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Midland ER40 Emergency Weather Radio

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Midland's newest crank radio, refined

The ER40 is Midland's current-generation emergency radio — the successor to the long-running ER210 — and it shows. You get a large backlit LCD, a high-efficiency hand crank, solar charging, and a replaceable 2600mAh lithium-ion battery, all in a modern black-and-red body with a wrist lanyard. If you're buying new today rather than replacing an old unit, this is the Midland to look at first.

Thoughtful power design

The headline improvement over older models is the replaceable battery: the 2600mAh lithium-ion cell can be swapped when it eventually wears out, extending the radio's useful life well beyond sealed-battery rivals. Charging comes via the solar panel, the hand crank, or USB, and a low-battery indicator tells you when it's time to top up. The USB output charges phones and tablets in a pinch — Midland positions the crank as ideal for a quick charge to get a call made during an outage.

The backlit LCD has three backlight settings (off, on, or auto-on for five seconds per button press), a small detail that saves battery in real use. A built-in digital clock with 12/24-hour display and a 3.5mm headphone jack round out the everyday usability.

Alerts and signaling

NOAA weather information and alerts come straight from the National Weather Service with both visual and audio warnings. The flashlight offers on, off, and an SOS strobe mode for signaling, and the telescopic antenna pulls in AM, FM, and the seven weather band channels. At roughly 2 x 4.3 x 6.8 inches and about a pound, it's a comfortable one-hand size with the lanyard attached.

Who it's for, and who should skip it

The ER40 suits buyers who want the latest Midland with the longest service life — the replaceable battery is a genuine advantage if you plan to keep a radio for a decade. It's a strong primary household emergency radio.

Skip it if you already own an ER210 or ER310 in good working order; the upgrade is incremental, not revolutionary. And if you need county-specific SAME alert programming for a bedside unit, the Midland WR120 remains the specialist pick.

Pros

• Newest Midland crank-radio design with modern styling
• Replaceable 2600mAh battery extends service life
• Solar, high-efficiency crank, and USB charging
• Large backlit LCD with battery-saving backlight modes
• NOAA alerts with visual and audio warnings
• Flashlight with SOS strobe; USB phone/tablet charging
• Wrist lanyard, headphone jack, low-battery indicator

Cons

• Costs more than the older ER210 it replaces
• Incremental — not a must-upgrade if you own an ER210/ER310
• Like all crank radios, the crank is for topping up, not continuous running
• No shortwave or Bluetooth

Specs

| Spec | Detail | |------|--------| | Radio bands | AM, FM, 7 NOAA weather channels | | Alerts | NOAA weather information and alerts, visual + audio | | Power | Replaceable 2600mAh Li-ion; solar panel, hand crank, USB | | Display | Large backlit LCD, 3 backlight settings; digital clock | | Flashlight | LED with on / SOS strobe / off | | Phone charging | Yes, USB output | | Size / weight | ~2 x 4.3 x 6.8 in; ~1 lb | | Extras | Wrist lanyard, 3.5mm headphone jack, low-battery indicator | | Manufacturer MSRP | $64.99 (midlandusa.com, as listed) | | Best for | Buyers wanting the newest Midland with a replaceable battery |

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the ER40 and the ER210? The ER40 is the newer generation: larger backlit LCD, replaceable 2600mAh battery, and refined styling. The core formula — crank, solar, weather alerts, flashlight, USB charging — carries over.

Can I replace the battery myself? Yes. Unlike many sealed-battery radios, the ER40's 2600mAh lithium-ion cell is replaceable, which means the radio stays useful for years longer.

Does it alert for severe weather automatically? Yes — NOAA weather alerts from the National Weather Service come through with visual and audio warnings so you're notified of approaching severe weather.

How long does the backlight stay on? You choose: off, always on, or the default mode where it lights for five seconds each time you press a button — the battery-friendly option.

Verdict

The ER40 is Midland doing what it does best, refined: take the proven emergency-radio formula, add a better display, make the battery replaceable, and keep everything else that worked. If you're buying your first serious emergency radio — or your old one is due for retirement — start here. Check the current price on Amazon: View on Amazon

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