Midland’s ER310PRO builds on the long-running ER310 with a 10,000mAh battery, Bluetooth streaming, USB-C charging and a temperature display, according to Midland’s product pages. Midland calls the PRO its most advanced emergency weather radio yet, and GearJunkie named it “Best Overall Emergency Radio,” Midland notes. Here’s exactly what changed between the two.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.
I tested the Midland ER310PRO in my full ER310PRO review, covering the radio, NOAA scan, Bluetooth, flashlight, crank and solar charging. The original Midland ER310 is still sold alongside it. Specs below come from Midland’s product pages, owner support FAQs and Amazon listings.
What changed, at a glance
| Feature | ER310 | ER310PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | Rechargeable Li-ion; Midland’s product page lists 3,500mAh (its support FAQ cites 2,600mAh) | 3.7V 10,000mAh Li-ion |
| Rated runtime | Up to 45 hours of normal use (product page) | 200+ hours of radio use (product page); support FAQ says up to 72 hours of playback depending on volume, lights and charging |
| Charging the radio | Micro-USB (5V adapter), solar, hand crank | USB-C (6–8 hours for a full charge, per FAQ), solar, hand crank |
| AA backup | 6 × AA option (not included on Midland’s page) | Not listed |
| Charging your phone | USB output for an emergency top-up | USB-A 5V/2.1A output; Midland says 1–2 phone charges (support FAQ) or 2–3 (product page) |
| Bluetooth streaming | No | Yes |
| Temperature display | No | Yes |
| NOAA weather | NOAA Weather Radio with alert | 7 NOAA channels with scan, 60+ alert types |
| Flashlight | Cree LED, 1,400 lux, low/high, SOS beacon | Cree LED, 130 lumens per Amazon, high/low/SOS |
| Rescue signal | Ultrasonic dog whistle | Ultrasonic dog whistle; siren follows SOS beacon |
| Size | 8.0 × 3.4 × 2.4 in | About 8.1 × 2.8 × 3.4 in (Amazon) |
| Lanyard | Not listed | Removable lanyard strap |
| List price on Midland.com | $89.99 | $109.99 |
Change 1: Nearly triple the battery
The headline upgrade is the 10,000mAh pack. Midland’s ER310 page lists a 3,500mAh battery, so the PRO carries close to three times the capacity. That’s what drives the PRO’s 200+ hour radio rating, and it’s why the PRO doubles as a genuine power bank.
Worked example (estimate)
Energy in Wh = mAh × volts ÷ 1,000. For the PRO: 10,000 × 3.7 ÷ 1,000 = 37Wh. For the ER310 at Midland’s listed 3,500mAh and a typical 3.7V Li-ion cell (my assumption, since Midland doesn’t list the ER310’s cell voltage on its page): about 13Wh. Some energy is lost converting 3.7V to the 5V USB output, which is one reason real phone charges come in below the raw Wh figure.
Change 2: USB-C in, USB-A out
The ER310 charges over micro-USB from a 5V adapter. The PRO moves to USB-C, and Midland includes a USB-C cable with bidirectional power delivery in the box. For charging other devices, Midland’s FAQ points to the USB-A output at 5V/2.1A. You can run the radio while charging another device, though runtime drops, and Midland says keeping the radio off gives the fastest charging.
Change 3: Bluetooth turns it into an everyday speaker
The PRO adds Bluetooth streaming, so it plays music or podcasts from your phone between storms. Midland’s FAQ shows the Band button cycling Bluetooth → AM → FM → WX. That makes it easier to justify keeping charged and within reach year-round.
Change 4: Temperature display and louder audio
Midland adds a temperature readout next to the clock and says the PRO has louder audio than earlier models. Both radios include AM/FM with a digital clock.
What stayed the same
The core emergency toolkit carries over unchanged in concept: National Weather Service broadcasts with automatic alerts when WX is flashing, a crank generator, a small sun-charging panel, an SOS-capable Cree LED and an ultrasonic whistle for canine search teams. One tip Midland gives for both models is worth repeating: the panel is meant to top up a battery you’ve already filled over USB, not revive a flat one. Midland says a radio kept on a sunny windowsill after a full charge typically goes 2–3 weeks between plug-ins, versus about a week without sun.
Finding your NOAA channel
Midland’s FAQ says the PRO covers seven NOAA channels from 162.400 to 162.550 MHz and recommends looking up your local station at weather.gov/nwr/stations. Extend the telescopic antenna and move near a window if reception is weak. The same lookup works for the ER310.
Which one should you buy?
| If you want… | Choose |
|---|---|
| A radio that also recharges a modern phone | ER310PRO |
| Bluetooth music and podcasts | ER310PRO |
| USB-C charging like the rest of your gear | ER310PRO |
| AA batteries as a backup power source | ER310 |
| The lower list price for alerts, radio and a flashlight | ER310 |
For most households building a kit today, the PRO’s battery and USB-C make it the more versatile choice. The ER310 remains a solid pick for a second radio in the car or garage, especially if you keep AA batteries on hand.
Matching the radio to the emergency
Midland pitches the ER310 for evacuations during hurricanes, wildfires and flash floods, and for extended outages after severe weather. Those scenarios point to different priorities:
- Evacuating by car: either radio rides in a go-bag; the PRO’s bigger pack also keeps a phone alive for maps and texts once the car is off.
- Sheltering at home for days: the PRO’s longer rated runtime means fewer crank sessions, while the ER310’s AA option lets you swap in fresh cells from a drawer.
- Camping and tailgates: the PRO’s wireless audio and thermometer make it a daily-use gadget, so it’s more likely to be charged when you need it.
- A spare for the garage or office: the ER310’s lower list price makes a second unit easy to justify.
Storing either radio
Midland recommends keeping the PRO dry, away from extreme heat or cold, and recharging it every 3–6 months when it isn’t in regular use. Midland notes the PRO’s battery is not user-replaceable, so reach out to Midland support for service. On the ER310, Midland says the radio is designed to stay on 24/7 for alerts, and removing the battery is how you store it fully powered down.
Pair the radio with backup power for the rest of your kit: my S ZEVZO H021 review covers a jump starter that also charges phones.
FAQ
What’s the difference between the Midland ER310 and ER310PRO?
Capacity, connectivity and ports. The newer model brings a far larger pack, wireless audio, a modern charging connector, a stronger device output, a thermometer readout and a carry strap; the older one keeps a six-AA fallback.
How long does the ER310PRO battery last?
Midland’s product page says 200+ hours of radio operation; its support FAQ says up to 72 hours of playback depending on volume and use of lights or the power bank.
Can the ER310 charge a phone?
It provides an emergency top-up. Midland explains the ER310 was designed when phone batteries were smaller, so the PRO’s 10,000mAh pack is the better choice for full phone charges.
Does the ER310PRO take AA batteries?
Midland’s PRO page doesn’t list an AA option; the ER310 has a 6 × AA backup option.
How long does the ER310PRO take to charge?
Six to eight hours over USB-C for a full charge, per Midland’s FAQ.
Bottom line
The ER310PRO is the ER310 rebuilt for today’s devices: a much bigger battery, USB-C, Bluetooth and a stronger phone-charging output, with the same NOAA alerts, crank, solar and flashlight. If your budget allows the extra $20 at list price, it’s the one I’d put in a go-bag.