Akai MPC Mini Plus II: A GREAT New Controller for The Entire Akai Ecosystem

Available now for $169 featuring aftertouch, genuine MPC pads, color display and direct MPC 3 integration. The controlle that users have been asking for for years does it hold up?

First Looks

Finally Akai has launched a full feeatured integrated controller that works seamlessly in both desktop and standalone modes. Notably missing is the joystick from the MPK Mini Plus Mark I which was hit or miss with certain configurations. Given most of the plugin architecture leans heavily on two sound sources with the abiility to modulate a matrix, (virtually every synth available) this seems a deliveberate choice. So do the additional features and integrations make up for the lack of joystick, and will we hopefully see this in another MPK series product (or like rolands D Beam 😃)

Lets see, I may purchase this and do a deeper dive, i really like the 37 keys, this is just first looks. So lets take a look at the specs.

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Specs and Details

Akai MPK Mini Plus II

upgraded with 37 keys instead of 25

price: $169 USD/ EUR 159.99/ GBP 134.99

8 velocity and pressure sensitive RBG MPC pads with aftertouch

160x80 full color LCD display with parameter feedback

USB C powered

How It Works :

This is Akais best integration as it stands so far. Not only does the Akai Mini Plus II ship with MPC 3 Beats, but its fully integrated so launching clips, editing plugin parameters, navigating through projects and presets can all be achieved through they keyboad itself.

Alongside better integrations, the MPK Mini Plus II has advanced creative MIDI tools like Glitch, Muttati, Strum, Freeze and follow alongside the expanded arpeggiator.Users can also creat CUSTOM ARP PATTERNS and custom progressions directly on the CONTROLLER UNIT!

All over USB-C..

Power

The bundle and the business read

Alongside MPC3 Beats software comes the Studio Instrument collection, over 1000 + sounds and presets from AIR Music Tech, Akai and Moog Music, Native Instrumetns Komplete Select (Akai Edition)

The Questions We Want Answered For Ourselves

What does the keybed quality feel like?

Is a sequencer in the mix for the future? (perhaps this is what custom arps are?)

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Sources

Sound on Sound: https://www.soundonsound.com/news/akai-pro-release-mpk-mini-plus-ii

Sonic State: https://sonicstate.com/news/2026/10/23/akai-professional-introduces-mpk-mini-plus-ii/

Synth Anatomy: https://synthanatomy.com/2026/10/akai-mpk-mini-plus-ii-the-midi-cv-keyboard-is-taking-a-new-controller-path.html

The Fader: https://www.thefader.com/2026/10/22/akais-mpk-mini-plus-ii-adds-aftertouch-pads-and-a-color-display