Novation just shipped the keyboard the Launchkey MK4 range was waiting for: an 88-note flagship. That closes the lineup at seven controllers, from a Mini 25 that fits in a backpack to a full piano-length Launchkey 88.
The interesting part: every one of the seven runs the same brain. The pads, the Scale and Chord tools, the arpeggiator, the OLED display and the DAW integration are identical from €125 to €449. The price only ever buys you keys and faders. That makes choosing unusually simple, and it's the whole point of this post.
What every Launchkey MK4 shares
Strip away the keybed and all seven are the same instrument:
- 16 RGB pads with polyphonic aftertouch. Novation's FSR pad design, on every model including the Minis. Per-note pressure for drums, chords and expressive plugin control.
- Scale mode, Chord mode and Chord Map. The MK4 generation's writing tools, plus an editable arpeggiator. Sound On Sound's Robin Vincent called Chord Map "an enormous amount of fun that can keep you fascinated for hours and is ultimately a very useful compositional tool".
- A 128 × 64 OLED display. Parameter names and values on the hardware, so you stop mousing around your DAW.
- Native DAW integration. Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Cubase, Bitwig, FL Studio, Reason and Ardour, mapped out of the box. MusicTech's verdict on the 61: "Novation has done an excellent job here of integrating hardware and software, and also promises more software-based developments going forward."
- The same core software bundle. Ableton Live Lite, Cubase LE, GForce synths, Klevgrand plugins and Melodics lessons with every size.
The lineup, smallest to largest
Launchkey Mini 25 (€125) and Mini 37 (€159). Mini keys, USB-C powered, light enough to live in a bag. The full pad grid and OLED display survived the shrink, which wasn't true of most compact controllers before this generation. The honest trade-off: mini keys are for sketching, not for playing piano parts.
Launchkey 25 (€189) and 37 (€209). Full-size keys and 8 rotary encoders on a desk-friendly footprint. No faders on these two, so mixing stays on the encoders. If you play more than you mix, that's a fair deal at this price.
Launchkey 49 (€259) and 61 (€299). This is where the keybed changes character: semi-weighted keys plus a bank of 9 faders. MusicRadar put it plainly: "The semi-weighted keys are credible and add authority, especially when playing sounds that correspond to real-world instruments that might have similar keys." The 49 also comes in white, if black studio gear is starting to feel like a uniform.
Launchkey 88 (€449). The new flagship: 88 semi-weighted waterfall keys, 9 faders, 8 endless encoders, and two independent MIDI zones with Split and Layer, so a piano can sit under a string layer or a synth bass can live in the left hand. It's the only Launchkey with zones, and at 1274 mm and 8 kg it's also the only one that demands a permanent spot on your desk. Novation waited 2 years to top off the range; this is the model composers were asking for.
How they compare
| Model | Keys | Faders | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini 25 | 25 mini | – | €125 | In stock |
| Mini 37 | 37 mini | – | €159 | Black in stock |
| Launchkey 25 | 25 full-size | – | €189 | In stock |
| Launchkey 37 | 37 full-size | – | €209 | Restocking, ask for ETA |
| Launchkey 49 | 49 semi-weighted | 9 | €259 | Black + white, restocking |
| Launchkey 61 | 61 semi-weighted | 9 | €299 | In stock |
| Launchkey 88 | 88 semi-weighted waterfall | 9 | €449 | Pre-order, ships Sept 2026 |
All prices include VAT and carry a 3-year warranty at Soundium.
Which one to get
Get a Mini if the controller travels, shares a desk with a laptop and an interface, or is your first one. The 37 is worth the extra €34: three octaves is where two-handed playing starts.
Get the 25 or 37 if you want full-size keys but your mixing happens on a controller you already own, or in the box.
Get the 49 or 61 if the keyboard is the centre of your setup. Faders for mixing, semi-weighted keys for parts that sound like someone played them. The 61 is the one we'd put in most studios.
Get the 88 if you're a pianist or composer first and a producer second. Zones, the full range, the best keybed of the line.
Look elsewhere if you need fully-weighted hammer action for classical piano practice. Semi-weighted is expressive, but it isn't a digital piano, and Novation doesn't pretend otherwise.
Availability
The Mini 25, Mini 37, Launchkey 25 and 61 are in stock now. The 37 and 49 are between batches, write to us for an ETA. The 88 is on pre-order and ships in September 2026, and the EARLY5 code takes 5% off the pre-order price.
Shop the Launchkey MK4 range Pre-order Launchkey 88 · €449
Still torn between two sizes? Talk to the Soundium team before you order, we'll talk you out of the wrong one.
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