Akai APC Key 25 MK2 vs Akai LPK25 MK2
Two of our picks from Best 25-Key MIDI Keyboard Under $100 in 2026, compared side by side on the specs and trade-offs that actually matter.
Short answer
Between the Akai APC Key 25 MK2 and the Akai LPK25 MK2, we recommend the Akai APC Key 25 MK2 ($79 when we checked it on 2026-10-19) as the better 25-key midi keyboard for most people. An Ableton Live user who wants to launch clips and play parts from one small board without buying a separate grid controller. The Akai LPK25 MK2 ($59 when we checked it on 2026-10-19) still makes sense if a songwriter or student who wants two octaves of keys in a laptop bag for melodies and chords, with no pads or knobs to learn.
Akai Professional APC Key 25 MK2 25-Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller
$79.00observed
Lowest we have recorded: $79.00 on (6 weekly checks)
Akai Professional LPK25 25-Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller
$59.00observed
Lowest we have recorded: $59.00 on (6 weekly checks)
Specs head to head
| Spec | Akai APC Key 25 MK2 | Akai LPK25 MK2 |
|---|---|---|
| Keys | 25 velocity-sensitive mini keys | 25 velocity-sensitive mini keys |
| Key action | Gen 2 dynamic keybed, synth-action | Synth-action |
| Pads | 40 RGB clip-launch pads, 5 x 8 grid | None |
| Knobs / faders | 8 endless 360 degree knobs | None; octave, sustain and arpeggiator buttons |
| DAW integration | Ableton Live 11.2.7 and later, one-to-one | Class-compliant MIDI, 8 user presets |
| Connectivity | USB | USB |
| Power | USB bus-powered | USB bus-powered |
| Size / weight | 315 x 193 x 48 mm, 952.5 g | 348 x 102 x 38 mm, 0.45 kg |
Our take on each
Akai APC Key 25 MK2
Best for: An Ableton Live user who wants to launch clips and play parts from one small board without buying a separate grid controller.
The Akai APC Key 25 MK2 is two controllers in one chassis, at $79 when mid1 last checked it on Oct 19, 2026, down from $99 earlier in the tracking window. Retailers rate it 4.5 stars.
The top half is a 5 x 8 grid of 40 RGB pads that mirror Ableton Live's Session View. Each pad lights in its clip's color, and arrow buttons scroll across tracks and scenes. Akai lists one-to-one mapping for Ableton Live 11.2.7 and later, and Live Lite comes in the box along with the Hybrid 3, Mini Grand and Velvet instruments.
Below the grid sit 8 endless knobs for volume, pan, sends or device macros, and 25 mini keys on Akai's Gen 2 keybed with octave buttons and a sustain button. Retailer specs list it at 315 x 193 x 48 mm and 952.5 g, and it runs on USB bus power.
The catch is focus. The grid is built for launching clips, not finger drumming, and outside Ableton Live it becomes a generic MIDI surface you map by hand. There are no pitch or mod wheels. And its 655 retailer ratings are the smallest base of the three.
Akai LPK25 MK2
Best for: A songwriter or student who wants two octaves of keys in a laptop bag for melodies and chords, with no pads or knobs to learn.
The Akai LPK25 MK2 is the plainest board in this guide and the lightest, at $59 on every mid1 check from Aug 18 to Oct 19, 2026. Its retailer rating is 4.7 stars across 1,124 ratings, the best average here.
Retailer spec sheets list it at 348 x 102 x 38 mm and 0.45 kg, small enough for the front pocket of a laptop bag. The 25 synth-action mini keys respond to velocity, and octave buttons stretch them across the full note range. A sustain button stands in for a pedal.
The arpeggiator is the reason to pick it over other keys-only boards. Akai lists up, down, inclusive, exclusive, order and random modes plus latch, with tap tempo from 30 to 240 BPM or sync to your DAW's clock. Eight preset slots store mappings, edited from a computer. One USB cable carries power and MIDI, and it works with GarageBand, Logic, Ableton Live and FL Studio as a standard class-compliant device.
The gaps are real. There are no pitch or mod wheels, no pads and no knobs. There is no pedal input. And it has no DAW mapping beyond notes, so any control you want comes from your mouse.
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