--- title: "LG vs Q-Cells - Brand Comparison | ComparePV" description: "Compare LG vs Q-Cells solar panels: full portfolio, efficiency, cell technology breakdown, warranty terms and company background." source: "https://comparepv.com/lg-vs-q-cells" --- # LG vs Q-Cells Q-Cells has the broader catalog (89 vs 24 models). Q-Cells leads on peak efficiency at 23.20%. Q-Cells leans bifacial (39% of lineup). ## The two companies | Attribute | LG | Q-Cells | | --- | --- | --- | | Country | South Korea | South Korea | | Headquarters | Seoul | Seoul | | Founded | 1958 | 1999 | | Employees | 74,000+ | 2000+ | | Annual capacity | | 11.2 GW/year | | Tier 1 | | yes | | Listed | KRX: 066570 | NASDAQ: HQCL | | Website | [https://www.lg.com](https://www.lg.com) | [https://www.qcells.com](https://www.qcells.com) | LG Electronics is a South Korean multinational electronics company. Founded in 1958, LG is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications, and home appliances. Although LG officially closed its solar panel business in 2022, the company continues to offer support for existing... 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 | LG | Q-Cells | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Panel Models | 24 | 89 | +65 | | Max Power | 455 W | 675 W | +220 W | | Avg Power | 404 W | 468 W | +64 W | ## Efficiency | Measure | LG | Q-Cells | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Max Efficiency | 22.10% | 23.20% | +1.10 pp | | Avg Efficiency | 20.74% | 21.21% | +0.48 pp | ## Reliability & Warranty | Measure | LG | Q-Cells | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.315%/°C | -0.325%/°C | +0.010 | | Bifacial Share | 4 (17%) | 35 (39%) | +23 pp | | Avg Warranty | 25.0 yrs | 27.0 yrs | +2.0 yr | ## Efficiency distribution Q-Cells skews to higher efficiency: 2% of lineup is 23%+ | Efficiency band | LG | Q-Cells | | --- | --- | --- | | \<20% | 4 (16.7%) | 7 (7.9%) | | 20-21% | 10 (41.7%) | 29 (32.6%) | | 21-22% | 9 (37.5%) | 30 (33.7%) | | 22-23% | 1 (4.2%) | 21 (23.6%) | | 23%+ | 0 | 2 (2.2%) | ## Power distribution Q-Cells offers more 600W+ panels (19% of lineup) | Power band | LG | Q-Cells | | --- | --- | --- | | \<400W | 13 (54.2%) | 20 (22.5%) | | 400-499W | 11 (45.8%) | 41 (46.1%) | | 500-599W | 0 | 11 (12.4%) | | 600-699W | 0 | 17 (19.1%) | ## Cell technology Dominant cell tech: **N-type** (100%) Dominant cell tech: **PERC** (43%) | Technology | LG | Q-Cells | | --- | --- | --- | | N-type | 24 (100.0%) | 23 (25.8%) | | PERC | 0 | 38 (42.7%) | | Unknown | 0 | 20 (22.5%) | | TOPCon | 0 | 8 (9.0%) | ## Top panels, LG | # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [LG455N2W-E6](https://comparepv.com/panel/lg-lg455n2w-e6) | 455 | 20.7 | -0.330 | Monocrystalline | | 2 | [LG450N2W-E6](https://comparepv.com/panel/lg-lg450n2w-e6) | 450 | 20.5 | -0.330 | Monocrystalline | | 3 | [LG445N2W-E6](https://comparepv.com/panel/lg-lg445n2w-e6) | 445 | 20.2 | -0.330 | Monocrystalline | | 4 | [LG440N2T-E6](https://comparepv.com/panel/lg-lg440n2t-e6) | 440 | 19.8 | -0.330 | Monocrystalline | | 5 | [LG440N2W-E6](https://comparepv.com/panel/lg-lg440n2w-e6) | 440 | 20.0 | -0.330 | Monocrystalline | | 6 | [LG440QAC-A6](https://comparepv.com/panel/lg-lg440qac-a6) | 440 | 22.1 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline | | 7 | [LG435QAC-A6](https://comparepv.com/panel/lg-lg435qac-a6) | 435 | 21.9 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline | | 8 | [LG435N2T-E6](https://comparepv.com/panel/lg-lg435n2t-e6) | 435 | 19.6 | -0.330 | Monocrystalline | | 9 | [LG430N2T-E6](https://comparepv.com/panel/lg-lg430n2t-e6) | 430 | 19.4 | -0.330 | Monocrystalline | | 10 | [LG430QAC-A6](https://comparepv.com/panel/lg-lg430qac-a6) | 430 | 21.6 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline | ## 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 LG is a South Korean electronics conglomerate that entered the photovoltaic business in the 1980s - under its former name GoldStar - and developed its solar division into a premium brand over the following decades. In February 2022, however, LG announced it would permanently exit solar panel manufacturing, citing unsustainable raw-material costs and intensifying price competition; production at its Huntsville, Alabama facility ceased by June of that year. LG never re-entered the market. Hanwha Q CELLS, by contrast, is an active producer. Originally founded in 1999 in Germany, it was acquired by South Korea's Hanwha Group in 2012 and has since grown into a BloombergNEF Tier 1 bankable manufacturer, confirmed in its most recent bankability assessment, and was named an S&P Global Tier 1 Cleantech company in 2025. With total module shipments anticipated to exceed 9 GW in 2025 and a fully integrated U.S. manufacturing campus in Georgia (Cartersville and Dalton), Q CELLS carries the stronger institutional footprint by a wide margin. LG's discontinued lineup - centered on its NeON 2 and NeON R series using N-type IBC cells - reached efficiency figures up to approximately 22.3% and was aimed squarely at premium residential rooftops where space was constrained. Remaining inventory is still traded on the secondary market, but no new production exists. Q CELLS serves a much broader range of applications: its Q.TRON residential series uses monocrystalline half-cut cells with a low annual degradation rate of around 0.33%, while commercial and utility-scale product lines address ground-mount and carport installations. The 2025-generation QTron M-G2+ series has pushed peak efficiency to competitive levels for the monocrystalline segment. For any buyer in 2025 or beyond, the comparison is effectively decided by LG's market exit: Q CELLS is the only live option of the two. It offers active warranties backed by a major conglomerate, a growing domestic U.S. manufacturing base, and broad product availability. LG panels from existing stock may still suit budget-conscious retrofits, but without new production, the brand cannot be recommended as a primary choice for new installations. \---LINKS--- \- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/02/23/lg-exits-solar-module-business/ \| LG exits solar module business - pv magazine International \| article \- https://www.pv-tech.org/lg-electronics-to-exit-solar-module-business-citing-supply-chain-concerns/ \| LG Electronics to exit solar module business - PV Tech \| article \- https://www.energysage.com/blog/lg-exiting-solar-industry/ \| What to Know About LG Leaving the Solar Industry - EnergySage \| article \- https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/hanwha-q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review \| Expert Review of Qcells Solar Panels for 2025 - SolarReviews \| review \- https://www.hanwha.com/newsroom/news/press-releases/hanwha-qcells-named-an-s-p-global-2025-tier-1-cleantech-company.do \| Hanwha Qcells named 2025 S&P Global Tier 1 company \| article Sources: \- \[LG exits solar module business - pv magazine International\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/02/23/lg-exits-solar-module-business/) \- \[LG Electronics to exit solar module business - PV Tech\](https://www.pv-tech.org/lg-electronics-to-exit-solar-module-business-citing-supply-chain-concerns/) \- \[What to Know About LG Leaving the Solar Industry - EnergySage\](https://www.energysage.com/blog/lg-exiting-solar-industry/) \- \[Expert Review of Qcells Solar Panels for 2025 - SolarReviews\](https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/hanwha-q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review) \- \[Hanwha Qcells named 2025 S&P Global Tier 1 company\](https://www.hanwha.com/newsroom/news/press-releases/hanwha-qcells-named-an-s-p-global-2025-tier-1-cleantech-company.do) Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above. ## Other comparisons - [LG vs A.B. Energy](https://comparepv.com/lg-vs-a-b-energy) - [AE Solar vs Q-Cells](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-q-cells) - [LG vs AEET](https://comparepv.com/lg-vs-aeet) - [AIKO vs Q-Cells](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-q-cells) - [LG vs AKCOME](https://comparepv.com/lg-vs-akcome) - [ARTsolar vs Q-Cells](https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-q-cells) --- Source: https://comparepv.com/lg-vs-q-cells Not in this file, on the page: the distributions above drawn as charts.