S160; Smart Scaled Hammer Action on the PX-S1100 and AP-S200 | Try the exact model |
| CFIIIS on the P-145BT; CFX with VRM Lite on the P-225 and YDP-146 | Piano sound | Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR on the PX-S1100 and AP-S200; AiX on the CT-S keyboards | Sound preference |
| NP-15 (15 voices); PSR-E483 arranger (860 voices, 345 styles) | 61-key keyboards | CT-S1 (61 tones); CT-S400 arranger (600 tones, 200 rhythms) | Depends on the job |
| Audio on the P-145BT and P-225; audio and MIDI on the YDP-146 (varies by area); none on the NP-15 and PSR-E483 | Bluetooth | Audio and MIDI through the WU-BT10: in the box with the PX-S1100 and AP-S200, optional for the CT-S1 and CT-S400; none on the CDP-S160 | Casio for wireless options |
| The NP-15 and PSR-E483 run on six AA; the pianos don't | Battery power | Six AA on the CDP-S160 (about 13 h), PX-S1100 (about 4 h), CT-S1 and CT-S400 | Casio |
| 44.1 kHz/24-bit on the P-225 and YDP-146; 16-bit on the P-145BT and PSR-E483 | USB audio to a computer | USB MIDI on every model here; the PX-S1100 and AP-S200 record audio to a USB flash drive | Yamaha |
| Smart Pianist on the P-225 and YDP-146 | Apps | Casio Music Space on the PX-S1100, AP-S200, CT-S1 and CT-S400 | Workflow dependent |
| Three built in on the YDP-146; optional LP-5A (P-145BT) and LP-1 (P-225) units | Pedals | Three built in on the AP-S200; optional SP-34 unit for the CDP-S160 and PX-S1100 | Model dependent |
The keys are the biggest difference between any two pianos, and the part you can't upgrade later.
Yamaha uses its GHC (Graded Hammer Compact) keyboard on the P-145BT and P-225 and GHS (Graded Hammer Standard) on the YDP-146, all with matte black keytops and Hard, Medium, Soft and Fixed touch settings.
Casio uses its Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II with three touch levels on the CDP-S160, and its Smart Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard with five touch levels on the PX-S1100 and AP-S200.
On the keyboards, none of the four 61-key models has weighted keys. The Yamaha NP-15 has box-type keys and the PSR-E483 organ-style keys, both touch-sensitive; the Casio CT-S1 and CT-S400 have full-size keys with three touch levels. If you want to learn piano technique, start with one of the 88-key pianos; our digital piano vs keyboard guide explains why.
Yamaha uses its CFIIIS piano sound with damper resonance on the P-145BT (64-note polyphony, 10 voices) and its CFX concert grand with VRM Lite on the P-225 (192 notes, 24 voices, with key-off samples) and the YDP-146 (192 notes, 10 voices).
Casio gives the CDP-S160 64-note polyphony and 10 tones. The PX-S1100 (18 tones) and AP-S200 (19 tones) use its Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR sound source with 192-note polyphony.
On the keyboards, Yamaha's NP-15 (15 voices) and PSR-E483 (860 voices) use AWM stereo sampling with 64-note polyphony. Casio's CT-S1 (61 tones, 64-note polyphony) and CT-S400 (600 tones, 48-note polyphony) use its AiX sound source.
Sound is personal. Listen through the speakers or headphones you'll actually use; engine names and voice counts describe the features, but they don't pick a winner.
The two brands build to the same sizes, with one clear difference: Casio's pianos are slimmer.
Portables: the Yamaha P-145BT is 268 mm deep and weighs 11.1 kg, and the P-225 is 272 mm and 11.5 kg. Casio's CDP-S160 and PX-S1100 are both 232 mm deep, at 10.5 kg and 11.2 kg.
Cabinets: the Yamaha YDP-146 is a traditional Arius cabinet, 422 mm deep and 38 kg, with a sliding key cover. The Casio AP-S200 is a slim Celviano, 299 mm deep and 34.0 kg, with a slide-type key cover. Both have three built-in pedals.
Keyboards: the Casio CT-S1 and CT-S400 weigh 4.5 kg each, the Yamaha NP-15 5.2 kg and the PSR-E483 7.0 kg.
Yamaha YDP-146
Casio AP-S200
Yamaha: the P-145BT and P-225 have Bluetooth audio for playing music from a phone through the piano, and the YDP-146 adds Bluetooth MIDI (both vary by area). All three have a USB audio interface for recording into a computer: 24-bit on the P-225 and YDP-146, 16-bit on the P-145BT. Yamaha's Smart Pianist app works with the P-225 and YDP-146.
Casio: the PX-S1100 and AP-S200 come with Casio's WU-BT10 adaptor for Bluetooth audio and MIDI, and the CT-S1 and CT-S400 can use it as an option; the CDP-S160 has no Bluetooth. Every Casio here connects to a computer by USB MIDI, and the Casio Music Space app works with the PX-S1100, AP-S200, CT-S1 and CT-S400.
On the keyboards, the Yamaha PSR-E483 has the most connections of the four: a microphone input, 1/4-inch line outputs, USB audio and recording to a USB flash drive.
Three pairs of 88-key digital pianos, matched by what they're for: an entry portable, a mid portable and a home cabinet piano.
Yamaha
Casio
Yamaha P-145BT: Yamaha's entry portable, with GHC keys, the CFIIIS piano sound, 64-note polyphony, 10 voices, Bluetooth audio and a USB audio interface, at 11.1 kg.
Casio CDP-S160: Casio's entry portable, with Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II keys, 64-note polyphony and 10 tones, at 10.5 kg and 232 mm deep, running on six AA batteries.
| Yamaha P-145BT | Spec | Casio CDP-S160 |
|---|---|---|
| GHC, matte black keytops | Key action | Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II, 3 touch levels |
| Yamaha CFIIIS, damper resonance | Piano sound | 10 tones |
| 64 notes | Polyphony | 64 notes |
| 7 W × 2 | Speakers | 8 W + 8 W |
| Audio (varies by area) | Bluetooth | None |
| USB audio interface (16-bit) and MIDI | USB | USB MIDI |
| No | Battery power | Six AA, about 13 hours |
| 11.1 kg | Weight | 10.5 kg |
| 268 mm | Depth | 232 mm |
| Footswitch included; optional LP-5A unit with the L-100 stand | Pedals | SP-3 included; optional SP-34 three-pedal unit with half-damper |
Buyer fit
Choose the P-145BT for Bluetooth audio and USB audio; choose the CDP-S160 for battery power and the lightest carry. Check P-145BT price on Amazon or check CDP-S160 price on Amazon.
Yamaha
Casio
Yamaha P-225: Yamaha's step-up portable, with GHC keys, the CFX sound with key-off samples and VRM Lite, 192-note polyphony, 24 voices, Bluetooth audio and a 24-bit USB audio interface.
Casio PX-S1100: Casio's slim Privia, with Smart Scaled Hammer Action keys, the AiR sound source, 192-note polyphony, 18 tones, battery power and the WU-BT10 Bluetooth adaptor in the box.
| Yamaha P-225 | Spec | Casio PX-S1100 |
|---|---|---|
| GHC, matte black keytops | Key action | Smart Scaled Hammer Action, 5 touch levels |
| Yamaha CFX, VRM Lite, key-off samples | Piano sound | Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR |
| 192 notes | Polyphony | 192 notes |
| 24 | Voices | 18 |
| 7 W × 2 | Speakers | 8 W + 8 W |
| Audio; MIDI with the optional UD-BT01 | Bluetooth | Audio and MIDI through the WU-BT10 (included) |
| USB audio interface (24-bit) and MIDI | USB | USB MIDI; audio recording to a flash drive |
| AUX OUT (L/L+R, R), 2 headphone jacks | Outputs | 1/4-inch line outputs, 2 headphone jacks |
| No | Battery power | Six AA, about 4 hours |
| 11.5 kg | Weight | 11.2 kg |
| 272 mm | Depth | 232 mm |
| Footswitch included; optional LP-1 unit with the L-200 stand | Pedals | SP-3 included; optional SP-34 three-pedal unit with half-damper |
Buyer fit
Choose the P-225 for the CFX sound and 24-bit USB audio; choose the PX-S1100 for battery power and Bluetooth in the box. Check P-225 price on Amazon or check PX-S1100 price on Amazon.
Yamaha
Casio
Yamaha YDP-146: Yamaha's current Arius cabinet, with GHS keys, the CFX sound with VRM Lite, 192-note polyphony, 10 voices, Bluetooth audio and MIDI (varies by area), a 24-bit USB audio interface and three pedals.
Casio AP-S200: Casio's slim Celviano cabinet, with Smart Scaled Hammer Action keys, the AiR sound source, 192-note polyphony, 19 tones, 20 W + 20 W speakers, the WU-BT10 adaptor in the box and three pedals.
| Yamaha YDP-146 | Spec | Casio AP-S200 |
|---|---|---|
| GHS, matte black keytops | Key action | Smart Scaled Hammer Action, 5 touch levels |
| Yamaha CFX, VRM Lite | Piano sound | Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR |
| 192 notes | Polyphony | 192 notes |
| 10 | Voices | 19 |
| 8 W × 2 | Speakers | 20 W + 20 W |
| Audio and MIDI built in (varies by area) | Bluetooth | Audio and MIDI through the WU-BT10 (included) |
| USB audio interface (24-bit) and MIDI | USB | USB MIDI; audio recording to a flash drive |
| Damper (half-pedal), sostenuto, soft | Pedals | Damper (half-damper), soft, sostenuto |
| 38 kg | Weight | 34.0 kg |
| 422 mm | Depth | 299 mm |
Buyer fit
Choose the YDP-146 for the CFX sound and built-in Bluetooth; choose the AP-S200 for the slimmest cabinet and stronger speakers. Check YDP-146 price on Amazon or check AP-S200 price on Amazon.
If you're shopping for a keyboard rather than a weighted 88-key piano, these are the two pairs to compare. All four have 61 full-size, touch-sensitive keys and run on six AA batteries; none has weighted keys.
Yamaha
Casio
Yamaha NP-15: Yamaha's Piaggero, a piano-style 61-key with box-type keys, AWM sound, 64-note polyphony, 15 voices and USB audio and MIDI, at 5.2 kg.
Casio CT-S1: Casio's Casiotone, a piano-style 61-key with the AiX sound source, 64-note polyphony, 61 tones and an optional Bluetooth adaptor, at 4.5 kg.
| Yamaha NP-15 | Spec | Casio CT-S1 |
|---|---|---|
| 61, box type; touch: soft, medium, hard, fixed | Keys | 61 full-size; 3 touch levels |
| AWM stereo sampling | Sound | AiX sound source |
| 64 notes | Polyphony | 64 notes |
| 15 | Voices | 61 |
| 2.5 W × 2 | Speakers | 2.5 W + 2.5 W |
| None | Bluetooth | Audio and MIDI with the optional WU-BT10 |
| USB to host (MIDI and audio) | USB | USB MIDI |
| Six AA | Battery power | Six AA, about 3 hours |
| 5.2 kg | Weight | 4.5 kg |
Buyer fit
Choose the NP-15 for USB audio and a 1/4-inch jack; choose the CT-S1 for more tones and the Bluetooth option. Check NP-15 price on Amazon or check CT-S1 price on Amazon.
Yamaha
Casio
Yamaha PSR-E483: Yamaha's step-up arranger, with 860 voices, 345 styles, a microphone input, 1/4-inch line outputs, USB audio and audio recording to a flash drive, at 7.0 kg.
Casio CT-S400: Casio's Casiotone arranger, with the AiX sound source, 600 tones, 200 rhythms, a pitch bend wheel and an optional Bluetooth adaptor, at 4.5 kg.
| Yamaha PSR-E483 | Spec | Casio CT-S400 |
|---|---|---|
| 61, organ style; touch: soft, medium, hard, off | Keys | 61 full-size; 3 touch levels |
| AWM stereo sampling | Sound | AiX sound source |
| 64 notes | Polyphony | 48 notes |
| 860 | Voices | 600 |
| 345 styles | Styles or rhythms | 200 rhythms |
| 6 W × 2 | Speakers | 2.5 W + 2.5 W |
| Mic input, 1/4-inch line outputs, AUX IN, 1/4-inch headphones | Inputs and outputs | Audio in, stereo mini headphones/output |
| None | Bluetooth | Audio and MIDI with the optional WU-BT10 |
| USB to host (USB-C, audio and MIDI), USB to device | USB | USB MIDI, USB-A for the adaptor |
| Six AA | Battery power | Six AA, about 4 hours |
| 7.0 kg | Weight | 4.5 kg |
Buyer fit
Choose the PSR-E483 for the mic input, line outputs and more styles; choose the CT-S400 for a lighter keyboard with a Bluetooth option. Check PSR-E483 price on Amazon or check CT-S400 price on Amazon.
Our 61-key keyboard guide ranks more keyboards, and our Yamaha PSR-E483 review covers the arranger in depth.
Strip away the spec tables and the choice comes down to how you'll use the instrument.
There's no universal winner. Yamaha is the stronger choice for its CFX sound, built-in Bluetooth and USB audio into a computer, and its arranger keyboards have more connections. Casio is the stronger choice for battery power, slim bodies and Bluetooth adaptors in the box, and its keyboards are lighter. Pick the pair above that matches what you're buying, then the side that fits how you'll play.
For the full ranges, see Yamaha's digital pianos and Casio's musical instruments, or our best Yamaha digital pianos and best Casio digital pianos guides.
Yamaha home-console fit
Choose it for GHS keys, the CFX sound with VRM Lite, three pedals, Bluetooth audio and MIDI (varies by area) and a 24-bit USB audio interface.
Check price on Amazon for the Yamaha YDP-146 (opens in a new tab)Casio home-console fit
Choose it for a cabinet only 299 mm deep, Smart Scaled Hammer Action keys, 19 tones, 20 W + 20 W speakers, three pedals and the WU-BT10 Bluetooth adaptor in the box.
Check price on Amazon for the Casio AP-S200 (opens in a new tab)| Use case | Which to choose | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Entry portable | P-145BT for Bluetooth audio and USB audio; CDP-S160 for battery power and the lightest carry. | Pianos Under $500 → |
| Mid portable | P-225 for the CFX sound and 24-bit USB audio; PX-S1100 for batteries and Bluetooth in the box. | Portable Pianos → |
| Home console | YDP-146 for the CFX sound and built-in Bluetooth; AP-S200 for the slimmest cabinet and stronger speakers. | Cabinet Pianos → |
| Piano-style keyboard | NP-15 for USB audio and a 1/4-inch jack; CT-S1 for more tones and the Bluetooth option. | 61-Key Keyboards → |
| Arranger keyboard | PSR-E483 for the mic input and line outputs; CT-S400 for a lighter keyboard. | PSR-E483 Review → |
Sources: every spec on this page comes from the makers' own pages: Yamaha's P-145BT, P-225, YDP-146, NP-15, PSR-E483 specs, and Casio's CDP-S160, PX-S1100, AP-S200, CT-S1, CT-S400 pages.
How we researched this
We haven't played these instruments. This comparison draws on Yamaha's and Casio's official spec pages, owner reports and published reviews, and every model had a current Amazon US offer when we checked. Our About page explains how we work.
For most buyers, yes: the gap is in features, not quality. Model for model, Yamaha usually gives you more computer and app connections and its CFX piano sound, while Casio gives you battery power, slimmer bodies and Bluetooth adaptors in the box. Compare the exact models, as in the five pairs above.
It depends on the keyboard. For a piano-style 61-key, the Casio CT-S1 has more tones and an optional Bluetooth adaptor, and the Yamaha NP-15 has a USB audio connection and a 1/4-inch headphone jack. For an arranger, the Yamaha PSR-E483 has 860 voices, a mic input and line outputs; the Casio CT-S400 is lighter.
Yes, for what they're built for. Casio's current CT-S keyboards use its AiX sound source, run on six AA batteries and can add Bluetooth audio and MIDI with the WU-BT10 adaptor; its Privia and Celviano pianos use the AiR sound source with 192-note polyphony. Our best Casio digital pianos guide ranks the range.
Buy the NP-15 if you want a 1/4-inch headphone jack, USB audio to a computer and half-damper support with Yamaha's optional FC3A pedal. Buy the CT-S1 if you want 61 tones instead of 15, a lighter 4.5 kg body and Bluetooth through the optional WU-BT10. Neither has weighted keys.
Choose the YDP-146 for Yamaha's CFX sound with VRM Lite, built-in Bluetooth audio and MIDI (varies by area) and a 24-bit USB audio connection. Choose the AP-S200 for a cabinet only 299 mm deep, 20 W + 20 W speakers and Bluetooth through the adaptor in the box. Both have three pedals.
Yamaha's Smart Pianist app works with the P-225 and YDP-146; the YDP-146 can connect by Bluetooth MIDI (varies by area), the P-225 by USB cable or Yamaha's optional UD-BT01 adaptor. Casio Music Space connects by USB or by Bluetooth through the WU-BT10 adaptor, which is in the box with the PX-S1100 and AP-S200.
Founder of PianoRanked. I research this comparison from the makers' published specs, owner reports and published reviews — no paid placements, no brand partnerships.
