Midland ER210 Emergency Crank Radio vs Midland ER310 Emergency Radio

The ER310 is the better pick for most households: a bigger battery, a longer run time, an SOS beacon and a dog whistle, and it can run on six AA batteries when the built-in cell dies. The ER210 is the smaller, lighter radio with FM presets and a micro-USB port, so it suits a glovebox or a small go-bag. Both are Midland weather radios with solar, crank and lithium-ion power, a 130-lumen Cree flashlight and seven NOAA channels. Owners of the ER310 call it solid and reliable over years of use, with good FM and weather reception, but some report it misbehaves on wall power and fires alerts at night.

• Choose the Midland ER210 if you want a compact radio that fits a small pack or glovebox and gives you FM presets and a micro-USB charging port.
• Choose the Midland ER310 if you want the longest run time, an SOS beacon, a dog whistle and the option to fall back on AA batteries.