What is the difference between the Yamaha P-145 and P-225?

Both use the same GHC (Graded Hammer Compact) action and 88 weighted keys. The P-225 upgrades the sound engine from CFIIIS to CFX Concert Grand (with VRM Lite resonance modeling), triples the polyphony from 64 to 192 notes, adds Bluetooth Audio, multi-track USB recording, a line output, and Wall EQ. It costs approximately $150 more. The action is identical — the upgrade is entirely in sound quality and connectivity.

Is the Yamaha P-145 good enough for beginners?

Yes — the P-145 is a capable beginner digital piano. The GHC action builds proper technique, and the CFIIIS sound engine is pleasant enough for learning. The main limitation is 64-note polyphony, which starts to run out during sustained playing with a sustain pedal. For the first six months of lessons, you won't notice. As you progress into intermediate repertoire, the dropout becomes noticeable. If your student is likely to stick with lessons, the P-225 is the smarter long-term investment.

Does the Yamaha P-145 have Bluetooth?

No — the P-145 does not have Bluetooth of any kind. The P-225 has Bluetooth Audio, which lets you stream audio from a phone or tablet through the piano's speakers. Neither piano has Bluetooth MIDI. For wireless app connectivity (Simply Piano, Flowkey), you need a USB cable on both models.

Does the Yamaha P-225 have better sound than the P-145?

Yes, meaningfully so. The P-225 uses Yamaha's CFX Concert Grand sample — the same flagship recording used in the Clavinova CLP series. The P-145 uses the CFIIIS, which is one tier below. The difference is most audible through headphones: the P-225 has more dynamic range, more detail at quiet volumes, and VRM Lite resonance modeling that gives notes a more natural decay. In a room through speakers, the gap is smaller but still present.

Is 64-note polyphony enough on the Yamaha P-145?

For basic beginner practice, yes. For anything more complex — sustained chords, use of the sustain pedal, classical repertoire — no. 64 notes run out fast when both hands are active and the sustain pedal is engaged. Individual notes start cutting off before they should decay. The P-225's 192-note polyphony is effectively unlimited for piano playing and eliminates this issue entirely.

Can I record on the Yamaha P-145?

Not natively. The P-145 has no onboard recording. You can record via USB to a DAW or through the Yamaha Smart Pianist app. The P-225 has built-in multi-track USB recording, letting you layer left hand, right hand, and metronome recordings independently — a meaningful feature for self-directed practice and learning.

Which is better for Simply Piano, the P-145 or P-225?

Both work with Simply Piano via USB cable. Neither has Bluetooth MIDI, so wireless note detection is not available on either model. The P-225's slightly better sound and polyphony make it a more pleasant practice instrument, but app connectivity is equivalent. See our best keyboards for Simply Piano guide for the full rundown on app-compatible options.