---
title: "AIKO vs Sunman - Brand Comparison | ComparePV"
description: "Compare AIKO vs Sunman solar panels: full portfolio, efficiency, cell technology breakdown, warranty terms and company background."
source: "https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-sunman"
---

# AIKO vs Sunman

AIKO has the broader catalog (144 vs 6 models). AIKO leads on peak efficiency at 25.20%. AIKO leans bifacial (24% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | AIKO | Sunman |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | China | China |
| Headquarters | Shanghai | Shanghai |
| Founded | 2009 | 2014 |
| Employees |  | 51-200 |
| Annual capacity |  | 1-2 GW/year |
| Tier 1 | yes |  |
| Listed | SZSE: 600732 |  |
| Website | [https://www.aikosolar.com](https://www.aikosolar.com) | [https://www.sunman-energy.com](https://www.sunman-energy.com) |

Sunman Energy is a technology company pioneering ultra-light, glass-free crystalline silicon solar modules under its proprietary eArc technology — the world's first such product, weighing up to 70% less than conventional glass panels. Founded by Dr. Zhengrong Shi (the founder of Suntech), the company targets niche...


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | AIKO | Sunman | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 144 | 6 | +138 |
| Max Power | 805 W | 520 W | +285 W |
| Avg Power | 581 W | 312 W | +269 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | AIKO | Sunman | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 25.20% | 19.40% | +5.80 pp |
| Avg Efficiency | 23.65% | 17.74% | +5.91 pp |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | AIKO | Sunman | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.271%/°C | -0.356%/°C | +0.085 |
| Bifacial Share | 35 (24%) | 0 (0%) | +24 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 29.5 yrs | 25.0 yrs | +4.5 yr |


## Efficiency distribution

AIKO skews to higher efficiency: 85% of lineup is 23%+


| Efficiency band | AIKO | Sunman |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 3 (2.1%) | 6 (100.0%) |
| 20-21% | 3 (2.1%) | 0 |
| 21-22% | 3 (2.1%) | 0 |
| 22-23% | 12 (8.3%) | 0 |
| 23%+ | 123 (85.4%) | 0 |


## Power distribution

AIKO offers more 600W+ panels (60% of lineup)


| Power band | AIKO | Sunman |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 2 (1.4%) | 3 (50.0%) |
| 400-499W | 50 (34.7%) | 2 (33.3%) |
| 500-599W | 5 (3.5%) | 1 (16.7%) |
| 600-699W | 78 (54.2%) | 0 |
| 700W+ | 9 (6.2%) | 0 |


## Cell technology

Dominant cell tech: **Back Contact** (83%)

Dominant cell tech: **PERC** (100%)


| Technology | AIKO | Sunman |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Back Contact | 119 (82.6%) | 0 |
| N-type | 17 (11.8%) | 0 |
| PERC | 7 (4.9%) | 6 (100.0%) |
| Flexible | 1 (0.7%) | 0 |


## Top panels, AIKO


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [AIKO-A805-GRH78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a805-grh78dw) | 805 | 25.1 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [AIKO-A800-GRH78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a800-grh78dw) | 800 | 24.9 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [AIKO-A795-GRH78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a795-grh78dw) | 795 | 24.8 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [AIKO-A790-GRH78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a790-grh78dw) | 790 | 24.6 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [AIKO-A785-GRH78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a785-grh78dw) | 785 | 24.4 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [AIKO-A780-GRH78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a780-grh78dw) | 780 | 24.3 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [AIKO-A775-GRH78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a775-grh78dw) | 775 | 24.1 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [AIKO-A770-GRH78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a770-grh78dw) | 770 | 24.0 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [AIKO-A700-MAE78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a700-mae78dw) | 700 | 25.0 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [AIKO-A695-MAE78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a695-mae78dw) | 695 | 24.9 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |


## Top panels, Sunman


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [SMF520J-12X12UW](https://comparepv.com/panel/sunkean-smf520j-12x12uw) | 520 | 19.3 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [SMF430F-12X12UW](https://comparepv.com/panel/sunman-smf430f-12x12uw) | 430 | 19.4 | -0.380 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [SMF425F-12X12UW](https://comparepv.com/panel/sunman-smf425f-12x12uw) | 425 | 19.2 | -0.380 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [SMF200F-8X09DB-e](https://comparepv.com/panel/sunkean-smf200f-8x09db-e) | 200 | 16.3 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [SMF200J-6X10DB-e](https://comparepv.com/panel/sunkean-smf200j-6x10db-e) | 200 | 16.6 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [SMF100F-3X12UW](https://comparepv.com/panel/sunman-smf100f-3x12uw) | 100 | 15.7 | - | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

AIKO is a Chinese solar manufacturer that has built a strong reputation around its proprietary ABC (All Back Contact) N-type cell technology, which places all electrical contacts on the rear of the cell to maximize the active light-absorbing surface. The company achieved BloombergNEF Tier 1 status in 2024 and by early 2026 had an annual production capacity reported at roughly 35 GW, placing it among the top-tier global module suppliers. Sunman, by contrast, was founded in 2014 in Shanghai by Dr. Zhengrong Shi - the entrepreneur who previously founded Suntech - and operates from headquarters in China with additional offices in Australia and Germany. Sunman does not appear on the BloombergNEF Tier 1 list, and its production scale is far smaller, though the company has secured government co-funding to build a 500 MW manufacturing plant in Australia's Hunter Valley. AIKO carries the significantly stronger institutional footprint of the two.

AIKO's product range targets buyers seeking the highest available module efficiency, with mass-produced commercial modules reaching a confirmed 24.8% efficiency in late 2025 - among the highest in the industry for commercially available panels. Its panels are suited to premium residential and commercial rooftops where output per square meter is the primary criterion. Sunman occupies a very different niche: its eArc panels are glass-free, polymer-composite modules that weigh roughly 70% less than a conventional framed panel and can flex to curved surfaces. This makes them well matched to weight-constrained roofs, curved building envelopes, marine applications, and BIPV integration - contexts where a standard rigid panel simply cannot be installed. Sunman's peak efficiency tops out around 19%, noticeably below AIKO.

For a typical buyer purchasing panels for a standard residential or commercial rooftop, AIKO is the stronger default choice, offering Tier 1 bankability, record-class efficiency, and broad installer support. Sunman is not a direct competitor in that segment - it is a specialist product for situations where weight or mounting flexibility is the deciding constraint, and it should be evaluated on those terms rather than as a like-for-like alternative.

\---LINKS---

\- https://www.solarquotes.com.au/panels/aiko-solar-review.html \| AIKO Solar panel review - SolarQuotes Australia \| review

\- https://www.solarchoice.net.au/products/panels/sunman-earc-solar-panels-review/ \| Sunman eArc Solar Panels independent review - Solar Choice \| review

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/02/sunman-to-build-500-mw-solar-panel-manufacturing-plant-in-australia/ \| Sunman to build 500 MW manufacturing plant in Australia - PV Magazine \| article

\- https://www.cefc.com.au/case-studies/sunman-flexible-earc-technology-a-solar-revolution/ \| Sunman flexible eArc technology - CEFC case study \| article

\- https://www.vicoexport.com/en/67499/tier-1-list-of-solar-panel-manufacturers-q2-2026/ \| Tier 1 Solar Panel Manufacturers list Q2 2026 - Vico Export \| article

Sources:

\- \[AIKO Solar panel review - SolarQuotes Australia\](https://www.solarquotes.com.au/panels/aiko-solar-review.html)

\- \[Sunman eArc Solar Panels independent review - Solar Choice\](https://www.solarchoice.net.au/products/panels/sunman-earc-solar-panels-review/)

\- \[Sunman to build 500 MW manufacturing plant in Australia - PV Magazine\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/02/sunman-to-build-500-mw-solar-panel-manufacturing-plant-in-australia/)

\- \[Sunman flexible eArc technology - CEFC case study\](https://www.cefc.com.au/case-studies/sunman-flexible-earc-technology-a-solar-revolution/)

\- \[Tier 1 Solar Panel Manufacturers list Q2 2026 - Vico Export\](https://www.vicoexport.com/en/67499/tier-1-list-of-solar-panel-manufacturers-q2-2026/)

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


## Other comparisons

- [AIKO vs A.B. Energy](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-a-b-energy)
- [AE Solar vs Sunman](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-sunman)
- [AIKO vs AEET](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-aeet)
- [AKCOME vs Sunman](https://comparepv.com/akcome-vs-sunman)
- [AIKO vs ARTsolar](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-artsolar)
- [ASM vs Sunman](https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-sunman)


---

Source: https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-sunman

Not in this file, on the page: the distributions above drawn as charts.