Best Solar Panels 2025
Guide to Buying Solar > 6. Best Solar Panels
How to choose a quality solar panel
Selecting a good-quality and reliable solar panel can be very difficult for those unfamiliar with the hundreds of different manufacturers. Fortunately, the team at Clean Energy Reviews has over a decade of experience in the solar industry and feedback from hundreds of solar professionals, which we used to compile a list of the best-quality and most popular solar panels available from the world’s leading manufacturers.
As highlighted in our guide to choosing a quality and efficient solar panel, when selecting panels, higher-cost panels from the leading manufacturers generally offer better quality, higher efficiency and increased reliability. Solar panels from the manufacturers listed below have proven to outperform and outlast most cheaper panels. Many lesser-known manufacturers have left the market or failed to honour their warranties, gone bankrupt, or been de-listed from the Clean Energy Council's list of approved solar panels.
Top 8 Solar Panels in 2025
Here is our shortlist of the best-quality and most reliable residential-size solar panels available, based on company history, performance, warranty, and feedback from solar industry professionals. This list generally applies to most regions with established solar industries, including Australia, Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. Please note that this list does not include all the latest models available and generally represents the most popular and reliable panels from the past 12 months.
* The most efficient model solar panel currently offered by the manufacturer
** Maximum product warranty period - May vary by country or region
^ Cost range $ per W - Does not include the solar inverter, installation and other equipment.
(*) Product and performance warranty conditions may vary depending on panel model, region and country. Performance warranty figures shown represent the leading panels offered by the manufacturer with the lowest degradation. Refer to the manufacturer’s warranty conditions for your region.
Performance and Durability
The numerous advancements in solar panel technology have led to substantial price reductions over recent years, with many next-generation solar panels being released by the leading Chinese manufacturers. While many of these panels have performed very well over the years, several panels from a few lesser-known manufacturers have suffered from poor-quality components, leading to severe degradation and panel failure.
To help ensure panels perform without degradation or failure, several independent testing organisations are available to verify long-term performance and reliability through rigorous testing, ensuring ongoing quality. This includes the PVEL annual PV Module Reliability Scorecard Report and the TÜV Rheinland Quality Controlled certification for PV modules. Most leading solar panel manufacturers allow these independent testing organisations to test their panels and will supply a certificate of compliance.
Power derating in high temperatures
Thermal infrared image of a solar panel showing an operating temperature of almost 44°C
The power rating of a solar panel, measured in Watts (W), is determined under Standard Test Conditions (STC) at a cell temperature of 25°C and a solar irradiance level of 1000 W/m². However, in real-world conditions, the cell temperature often surpasses 25°C (77°F) depending on the ambient temperature, wind speed, and amount of cloud cover. In hot, sunny weather, solar panel temperature can easily increase to 45 or even 60°C (140°F), resulting in an 8-15% reduction in power output, depending on the solar temperature coefficient explained below.
Power temperature coefficient explained
The power temperature coefficient of a solar panel determines how the panel perform under different temperature conditions. As the temperature of a solar panel increases during the day, its electrical resistance also increases, resulting in a slight reduction in power output, referred to as the power temperature coefficient, measured in %/°C. For every degree above the STC temperature of 25°C, the power output will decrease by a small percentage.
Solar cell temperature coefficient from highest (worst) to lowest (best)
P-Type PERC cells: 0.35 - 0.40 %/°C
N-type TOPcon cells: 0.28 - 0.32 %/°C (Trina, Jinko, Winaico, Phono)
N-Type IBC cells: 0.28 - 0.30 %/°C (Sunpower Maxeon, Longi)
N-Type HJT cells: 0.24 - 0.26 %/°C (REC, Aiko & Panasonic)
Solar panels made using N-type IBC and HJT cells have demonstrated improved efficiency in higher-temperature environments compared to traditional Monocrystalline (Mono) and Polycrystalline (Poly) panels. All SunPower Maxeon, REC Alpha and Panasonic panels utilise N-Type IBC and HJT cells with very low power temperature coefficients, resulting in extremely good high-temperature performance.
Real-world performance
To help determine the real-world performance of a solar panel, manufacturers also provide a power rating under Nominal Operating Cell Temperature (NOCT) conditions. NOCT assumes a cell temperature of 45°C and a lower solar irradiance of 800W/m2 to mimic average operating conditions. This simulates that solar panels often face temperatures and light levels that differ from the ideal STC conditions, providing consumers with a more accurate idea of how they will perform in everyday scenarios. Both the STC and NOCT ratings are shown on the solar panel datasheet. They are helpful for consumers to make informed decisions when choosing solar panels for their specific environmental conditions, especially when installed in very hot climates or on a dark-coloured rooftop that absorbs more heat.
Best Solar Panels 2025
REC
REC produces high-quality, reliable panels, which are a popular choice among premium solar installers, particularly the Alpha Pure RX series. Highlights include excellent high-temperature performance and a unique high-strength frame design with cross-bracing, offering very high wind and snow resistance. All REC panels, including the Alpha and N-peak series, come with a standard 20-year product warranty and an enhanced performance warranty with reduced degradation.
Build Quality: 9.5/10
Efficiency: 9/10
Warranty: 9.5/10
REC pioneered the use of half-cut cells in the split module format, now the industry standard, due to higher efficiency and improved shade tolerance. The high-performance Alpha Pure RX series panels, which utilise advanced N-type Heterojunction (HJT) half-cut cells, have positioned REC among the industry's leading manufacturers in high-performance solar with extremely low degradation.
The company is also an industry leader in environmental sustainability, promoting lead-free solar cell technology and prioritising sustainable manufacturing processes through design innovations. This commitment to lead-free solutions reduces environmental impact, especially during end-of-life recycling.
Power rating* (W): 400W to 470W
Efficiency (%): up to 22.6%
Panel strength: High (7000 Pa - Front load)
Price range: Med to High $$$
Product Warranty: 25 Years
Performance Warranty: Min 92.0% after 25 years *
See the detailed REC solar panels review.
SunPower
SunPower, now known as Maxeon Solar, was, until recently, the world leader in manufacturing high-efficiency solar panels using a highly robust cell design, which has proven to outperform and outlast conventional solar panels by a considerable amount of time. SunPower offers an industry-leading 40-year product and performance warranty. The renowned Maxeon series panels are guaranteed to generate a minimum of 88% of their original power rating after 40 years, provided the company remains in business, despite having undergone several changes in ownership in recent years. Additionally, the high cost and limited supply in many markets make these panels more challenging to source compared to those of most other brands.
Build Quality: 9/10
Efficiency: 9.5/10
Warranty: 9.5/10
The SunPower Maxeon panels are built using high-performance IBC N-type cells, some of the most efficient solar PV cells available today. Although they do come at a premium price due to the more expensive materials and sophisticated manufacturing process. SunPower's more cost-effective Performance or P series panels are popular for residential and larger-scale commercial installations. SunPower panels are popular and considered the most trusted brand in North America.
Power rating (W): 400W to 550W
Efficiency (%): up to 24.0%
Panel strength: Standard (5400 Pa - Front load)
Price range: Med to Very High $$$$$
Product Warranty: 25 or 40 Years *
Performance Warranty: Min 92.0% after 25 years *
See the detailed SunPower solar panels review.
Aiko
Aiko Solar has surged in popularity over recent years, following the launch of some of the world's most efficient solar panels, even surpassing the renowned Maxeon Sunpower panels in 2023. Aiko was formed in 2009 but gained significant recognition outside China only after the R&D team produced the groundbreaking new ABC (back-contact) cell technology with integrated shade optimisation. A year later, the mass production of panels featuring high-efficiency ABC cells began to be released worldwide at very affordable prices, positioning the company as a solar industry leader.
The latest Neostar 2P series is the third-generation ABC-based panels from Aiko. The innovative high-performance design has enabled these panels to achieve an impressive 24.0% peak efficiency and an incredibly low power-temperature coefficient of 0.26%, making these the highest-efficiency residential panels in the world.
Build Quality: 8.5/10
Efficiency: 10/10
Warranty: 9/10
Power rating* (W): 430W to 475W
Efficiency (%): up to 23.8%
Panel strength: High (5400 Pa - Front load)
Price range: Med $$$
Product Warranty: 25 Years
Performance Warranty: Min 88.8% after 30 years *
Download the detailed Aiko Neostar 2P datasheet.
Winaico
Winaico is a relatively small-volume Taiwanese company offering a range of high-quality panels that are reasonably priced. Winaico panels now come with a new 30-year manufacturer’s product and performance warranty and are well-regarded and trusted by installers. They also have a good track record for long-term reliability and performance in harsh Australian conditions.
Build Quality: 8.5/10
Efficiency: 8/10
Warranty: 9/10
Price: 8/10
Winaico’s attention to detail, high-quality frames and great service also put them ahead of most other manufacturers. The next-generation dual-glass bifacial WST-NGXB-D3 panels are available in power ratings from 425W up to 525W and feature high-efficiency N-type half-cut cells.
Power rating (W): 440W to 540W
Efficiency (%): up to 22.8%
Panel strength: Standard (5400 Pa - Front load)
Price range: Med to High $$$
Product Warranty: 30 Years
Performance Warranty: Min 87.4% after 30 years *
See the detailed Winaico solar panel review.
Trina Solar
Trina Solar is one of the world’s largest solar panel manufacturers and is investing heavily in low-cost, high-efficiency panels. The well-known Trina Vertex range of panels are considered high quality and very good value for money, in particular, the Vertex S+ (monocrystalline) N-type panels built on the next-generation TOPcon cell technology featuring power ratings up to 460W.
Build Quality: 8/10
Efficiency: 8.5/10
Warranty: 8.5/10
Trina Solar offers a diverse range of panels, from cost-effective mono-crystalline PERC panels to advanced bifacial TOPcon panels. The latest Vertex and Vertex S+ (small) series of high-performance panels boosted Trina Solar’s standing as a manufacturer of advanced high-efficiency panels.
Power rating (W): 400W to 630W
Efficiency (%): up to 22.8%
Panel strength: Standard (5400 Pa - Front load)
Price range: Low to Med $$
Product Warranty: 15 to 25 Years
Performance Warranty: Min 87.4% after 25 years *
See the detailed Trina solar panels review.
LONGi Solar
LONGi Solar has experienced rapid growth, becoming one of the largest Chinese solar panel manufacturers and one of the world's largest cell manufacturers. LONGi produces a wide range of cost-effective and reliable panels that only use monocrystalline N-type cells. Part of the industry shift towards more efficient mono cells was due to LONGi's massive investment in large-scale mono wafer manufacturing.
Build Quality: 8/10
Efficiency: 9/10
Warranty: 8/10
The advanced Hi-MO 6 range from LONGi uses a unique hybrid back-contact design in a common split-cell format and has become one of the most affordable and most efficient 440W to 460W panels on the market. Additionally, the unique Gallium-doped silicon cells are an impressive development that has proven to improve the lifespan of solar panels. The recently released next-gen HiMO 7 range of panels looks set to become some of the most efficient commercial panels available.
Power rating (W): 400W to 540W
Efficiency (%): up to 23.8%
Panel strength: Standard (5400 Pa - Front side)
Price range: Low to Med $$
Product Warranty: 12 to 25 Years
Performance Warranty: Min 86.8% after 25 years *
See the detailed LONGi solar panels review
Jinko Solar
JinkoSolar is the largest Chinese solar panel manufacturer by volume and produces a wide range of cost-effective and reliable panels. The Jinko engineers work closely with the Australian UNSW solar research center of excellence. They have achieved many cell efficiency records over the years through their continuous research and development in new PV cell technology.
Build Quality: 8/10
Efficiency: 8.5/10
Warranty: 8/10
The Tiger series from JinkoSolar are some of the most popular low-cost panels on the market, with an excellent track record for reliability and good support from local offices. More recently, the more powerful Tiger Pro and Tiger NEO series panels have pushed the boundaries of PV cell innovation and technology.
Power rating (W): 335W to 585W
Efficiency (%): up to 23.8%
Panel strength: Standard (5400 Pa - Front load)
Price range: Low to Med $$
Product Warranty: 12 to 25 Years
Performance Warranty: Min 84.8% after 25 years *
See the detailed JinkoSolar panels review.
Canadian Solar
Canadian Solar is the world's fifth-largest solar panel manufacturer and produces a wide range of cost-effective, reliable panels. The company generally focused on producing more cost-effective panels based on the half-cut mono-PERC cell design. However, over the last two years, Canadian Solar shifted to developing far more efficient HJT cell-based panels like the new HiDM and TOPHiKu series, which are now on par with the world’s leading manufacturers in terms of performance and efficiency.
Build Quality: 8/10
Efficiency: 8.5/10
Warranty: 7.5/10
The current generation HiKu6 and HiKu7 monocrystalline PERC split-cell panels from Canadian Solar have proven popular among installers as a quality, affordable, high-performance option backed by good support from local offices.
Power rating (W): 415W to 665W
Efficiency (%): up to 22.8%
Panel strength: Standard (5400 Pa - Front load)
Price range: Low to Med $$
Product Warranty: 12 to 25 Years
Performance Warranty: Min 84.8% after 25 years *
See the detailed Canadian Solar panels review.
Australian made solar panels
Tindo Solar is currently the only Australian solar panel manufacturer and is well-regarded by installers and customers alike. The company only uses high-quality mono PERC & TOPcon cells in the newly constructed manufacturing facility near Adelaide. However, the limited production volume means they can be difficult to source outside South Australia.
American made solar panels
The US solar market is unique in that it has numerous local manufacturers. There are several well-regarded North American-based brands, such as Silfab Solar, Solaria, Misson Solar and, of course, Tesla, who are focused on supplying the growing North American market. Note: Compared to the Australian market, the installation cost is far greater in the US and Canada due to higher overhead costs and stricter regulations. Other factors adding to the cost of solar in the US are the additional safety requirements, including arc-fault detection (AFCI) and the installation of rapid shutdown devices on every panel.
Solar Power Questions
See more discussions around the best solar panels in our forum, including:
We review the best solar panels for your home from the world’s leading brands, including SunPower, REC, Panasonic, Q cells, Trina, and more. These manufacturers offer the highest performance, efficiency, and longest warranties, and they have a proven track record of reliability based on experience and independent testing by PVEL.