When the power goes out during a storm, the first thing I want is information. Phones are great until the battery dies or the cell network gets overloaded, so I like having a dedicated emergency radio on hand. In this Midland ER310 Pro review, I put the ER310 Pro (Midland writes it ER310PRO) through a hands-on test on video: the AM/FM radio, NOAA weather scan, Bluetooth, flashlight, hand crank, solar charging and power bank. I also cover exactly what changed from the original ER310, so you can decide which one belongs in your kit.
Affiliate disclosure: Midland sent me this radio to review, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through the links in this post, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
You can find the Midland ER310 Pro on Amazon, and the original Midland ER310 is still sold alongside it. Specs in this post come from Midland’s product pages, owner support FAQs and Amazon listings; the observations come from my own testing in the video above.
Midland ER310 Pro Review: Quick Verdict
The ER310 Pro is a strong all-in-one emergency radio. It combines AM/FM, NOAA weather scan and alert, Bluetooth audio, a 130-lumen flashlight, a 10,000mAh power bank, solar and hand-crank charging in one portable device. The Bluetooth speaker means it’s useful on a normal day too, which makes it far more likely to be charged and within reach when a storm actually hits.
What Is the Midland ER310 Pro?
The ER310 Pro is a portable emergency weather radio designed to give you multiple ways to stay informed and keep essential devices powered during emergencies, power outages, camping trips and other situations where regular power may not be available. Midland calls it its most advanced emergency weather radio yet, and notes that GearJunkie named it “Best Overall Emergency Radio.”
Midland is a well-known name in two-way radios and weather radios, and the ER310 Pro is built around the idea that you shouldn’t have to depend on a single power source in an emergency. It has a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, a solar panel and a hand crank. According to the Amazon listing, it measures about 8.1 x 2.8 x 3.4 inches.
Midland ER310 Pro Key Features
- AM/FM radio with digital clock and temperature display
- NOAA Weather Scan and Alert that automatically scans 7 NOAA weather channels
- Bluetooth audio streaming
- 3.7V 10,000mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery, rated for 200+ hours of radio use
- USB-C charging, plus solar and hand-crank charging
- USB-A 5V/2.1A output to charge a phone (USB charging cable included)
- 130-lumen CREE LED flashlight with SOS beacon that flashes Morse code
- Rescue dog siren (ultrasonic whistle)
- Removable lanyard strap
Testing the ER310 Pro: My Hands-On Results
AM/FM radio
One of the first things I tested was the AM/FM radio. As you can hear in the video, the ER310 Pro works as a traditional portable radio, giving me another way to access information or entertainment without relying on my phone. During a widespread outage, local AM and FM stations are often one of the main ways emergency information gets out, so a working radio is a core part of any emergency kit.
NOAA weather scan
I also tested the NOAA Weather Scan feature. As you can hear in my video, the radio scans the available NOAA weather channels and locks onto the strongest weather channel it can receive. Midland says it automatically scans through 7 weather band channels to find the strongest signal and alert you to severe weather updates, with 60+ alert types. This is one of the features I would most want available during severe weather, when staying informed becomes especially important.
Midland’s FAQ says the ER310 Pro covers seven NOAA channels from 162.400 to 162.550 MHz and recommends looking up your local station at weather.gov/nwr/stations.
Bluetooth speaker for everyday use
The ER310 Pro also has Bluetooth, so I can connect my phone and use the radio as a speaker for music or other audio. I like this because it means the radio isn’t just sitting in a closet waiting for a disaster. You can use it while camping, in the garage, or anywhere you want a portable speaker, and you’ll be familiar with it when you actually need it.
Three ways to keep it powered
- Rechargeable internal battery: a 10,000mAh pack, charged over USB-C in about 6–8 hours according to Midland’s FAQ
- Built-in solar panel: tops up the internal battery in direct sunlight
- Hand crank: lets me generate power manually when an outlet isn’t available
In my video, I use the hand crank to show how I can generate power manually. It’s the kind of feature you hope you never need, but it’s reassuring to have when the grid is down and the sun isn’t out. Midland’s tip is to treat the solar panel as a way to top up a battery you’ve already filled over USB, not to revive a flat one. It 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.
Using it as a power bank
The ER310 Pro also works as a power bank, so I can connect a compatible device such as my phone for emergency charging. Midland says the 10,000mAh battery is good for 1–2 phone charges in its support FAQ, or 2–3 on its product page. Being able to top up a phone during an outage can make a real difference when you need to contact family or check for updates. You can run the radio while charging another device, though Midland says keeping the radio off gives the fastest charging.
Flashlight, SOS beacon and rescue siren
For nighttime use and emergencies, there’s a 130-lumen CREE LED flashlight with high, low and SOS modes, and the SOS beacon flashes Morse code. The radio also includes a rescue dog siren, which Midland says is designed to help search-and-rescue teams locate someone during an emergency.
Midland ER310 vs ER310 Pro: What’s Different
The ER310 Pro builds on the long-running ER310 with a bigger battery, Bluetooth, USB-C and a temperature display. Here’s how the two compare, based on Midland’s product pages, support FAQs and Amazon listings.
| Feature | ER310 | ER310 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | Rechargeable Li-ion; product page lists 3,500mAh (support FAQ cites 2,600mAh) | 3.7V 10,000mAh Li-ion |
| Rated runtime | Up to 45 hours of normal use | 200+ hours of radio use; FAQ says up to 72 hours of playback depending on use |
| Charging the radio | Micro-USB, solar, hand crank | USB-C, solar, hand crank |
| AA backup | 6 x AA option | Not listed |
| Charging your phone | USB output for an emergency top-up | USB-A 5V/2.1A output |
| Bluetooth | 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, SOS | Cree LED, 130 lumens, high/low/SOS |
| Size | 8.0 x 3.4 x 2.4 in | About 8.1 x 2.8 x 3.4 in |
| List price on Midland.com | $89.99 | $109.99 |
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. As a rough estimate, 10,000mAh x 3.7V works out to about 37Wh, compared with about 13Wh for the ER310 if it uses a typical 3.7V cell (Midland doesn’t list its cell voltage). Some energy is lost converting to the 5V USB output, which is one reason real phone charges come in below the raw Wh figure.
USB-C, Bluetooth and a temperature readout
The ER310 charges over micro-USB, while the Pro moves to USB-C and includes a USB-C cable in the box. The Pro adds Bluetooth streaming, a temperature readout next to the clock, and what Midland describes as louder audio than earlier models.
What stayed the same
The core emergency toolkit carries over: NOAA weather broadcasts with automatic alerts, a crank generator, a small solar panel, an SOS-capable Cree LED and an ultrasonic whistle for canine search teams. The ER310 keeps one advantage: a six-AA backup option, handy if you keep fresh batteries in a drawer.
Which one should you buy?
| If you want… | Choose |
|---|---|
| A radio that also recharges a modern phone | ER310 Pro |
| Bluetooth music and podcasts | ER310 Pro |
| USB-C charging like the rest of your gear | ER310 Pro |
| 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.
ER310 Pro Pros and Cons
Pros
- AM/FM plus NOAA weather scan and alert
- Automatically finds the strongest of 7 NOAA weather channels
- Three power sources: internal battery, solar and hand crank
- 200+ hours of rated radio runtime
- 10,000mAh power bank for emergency phone charging
- 130-lumen CREE LED flashlight with SOS beacon
- Bluetooth streaming makes it useful every day
Things to keep in mind
- Hand cranking takes effort and time to produce meaningful power
- Solar charging works best for topping up in direct sunlight
- Larger than a basic pocket radio
- NOAA reception depends on your location and nearby transmitters
- No AA backup option, unlike the ER310
Who Is the Midland ER310 Pro For?
- Families building an emergency kit who want radio, light and charging in one device
- People in severe-weather areas who want NOAA weather alerts for hurricanes, tornadoes and winter storms
- Campers and outdoor enthusiasts who want a radio and Bluetooth speaker with backup power
- Anyone who has lived through a long outage and wants a way to stay informed without the grid
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. Pair it with backup power for the rest of your kit: my S ZEVZO H021 review covers a jump starter that also charges phones.
Midland ER310 Pro FAQ
Does the Midland ER310 Pro receive NOAA weather alerts?
Yes. It has NOAA Weather Scan and Alert, which automatically scans 7 weather channels and locks onto the strongest one.
How long does the ER310 Pro battery last?
Midland’s product page says 200+ hours of radio use; its support FAQ says up to 72 hours of playback depending on volume and use of the light or power bank.
How long does the ER310 Pro take to charge?
About 6–8 hours over USB-C for a full charge, per Midland’s FAQ. You can also top it up with the solar panel or hand crank.
Can the Midland ER310 Pro charge my phone?
Yes. Its USB-A 5V/2.1A output works as a power bank, and Midland says the 10,000mAh battery gives 1–2 phone charges (FAQ) or 2–3 (product page).
What’s the difference between the Midland ER310 and ER310 Pro?
The Pro adds a 10,000mAh battery, Bluetooth, USB-C charging, a stronger phone-charging output and a temperature display. The ER310 keeps a six-AA backup option and a lower list price.
Does the ER310 Pro have Bluetooth?
Yes. You can stream music or podcasts from your phone over Bluetooth.
Final Verdict: Is the Midland ER310 Pro Worth It?
I like that the ER310 Pro combines an AM/FM radio, NOAA weather information, Bluetooth, emergency lighting, device charging, solar charging and hand-crank power in one portable device. It’s the type of radio I can keep ready for power outages, severe weather, camping and other outdoor situations, and the Bluetooth speaker means it’s useful even on a normal day. Compared with the original ER310, the bigger battery and USB-C make it the one I’d put in a go-bag.
If you’re putting together an emergency kit, the Midland ER310 Pro is a strong all-in-one option.
👉 Midland ER310 Pro Emergency Weather Radio
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