Teenage Engineering's Pocket Operators are some of the most loved little music machines ever made: a bare circuit board, a calculator-style screen, a speaker, two AAA batteries, and a sound that fits in a shirt pocket. They are also easy to outgrow. Sooner or later you want more than 16 steps, a sound you can play live instead of programming, or just something with a case and a bigger screen. Here is what each Pocket Operator does, where the line runs out, and the best Pocket Operator alternatives for every direction you might want to go next.
The short answer
For more of the same, bigger, Teenage Engineering's own EP-133 K.O. II ($329). For a cheap alternative, a Korg monotron ($69.99) or a volca ($129.99 and up). For sampling like the PO-33, the K.O. II, a Roland P-6 or a volca sample2. For a serious pocket synth, the Roland AIRA Compact line. For a pocket instrument you play live, with chords and melody always in key, GLIDE (ours).
- What a Pocket Operator does well
- Pocket Operator types: every model and price
- Where Pocket Operators run out
- Pocket Operator alternatives compared
- The best Pocket Operator alternatives
- Cheap Pocket Operator alternatives
- PO-33 K.O! alternatives (samplers)
- Which one should you get?
- Pocket Operator FAQ
What a Pocket Operator does well
A Pocket Operator is a tiny drum machine, synth or sampler from the Swedish company Teenage Engineering. Each one is built on a single circuit board with the sensitive parts tucked under the screen, so there is no outer case, and the space under the display doubles as the speaker box. A folding wire stand props it up on a desk.
Why people love them
- Instant loops. Every model has a 16-step sequencer with 16 patterns you can chain into a song.
- It goes anywhere. Two AAA batteries, a built-in speaker, and Teenage Engineering quotes about a month of battery life.
- They sync. One 3.5 mm cable chains Pocket Operators (and volcas) so they play in time together.
- The price. $59 to $99, which makes them the classic first synth gift.
Pocket Operator types: every model and price
Nine models are in Teenage Engineering's current US line (prices from the TE store, checked October 2026). The limited editions (PO-128 Mega Man, PO-133 Street Fighter, PO-137 Rick and Morty) and the Pocket Operator modular kits were showing out of stock in the US.
| Model | What it is | Price |
|---|---|---|
| PO-12 rhythm | Drum machine | $59 |
| PO-14 sub | Bass synth | $89 |
| PO-16 factory | Lead synth | $89 |
| PO-24 office | Noise drum machine | $89 |
| PO-20 arcade | Chiptune synth with chords | $99 |
| PO-28 robot | Live synth with glide | $99 |
| PO-32 tonic | Drum synth | $99 |
| PO-33 K.O! | Sampler with a built-in mic | $99 |
| PO-35 speak | Vocal synth and sampler with a mic | $99 |
Pocket Operator differences in one line: the PO-12, PO-24 and PO-32 make beats, the PO-14, PO-16, PO-20 and PO-28 make bass, leads and chords, and the PO-33 and PO-35 record their own sounds. The PO-33 K.O! is the one most people start with, because you can sample anything. Each one ships bare; the CA-X silicone case is $29 on its own.
Where Pocket Operators run out
- 16 steps at a time. Longer phrases mean chaining patterns, and editing a long song on a segment screen gets fiddly fast.
- Programmed, not played. Pocket Operators are loop machines first. You can play the buttons live, but 16 small buttons are not a keyboard, and most models have no way to play a chord with one finger.
- Small buttons, no case. The bare board is part of the charm, and also why many owners buy a case on day one.
- No MIDI or USB. Sync is analog over a 3.5 mm cable, so the POs do not plug into a computer or a MIDI keyboard.
Pocket Operator alternatives compared
The right alternative depends on which limit you hit. Here they are by US price, checked October 2026:
And what each one actually has. A filled dot means every model in the line has it; a half dot means only some models do.
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Plus first dibs on every new batch and every new build. Your code comes in the welcome email.
The best Pocket Operator alternatives
Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II
The big POTeenage Engineering says the K.O. II is based on the PO-33 K.O!, and it feels like a Pocket Operator that grew up: 12 pressure-sensitive pads, a fader, a built-in mic and speaker, 999 sample slots, patterns up to 99 bars long, song mode, and MIDI and USB-C. It runs on four AAA batteries or USB-C. It is $329 with 128 MB of sample memory. It is not pocket-sized any more (240 x 176 mm), but it is the most natural next step from a PO-33. Its siblings, the EP-1320 medieval and the dub-flavored EP-40 riddim, are $329 each.
Roland AIRA Compact (T-8, S-1, J-6, P-6)
Serious pocket synthsRoland's palm-sized boxes each do one job well: the T-8 is an 808, 909 and 606 drum machine with a 303-style bass, the S-1 a four-voice synth modeled on the SH-101, the J-6 a chord synth based on the JUNO-60 with 100 chord sets, and the P-6 a sampler with a built-in mic. They have a rechargeable battery (about 3 to 4.5 hours), step sequencers, MIDI and USB audio. The catch: no built-in speaker, so you need headphones. They launched at $199.99 and are $269.99 each now.
Korg volca series
The PO's closest cousinThe volcas are the same idea one size up: battery-powered (six AA, about 10 hours), a built-in speaker, a step sequencer, and the same 3.5 mm sync, so a volca and a Pocket Operator play in time out of the box. There is one for every job: volca keys (a three-voice analog synth), bass, beats, drum, fm2, sample2 and more. Most also take MIDI in. From $129.99 to $189.99.
GLIDE
Pocket synth you play liveFull disclosure: this one is ours. GLIDE fixes the limit Pocket Operators share: it is an instrument you play, not a loop you program. It has four rows of keys, the bottom row plays chords in the current key, and scale lock maps every key to a note in your scale, so there are no wrong notes. It plays up to eight notes at once, slides between them, and tilting it adds vibrato. A one-button loop pedal records what you play and lets you layer on top, and an arpeggiator walks your chords for you. Hold fn+K and it listens to a song and retunes to its key. Randomize invents a brand-new playable sound whenever you like, so no two GLIDEs sound alike. It has a speaker and a headphone jack and is rechargeable, with 7 to 12 hours of play. What it does not do: drums, sampling or MIDI. Pair it with a PO-12 for beats.
Sonicware LIVEN series
Groovebox with a keyboardJapanese grooveboxes with a built-in keyboard (27 keys on the XFM), a built-in speaker, six AA batteries or a power adapter, step sequencers and full-size MIDI. Each LIVEN has its own engine: XFM (FM synthesis), Lofi-12 (a crunchy sampler), Bass & Beats, 8bit warps, Evoke and Ambient Ø. All are $299. Bigger than a volca (297 x 176 mm), but it is a whole studio in one box.
Polyend Tracker Mini and Dirtywave M8
Pocket trackersIf what you love about Pocket Operators is programming, these go much deeper. Trackers write music as scrolling columns of notes, the way 1990s computer musicians did. The Polyend Tracker Mini ($799) has synth engines, a sampler, 16 tracks and an 8-hour battery. The Dirtywave M8 Model:02 ($699) sells in batches and is often sold out. Powerful, and a big learning curve.
Teenage Engineering OP-1 field and OP-XY
The dream upgradeThe flagship Teenage Engineering instruments. The OP-1 field ($1,999, often out of stock) is a synth, sampler and four-track recorder with a 24-hour battery; the OP-XY ($2,299) is a sequencer-first groovebox with eight synth engines. Wonderful, and about twenty Pocket Operators' worth of money.
Cheap Pocket Operator alternatives
If the appeal was the price, there are a few options at or under Pocket Operator money:
Korg monotron DELAY or DUO
$69.99A real analog synth the size of a remote, with a ribbon keyboard you slide a finger along, a speaker and two AAA batteries. The monotron DELAY adds a gritty analog echo. One note at a time and no sequencer, but endless squeals and sweeps for the price.
Stylophone S-1 and GEN X-2
$39.95 to $99Dubreq's stylus synth, played by touching a pen to a metal keyboard. The S-1 is about $40; the analog GEN X-2 ($99) adds a filter, LFO, envelope, analog delay and patch jacks. Our Stylophone alternatives guide covers the whole family.
The cheapest way to stay in the Pocket Operator world is a second PO. The PO-12 rhythm is $59, and a drum machine synced to the melodic PO you already own is a bigger upgrade than it sounds.
PO-33 K.O! alternatives (samplers)
The PO-33 is the most popular Pocket Operator because it samples: hold a button, record a sound from the mic or line in, and play it back as a beat. If that is what you want more of:
| Sampler | Why | Price |
|---|---|---|
| EP-133 K.O. II | The direct sequel: mic, speaker, 999 sample slots, pads | $329 |
| Roland P-6 | Pocket sampler with mic and granular mode; no speaker | $269.99 |
| Korg volca sample2 | Speaker and batteries; you load samples over USB, no mic | $129.99 |
| Sonicware LIVEN Lofi-12 | Gritty 12-bit sampler with a keyboard | $299 |
| PO-35 speak | Stay in the PO line: a vocal sampler with a mic | $99 |
Or build a pocket band
Many people never replace their Pocket Operator; they add to it. A PO-12 for drums, a PO-14 for bass and a PO-16 for a lead, synced on one cable, is a full band for under $250. The same sync cable reaches a volca too. Where the POs struggle is anything you want to play rather than program, which is where a keyboard-style instrument like GLIDE or a volca keys fills the gap.
Which one should you get?
Stay with Teenage Engineering if
- You love the PO-33 workflow: get the EP-133 K.O. II.
- You want a full pocket band on a budget: add a PO-12 and a PO-14.
- Money is no object: the OP-1 field or OP-XY.
Look elsewhere if
- You want to play live, with chords and melody always in key: GLIDE.
- You want speakers, batteries and sync, one size up: a Korg volca.
- You want pro sounds and MIDI and do not mind headphones: Roland AIRA Compact.
- You want to go deep on sequencing: a Tracker Mini or M8.
- You want the cheapest fun: a monotron or Stylophone.
New to synths altogether? Our guide to what a synthesizer is explains the knobs, and if playing songs you already know is the goal, playing music without lessons shows how scale lock removes the hard part. You can try GLIDE in your browser at the bottom of this page.
Pocket Operator FAQ
What is a good alternative to a Pocket Operator?
It depends on what you want next: the Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II for a bigger sampler, a Korg volca for a battery-powered synth with a speaker, the Roland AIRA Compact line for pro sounds with MIDI, a Korg monotron for something cheap, or GLIDE for a pocket instrument you play live with chords and melody always in key.
Which Pocket Operator should I buy first?
Most people start with the PO-33 K.O! because it samples sounds from its built-in mic, so it can be a drum machine, a melody machine or both. The PO-12 rhythm is the cheapest at $59 and a simple, fun drum machine.
How much does a Pocket Operator cost?
In the US, Pocket Operators cost $59 to $99 from Teenage Engineering (checked October 2026). The PO-12 is $59, the PO-14, PO-16 and PO-24 are $89, and the PO-20, PO-28, PO-32, PO-33 and PO-35 are $99.
Do Pocket Operators have MIDI?
No. Pocket Operators sync to each other and to Korg volcas with a 3.5 mm cable, but they have no MIDI or USB. For MIDI, look at the EP-133 K.O. II or the Roland AIRA Compact line.
Is the EP-133 K.O. II better than the PO-33?
It does far more: pressure-sensitive pads, 999 sample slots, longer patterns, song mode, MIDI and USB. It is also three times the price and much bigger, so the PO-33 is still the better pocket machine.
Do Pocket Operators come with a case?
No, they ship as a bare circuit board with a stand. Teenage Engineering sells the CA-X silicone case for $29 on its own.
From the lab
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