Q-Cells vs Seraphim - solar panel manufacturer comparison
Seraphim has the broader catalog (160 vs 89 models). Seraphim leads on peak efficiency at 23.50%. Seraphim leans bifacial (69% of lineup).
Both catalogues are read from the manufacturers' own datasheets. A brand is not scored against the market here, only against the other brand on this page.
The two companies
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...
- Founded
- 1999
- Headquarters
- Seoul, South Korea
- Annual capacity
- 11.2 GW/year
- Employees
- 2000+
- Listed
- NASDAQ: HQCL
- Tier 1 bankable
- Yes
Seraphim is a world-class solar products manufacturer specializing in research, development, production, and sales of solar PV products. The company has achieved significant milestones, outpacing competitors in production capacity and innovative designs. Seraphim is committed to technological innovation and...
- Founded
- 2011
- Headquarters
- Changzhou, China
- Annual capacity
- 13 GW/year
- Employees
- 1001-5000
- Tier 1 bankable
- Yes
Catalogue against catalogue
An average over a catalogue describes the range a manufacturer publishes, not the module you would buy. A brand with two flagship panels and eighty older ones averages worse than one that has retired its back catalogue.
What each of them builds
Seraphim skews to higher efficiency: 12% of lineup is 23%+
Seraphim offers more 600W+ panels (35% of lineup)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>PERC</strong> (43%)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>PERC</strong> (52%)
The flagships
Written summary
I have enough sourced information now.
Q-Cells is a South Korea headquartered manufacturer, operating under parent company Hanwha Group, tracing its roots to a 1999 founding in Thalheim, Germany, before Hanwha acquired the insolvent original company in 2012. It carries BloombergNEF Tier 1 bankability status and reports around 11.2 GW of global annual module production capacity as of 2025. Seraphim, by contrast, is a Chinese manufacturer founded in 2011 and headquartered in Changzhou, Jiangsu, with roughly 13 GW of production capacity and a claimed 11 consecutive years of BNEF Tier 1 recognition. Q-Cells has the deeper institutional footprint in Western markets, holding a long-standing number one position in US residential and commercial solar, while Seraphim's presence is more globally distributed but less dominant in any single market.
Q-Cells' flagship Q.TRON line uses monocrystalline Q.ANTUM NEO N-type TOPCon half-cell technology and is positioned primarily for premium residential and commercial rooftops, especially in North America and Europe, alongside utility-scale offerings. Seraphim's catalog spans the Sable series (TOPCon), the Hydra series (heterojunction, HJT), the Nebula series, and flexible modules, giving it a broader spread across budget-to-midrange commercial rooftops and utility-scale ground mounts, with HJT development signaling ambition on the higher-efficiency end.
For a typical buyer in 2025, Q-Cells is generally the safer default in the US and European residential market, given its longer track record of consecutive market leadership and strong local brand recognition, which can matter for financing and resale value. Seraphim is a reasonable choice for larger commercial or utility-scale projects where competitive TOPCon or HJT capacity and cost matter more than brand pedigree, though buyers should independently verify current Tier 1 listings and warranty terms before purchase, since both firms' rankings shift from quarter to quarter.
Generated by Claude Sonnet 5 · 2026-08-22
Other brand comparisons
Shop prices: See 25 Q-Cells offers · See 4 Seraphim offers
Comparisons are computed from manufacturer datasheets held in the ComparePV database and may not reflect a brand's complete current lineup. Nothing on this page is paid placement.