Best Tabletop Synthesizers of 2026

"I got this Stylophone for my 8-year-old daughter, and she absolutely loves it. She enjoys exploring melodies from her favorite video games and even writes them down using the number system. I can see this being a great complement to her piano learning, as she experiments with new tunes here first and then transfers them to the piano. It’s a fantastic, creative tool, and I’d recommend it to any young musician."

"As someone who hadn’t heard of the Stylophone until recently, I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun it is to play. The limited edition Bowie model, with its booklet on Bowie’s history with the instrument, is a real treat for fans. It’s simple enough for beginners but offers enough complexity to keep music lovers engaged. Highly recommended for anyone looking to pick up a unique, enjoyable instrument!"

"I’ve had a good time with this instrument overall—it’s easy to take anywhere and a breeze to pick up and play. The sound is great, and it’s a superb little piece of gear to experiment with. Perfect for those who want a portable, fun musical gadget."

"After years of playing guitar, I was searching for something new and the Stylophone totally delivered. The variety of sounds is incredible, and it’s super portable, making it perfect for both studio sessions and just messing around. The build quality has held up well for over a year, though the stylus wire started to crack a bit—but it hasn’t affected performance. I even accidentally left it on for weeks, and after cleaning up some battery leakage, it still works flawlessly. I absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun instrument."

"Having used several synths, I find this one especially enjoyable thanks to its unique, ever-changing sound and analog controls. The filter and LFO give it a full, impressive tone, and while the onboard speaker isn’t great, using the aux output gives you great sound for more serious use. The controls are intuitive for synth users, and the new features definitely elevate it above the original Stylophone. No regrets with this purchase."

"The Stylophone isn’t on the same level as a Moog, but it’s a blast for experimenting with analog sound shaping and creating noise. It’s even more fun when connected to other gear via CV/gate outputs. My only gripe is that it runs on batteries and there’s no AC adapter option, but that’s a minor issue compared to how much fun it is to use."

"I've always wanted to try the Otamatone Deluxe, and now that I finally have it, I'm really glad I made the purchase. It's a quirky, creative instrument that's just as fun to experiment with as it is to make weird sounds. The size surprised me—it's a lot bigger than I expected—but that's part of its charm! The theremin-like sounds are awesome, and while I'm still learning how to use the mouth function, it's all part of the fun. I appreciate that it came with batteries, even if they're not top quality, and I like that I can use an external adapter. My only gripe is that the headphone jack doesn't mute the internal speaker, which is a little odd, but overall, it's a fantastic novelty instrument for the price."

"I bought this for my brother, who's a professional musician, and he absolutely fell in love with it. He was able to pick it up and start playing almost instantly, and couldn't wait to hook it up to his amp and effects pedals. Out of all the instruments I've gifted him, this was the first one he was genuinely excited to play. It's super simple, fun, and sounds great—plus, it's affordable and makes a perfect gift."

"This is definitely not just a kid's toy! The Otamatone Deluxe is well-made and feels like it could last a long time if handled with care. The touch-strip is very responsive, and while the note spacing takes a little getting used to, it's a lot of fun once you figure it out. It may not sound beautiful to everyone, but as a music lover, I really enjoy the expressive possibilities."

"I've been blown away by how simple it is to come up with new chord progressions and arpeggios, even without much music theory background. Syncs seamlessly with Ableton and my other DAWs, and the sound bank is surprisingly versatile. I love that it lets you experiment without being stuck editing synth parameters for hours."

"I bought this as a compact MIDI controller for travel, but it turned out to be so much more! The built-in synth sounds are fantastic, and the way it generates chords and phrases has made it a central part of my gear setup. It’s a powerful tool in such a small package."

"I really enjoy how portable and powerful these little units are. The J-6 has tons of features and inspiring sounds, plus the sequencer is a blast to mess with. It took a bit to get used to the arpeggiator, but once I figured it out, it became a source of endless creativity."

"I was really surprised by the sound quality of the Pro VS Mini, especially for the price. The full-size MIDI DIN port was a great touch, and it's super portable thanks to USB-C power. The screen is clear and actually shows preset names and waveforms. The only thing I wish was better is the number of presets—32 is a bit low. Still, for $99, it's the best synth I've used at this price."

"This little synth blew me away with its amazing features and great sounds. It's easy to pack and fun to use. I only wish it had a built-in battery, but powering it by USB is fine. The editing capabilities are impressive, and for the price, you can't go wrong. I definitely recommend grabbing one."

"If you're looking to get hands-on with your synths, the Pro VS Mini is a perfect choice. It offers some incredible features for its size, and both beginners and pros will find it useful. Compared to software or vintage options, this is a great, affordable alternative. Highly recommended!"

"I found the device offers a wide range of modulation and sound effects, from vibrato to delay. The touch and slide controls bring lots of creative possibilities, although there’s a learning curve, especially with the drone. With practice, it gets easier, but to manage volume quickly, I recommend adding a pedal."

"For me, this instrument is a gadget full of fun and surprises. After some playful experimentation, I discovered two analog oscillators—one touch-sensitive and one slider-controlled—that can work together for a broad spectrum of effects. With patience, I was able to make real music, not just noise."

"I got this for my son, and he was thrilled right from the start. He had seen videos and was excited to try it out himself. It’s definitely an engaging and unique instrument for anyone curious about new sounds."

"I’m really happy with the deluxe version since I can use it with headphones, which helps me play quietly in small spaces. It’s super fun and I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for something unique."

"At first, I thought it was just a toy, but after spending more time with it, I found it surprisingly more enjoyable than my electric guitar. It brings a new flavor to my music and is even perfect for entertaining my cats. It’s not cheap, but the enjoyment value is worth it!"

"For me, the instrument sounds a bit like a digital kazoo or a wailing cat and the build reminds me of a plastic toy. The silicone ball can be tiring to squeeze, and it’s tricky to figure out the notes since the fretboard is unmarked. Still, it’s got a high/low pitch switch which is fun for synth solos."

"When I first got into electronic music, I was looking for something straightforward and portable. The Circuit Tracks is exactly what I needed—two synth channels, four drum tracks, and two MIDI control tracks for external gear. I love being able to just grab it, hook it up to my other synths, and start jamming anywhere. The battery life is decent for my sessions, and even though it feels a bit less rugged than the older model, it's still solid. Adding external effects and instruments is a breeze, and the workflow matches my creative style perfectly."

"I've spent years with Korg Volcas and other gear, but nothing got me making good-sounding tracks as quickly as Circuit Tracks did. My family was genuinely impressed with how professional it sounded right from my first session. It's fun, user-friendly, and the ability to change sound packs keeps things fresh. The only thing I found tricky was recording and exporting tracks, but there are resources online to help with that."

"I’ve already bought several of these, not just for myself but as gifts for my grandkids. It’s so easy to pick up and use, and makes composing anywhere possible thanks to its small, battery-powered design. Even though I own a lot of expensive music gear, the Circuit Tracks lets me be creative without being tied to a workstation."

"I was honestly blown away by the quality considering how affordable this is. The Donner synth feels surprisingly premium and the interface is extremely intuitive and fun. I haven’t even used everything yet, but what I’ve explored is great. The build quality is far above what you'd expect at this price. It looks fantastic and brings real versatility to my setup. I’d definitely recommend it, even for seasoned synth enthusiasts."

"Having tried both the original and other clones, I can say the ease of programming on this Donner 303 is a game changer. Is it an exact match sonically? Maybe not, but it has the right vibe, deep bass, and squelchy leads I’m after. The interface is a huge improvement over other models. There’s a slight hiss when idle, but in live settings it’s unnoticeable. For studio work, you might want to clean it up, but overall, this is a super fun and capable synth."

"I always loved the 303 sound but found the originals expensive and hard to program. Donner has nailed the user-friendliness here—super simple and enjoyable to play. It works well with my other gear and delivers a solid sound that’s close enough to the classic. This isn’t just a toy; it’s a real instrument, and the included software makes saving patches easy."

"I picked up an Otamatone after seeing them everywhere online, and I'm glad I did. It's a fun and quirky instrument that reminds me of my violin days, though it's definitely more of a novelty. The price matches the build quality, but it’s worth it for the laughs and entertainment. I’d totally recommend it as a lighthearted gift for any musician in the family!"

"I got this for my 8-year-old granddaughter, and she absolutely loves experimenting with all the different sounds. It’s a blast to watch her play, though I suspect her parents may not be as thrilled about the noise. Definitely a hit with the kids!"

"The Otamatone turned out to be way bigger than expected, but my daughter loves plugging it into her mini amp and recording music on my phone. As a parent, I really appreciate the adjustable volume—makes things a lot less chaotic!"