I have always depended a great deal on Amazon reviews then someone on this forum mentioned that many of the reviews are fake. So I installed an add-on to my browser that analyzes the reviews and gives them a grade letter based on whether they are likely to be REAL reviews (grade A!) or mostly fake (grade D or F!)

I don't think you should buy the cheapest kalimba you can find OR an expensive one. You want something not too expensive but with good (TRUE) reviews. Below are a few hollow-box that I found in the $18-25 (USD) range with lots of good reviews that seem to be legit:

https://www.amazon.com/Kalimba-Instruction-Portable-Beginners-instrument/dp/B083S9VMYY/ref=sr_1_97?dchild=1&keywords=kalimba&qid=1617588848&sr=8-97

https://www.amazon.com/Byla-Mahogany-Portable-Instruments-Beginners/dp/B08LVWN6KL/ref=sr_1_29?dchild=1&keywords=kalimba&qid=1617588568&sr=8-29&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Kalimba-17-Exquisite-Mahogany-Portable-Instruction/dp/B08G4B4ZXW/ref=sr_1_99_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=kalimba&qid=1617588848&sr=8-99-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzU1hFNEFTSFJDQTBQJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzEyNTE5UDEzMkJKQ0c3RUZMJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAwODA3MzVXNTNVMEEwRDBUT1Imd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGZfbmV4dCZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

https://www.amazon.com/Kalimba-17-Exquisite-Mahogany-Portable-Instruction/dp/B08G4B4ZXW/ref=sr_1_192?dchild=1&keywords=kalimba&qid=1617588930&sr=8-192

Here are two Gecko flatboards that are $30 and $31 (USD) respectively. I don't have a Gecko but most people seem to like them. Either would be good options for a beginner, I think.

https://www.amazon.com/Upgrade-Portable-Instruments-Children-Beginners/dp/B08P6XKZY9/ref=sr_1_54?dchild=1&keywords=kalimba&qid=1617588777&sr=8-54

https://www.amazon.com/Kalimba-Camphor-Instruction-Hammer-Portable/dp/B07H56SJSR/ref=sr_1_195?dchild=1&keywords=kalimba&qid=1617589003&sr=8-195

Good luck and welcome to the world of kalimbas!

kathy