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

# Q-Cells vs SOMI

Q-Cells has the broader catalog (89 vs 6 models). Q-Cells leads on peak efficiency at 23.20%. Q-Cells leans bifacial (39% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | Q-Cells | SOMI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | South Korea |  |
| Headquarters | Seoul |  |
| Founded | 1999 |  |
| Employees | 2000+ |  |
| Annual capacity | 11.2 GW/year |  |
| Tier 1 | yes | no |
| 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 | Q-Cells | SOMI | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 89 | 6 | +83 |
| Max Power | 675 W | 550 W | +125 W |
| Avg Power | 468 W | 538 W | +69 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | Q-Cells | SOMI | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 23.20% | 21.30% | +1.90 pp |
| Avg Efficiency | 21.21% | 20.80% | +0.41 pp |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | Q-Cells | SOMI | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.325%/°C | -0.350%/°C | +0.025 |
| Bifacial Share | 35 (39%) | 0 (0%) | +39 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 27.0 yrs | 30.0 yrs | +3.0 yr |


## Efficiency distribution

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


| Efficiency band | Q-Cells | SOMI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 7 (7.9%) | 0 |
| 20-21% | 29 (32.6%) | 4 (66.7%) |
| 21-22% | 30 (33.7%) | 2 (33.3%) |
| 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 | SOMI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 20 (22.5%) | 0 |
| 400-499W | 41 (46.1%) | 0 |
| 500-599W | 11 (12.4%) | 6 (100.0%) |
| 600-699W | 17 (19.1%) | 0 |


## Cell technology

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

Dominant cell tech: **PERC** (100%)


| Technology | Q-Cells | SOMI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PERC | 38 (42.7%) | 6 (100.0%) |
| N-type | 23 (25.8%) | 0 |
| Unknown | 20 (22.5%) | 0 |
| 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, SOMI


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [SP550M-72HB](https://comparepv.com/panel/somi-sp550m-72hb) | 550 | 21.3 | -0.350 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [SP545M-72HB](https://comparepv.com/panel/somi-sp545m-72hb) | 545 | 21.1 | -0.350 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [SP540M-72HB](https://comparepv.com/panel/somi-sp540m-72hb) | 540 | 20.9 | -0.350 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [SP535M-72HB](https://comparepv.com/panel/somi-sp535m-72hb) | 535 | 20.7 | -0.350 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [SP530M-72HB](https://comparepv.com/panel/somi-sp530m-72hb) | 530 | 20.5 | -0.350 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [SP525M-72HB](https://comparepv.com/panel/somi-sp525m-72hb) | 525 | 20.3 | -0.350 | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

Q-Cells, operating under the Hanwha Q CELLS brand, traces its origins to a German startup founded in 1999 and later acquired in 2012 by South Korea's Hanwha Group. It is headquartered in Seongnam, South Korea, with substantial manufacturing operations in the United States, including a module factory in Cartersville, Georgia. The company holds BloombergNEF Tier 1 bankability status and has reported combined global module production capacity above 11 GW per year, placing it among the larger non-Chinese solar manufacturers. SOMI, by contrast, did not surface in any major industry database, trade publication, or Tier 1 bankability list consulted during research for this comparison, making a symmetric institutional profile impossible to construct. Q-Cells therefore has the considerably stronger institutional footprint of the two.

On the product side, Q-Cells is best known for its proprietary Q.ANTUM cell architecture - a PERC-derived technology the company has marketed since 2012 - and has been actively developing TOPCon-based modules alongside longer-term research into perovskite-silicon tandem cells. Its Q.PEAK DUO and Q.TRON series target premium residential rooftops and mid-scale commercial installations, and carry 25- to 30-year performance warranties backed by a major conglomerate. Because SOMI has no verifiable presence in trade press or recognized installer databases, its product families, dominant cell technology, and warranty terms cannot be reliably characterized here without risking fabrication.

For a typical buyer evaluating these two brands in 2025, Q-Cells is the clearly documentable choice - supported by public financials, domestic US manufacturing, and a long record of independent installer reviews. SOMI's absence from public industry sources means prospective purchasers should treat any claims about it with caution and request certified product datasheets and warranty documentation before committing to any project.

\---LINKS---

\- https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/hanwha-q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review \| Hanwha Q CELLS solar panels - expert review \| review

\- https://www.ecowatch.com/solar/reviews/qcells-solar-panels \| QCells Solar Panels Review 2025 - cost, efficiency and performance \| review

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2021/09/13/hanwha-q-cells-unveils-plan-to-produce-perovskite-topcon-solar-modules/ \| Hanwha Q Cells unveils plan to produce perovskite and TOPCon modules \| article

\- https://taiyangnews.info/technology/qcells-to-invest-big-in-tandem-solar \| QCells to invest big in tandem solar - TaiyangNews \| article

Sources:

\- \[Hanwha Q CELLS solar panels - expert review (SolarReviews)\](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)

\- \[Hanwha Q Cells unveils plan to produce perovskite, TOPCon modules (PV Magazine)\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2021/09/13/hanwha-q-cells-unveils-plan-to-produce-perovskite-topcon-solar-modules/)

\- \[QCells to invest big in tandem solar (TaiyangNews)\](https://taiyangnews.info/technology/qcells-to-invest-big-in-tandem-solar)

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


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

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