Midland ER310 review
Midland ER310 Emergency Crank Weather Radio
By Tom Calder
Key specs
The maker's figures.
- Power
- Hand crank, solar, rechargeable Li-ion (up to 45 hours)
- Bands
- AM, FM, NOAA weather
- Alerts
- NOAA weather alert
- Charges a phone
- —
Midland's long-running crank radio: weather alerts, solar and crank charging, a bright flashlight and up to 45 hours on its battery. Midland pitches it for hurricane, wildfire and flood evacuations, and it has thousands of owner ratings.
- Best for
- A proven all-rounder for evacuations and outages
- Skip it if
- You want to stream audio or fast-charge a phone
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Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- NOAA weather alerts
- Up to 45 hours per charge
- Bright flashlight
Worth knowing
- No Bluetooth
- Bulkier than pocket radios
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Our review
Midland's ER310 is a crank, solar and USB radio with AM, FM and the seven NOAA weather channels, an alert, a flashlight and a USB output. This researched review covers how Midland says it charges, how its alert works, why Midland's own pages give two different battery sizes, and why it may not charge a modern phone.
What it is and who it suits
The ER310 is a handheld emergency radio with a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, a hand crank, a solar panel, a USB input and output, a flashlight, an SOS beacon and an ultrasonic dog whistle. Midland's page lists it at 8.0 by 3.4 by 2.4 inches and pitches it for hurricane, wildfire and flash flood evacuations and long outages.
It suits a household that wants one radio for the go-bag or hall closet with real weather alerts and several ways to recharge. This review is researched, not tested. It relies on Midland's ER310 page and FAQ and on the ER310 owner's manual, which is a 2018 edition, so a newer unit may differ.
Charging and power
The manual says to charge the battery with the USB cable before first use, with a full recharge from empty taking about 5.5 hours. One minute of cranking gives up to 9 minutes of radio use, and one hour of optimal sunlight gives up to 45 minutes. Midland's page lists up to 45 hours of normal use per charge. The box holds the radio, a micro USB cable and the manual, and Midland's FAQ says there is no AC adapter, so use a 5V adapter you already own.
Midland's FAQ says the solar panel is not meant to charge a flat battery. It is meant to extend the charge of a full one, and Midland says a fully charged radio kept in the sun can go 2 to 3 weeks between charges, against about a week without sun. The radio can also run on six AA batteries, which are not included; the manual says to remove them for long-term storage. It also warns to use only Midland's lithium-ion pack.
Midland's pages disagree on battery size
Midland's page lists a 3500 mAh lithium-ion battery in its feature list. The owner's manual gives 3.7 volts and 2600 mAh, and the FAQ on the same product page says the radio's capacity is 2600 mAh. We cannot tell which figure applies to the unit you will receive, so treat the 45-hour figure as Midland's rating and check the battery label on arrival.
Weather alert
Press WX ALERT to enable the alert. When one arrives, the radio sounds a siren while the flashlight and backlight flash for 1 minute, and pressing any button stops it and switches to your weather channel. After that minute, a weather memory indicator flashes every 5 seconds to show an alert arrived in the last hour. The manual lists seven NOAA channels and says reception can reach up to 50 miles from the transmitter.
Midland's FAQ says the ER310 cannot be customized: with WX enabled it receives all alerts for your area, including the weekly test. It also says to make sure you are on the right channel for your county. The manual does not describe a county code setting, and does not say whether alerts sound with the radio switched off; Midland says the radio is meant to stay on 24/7 and can only be fully powered down by removing the battery. If you want county-only alerts, look at other models in our weather radio comparison.
Phone charging, light and extras
The USB output is for emergency top-ups. Midland's FAQ says newer phones draw more than the radio will supply, and that the radio will not charge a device at the expense of its own battery, so a phone may show charging and then stop. If a power bank matters to you, see our power bank comparison. The flashlight has a dim and a bright setting, and the manual says three presses start the SOS beacon. Midland says the dog whistle may help search and rescue teams and is meant for use with trained dogs only.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you want a radio that reliably charges a modern phone, or one with a plug-in bedside alert tuned to your county. Midland also sells the ER310PRO, which has its own review. Midland's manual lists a one-year limited warranty. The power outage checklist shows where a radio fits in the wider plan.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and US listings; facts checked 30 Oct 2026. Sources: Midland: ER310 Portable Emergency Crank Weather Radio product page and FAQ; Midland: ER310 owner's manual (PDF, 2018 edition).
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you want to stream audio or fast-charge a phone: the ER310PRO adds both.
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the US price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
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See the comparison →Questions
How long does the Midland ER310 take to charge?
Midland's manual says about 5.5 hours from empty with the USB cable. One minute of cranking gives up to 9 minutes of radio use, and one hour of strong sun gives up to 45 minutes, per the manual.
Will it charge my phone?
Maybe a little. Midland's FAQ says newer phones draw more than the radio can supply, so the radio will not charge a device at the expense of its own battery. Treat the USB port as a top-up for older phones.
Can I limit alerts to my county?
No. Midland says the ER310 cannot be customized and receives all alerts for your area, including the weekly test. Choose the NOAA channel listed for your county.
What size is the battery?
Midland's page lists 3500 mAh, while the owner's manual and the page's FAQ give 2600 mAh. Check the battery label on your unit.