---
title: "Jinko Solar vs SMA Solar - Brand Comparison | ComparePV"
description: "Compare Jinko Solar vs SMA Solar solar panels: full portfolio, efficiency, cell technology breakdown, warranty terms and company background."
source: "https://comparepv.com/jinko-solar-vs-sma-solar"
---

# Jinko Solar vs SMA Solar

Jinko Solar has the broader catalog (637 vs 0 models). Jinko Solar leans bifacial (36% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | Jinko Solar | SMA Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | China | Germany |
| Headquarters | Shanghai | Niestetal |
| Founded | 2006 | 1981 |
| Employees | 33,830 | 3000-5000 |
| Annual capacity | 130.0 GW/year |  |
| Tier 1 | yes |  |
| Listed | NYSE: JKS | ETR: S92 |
| Website | [https://www.jinkosolar.com](https://www.jinkosolar.com) | [https://www.sma.de](https://www.sma.de) |

JinkoSolar is a global leader in the solar industry, manufacturing and distributing solar products and solutions to a diversified international customer base. They have a vertically integrated solar product value chain. The company is committed to providing clean, efficient, and sustainable energy solutions worldwide.

SMA Solar Technology AG is a leading German manufacturer of solar inverters for photovoltaic systems, serving residential, commercial, and utility-scale applications worldwide. Founded in 1981, the company is the largest solar technology company in Europe by revenue and operates in over 190 countries. SMA focuses...


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | Jinko Solar | SMA Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 637 | 0 | +637 |
| Max Power | 735 W | 0 W | +735 W |
| Avg Power | 523 W | 0 W | +523 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | Jinko Solar | SMA Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 24.80% | - |  |
| Avg Efficiency | 22.18% | - |  |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | Jinko Solar | SMA Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.304%/°C | - |  |
| Bifacial Share | 231 (36%) | 0 (0%) | +36 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 28.7 yrs | - |  |


## Efficiency distribution

Jinko Solar skews to higher efficiency: 29% of lineup is 23%+


| Efficiency band | Jinko Solar | SMA Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 23 (3.6%) | 0 |
| 20-21% | 84 (13.2%) | 0 |
| 21-22% | 140 (22.0%) | 0 |
| 22-23% | 206 (32.3%) | 0 |
| 23%+ | 184 (28.9%) | 0 |


## Power distribution

Jinko Solar offers more 600W+ panels (26% of lineup)


| Power band | Jinko Solar | SMA Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 50 (7.8%) | 0 |
| 400-499W | 243 (38.1%) | 0 |
| 500-599W | 176 (27.6%) | 0 |
| 600-699W | 150 (23.5%) | 0 |
| 700W+ | 18 (2.8%) | 0 |


## Cell technology

Dominant cell tech: **TOPCon** (41%)


| Technology | Jinko Solar | SMA Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TOPCon | 258 (40.5%) | 0 |
| N-type | 195 (30.6%) | 0 |
| PERC | 158 (24.8%) | 0 |
| Unknown | 21 (3.3%) | 0 |
| BIPV | 5 (0.8%) | 0 |


## Top panels, Jinko Solar


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [JKM710-735N-66HL5-BDV-Z3-EU (735W bin)](https://comparepv.com/panel/jinkosolar-jkm710-735n-66hl5-bdv-z3-eu-735w-bin) | 735 | 23.7 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [JKM735N-66HL5-BDV-Z3-EU](https://comparepv.com/panel/jinko-solar-jkm735n-66hl5-bdv-z3-eu) | 735 | 23.7 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [JKM735N-66HL5-BDV-Z6-EU](https://comparepv.com/panel/jinko-solar-jkm735n-66hl5-bdv-z6-eu) | 735 | 23.7 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [JKM710-735N-66HL5-BDV-Z3-EU (730W bin)](https://comparepv.com/panel/jinkosolar-jkm710-735n-66hl5-bdv-z3-eu-730w-bin) | 730 | 23.5 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [JKM730N-66HL5-BDV-Z3-EU](https://comparepv.com/panel/jinko-solar-jkm730n-66hl5-bdv-z3-eu) | 730 | 23.5 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [JKM730N-66HL5-BDV-Z6-EU](https://comparepv.com/panel/jinko-solar-jkm730n-66hl5-bdv-z6-eu) | 730 | 23.5 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [JKM710-735N-66HL5-BDV-Z3-EU (725W bin)](https://comparepv.com/panel/jinkosolar-jkm710-735n-66hl5-bdv-z3-eu-725w-bin) | 725 | 23.3 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [JKM725N-66HL5-BDV-Z3-EU](https://comparepv.com/panel/jinko-solar-jkm725n-66hl5-bdv-z3-eu) | 725 | 23.3 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [JKM725N-66HL5-BDV-Z6-EU](https://comparepv.com/panel/jinko-solar-jkm725n-66hl5-bdv-z6-eu) | 725 | 23.3 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [JKM710-735N-66HL5-BDV-Z3-EU (720W bin)](https://comparepv.com/panel/jinkosolar-jkm710-735n-66hl5-bdv-z3-eu-720w-bin) | 720 | 23.2 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

Jinko Solar and SMA Solar are both established players in the photovoltaic industry, but they occupy entirely different segments - making a direct head-to-head comparison inherently asymmetric. Jinko Solar, founded in 2006 in China and listed on the NYSE, is one of the world's largest solar module manufacturers, with a declared production capacity of 130 GW and a workforce of over 33,000 employees. The company holds Tier 1 bankable status and offers a portfolio of 545 modules with a peak output of 735 Wp and a maximum module efficiency of 24.8%. SMA Solar, by contrast, is a German inverter and energy management systems manufacturer founded in 1981 and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ETR). Critically, SMA does not manufacture solar panels - its product lines cover string and central inverters, battery storage systems, EV charging solutions, and grid management platforms. The two companies therefore serve complementary, not competing, roles in a PV system.

Jinko Solar's core strength lies in its TOPCon (N-type) cell technology, which accounts for roughly 39% of its current portfolio and has yielded a world-record laboratory cell efficiency of 27.79% as of late 2025, independently verified by Germany's ISFH institute. Annual degradation for N-type modules is rated at 0.4%, and the average product warranty across the portfolio stands at approximately 28.5 years - figures that make Jinko well-suited for residential rooftop installs, utility-scale ground-mount projects, and commercial C&I applications where long-term yield certainty is paramount. Bifacial modules represent close to 32% of the offering, expanding suitability for ground-mount systems with reflective surfaces. SMA Solar, ranked third globally among inverter manufacturers by Wood Mackenzie in 2025 and the highest-placed non-Chinese supplier in that ranking, is the preferred inverter choice for European residential and large-scale installations where software integration, grid compliance, and after-sales support are priorities.

For an international buyer, the decision between these two companies is not a panel-versus-panel trade-off but a module-versus-inverter one. Jinko Solar is a strong candidate for the PV module supply in any system size, backed by competitive pricing, a broad TOPCon portfolio, and proven bankability. SMA Solar remains a reference-grade inverter supplier in Europe, though its 2025 financial results showed losses exceeding 75 million USD alongside an ongoing restructuring program - a factor worth weighing when assessing long-term service and warranty support commitments.

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


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Source: https://comparepv.com/jinko-solar-vs-sma-solar

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