---
title: "DAON vs Q-Cells - Brand Comparison | ComparePV"
description: "Compare DAON vs Q-Cells solar panels: full portfolio, efficiency, cell technology breakdown, warranty terms and company background."
source: "https://comparepv.com/daon-vs-q-cells"
---

# DAON vs Q-Cells

Q-Cells has the broader catalog (89 vs 0 models). Q-Cells leans bifacial (39% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | DAON | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country |  | South Korea |
| Headquarters |  | Seoul |
| Founded |  | 1999 |
| Employees |  | 2000+ |
| Annual capacity |  | 11.2 GW/year |
| Tier 1 | no | yes |
| Listed |  | NASDAQ: HQCL |
| Website |  | [https://www.qcells.com](https://www.qcells.com) |

Qcells is a renowned global provider of complete energy solutions, specializing in solar cells and modules, energy storage solutions, downstream project business, and energy retail. The company has a strong heritage dating back to its foundation in Germany and has become a leader in technology innovations. As an...


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | DAON | Q-Cells | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 0 | 89 | +89 |
| Max Power | 0 W | 675 W | +675 W |
| Avg Power | 0 W | 468 W | +468 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | DAON | Q-Cells | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | - | 23.20% |  |
| Avg Efficiency | - | 21.21% |  |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | DAON | Q-Cells | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | - | -0.325%/°C |  |
| Bifacial Share | 0 (0%) | 35 (39%) | +39 pp |
| Avg Warranty | - | 27.0 yrs |  |


## Efficiency distribution

Q-Cells skews to higher efficiency: 2% of lineup is 23%+


| Efficiency band | DAON | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 0 | 7 (7.9%) |
| 20-21% | 0 | 29 (32.6%) |
| 21-22% | 0 | 30 (33.7%) |
| 22-23% | 0 | 21 (23.6%) |
| 23%+ | 0 | 2 (2.2%) |


## Power distribution

Q-Cells offers more 600W+ panels (19% of lineup)


| Power band | DAON | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 0 | 20 (22.5%) |
| 400-499W | 0 | 41 (46.1%) |
| 500-599W | 0 | 11 (12.4%) |
| 600-699W | 0 | 17 (19.1%) |


## Cell technology

Dominant cell tech: **PERC** (43%)


| Technology | DAON | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PERC | 0 | 38 (42.7%) |
| N-type | 0 | 23 (25.8%) |
| Unknown | 0 | 20 (22.5%) |
| TOPCon | 0 | 8 (9.0%) |


## Top panels, Q-Cells


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 675](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-675) | 675 | 21.7 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 670](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-670) | 670 | 21.6 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 665](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-665) | 665 | 21.4 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 660](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-660) | 660 | 21.2 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 655](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-655) | 655 | 21.1 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 650](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-650) | 650 | 20.9 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 645](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-645) | 645 | 23.1 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 640](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-640) | 640 | 22.9 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 635](https://comparepv.com/panel/hanwha-q-cells-america-inc-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-635) | 635 | 22.7 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 630](https://comparepv.com/panel/hanwha-q-cells-america-inc-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-630) | 630 | 22.6 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

DAON is the module brand of DAS Solar, a Chinese manufacturer founded in 2018 and headquartered in Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province. Despite its relatively short history, DAS Solar has earned BloombergNEF Tier 1 status for four consecutive quarters in 2025, signaling solid bankability with project financiers. Its cell capacity stands at roughly 5 GW per year and module capacity at approximately 3 GW per year. Q-Cells, operating as Hanwha Q CELLS under the South Korean Hanwha Group, traces its roots to the German Q-Cells brand founded in 1999 and carries decades of accumulated manufacturing experience alongside consistent BNEF Tier 1 recognition. Hanwha Q CELLS' global module capacity reaches approximately 11 GW per year, with shipments anticipated to exceed 9 GW in 2025, and the company secured a $1.45 billion U.S. Department of Energy loan guarantee in late 2024 for its Georgia facility. By sheer scale and institutional backing, Q-Cells holds the stronger footprint.

On the product side, DAON modules are built around N-type TOPCon cell technology, with DAS Solar's road map also including a DBC (DAON Back-Contact) line and perovskite-TOPCon tandem research, positioning the brand primarily for commercial and utility-scale buyers seeking cutting-edge cell architecture at competitive Chinese manufacturing cost structures. Q-Cells competes with its Q.ANTUM NEO platform, also N-type TOPCon-based, and is well established across premium residential rooftop, commercial, and utility segments globally. Its panels are noted for low temperature coefficients, low annual degradation rates, and 25-year product and performance warranties, making them a strong fit for homeowners and commercial developers who prioritize long-term reliability and installer network depth, particularly in the United States and Europe.

For a typical buyer in 2025, Q-Cells is generally the safer default where installer support, localized warranty service, and financing acceptance are priorities. DAON is a credible emerging alternative for price-sensitive utility or large commercial projects where access to next-generation TOPCon cell efficiency and a confirmed BNEF Tier 1 rating matter more than brand recognition depth.

\---LINKS---

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/press-releases/das-solar-secures-fourth-consecutive-bnef-tier-1-recognition-with-global-innovation-and-sustainability/ \| DAS Solar secures fourth consecutive BNEF Tier 1 recognition \| article

\- https://taiyangnews.info/amp/story/pressreleases/das-solar-secures-fourth-consecutive-bnef-tier-1-recognition-with-global-innovation-and-sustainability \| DAS Solar BNEF Tier 1 - TaiyangNews \| article

\- https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/hanwha-q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review \| Expert review of Qcells solar panels 2025 - SolarReviews \| review

\- https://www.ecowatch.com/solar/reviews/qcells-solar-panels \| QCells solar panels review 2025 - EcoWatch \| review

\- https://www.hanwha.com/newsroom/news/press-releases/hanwha-qcells-new-cartersville-factory-set-for-33-gw-of-solar-module-production-per-year.do \| Hanwha Qcells Cartersville factory set for 3.3 GW annual production \| article

Sources:

\- \[DAS Solar secures fourth consecutive BNEF Tier 1 recognition - PV Magazine\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/press-releases/das-solar-secures-fourth-consecutive-bnef-tier-1-recognition-with-global-innovation-and-sustainability/)

\- \[DAS Solar BNEF Tier 1 - TaiyangNews\](https://taiyangnews.info/amp/story/pressreleases/das-solar-secures-fourth-consecutive-bnef-tier-1-recognition-with-global-innovation-and-sustainability)

\- \[Expert review of Qcells solar panels 2025 - SolarReviews\](https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/hanwha-q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review)

\- \[QCells solar panels review 2025 - EcoWatch\](https://www.ecowatch.com/solar/reviews/qcells-solar-panels)

\- \[Hanwha Qcells Cartersville factory - Hanwha Newsroom\](https://www.hanwha.com/newsroom/news/press-releases/hanwha-qcells-new-cartersville-factory-set-for-33-gw-of-solar-module-production-per-year.do)

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


## Other comparisons

- [DAON vs A.B. Energy](https://comparepv.com/daon-vs-a-b-energy)
- [AE Solar vs Q-Cells](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-q-cells)
- [DAON vs AEET](https://comparepv.com/daon-vs-aeet)
- [AIKO vs Q-Cells](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-q-cells)
- [DAON vs AKCOME](https://comparepv.com/daon-vs-akcome)
- [ARTsolar vs Q-Cells](https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-q-cells)


---

Source: https://comparepv.com/daon-vs-q-cells