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MPC Sample vs SP-404 MKII vs EP-133 K.O. II: Which Portable Sampler Should You Buy in 2026?
Three portable samplers, three philosophies. The MPC Sample is about feel and sequencing, the SP-404 MKII is about effects and performance, and the EP-133 K.O. II is about speed and fun. Here is which one fits the way you make beats.
Where to buyAkai MPC Sample
Where to buyRoland SP-404 MKII
Where to buyTeenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II
Portable samplers are having a moment. You can sample a record, chop it, add drums and finish a loop on the couch, with no laptop. In 2026 three machines dominate the conversation: Akai’s new MPC Sample, Roland’s long-running SP-404 MKII and Teenage Engineering’s slim EP-133 K.O. II, which got a new 128 MB version this year.
How this comparison was made: I make beats on an Akai MPC Live III. I have not owned all three of these samplers, so this guide is based on manufacturer specs, firmware notes and trusted reviews, credited at the end.
Side by side
| Akai MPC Sample | Roland SP-404 MKII | TE EP-133 K.O. II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (US) | $399 | $499 list, often $459–520 | $329 (128 MB model) |
| Released | March 2026 | 2021, still updated | 2023 · 128 MB version 2026 |
| Pads | 16 RGB, velocity + polyphonic aftertouch | 16 RGB velocity pads + sub pad | 12 pads, 4 sound groups |
| Screen | 2.4" color, waveform view | Small OLED | Minimal segment display |
| Memory | 2 GB RAM · 8 GB internal · microSD | 16 GB internal · SD up to 32 GB | 128 MB sample memory, up to 999 samples |
| Polyphony | 32 stereo voices | 32 voices | 16 mono / 12 stereo (OS 2.0) |
| Effects | 60 types, performance-style | 37+ effects, several buses at once, input FX | Punch-in FX + master effect |
| Sequencing | 128 sequences, song mode | Pattern sequencer (1–64 bars) | Patterns + song mode (OS 2.0) |
| Built-in mic / speaker | Yes / yes | No / no | Yes / yes |
| Power | Rechargeable battery (5–6 h) · USB-C | 6 × AA, USB-C power bank or adapter | 4 × AAA or USB-C |
| Audio I/O | ¼" line in/out · 3.5 mm phones | Line in, mic/guitar in, outs, phones | 3.5 mm stereo in/out |
| MIDI / sync | MIDI in/out (TRS) · sync out | MIDI via USB · Serato control | MIDI in/out · sync in/out |
| USB audio | 2-channel interface | Yes | Yes (OS 2.5) |
| Size / weight | 23.6 × 19.4 × 5 cm | 1.1 kg | 24 × 17.6 × 1.6 cm · 620 g |
| Big plus | MPC feel and swing, opens in MPC 3 | Effects, sturdy build, Serato DJ | Price, fun, super slim |
Akai MPC Sample: the MPC feel in a backpack
Released in March 2026 at $399, the MPC Sample strips the MPC back to its core: sample, chop across 16 pads with polyphonic aftertouch, and play with the famous MPC swing. It has a built-in mic and speaker, a rechargeable battery rated at five to six hours, a 2.4-inch color screen with waveforms and a proper song sequencer.
The big advantage is the ecosystem: projects open in MPC 3.8 and newer, so a sketch can move to an MPC One G2 or Live III later. The weak spots are effects routing (one performance effect at a time unless you resample), a lighter build and basic timestretch. Full details in our MPC Sample review.
Pick it if: your beats start from chopped samples and swing, and you want to grow into the MPC world.
Where to buyAkai MPC Sample
Roland SP-404 MKII: the effects machine
The SP-404 line is a lo-fi and beat scene icon, and the MKII, launched in 2021, is still getting serious updates. Its superpower is effects: more than 37 effect types plus input effects for mics and guitars (vocoder, auto pitch, harmony), with several effect buses running at the same time. That is what gives SP-404 beats their dusty, resampled, heavily processed sound.
Roland keeps adding features: firmware 4.04 brought Loop Capture and a Groove function, version 5.0 turned it into a Serato DJ and Serato Studio controller, and 5.50 added side-chain compression. It has 16 GB of internal storage plus an SD slot, a sturdy body and runs on six AA batteries or a USB-C power bank. On the other hand, it has no built-in mic or speaker, the screen is small and the button combinations take time to learn.
Pick it if: you build beats through effects and resampling, or perform live and DJ.
Where to buyRoland SP-404 MKII
Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II: the fun, slim one
The EP-133 K.O. II is barely thicker than a smartphone (16 mm, 620 g), runs on four AAA batteries and costs $329. In January 2026 Teenage Engineering doubled its sample memory to 128 MB (up to 999 samples), replacing the original 64 MB model.
Its free OS updates have made it much more capable: version 2.0 added resampling, song mode, side-chaining and more polyphony, and OS 2.5 brought USB audio, reverse playback and better chopping. It has a built-in mic and speaker and the shallowest learning curve of the three. The limits: a minimal segment display, simple sample editing and far less memory than the others.
Pick it if: you want the cheapest, most portable way to sketch beats anywhere, or a fun second machine.
Where to buyTeenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II
Head to head: who wins what
- Pad feel and swing: MPC Sample. Polyphonic aftertouch pads and the classic MPC timing.
- Effects: SP-404 MKII, clearly. Several effect buses at once and input effects for vocals.
- Sequencing full songs: MPC Sample, then EP-133 (song mode since OS 2.0).
- Memory: MPC Sample and SP-404 MKII, both with gigabytes plus card slots. The EP-133’s 128 MB fills up fast with long samples.
- Portability: EP-133. Thinnest, lightest, runs on AAA batteries.
- Build quality: SP-404 MKII. Reviewers consistently rate it the toughest.
- Price: EP-133 at $329, then MPC Sample at $399.
- Growing up: MPC Sample, because its projects open on full-size MPCs.
Which one for your kind of hip hop?
- Boom bap and chopped soul: MPC Sample. Chop, swing, sequence, done.
- Lo-fi and beat tapes: SP-404 MKII. The effects are the sound.
- Live sets and DJ-producers: SP-404 MKII, especially with Serato.
- Travel, sketching and first sampler: EP-133 K.O. II.
- You want a full studio, not a sketchpad: skip all three and look at the MPC One G2 or our best MPC guide.
Verdict
There is no wrong choice here, only different workflows. If you think like an MPC producer, chopping samples and finding the pocket, the MPC Sample is the most natural and gives you a path into bigger MPCs. If effects are your instrument, the SP-404 MKII is still the king, and its updates keep it fresh. If you want something cheap, slim and fun to carry everywhere, the EP-133 K.O. II is hard to beat, especially now with 128 MB.
Whatever you choose, the best sampler is the one you actually take with you.
Where to buyAkai MPC Sample
Portable sampler FAQ
Which is better for hip hop: MPC Sample, SP-404 MKII or EP-133?
For classic sample-based hip hop and boom bap, the MPC Sample: it has the MPC pad feel, swing and a song sequencer, and projects open on bigger MPCs. For lo-fi and effects-heavy, performance-driven beats, the SP-404 MKII. For cheap, portable sketching, the EP-133 K.O. II.
Is the MPC Sample better than the SP-404 MKII?
It is cheaper, easier to learn and better for sequencing full songs with the MPC workflow. The SP-404 MKII has deeper effects routing with several effect buses at once, a sturdier build and Serato DJ integration. It depends on whether you sequence songs or perform with effects.
Does the SP-404 MKII have a built-in microphone?
No. Unlike the older SP-404 models, the MKII has no built-in mic or speaker. It has a front input with a mic/guitar switch for dynamic microphones. The MPC Sample and EP-133 both have a built-in mic and speaker.
How much memory does the EP-133 K.O. II have?
The current version, released in 2026, has 128 MB of sample memory and up to 999 sample slots. The original 2023 model had 64 MB and has been discontinued.
Which portable sampler is best for beginners?
The EP-133 K.O. II has the gentlest learning curve and the lowest price. The MPC Sample is the best beginner choice if you want to grow into the MPC ecosystem later.
Can these samplers run on batteries?
Yes, all three. The MPC Sample has a rechargeable battery rated at 5–6 hours, the SP-404 MKII runs on six AA batteries or a USB-C power bank, and the EP-133 runs on four AAA batteries or USB-C.
Sources
- GUIO Records: Akai MPC Sample review (specs and firmware)
- Roland: SP-404MKII
- Roland support: does the SP-404MK2 have a built-in mic?
- Sound On Sound: SP-404 MKII firmware 4.04
- Synth Anatomy: SP-404 MKII 5.0 turns it into a Serato controller
- Gearnews: SP-404 MKII side-chain update
- Synth Anatomy: EP-133 K.O. II with 128 MB
- MusicTech: EP-133 K.O. II OS 2.0 update
- Gearnews: EP-133 K.O. II update with USB audio
- MusicRadar: EP-133 K.O. II review
- Lofi Weekly: SP-404 MKII vs MPC Sample
Prices are approximate US street prices in October 2026 and change often. GUIO Records is not affiliated with Akai, Roland or Teenage Engineering.
