My first keyboard was a $147 Yamaha from some guy's garage. Sticky D key. Sustain pedal held together with tape. Smelled like cat. I got lucky – it was semi-weighted, which meant it actually worked for learning.
Could've easily bought something useless. The keyboard market is confusing. Here's what actually matters.
Weighted keys are non-negotiable. This is the single most important thing. Real piano keys have resistance – they push back when you press them. Cheap keyboards have "synth action" – keys that feel like pressing buttons. No resistance, no control.
Without weighted keys, you can't develop proper finger strength. You can't learn dynamics (playing soft vs loud). Your technique will be wrong when you eventually touch a real piano. Get weighted keys.
"Fully weighted" feels closest to acoustic piano. "Semi-weighted" is lighter but still has some response. "Synth action" or "unweighted" is what you're avoiding.
How many keys: Real pianos have 88. Many beginner keyboards have 61 or 76. For the first few months, 61 is honestly fine – beginner music stays in the middle range. But you'll run out of room eventually. If you can afford 88, get 88.
Brands that work: Yamaha makes solid stuff at every price point. Roland has excellent key feel. Casio gets overlooked but their Privia and CDP series punch above their price. Korg, Kawai also good. Avoid random Amazon brands you've never heard of.
Budget breakdown: Under $200 gets you something usable, probably 61-key semi-weighted. $400-600 is the sweet spot – Yamaha P-45, Casio CDP-S100, Roland FP-10 all fall here. 88 weighted keys, decent sound. $600-1000 adds nicer key action, better speakers. Above $1000 is premium territory, probably overkill for beginners.
Used is fine. Keyboards don't have many moving parts. Test before buying – play every key, check nothing sticks, verify power and outputs work. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist have deals.
Other stuff you'll need: Sustain pedal ($20-50 if not included). Stand (X-style is cheap and works). Bench or chair at the right height – setup matters more than you think. Headphones if you live with people.
For the full gear picture including accessories and setup, check out my complete gear guide.