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Midland ER310 Emergency Radio vs Sangean MMR-88 Emergency Radio

Both are hand-crank, solar and USB emergency radios with NOAA weather bands, so the choice comes down to tuning and features. The Midland ER310 is the better pick for most households: it has a larger owner base, a strong reputation for solid FM and weather reception, and a dog whistle plus SOS beacon aimed at search-and-rescue. The Sangean MMR-88 is the more polished radio for everyday listening, with a digital tuner, 19 presets, RDS, bass and treble controls and a sleep timer, but it has far fewer owner reports to judge long-term reliability.

  • Choose the Midland ER310 if you want a proven, widely owned emergency radio with strong weather reception, an SOS beacon and a dog whistle for search-and-rescue.
  • Choose the Sangean MMR-88 if you want a digital tuner with presets, RDS and tone controls for regular AM/FM listening alongside emergency alerts.

Prices

  • Midland ER310 Emergency Radio: $79.99 at Lowe's (last seen Nov 6)
  • Sangean MMR-88 Emergency Radio: $64.95 at Ham Radio Outlet (checked today)
  • Difference: the Sangean MMR-88 Emergency Radio is $15.04 cheaper than the Midland ER310 Emergency Radio at the latest prices (Nov 6 and Nov 10)
Midland
Midland ER310 Emergency Radio

Midland ER310 Emergency Radio

4.4(107 ratings)
$79.99at Lowe'sChecked Nov 6
See all prices and details
Visit Lowe's
Pros
  • Solar, crank, lithium and AA backup give four ways to keep it running
  • Long rated runtime from the 3500 mAh battery
  • Owners praise FM and weather reception and years of reliable use
  • SOS Morse beacon and ultrasonic dog whistle for search-and-rescue
  • Built-in 130-lumen Cree flashlight
Cons
  • No station presets and no RDS
  • Not weatherized
  • Some owners report it misbehaves when plugged into a wall outlet
  • Random nighttime weather alerts reported
Sangean
Sangean MMR-88

Sangean MMR-88 Emergency Radio

Sangean MMR-88

4.8(16 ratings)
$64.95at Ham Radio OutletChecked 7 h ago
See all prices and details
Visit Ham Radio Outlet
Pros
  • Digital tuner with 19 presets and RDS text
  • Public Alert certified weather reception
  • Treble and bass controls and a sleep timer
  • Rugged body with a telescopic antenna and hand strap
  • Doubles as a power bank over USB
Cons
  • Only 16 ratings, so long-term reliability is less proven
  • No AA battery backup option
  • Battery capacity not published
  • No dog whistle or dedicated SOS beacon beyond the flashlight mode

What separates them

Midland ER310 Emergency RadioSangean MMR-88 Emergency Radio
TuningAnalog AM/FM tuner with automatic scanning and no presetsDigital AM/FM tuner with 19 random presets and RDS
Weather alertsSeven NOAA channels with alert tone; owners report occasional random nighttime alertsPublic Alert certified with all seven NOAA channels
Power sourcesSolar, hand crank, rechargeable lithium-ion and a 6x AA backup optionSolar, hand crank and Micro USB charging of its lithium battery
Battery capacity3500 mAh, rated up to 45 hours of normal useLithium pack, capacity not stated by the maker
FlashlightCree LED at 130 lumens with low, high, strobe and SOS Morse beaconLED with high, low, blinking and SOS Morse modes
Audio controlsSingle front speaker, no tone adjustmentTreble and bass adjustment plus a sleep timer
Rescue extrasUltrasonic dog whistle and SOS beaconSOS Morse flashlight only
Weather resistanceNot weatherizedMarketed as rugged; water rating not stated

Price history

$79.99$64.95
Nov 3Nov 10
  • Midland ER310 Emergency Radio: lowest $68.99 on Nov 3; $79.99 on Nov 10.
  • Sangean MMR-88 Emergency Radio: lowest $64.95 on Nov 10 at Ham Radio Outlet.

Prices at every store

Midland ER310 Emergency Radio

  • Walcott RadioNew

    In stock

    $79.99+ $7.00 shippingChecked 7 h ago
    Visit Walcott Radio
  • Lowe'sNew

    Availability unknown

    $79.99Checked Nov 6
    Visit Lowe's
  • AmazonNew

    Availability unknown

    As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

    $79.99Checked Nov 3
    Visit Amazon
  • Fleet FarmNew

    Availability unknown

    $79.99+ $14.99 shippingChecked 7 h ago
    Visit Fleet Farm
All 35 stores and price history →

Sangean MMR-88 Emergency Radio

  • Ham Radio OutletNew

    In stock

    $64.95Checked 7 h ago
    Visit Ham Radio Outlet
  • eDisastersystemsNew

    In stock

    $74.99+ $39.00 shippingChecked 6 h ago
    Visit eDisastersystems
  • AmazonNew

    Availability unknown

    As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

    $77.09Free shippingChecked 6 h ago
    Visit Amazon
  • eBayNew

    Availability unknown

    $80.00Checked Nov 6
    Visit eBay

Also available at

  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart

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All 18 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecMidland ER310 Emergency RadioSangean MMR-88 Emergency Radio
colorRedYellow
Hand CrankYesYes
Power SourceHand crankSolar, Rechargeable Battery
Voltage3.7 Volt5V
Signal TypeNOAA Weather Radio, AM, FMAM / FM, Weather Band
FeaturesHand CrankSleep Timer, Backup Battery, Clock, Flashlight,…
Signal TypesAM, FMRDS, AM, FM
Battery TechnologyLi-IonLithium
BluetoothNoNo
Wi-FiNoNo
NFCNoNo
Input & OutputsHeadphones 3.5 mm, USBUSB, Headphones 3.5 mm
Show all 40 specsShow fewer specs
SpecMidland ER310 Emergency RadioSangean MMR-88 Emergency Radio
Spotify ConnectNoNo
TypeWind Up & Solar Radio, Portable RadioEmergency
Weight (oz)23.3613.2
Number of Presets (max)719
AntennaTelescopicTelescopic
size1—
Battery capacity3500 mAh—
Battery lifeup to 45 hours of normal use—
Power sourcesSolar, hand crank, rechargeable lithium-ion bat…—
Flashlight brightness

What reviewers say

Midland ER310 Emergency Radio

  • 4.4 / 5107 ratings

Owners rate the ER310 well as a blackout and storm-season tool, praising the weather alerts, the flashlight and the multiple power options. Complaints center on the slow solar and crank charging and on the radio's plastic build and basic sound.

What people mention
  • Power optionsPraisedOwners like having solar, crank and battery power in one unit for outages.
  • Charging speedCriticisedThe solar panel and hand crank charge slowly, so a full charge takes patience.
  • Weather alertsPraisedNOAA channels and alerts are reported to work well and scan quickly.
  • FlashlightPraisedThe Cree LED and SOS beacon are called bright and useful in the dark.

Sangean MMR-88 Emergency Radio

  • 4.8 / 516 ratings

Owners rate it highly, 4.8 out of 5 from 16 ratings, and treat it as a dependable emergency and camping radio. Praise centers on the charging options and weather alerts; the main gripes are weight and slow solar charging.

What people mention
  • Charging optionsPraisedOwners like having hand crank, USB and solar as backups for each other.
  • Weather alertsPraisedThe Public Alert certification and weather band are cited as the reason to buy.
  • WeightCriticisedAt 1.3 lb it is heavier than many expect for a portable radio.
  • Solar chargingMixed

Questions and answers

Which is better for severe-weather alerts?
The Sangean MMR-88 is Public Alert certified and tunes all seven NOAA channels digitally, which makes it the cleaner alert radio. The Midland ER310 also covers all seven channels with an alert tone, but some owners report random alerts at night.
Which has better FM sound and tuning?
The Sangean MMR-88 wins on tuning, with a digital tuner, 19 presets, RDS and treble and bass controls. The Midland ER310 is analog with automatic scanning and a single speaker, though owners rate its FM reception well.
Which lasts longer off the grid?
The Midland ER310 publishes a 3500 mAh battery and up to 45 hours of normal use, and it can fall back on six AA batteries. Sangean does not publish the MMR-88's battery capacity, so the Midland is the safer bet for long outages.
Is the Sangean worth stepping up to over the Midland?
Step up to the Sangean if you will also use the radio for everyday listening and want presets, RDS and tone controls. Stay with the Midland if you want a proven emergency unit with AA backup and rescue extras.
Can either charge a phone?
Yes. Both have a USB output for charging small devices, and both recharge over Micro USB.
Which is more rugged?
The Sangean MMR-88 is sold as a rugged radio, while Midland states the ER310 is not weatherized. Neither maker publishes a water-resistance rating, so keep both out of rain.

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Buying guides that pick them

  • Best emergency weather radios
  • Best solar powered emergency radios
1400 Lux
—
Dimensions8.0'' x 3.4'' x 2.4''—
AA backup6 ‘AA’ Battery Back-Up Power Option—
Battery voltage3.7V—
USB charge timeapproximately 5.5 hours—
Radio bandsAM/FM/WX—
Weather channels7 NOAA Weather channels—
Headphone jackHeadphone Jack—
DisplayLarge LCD Display with Backlight—
Weather BandNOAA—
Frequency Range162.400 - 162.550 Mhz—
Number Of ChannelsSeven NOAA/NWS weather channels—
Weather ScanningYes—
Solar PoweredYes—
Tuner TypeAM/FM—
Automatic ScanningYes—
Digital DisplayYes—
PresetsNo—
Audio OutputHeadphone jack—
Solar works but is slow, so owners treat it as a last resort.