Kawai CA49 88-Key Compact Digital Piano with Bench Expired

The Kawai CA49 and Korg LP380U are in different leagues in terms of what they offer and have totally different form factors, so they are kind of hard to compare. I would not make a decision based on features like Bluetooth audio. The most important things are build quality, warranty, and how it sounds and functions as a musical instrument according to how you intend to use it.

One of the major selling points on the Korg is that it is made in Japan. As with all digital pianos there are still some reports of defects. If you like the Korg sound, the deal on this one at $800 and what you get for the price is outstanding. I don't especially like the sound, or the way the stand is built with the lid that flips up, but that's just me.

I personally don't think of Korg or Roland as being the best at offering a "family" piano for young children, or for playing classical piano. I'm not saying they are bad or wrong for these uses, but they are just not the brands I would look at first unless you especially like them for some other reason. The lower price on a great deal is obviously a really compelling reason to consider one of them. But if you are comparing it to a Kawai which is more than double the price, what you get for the price is very different.

If you want something that looks and feels similar to a real upright piano, the Kawai CA49 is spot on, and many people say it feels similar to playing a grand. The longer wooden keys emulate the mechanism of real acoustic piano action. However, I have read some criticisms of it as it sounds like you may have too. Some people say the RHC action in lower models is superior for very technical reasons. For most people it wouldn't matter, and might not even be noticeable, but I guess what I am saying is you don't necessarily lose out on a quality action by buying a lower priced model. But you read stories of people who intended to buy a KDP model, but when they tried them out, instead went for a CA because the overall playing experience is a huge step up. I get the sense that Kawai still has a ways to go in perfecting the nuances of the wooden key action, and I am not sure about the durability of these actions compared to plastic. But overall it's a solid buy and should last many years.

In terms of which is the better deal, as another person said, digital piano prices are inflated in the US. What you are getting here is probably what should be the regular retail price. Some people think this Kawai model is a bit overpriced anyway for what it offers. It's mainly good for playing piano, without a lot of other features that could become distractions. That's what Kawai is best known for with their digitals and what most people buy them for. They might not have the same features you would find in other brands at the same price points, or even at much much lower price points, but people get them because they like the Kawai sound and action, not necessarily for the "extras."

Either would be great for learning on, but I am partial to the Kawai sound.

One thing to keep in mind is digital piano prices in North America are severely overpriced compared to Europe. If you look at Bonners (UK) the normal price for the CA49 is around $1900, and on Thomann (DE) it's only $1650. These aren't amazing sales that either store is running, this is just what they normally sell them at. The Korg isn't listed on Bonners, but it's listed on Thomann for $800.