Casio CDP-S110 vs PX-S1100: Which Beginner Digital Piano Should You Choose?

Casio has quietly become one of the most recommended digital piano brands for beginners, and not because of aggressive marketing. The CDP and PX ranges genuinely offer a lot of piano for relatively modest amounts of money, and they've earned their reputation through consistent reliability and surprisingly decent key action at the budget end of the market.

Two models come up constantly when people ask about beginner digital pianos under £500 in the UK: the CDP-S110 and the PX-S1100. They're both 88-key instruments, both from Casio, and at first glance their spec sheets look similar enough that it's not immediately obvious what you're actually paying more for. This guide breaks that down clearly.

The Casio CDP-S110: The honest budget option

The CDP-S110 is one of the most affordable 88-key digital pianos available, and it's honest about what it is. The key action is Casio's standard weighted keyboard - it's heavier than unweighted synth keys, which means your fingers develop some of the muscle memory that real piano playing requires. But it doesn't have escapement (the slight give in acoustic piano keys just before they fully depress), and the hammer mechanism is less sophisticated than you'll find on mid-range and higher instruments.

For a complete beginner who isn't sure whether they'll stick with piano or not, that's absolutely fine. The CDP-S110 has 10 sounds (piano, electric piano, organ, strings, etc.), a built-in metronome, 60 pre-loaded songs to play along to, and a lesson function. The built-in speakers are small but audible enough for practice in a quiet room. It's everything you need to start learning, at an honest price.

The Casio PX-S1100: The step-up that matters

The PX-S1100 is part of Casio's Privia range, which historically uses better key actions and more sophisticated sound engines than the CDP series. The key action on the PX-S1100 is Casio's Smart Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard - the keys have slightly different resistance at different points along the keyboard (heavier in the bass, lighter in the treble), which mirrors how real piano keys work. It's a more nuanced and realistic feel under your fingers.

The sound engine is also meaningfully better. Casio's Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source (yes, the name is absurd) uses a more detailed sample library for the acoustic piano sounds, and the stereo imaging is more convincing. The PX-S1100 also has 18 sounds versus 10 on the CDP-S110, includes split and layer modes (useful for performing), and has a slightly better headphone output.

The PX-S1100 WE (white) is available at a small discount versus black at the moment, which is worth noting if you're not committed to a particular finish.

Side-by-side comparison

Feature	CDP-S110	PX-S1100
Keys	88	88
Key action	Scaled Hammer Action	Smart Scaled Hammer Action (escapement)
Sounds	10	18
Polyphony	48 notes	64 notes
Split / Layer	No	Yes
Bluetooth	No	Yes (MIDI)
Price	£255	£421

What the price difference actually buys you

The key action difference is real and worth experiencing before you commit. If you're near a music shop, play both - the PX-S1100 has a notably more satisfying feel. For a serious beginner who wants to develop proper piano technique, the escapement mechanism and better grading make a genuine difference to how your practice translates to real pianos.

The Bluetooth MIDI connection on the PX-S1100 is also genuinely useful for connecting to piano learning apps like Simply Piano or Playground Sessions without the cable clutter.

That said: if you're a complete beginner buying a piano for a child who might or might not stick with lessons, the CDP-S110 at £255 is the sensible choice. It's a proper learning instrument and costs significantly less. If they're still playing enthusiastically in a year, upgrading then makes more sense than spending more now.

What about a real piano?

Second-hand acoustic pianos regularly appear on Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace for very little money - sometimes free, because removal is expensive and difficult. But unless you're very lucky, you'll be getting a piano that's badly out of tune (and may need hundreds of pounds of work to tune and regulate properly), that takes up significant floor space, and that you can't use headphones with.

For most people in typical UK homes and flats, a digital piano is the genuinely practical choice. The ability to use headphones late at night is alone worth the switch for many households.

What to buy alongside your new piano

• Piano bench - Both the CDP-S110 and PX-S1100 ship without a bench. A proper adjustable piano bench matters more than people expect for correct posture. The K&M 14066 Keyboard Bench is a solid option at £59.
• Stand - Both models ship without a stand. You can play with them on a table, but a proper X-frame or keyboard stand at the right height makes practice much more comfortable.
• Sustain pedal - The CDP-S110 includes a basic sustain pedal; the PX-S1100 has a better three-pedal unit available as an accessory. A proper damper pedal is essential for learning anything beyond beginner pieces.
• Headphones - If you're practising in a shared household, this is non-negotiable. A closed-back headphone with a flat, comfortable sound is ideal.