Do you really need a power bank in 2025? To be honest, smartphones now come with durable batteries that last the whole day. But realistically, power outages in Nigeria are unpredictable and can last for hours or days. Additionally, if you live in a busy city like Lagos, you may spend time in traffic jams, far from any charging outlets. So, the answer is yes. You need a power bank.
The Nigerian market is a dumping ground for all sorts of power banks, making it hard for buyers to tell the difference between fakes and originals. I have been in that position many times and suffered from the menace of fake power banks. This is why I have decided to test and review power banks to ease your decision-making process. If you want to save money and avoid buying something that will gather dust, this guide is for you. Let’s move to the main findings and see what actually works.
Before shortlisting, during testing, and when selecting the final 5 power banks, I focused on key factors to ensure my recommendations are practical and align with Nigerian realities. Here’s a breakdown of the benchmarks I used:
Battery capacity is the major selling point of any power bank. For this review, I tested mid-range and high-end power banks. High-end power banks offer 6-11 charges, depending on the phone’s battery size, while mid-range power banks can last 2-4 charges before needing to be recharged.
For context, a 27,000 mAh power bank can charge an iPhone 11 roughly 4 times, and a 55,000 mAh power bank can do the same up to 12 times.
For this benchmark, I looked at two things: how quickly each power bank can charge a phone (output) and how quickly the power bank itself recharges when plugged in (input). I focused especially on how long it takes to recharge using a fast charger. This matters a lot in Nigeria, where electricity supply can be unreliable and every minute of charging time counts.
Most power bank reviews omit how uncomfortable it can be to move around with one. The physical design matters a lot for everyday use and mobility.
I paid attention to the number of ports. Most models come
with USB-A and USB-C ports. Where possible, I tested how well the ports handle charging multiple devices, including phones, EarPods, and smartwatches.
Lastly, I took into consideration the price of each power bank in Nigerian Naira (₦) across local retailers.
Here are the top 5 power banks I’m recommending after my review:
Photo credit: Jumia
New Age gadgets are well-known for their reliability and durability. The Turbo Ultra 5 didn’t fall below expectations during testing.
To measure charging speed, I drained my iPhone 13 Pro Max to 10%, set a stopwatch, and plugged it in with a Type-C fast-charging cable. My phone went from 10% to 80% in 36 minutes. I also charged my AirPods Pro and Apple Watch Series 7, and they each reached full charge within an hour.
The power bank provided 10 full charges for my iPhone 13 Pro Max, and multiple charging sessions for my Apple Watch and EarPods.
Recharging the power bank itself took a bit of time; a full charge using the Type-C port took over 11 hours.
Photo credit: Chomart
I decided to add the Poole Blaze to my list of recommendations because of its large capacity, lightning-fast PD22.5W charging, built-in cables, and four USB ports.
My iPhone charged from 10% to 80% using the PD22.5W in 37 minutes; my Watch and AirPods also charged in under an hour.
The power bank charged the iPhone 13 Pro Max 9 times and charged the Apple Watch and EarPods multiple times.
Recharging the power bank took a bit of time. It charged for over 11 hours using the Type-C port.
Photo credit: MyTrendyPhone
The Romoss Sense 8PF 30,000 mAh is a good bet for extensive use. It also supports multiple fast-charging protocols, such as Power Delivery (PD), Fast Charge Protocol (FCP), and Quick Charge (QC), which are highly efficient for charging.
During the charging test, the power bank charged my 13 Pro Max from 10% to 80% in 39 minutes via the USB-C port with PD fast charging. My AirPods and Apple Watch charged in an hour.
My phone charged fully four times, and my gadgets multiple times thereafter.
Recharging the power bank took over 9 hours and could stretch to 12 hours depending on the charger’s quality.
Photo credit: Jumia
Itel gadgets are gaining a foothold in Nigeria, thanks to their durability. I bought the Itel Powerpulse 1 power bank to satisfy my curiosity about the product.
Keeping to my testing schedule, I drained my iPhone 13 Pro Max to 10% before plugging it in with a Type-C fast-charging cable. The phone charged to 80% in 38 minutes, while my Watch and AirPods were fully charged within an hour.
My phone charged fully 4 times, and my gadgets charged multiple times.
Using a fast charger, recharging the power bank took up to 7 hours, which was decent for a power bank with a 30,000 mAh battery capacity.
Photo credit: Jiji
Oraimo is also a major player in the Nigerian market, offering a wide range of products and gadgets. I decided to add the Oraimo Traveler 3 Lit 27,000 mAh to test how mid-range power banks work.
With the power bank, it took over an hour for my phone to charge from 10% to 80%, my Watch and AirPods charged for nearly 2 hours. With a maximum output power of 15W, I wasn’t surprised with the charging speed.
The power bank did well charging my phone 3 times. My gadgets were also charged multiple times without draining half of the power.
Recharging the power bank took roughly 10 hours using the Type-C charger.
After a proper review of the power banks, let’s take a look at how they compare side by side:
Each power bank I tested is best for a specific purpose or moment:
The power banks listed above have been tested for reliability under Nigerian conditions. Selection depends on user priorities for capacity, portability, and price range. For users who need maximum capacity and don’t mind the weight, the New Age Turbo Ultra 5 is an absolute workhorse. However, for the best balance of portability, price, and performance, the Itel Powerpulse 1 is the clear winner for everyday Nigerian use.


