Radios

5 Midland Weather Radios and Which Job Each One Fits in 2026

A small weather alert radio on a kitchen counter beside a potted basil plant

The short answer

For a Midland weather radio by the bed, pick the WR120B. For the kit, pick a crank model like the ER310. Many homes need one of each.

Last updated September 2026

Contents8

Our top 5 picks

  1. 1Best bedside SAME alert radio
    Midland WR120B NOAA Weather Alert Radio
    Midland WR120B NOAA Weather Alert RadioView at MidlandRead our analysis
  2. 2Best crank radio for a home kit
    Midland ER310 Emergency Crank Radio
    Midland ER310 Emergency Crank RadioView at MidlandRead our analysis
  3. 3Best crank radio with Bluetooth
    Midland ER310PRO Emergency Radio
    Midland ER310PRO Emergency RadioView at MidlandRead our analysis
  4. 4Best smaller Midland crank radio
    Midland ER40 Emergency Crank Radio
    Midland ER40 Emergency Crank RadioView at MidlandRead our analysis
  5. 5Best pocket Midland alert radio
    Midland ER10VP Weather Radio
    Midland ER10VP Weather RadioView at MidlandRead our analysis

Midland makes two kinds of weather radio, and they do different jobs. Desktop alert radios sit by the bed and sound when a warning is issued for your county. Portable crank radios keep you informed through an outage. Picking the right Midland weather radio starts with knowing which job you need done.

#1. Midland WR120B: best bedside SAME alert radio

#2. Midland ER310: best crank radio for a home kit

Solar, crank and a 3,500 mAh rechargeable battery rated for up to 45 hours of normal use, plus a bright flashlight. The Midland ER310 guide covers it in full.

#3. Midland ER310PRO: best crank radio with Bluetooth

Midland ER310PRO Emergency Radio

Midland ER310PRO Emergency Radio

Our verdict:

Best crank radio with Bluetooth

Best for people who want an everyday speaker that doubles as an emergency radio.

View at Midland

Keep in mind: you pay for features you may not need in an outage.

#4. Midland ER40: best smaller Midland crank radio

Midland ER40 Emergency Crank Radio

Midland ER40 Emergency Crank Radio

Our verdict:

Best smaller Midland crank radio

Best for a go-bag or car kit where the ER310 is too big.

View at Midland

Keep in mind: a smaller body usually means a smaller battery and speaker. Check the listing for current specs.

#5. Midland ER10VP: best pocket Midland alert radio

Factors to consider when choosing a Midland weather radio

We sorted Midland's radios by job, using the features on Midland's own product pages and the retailer listings. Every pick receives NOAA Weather Radio. Check the current details before you buy.

How to set up a Midland WR120

Midland's user guide sets out the first-power-up steps:

  1. Language: English, Spanish or French.
  2. Location (SAME): a single county, several counties, or any.
  3. Time: 12-hour or 24-hour.
  4. Channel: the NOAA channel with the best reception.
  5. Alert type: tone, display or voice.

Find your county's SAME code on the NWS county coverage page. Add three AA batteries so the radio keeps working and keeps your settings in an outage.

Alert radio or crank radio

An alert radio is for warning. It can stay quiet all night and sound only when a warning covers your county. A crank radio is for staying informed once something is underway, when the power may be out for days. The best weather radio guide compares both kinds across brands, and the emergency radio hub covers what to look for in any emergency radio.

Questions people also ask

Which Midland weather radio is best for home alerts?

The WR120B. Midland lists SAME county coding for up to 25 locations, battery backup and a loud alert siren, and it is Public Alert certified.

How do I program a Midland weather radio?

On first power-up, the WR120 walks you through language, SAME location, time, channel and alert type. Find your county SAME code on the National Weather Service county coverage page.

Do Midland weather radios work in a power outage?

The WR120 runs on AC power with three AA batteries as backup. Midland's crank radios, like the ER310, run on a rechargeable battery charged by crank, sun or USB.