--- product_id: 277830459 title: "Blackstar Carry-on White 88 Keys USB MIDI Controller for Portable Folding Digital Piano with Rechargeable Battery" brand: "carry-on" price: "£105.56" currency: GBP in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 category: "Carry On" url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/277830459-blackstar-carry-on-white-88-keys-usb-midi-controller-portable store_origin: GB region: United Kingdom --- # 88 full-size keys for authentic feel USB MIDI for seamless digital integration 8-hour rechargeable battery life Blackstar Carry-on White 88 Keys USB MIDI Controller for Portable Folding Digital Piano with Rechargeable Battery **Brand:** carry-on **Price:** £105.56 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🎶 Fold, Play, Conquer: The Ultimate Portable Piano Powerhouse ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Blackstar Carry-on White 88 Keys USB MIDI Controller for Portable Folding Digital Piano with Rechargeable Battery by carry-on - **How much does it cost?** £105.56 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/277830459-blackstar-carry-on-white-88-keys-usb-midi-controller-portable) ## Best For - carry-on enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted carry-on brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **All-in-One Music Hub:** 128 sounds, 128 rhythms, 30 backing tracks, plus built-in stereo speakers and headphone out for versatile practice anywhere. - • **Ultimate Portability:** Weighs just 3.5 lbs and folds down to a compact 13 inches for effortless travel and storage. - • **Power Through Your Day:** Rechargeable lithium polymer battery delivers up to 8 hours of uninterrupted playtime on a single charge. - • **Authentic Piano Experience:** Standard-size 88 keys designed for real playing feel and muscle memory mastery. - • **Plug & Play Digital Control:** MIDI over USB compatibility ensures smooth connection with your favorite music software and devices. ## Overview The Blackstar Carry-on White 88 Keys USB MIDI Controller is a lightweight, foldable digital piano featuring full-size keys for authentic play, an 8-hour rechargeable battery, and comprehensive sound options including 128 instruments and rhythms. Designed for portability and digital integration, it supports USB MIDI connectivity and includes built-in stereo speakers and headphone output, making it the perfect all-in-one solution for musicians on the move. ## Description Weighing only 3.5 pounds and 13 inches long when folded, the portable folding keyboard is a full-size 88-key piano in foldable size, easy to store and carry. Thanks to its clever design, the keys look like a real piano, making the portable keyboard the perfect solution for elementary level students and experienced professionals. Play anytime using the built-in headphones or stereo speakers. With 128 sounds and accompaniments and integrated MIDI and USB, this is the perfect piano to take anywhere. Review: Very good depending on what you're using it for! - I arrange music for orchestras and small ensembles, and I need something very small and lightweight that I can put behind my PC keyboard and mouse while I work, and put away in a cabinet when I'm done. For my use, there is nothing better out there, especially since it's a full 88 keys. Pros: - Very portable, very lightweight - I love the emulation of full-sized keys... even if you press down at the edge of a key, the whole key moves down at once which sort of feels like pressing a real key even though they're not as long. - Easy to setup and use - Great feature set... transposition, some demos, accompaniment, MIDI in and out Cons: - Can be a little finnicky to lay out without a relatively flat surface - Light, low-resistance keys means it's easy to make mistakes if you're trying to use it as an instrument for performance and not just a practice tool - bad speakers and sort of chintzy built-in sounds. Fun to mess around with, but not particularly useful - No velocity sensitivity. - Micro USB may be a turn-off for some. I wish it had USB-C My verdict... For a beginner, I'd recommend getting something that can sit out on a stand or table with better keys. More likely you'll play it if it stays out, and you'll develop much better habits with a better keybed. For a music producer, I would go with something with a smaller range and more MIDI controls like knobs and faders for simple note input and portable control, and then have a dedicated weighted keyboard for performance-type recording. For an arranger or on-the-go beginner or non-pianist that just needs a keyboard for practice, keyboard visualization, or other non-performance uses, this is probably THE best option out there since it has full-width keys but is as small and as light as those mini producer keyboards. Review: Good value for starters - In general, I love this product for the value. I’ve had it for four days now. I purchased this for getting serious learning piano with the intention of buying a better piano later once I got familiar with options many digital keyboards offer. So for me, I was looking for something affordable, all 88 keys, and easy to transport so that it may still have a purpose once I upgrade later. It definitely feels like a kids toy being lightweight and lots of clicking plastic, but that isn’t stopping me from learning with it. I’m mostly using apps that recognize audio, and it works fine for that. My biggest gripe is the sticky ‘E’ key on the edge doesn’t always spring back up all the way - but it still works. PROS 88 keys. Easy to store and transport when folded. Less than 4 pounds. Has a tote bag with a snap. 8 hour rechargeable battery. Wires along hinges look well protected. Works great as midi controller over USB. Was automatically recognized by my device. Includes micro USB data cable. Includes 52 stickers to put on keys with note on staff, note letter and number if thumb is on C, dots representing octave, and tiny number of white key. Metronome between 1 and 6 beats with tempo between 1 and 16. Sustain pedal. Has 3.5mm audio jack. 128 instruments 128 accompaniments, with adjustable tempo 30 demo songs to play along with adjustable tempo Tapping power resets to default settings/instrument. Hold power to turn on/off prevents accidental power when traveling. Can change transpose keys by six in either direction. CONS No AC adapter for USB cable. Would prefer USB-C. No ‘normal’ MIDI port (midi over usb only) Keys not weighted. Keys do not detect pressure or speed. Interface to choose between 128 instruments and accompaniments is horrible with arrow kbuttons. Could have used first 10 piano keys as a number pad while holding sound or Accompaniment Buttons. A key tends to stay halfway down sometimes. No Bluetooth as midi controller or headphones. Lots of clicking plastic. Volume not high enough for parties or public spaces. Unable to lock into a rigid position to put on piano stand. Rubber feet look like they’ll fall off over time. No enumerated list of instruments, accompaniments, or demo songs to reference. No pedal for soft notes. Black keys are a bit short in height. Quarter inch lip of plastic in front of keys. Segments tend to slide off pegs when folded. You may want a strap or rubber band to hold it together. No storage IO for music, instruments, or accompaniments such as microSD, USB drive, or Bluetooth. ## Features - Standard-size keys for real playing feel and muscle memory development - All-in-1 solution: 128 sounds, 128 rhythms, 30 backing tracks, stereo speakers, polyphonic, metronome, tempo control, transpose function, MIDI over USB, headphone out, sustain pedal - Built-in USB rechargeable battery gives up to 8 hours of normal playing time with full charge - Weight: 3.5 lb - Dimensions: Folded only 13 x 4.72 x 3.37" ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B08M1L9KNJ | | Additional Features | 128 sounds, Foldable, Folding, Portable, battery charger, midi on usb | | Best Sellers Rank | #5,189 in Musical Instruments ( See Top 100 in Musical Instruments ) #44 in Portable & Arranger Keyboards | | Brand | Carry-on | | Brand Name | Carry-on | | Color | White | | Compatible Devices | headphones, speakers. | | Connectivity Technology | Auxiliary, USB | | Connector Type | 3.5mm Jack, Micro USB B | | Customer Reviews | 4.0 out of 5 stars 2,061 Reviews | | Hardware Interface | 3.5mm Audio, Headphone, Micro USB Type B | | Included Components | Notes Stickers, Piano, Piano Case, Sustain Pedal, USB Cable | | Instrument | Piano | | Instrument Key | A-440, +6/-6 | | Item Dimensions D x W x H | 4.96"D x 52.13"W x 0.83"H | | Item Type Name | Piano Keyboard | | Item Weight | 1.6 Kilograms | | Manufacturer | BLACKSTAR | | Manufacturer Part Number | CARRYON-PIANO88 | | Model Name | Carry-on Piano | | Model Number | BA203010 | | Number of Keys | 88 | | Product Dimensions | 4.96"D x 52.13"W x 0.83"H | | Product Style | 88 White Keys | | Size | 88 Key | | Special Feature | 128 sounds, Foldable, Folding, Portable, battery charger, midi on usb | | Supported Software | MIDI-compatible software with Italian language support | | UPC | 845644006489 | ## Product Details - **Brand:** Carry-on - **Color:** White - **Number of Keys:** 88 - **Skill Level:** All - **Special Feature:** 128 sounds, Foldable, Folding, Portable, battery charger, midi on usb ## Images ![Blackstar Carry-on White 88 Keys USB MIDI Controller for Portable Folding Digital Piano with Rechargeable Battery - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61EBv4rSFKL.jpg) ![Blackstar Carry-on White 88 Keys USB MIDI Controller for Portable Folding Digital Piano with Rechargeable Battery - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81abrvZjmiL.jpg) ![Blackstar Carry-on White 88 Keys USB MIDI Controller for Portable Folding Digital Piano with Rechargeable Battery - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71Zepno3tXL.jpg) ![Blackstar Carry-on White 88 Keys USB MIDI Controller for Portable Folding Digital Piano with Rechargeable Battery - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71rCrO2Yk0L.jpg) ![Blackstar Carry-on White 88 Keys USB MIDI Controller for Portable Folding Digital Piano with Rechargeable Battery - Image 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/719KERR4IbL.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Set** options. ## Questions & Answers **Q: Will this support a midi connection to an ipad (via usb to lightening adapter), so as to use a piano teaching app?** A: Yes. It works with the official APPLE Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter and an external power source. However it is very fiddly: you have to first plug the camera adapter in the iphone / ipad. Then plug a iphone/ipad charger (wall wart) to the female lightning plug in the camera adapter to power the iOS device. Then you have to turn the piano on and finally, plug the USB cable to connect the piano to the camera adapter. Once this is done in this order it is possible to switch the piano on and off and even unplug replug into another iOS device. I tried it with an iPad and iPhone and several MIDI apps : SimplyPiano, MIDI Wrench, GarageBand. **Q: How usable is this as a piano?** A: good for a beginner like me to learn chords fingering etc. convenient to carry around compared to the rollup keyboard, one can play chords, I found the rollup was not capable of playing more than one note at a time. **Q: How many simultaneous key presses can it process?** A: Like 10 **Q: What is the tone like** A: There is 128 to choose between with none of them being great ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very good depending on what you're using it for! *by D***W on January 4, 2025* I arrange music for orchestras and small ensembles, and I need something very small and lightweight that I can put behind my PC keyboard and mouse while I work, and put away in a cabinet when I'm done. For my use, there is nothing better out there, especially since it's a full 88 keys. Pros: - Very portable, very lightweight - I love the emulation of full-sized keys... even if you press down at the edge of a key, the whole key moves down at once which sort of feels like pressing a real key even though they're not as long. - Easy to setup and use - Great feature set... transposition, some demos, accompaniment, MIDI in and out Cons: - Can be a little finnicky to lay out without a relatively flat surface - Light, low-resistance keys means it's easy to make mistakes if you're trying to use it as an instrument for performance and not just a practice tool - bad speakers and sort of chintzy built-in sounds. Fun to mess around with, but not particularly useful - No velocity sensitivity. - Micro USB may be a turn-off for some. I wish it had USB-C My verdict... For a beginner, I'd recommend getting something that can sit out on a stand or table with better keys. More likely you'll play it if it stays out, and you'll develop much better habits with a better keybed. For a music producer, I would go with something with a smaller range and more MIDI controls like knobs and faders for simple note input and portable control, and then have a dedicated weighted keyboard for performance-type recording. For an arranger or on-the-go beginner or non-pianist that just needs a keyboard for practice, keyboard visualization, or other non-performance uses, this is probably THE best option out there since it has full-width keys but is as small and as light as those mini producer keyboards. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good value for starters *by L***E on January 2, 2025* In general, I love this product for the value. I’ve had it for four days now. I purchased this for getting serious learning piano with the intention of buying a better piano later once I got familiar with options many digital keyboards offer. So for me, I was looking for something affordable, all 88 keys, and easy to transport so that it may still have a purpose once I upgrade later. It definitely feels like a kids toy being lightweight and lots of clicking plastic, but that isn’t stopping me from learning with it. I’m mostly using apps that recognize audio, and it works fine for that. My biggest gripe is the sticky ‘E’ key on the edge doesn’t always spring back up all the way - but it still works. PROS 88 keys. Easy to store and transport when folded. Less than 4 pounds. Has a tote bag with a snap. 8 hour rechargeable battery. Wires along hinges look well protected. Works great as midi controller over USB. Was automatically recognized by my device. Includes micro USB data cable. Includes 52 stickers to put on keys with note on staff, note letter and number if thumb is on C, dots representing octave, and tiny number of white key. Metronome between 1 and 6 beats with tempo between 1 and 16. Sustain pedal. Has 3.5mm audio jack. 128 instruments 128 accompaniments, with adjustable tempo 30 demo songs to play along with adjustable tempo Tapping power resets to default settings/instrument. Hold power to turn on/off prevents accidental power when traveling. Can change transpose keys by six in either direction. CONS No AC adapter for USB cable. Would prefer USB-C. No ‘normal’ MIDI port (midi over usb only) Keys not weighted. Keys do not detect pressure or speed. Interface to choose between 128 instruments and accompaniments is horrible with arrow kbuttons. Could have used first 10 piano keys as a number pad while holding sound or Accompaniment Buttons. A key tends to stay halfway down sometimes. No Bluetooth as midi controller or headphones. Lots of clicking plastic. Volume not high enough for parties or public spaces. Unable to lock into a rigid position to put on piano stand. Rubber feet look like they’ll fall off over time. No enumerated list of instruments, accompaniments, or demo songs to reference. No pedal for soft notes. Black keys are a bit short in height. Quarter inch lip of plastic in front of keys. Segments tend to slide off pegs when folded. You may want a strap or rubber band to hold it together. No storage IO for music, instruments, or accompaniments such as microSD, USB drive, or Bluetooth. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fascinating folding keyboard, but too many trade offs for serious pianists *by A***N on April 15, 2022* Note: I’m not a serious pianist. I picked this up when it was deeply discounted because I like messing around and I wanted to have something that wouldn’t take up a lot of room in storage and that I could use as a midi controller. Let’s start with the good stuff: * This folding keyboard takes up almost no room when folded and it only weighs a few pounds. It feels a bit like a magic trick when you pull this full-size keyboard out of its bag. * It offers full-width 88 keys just like a regular piano. * The keyboard feels a bit better made due to the metal bottom plate than its price might suggest. * The folding mechanism feels solid. All wires are carefully enclosed in strong, but flexible plastic. That isn’t likely to be a point of failure later, no matter how many times you fold or unfold it. * 64-key polyphony means you could mash down 64 of the 88 keys all at once and they’d all play normally without being cut off. That’s pretty good for a piano of this price. * The piano offers the full standard MIDI sound set, 128 sound samples. * The internal battery lets you play for a good while before you need to recharge. * There are built-in stereo speakers that are reasonably loud (but they’re not great sounding, so use the headphone-in jack). * The included USB cable charges the keyboard and allows MIDI-via-USB, so it can be used as a MIDI controller for your favorite software. * The piano includes a plastic sustain pedal. * Built-in metronome and included note stickers for first-time players. (You have to manually apply the stickers if you want to use them.) * The carrying bag is cloth and good quality with a snap closure. It is big enough for everything that ships with the piano with room left over for sheet music or headphones or whatever. I don’t think this would be great for someone who is a serious pianist because there are a number of compromises: * The keyboard sections do not lock together when unfolded, so you need to place the keyboard on a solid surface. I suppose this could be slightly positive if you need to play on a curved surface, but who does that and this keyboard won’t work with the typical keyboard stand that just has two or three bars that hold up the keyboard. * The keyboard keys are full-width, but not full-length. This might throw off people used to playing a standard size keyboard. I will say that the ratio between the length of the black and white keys seems to remain the same as a standard piano. * The black keys barely stick up above the white keys. They really should have increased the folded spacing between sections to allow for higher black keys. * The key action tends to be noisy. Sort of like clicking on a mechanical keyboard (though that is a positive in one way because playing near the top of the key is just as easy and reliable as playing near the bottom). * The built-in MIDI sound set is not the best I’ve ever heard. * The sustain pedal uses a non-standard 3.5 mm headphone jack, so you’re stuck using the pedal that came with the unit. Also, the wire length could be a bit longer, though in most seated or standing setups it should be able to reach the floor. * The speakers aren’t the best in terms of sound quality. Not terrible, but not great. Thankfully the headphone output is clean. * Although the unit has something like 30 built-in demo songs, it has no recording memory. If you want to record, you need to use something external or the midi controller functionality. * The USB charging/MIDI output cable is way too short. I wish it had a 6-foot cable at least. It is only 4 feet long, tip-to-tip. * The keys aren’t velocity sensitive, so you won’t be able to vary the sound levels with the action of your hands. All-in-all, if you need a self-contained midi controller that takes up very little room or if this is a purchase for a first time player, it’s not a bad choice, especially on sale. If you’re looking to have pro quality in a portable package, look elsewhere. *** UPDATE 7/23/23: *** I’ve been using this for about a year now and it has held up well so far. Overall battery life continues to be good (plus battery drain when in storage seems to be pretty good, too, the battery doesn’t drain too quickly when charged but not in use). The unit itself has held up well to periodic playing. None of the keys are broken and all functions work. The included USB cable is still ok, but I don’t think it would hold up well if crimped tightly for an extended period of time. Mine is mostly tied up in the included bag. I don’t leave the keyboard plugged in. I definitely recommend getting yourself a longer cable if you’re going to use it plugged in regularly. 4 feet just doesn’t cut it in my opinion. The speakers work ok, with no more distortion than normal and the headphone port continues to work well, with minimal hiss or distortion. I didn’t use the stickers and they’ve been stored in climate controlled areas, and they still seem ok with plenty of stickiness. The pedal still works, though mine doesn’t click when pressed as much as as it used to. I stand by my original rating. ## Frequently Bought Together - Carry-on 88 Key Folding Piano - Ultra-Portable and Full-Sized with 128 Voices and USB MIDI Connectivity - Travel Piano Keyboard Perfect for Practice, Travel, and Performances - White - Piano Keyboard Stickers for 88/61/54/49/37 Key, Bold Large Letter Piano Stickers for Learning, Removable Piano Keyboard Letters, Notes Label for Beginners and Kids, Multicolor - BEATBIT Piano Notes Guide for Beginner, Removable Piano Keyboard Note Labels for Learning, 88-Key Full Size, Made of Silicone, No Need Stickers, Reusable and Comes with Box (Classic Black） --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/277830459-blackstar-carry-on-white-88-keys-usb-midi-controller-portable](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/277830459-blackstar-carry-on-white-88-keys-usb-midi-controller-portable) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Kingdom* *Store origin: GB* *Last updated: 2026-05-25*