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

# Q-Cells vs Sunman

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 | Sunman |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | South Korea | China |
| Headquarters | Seoul | Shanghai |
| Founded | 1999 | 2014 |
| Employees | 2000+ | 51-200 |
| Annual capacity | 11.2 GW/year | 1-2 GW/year |
| Tier 1 | yes |  |
| Listed | NASDAQ: HQCL |  |
| Website | [https://www.qcells.com](https://www.qcells.com) | [https://www.sunman-energy.com](https://www.sunman-energy.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...

Sunman Energy is a technology company pioneering ultra-light, glass-free crystalline silicon solar modules under its proprietary eArc technology — the world's first such product, weighing up to 70% less than conventional glass panels. Founded by Dr. Zhengrong Shi (the founder of Suntech), the company targets niche...


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | Q-Cells | Sunman | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 89 | 6 | +83 |
| Max Power | 675 W | 520 W | +155 W |
| Avg Power | 468 W | 312 W | +156 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | Q-Cells | Sunman | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 23.20% | 19.40% | +3.80 pp |
| Avg Efficiency | 21.21% | 17.74% | +3.47 pp |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | Q-Cells | Sunman | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.325%/°C | -0.356%/°C | +0.031 |
| 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 | Sunman |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 7 (7.9%) | 6 (100.0%) |
| 20-21% | 29 (32.6%) | 0 |
| 21-22% | 30 (33.7%) | 0 |
| 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 | Sunman |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 20 (22.5%) | 3 (50.0%) |
| 400-499W | 41 (46.1%) | 2 (33.3%) |
| 500-599W | 11 (12.4%) | 1 (16.7%) |
| 600-699W | 17 (19.1%) | 0 |


## Cell technology

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

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


| Technology | Q-Cells | Sunman |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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, Sunman


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [SMF520J-12X12UW](https://comparepv.com/panel/sunkean-smf520j-12x12uw) | 520 | 19.3 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [SMF430F-12X12UW](https://comparepv.com/panel/sunman-smf430f-12x12uw) | 430 | 19.4 | -0.380 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [SMF425F-12X12UW](https://comparepv.com/panel/sunman-smf425f-12x12uw) | 425 | 19.2 | -0.380 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [SMF200F-8X09DB-e](https://comparepv.com/panel/sunkean-smf200f-8x09db-e) | 200 | 16.3 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [SMF200J-6X10DB-e](https://comparepv.com/panel/sunkean-smf200j-6x10db-e) | 200 | 16.6 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [SMF100F-3X12UW](https://comparepv.com/panel/sunman-smf100f-3x12uw) | 100 | 15.7 | - | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

Q-Cells, now operating as Hanwha Q CELLS, is a South Korean-headquartered manufacturer under the Hanwha Solutions conglomerate, tracing its roots to the original German Q-Cells founded in 1999 and acquired by Hanwha in 2012. The company holds confirmed Bloomberg NEF Tier 1 bankability status and has built out the largest silicon solar module manufacturing capacity in the United States, with facilities in Dalton and Cartersville, Georgia together targeting roughly 8.4 GW of annual module output and global shipments anticipated above 9 GW in 2025. Sunman was founded in 2014 in Shanghai by Dr. Zhengrong Shi - the scientist who also founded Suntech - and operates a 1 GW production facility in Yangzhong City, Jiangsu province, with a 500 MW plant under development in Australia's Hunter Valley. Q-Cells carries the stronger institutional footprint by a wide margin, given its scale, Tier 1 standing, and domestic US manufacturing advantage under current trade policy.

Q-Cells' mainstream lineup is built around its Q.ANTUM NEO cell platform, which uses TOPCon architecture and reaches efficiencies above 22.5% in top-tier modules; it serves premium residential rooftops, commercial installations, and utility-scale ground-mount projects, and its temperature coefficient of around -0.29 per degree Celsius is considered strong for hot-climate deployments. Sunman occupies an entirely different niche: its signature eArc panel replaces glass with a lightweight polymer composite, cutting module weight by roughly 70 percent and thickness to approximately 2 mm, which enables installations on curved, heritage, or structurally load-limited surfaces where conventional rigid panels cannot be used. The newest eArc models deliver around 19.2% efficiency and carry a 12-year product warranty alongside a 25-year performance guarantee - shorter on the product side than Q-Cells' 25-year product warranty - and they command a price premium over standard glass-framed panels.

For the large majority of buyers in 2025 - residential homeowners, commercial building owners, or utility developers with standard roof or ground-mount projects - Q-Cells is the more straightforward default, offering proven TOPCon performance, robust bankability, and broad installer support. Sunman is not a direct competitor in those segments; it is a specialist product best evaluated when weight or substrate geometry rules out conventional panels. The two brands are not meaningfully interchangeable for typical use cases.

\---LINKS---

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

\- https://www.ecowatch.com/solar/reviews/qcells-solar-panels \| QCells Solar Panels Review 2025 - EcoWatch \| review

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/02/sunman-to-build-500-mw-solar-panel-manufacturing-plant-in-australia/ \| Sunman to build 500 MW solar panel plant in Australia - PV Magazine \| article

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/01/12/sunman-opens-1gw-lightweight-pv-module-factory/ \| Sunman opens 1 GW lightweight PV module factory - PV Magazine \| article

\- https://www.solarchoice.net.au/products/panels/sunman-earc-solar-panels-review/ \| Sunman eArc Solar Panels independent review - Solar Choice \| review

Sources:

\- \[Hanwha Q CELLS Solar Panels Review - SolarReviews\](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)

\- \[Sunman to build 500 MW plant in Australia - PV Magazine\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/02/sunman-to-build-500-mw-solar-panel-manufacturing-plant-in-australia/)

\- \[Sunman opens 1 GW lightweight PV module factory - PV Magazine\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/01/12/sunman-opens-1gw-lightweight-pv-module-factory/)

\- \[Sunman eArc Solar Panels review - Solar Choice\](https://www.solarchoice.net.au/products/panels/sunman-earc-solar-panels-review/)

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 Sunman](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-sunman)
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- [AIKO vs Sunman](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-sunman)
- [Q-Cells vs AKCOME](https://comparepv.com/q-cells-vs-akcome)
- [ARTsolar vs Sunman](https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-sunman)


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

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