# KeyLab Essential 49 mk3: specs and price

**Price (US):** $299 at arturia.com (Arturia store MSRP (US$299)), as of 2026-06-27. A sourced, dated price of record — other retailers (incl. Amazon) may be lower. Among the 12 midi keyboards we track it is #10 cheapest of 12; category median $149.
**Brand:** Arturia
**Released:** 2023-05
**Price tracked since:** June 2026

## Specifications

| Spec | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Price (US) | $299 |
| Brand | Arturia |
| Released | 2023-05 |
| Keys | 49 |
| Key type | synth |
| Drum pads | 8 |
| Knobs | 9 |
| Faders | 9 |
| Aftertouch | No |
| Connection | usb_midi_din |
| Bundled software | Analog Lab Pro, Ableton Live Lite, NI Komplete Select, UVI Model D, Loopcloud 2-month |

## Where it stands

At $299, the KeyLab Essential 49 mk3 is #10 cheapest of the 12 MIDI keyboards we track, where the median is $149. On the spec sheet, its knobs of 9 is the highest of the 12, its faders of 9 is the highest of the 12, and its release of 2023 is above the median of the 12. By release date, it is among the newer of the 12 we date.

## What reviewers say

Two whitelisted testers cover this 2023 Mk3: Sound on Sound reviewed the exact 49-note unit, MusicRadar the 61-note version of the same line. Both call it a slick, good-value refresh, praising the new mid-panel screen, deep Analog Lab V integration, scripted multi-DAW support and the synth-style key action. Both are qualitative with no lab measurements; Sound on Sound flags more integration limits. (Based on 2 reviews, 2023-08–2023-08-09.)

Praised: New mid-panel screen and refreshed, tidy layout; Deep, near-seamless Analog Lab V integration; Strong scripted multi-DAW integration across the major DAWs; Good synth-style key action / key bed; Good value for the price.
Flagged: No CV outputs; Cannot shift control to other devices in Bitwig/Live; ARP/Chord/Scale modes require menu diving; Entirely plastic chassis, no aftertouch; Cubase integration comparatively limited; Lightweight mod and pitch-bend wheels.
Disagreement: Both broadly agree it is a strong, good-value refresh. Nuance: Sound on Sound tested the exact 49-note model and singled out several integration limits (no way to shift control to other devices in Bitwig/Live, comparatively weaker Cubase mapping, and menu diving for ARP/Chord/Scale), while MusicRadar tested the 61-note version of the same line and was more uniformly positive, flagging mainly the lack of CV outputs and slightly lightweight mod/pitch-bend wheels.
Sources: Sound on Sound (2023-08, soundonsound.com), MusicRadar (2023-08-09, musicradar.com)

## Frequently asked questions

**What do reviewers say about the KeyLab Essential 49 mk3?**

Two whitelisted testers cover this 2023 Mk3: Sound on Sound reviewed the exact 49-note unit, MusicRadar the 61-note version of the same line. Both call it a slick, good-value refresh, praising the new mid-panel screen, deep Analog Lab V integration, scripted multi-DAW support and the synth-style key action. Both are qualitative with no lab measurements; Sound on Sound flags more integration limits. Praised: New mid-panel screen and refreshed, tidy layout; Deep, near-seamless Analog Lab V integration; Strong scripted multi-DAW integration across the major DAWs; Good synth-style key action / key bed; Good value for the price. Flagged: No CV outputs; Cannot shift control to other devices in Bitwig/Live; ARP/Chord/Scale modes require menu diving; Entirely plastic chassis, no aftertouch; Cubase integration comparatively limited; Lightweight mod and pitch-bend wheels. (From 2 tester reviews.)

**How much does the KeyLab Essential 49 mk3 cost?**

The KeyLab Essential 49 mk3 has a US price of $299 (Arturia store MSRP (US$299)), as of 2026-06-19.

**How does the KeyLab Essential 49 mk3 compare on price?**

At $299, the KeyLab Essential 49 mk3 is #10 cheapest of the 12 MIDI keyboards we track, where the median is $149.

**When was the KeyLab Essential 49 mk3 released?**

The KeyLab Essential 49 mk3 was released 2023-05.

**What are the KeyLab Essential 49 mk3's key specs?**

KeyLab Essential 49 mk3 (Arturia): keys 49, key type synth, drum pads 8, knobs 9, faders 9. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-19.

Source: https://www.arturia.com/store/keylab-essential-49-mk3 (arturia.com, accessed 2026-06-19)
Corroboration: https://www.soundonsound.com/news/arturia-keylab-essential-mk3-released (accessed 2026-06-19)
Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/product/midi-keyboards/arturia-keylab-essential-49-mk3/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, the KeyLab Essential 49 mk3 price of record was $299 as of 2026-06-19 — https://frontdeskreview.com/product/midi-keyboards/arturia-keylab-essential-49-mk3/
License: CC BY 4.0. Price history: https://frontdeskreview.com/data/price-history.jsonl