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

# Q-Cells vs Rarlon PV Tech

Q-Cells has the broader catalog (89 vs 52 models). Q-Cells leads on peak efficiency at 23.20%. Q-Cells leans bifacial (39% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | Q-Cells | Rarlon PV Tech |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | South Korea | China |
| Headquarters | Seoul | Ningbo |
| Founded | 1999 |  |
| Employees | 2000+ |  |
| Annual capacity | 11.2 GW/year |  |
| Tier 1 | yes |  |
| Listed | NASDAQ: HQCL |  |
| Website | [https://www.qcells.com](https://www.qcells.com) | [http://www.rarlonsolar.com](http://www.rarlonsolar.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...

Rarlon PV Tech, also known as Rarlon Solar, has specialized in the solar field for over 10 years. They are a professional manufacturer and supplier of green energy products, engaging in the production and installation of solar panels, solar systems, and solar projects. Their products are exported to various countries...


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | Q-Cells | Rarlon PV Tech | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 89 | 52 | +37 |
| Max Power | 675 W | 550 W | +125 W |
| Avg Power | 468 W | 351 W | +117 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | Q-Cells | Rarlon PV Tech | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 23.20% | 21.50% | +1.70 pp |
| Avg Efficiency | 21.21% | 18.33% | +2.88 pp |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | Q-Cells | Rarlon PV Tech | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.325%/°C | -0.439%/°C | +0.115 |
| Bifacial Share | 35 (39%) | 0 (0%) | +39 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 27.0 yrs | 25.0 yrs | +2.0 yr |


## Efficiency distribution

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


| Efficiency band | Q-Cells | Rarlon PV Tech |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 7 (7.9%) | 40 (76.9%) |
| 20-21% | 29 (32.6%) | 9 (17.3%) |
| 21-22% | 30 (33.7%) | 3 (5.8%) |
| 22-23% | 21 (23.6%) | 0 |
| 23%+ | 2 (2.2%) | 0 |


## Power distribution

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


| Power band | Q-Cells | Rarlon PV Tech |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 20 (22.5%) | 42 (80.8%) |
| 400-499W | 41 (46.1%) | 5 (9.6%) |
| 500-599W | 11 (12.4%) | 5 (9.6%) |
| 600-699W | 17 (19.1%) | 0 |


## Cell technology

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

Dominant cell tech: **PERC** (77%)


| Technology | Q-Cells | Rarlon PV Tech |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PERC | 38 (42.7%) | 40 (76.9%) |
| N-type | 23 (25.8%) | 0 |
| Unknown | 20 (22.5%) | 12 (23.1%) |
| TOPCon | 8 (9.0%) | 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 |


## Top panels, Rarlon PV Tech


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [RL550HM](https://comparepv.com/panel/rarlon-pv-tech-rl550hm) | 550 | 21.5 | -0.470 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [RL545HM](https://comparepv.com/panel/rarlon-pv-tech-rl545hm) | 545 | 21.3 | -0.470 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [RL540HM](https://comparepv.com/panel/rarlon-pv-tech-rl540hm) | 540 | 21.1 | -0.470 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [RL535HM](https://comparepv.com/panel/rarlon-pv-tech-rl535hm) | 535 | 20.9 | -0.470 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [RL530HM](https://comparepv.com/panel/rarlon-pv-tech-rl530hm) | 530 | 20.7 | -0.470 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [RL420HM-144](https://comparepv.com/panel/rarlon-pv-tech-rl420hm-144) | 420 | 20.9 | -0.390 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [RL415HM-144](https://comparepv.com/panel/rarlon-pv-tech-rl415hm-144) | 415 | 20.6 | -0.390 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [RL410HM-144](https://comparepv.com/panel/rarlon-pv-tech-rl410hm-144) | 410 | 20.4 | -0.390 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [RL405HM-144](https://comparepv.com/panel/rarlon-pv-tech-rl405hm-144) | 405 | 20.2 | -0.390 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [RL400HM-144](https://comparepv.com/panel/rarlon-pv-tech-rl400hm-144) | 400 | 20.0 | -0.390 | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

Q-Cells, now operating as Hanwha Q CELLS under South Korea's Hanwha Group, traces its roots to a German startup founded in 1999 and has grown into one of the world's most recognizable solar brands. The company maintains BloombergNEF Tier 1 bankability status and operates a global manufacturing footprint that includes facilities in South Korea, Malaysia, and - notably - the largest solar manufacturing complex in the Western Hemisphere, spread across Dalton and Cartersville, Georgia. Reported module capacity across its US plants alone exceeds 8 GW per year, with global module shipments anticipated to surpass 9 GW in 2025. Rarlon PV Tech, trading as Ningbo Rarlon Photovoltaic Technology Co., Ltd., is a smaller Chinese manufacturer headquartered in the High-Tech Zone of Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, with over a decade of operating history. It holds TUV, CE, and ISO 9001 certifications and is listed in the ENFSolar panel directory, but no evidence of BloombergNEF Tier 1 status was found in publicly available sources. In terms of institutional scale and bankability, Q-Cells holds a considerably stronger footprint.

Q-Cells builds its current catalog around the Q.ANTUM NEO platform, an N-type TOPCon cell architecture that the company has transferred to mass production, with flagship modules in the Q.TRON series reaching over 22.5% efficiency. Its panels target premium residential rooftops and mid-scale commercial installations in the US and European markets, where the domestic manufacturing angle adds regulatory and supply-chain appeal. Rarlon PV Tech occupies a different segment, offering a wide wattage range - from small-format off-grid panels to larger mono PERC modules - aimed at price-sensitive buyers in emerging markets across Europe, South America, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

For a typical buyer in 2025 seeking a bankable, well-warranted panel for a grid-tied residential or commercial project, Q-Cells is the stronger default choice. Rarlon PV Tech may suit off-grid or budget-constrained projects in markets where financing requirements and long-term warranty support are secondary concerns, but the two brands are not interchangeable for mainstream financed installations.

\---LINKS---

\- https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/hanwha-q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review \| Expert Review of Qcells Solar Panels for 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 - 3.3 GW annual production capacity \| article

\- https://www.enfsolar.com/rarlon-pv-tech \| Rarlon PV Tech profile - ENFSolar panel directory \| article

\- https://www.solarfeeds.com/biz/ningbo-rarlon-photovoltaic-technology-co/ \| Rarlon Photovoltaic Company Overview - SolarFeeds \| article

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


## Other comparisons

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


---

Source: https://comparepv.com/q-cells-vs-rarlon-pv-tech

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