Currently popular photovoltaic panel power

Five brands stood out: Maxeon, VSUN, REC, Qcells, and Canadian Solar. What are the best solar panels? Based on our analysis, Maxeon offers the best solar panels, followed by VSUN, REC, Qcells, and Canadian Solar. Each scored well overall, but the best one for you depends on your home's specific needs.

Panda 3.0 Plus 1, 720W The top three most powerful solar panels are all bifacial 720W models with efficiency ratings of 23.2% – but they all have their own distinctive characteristics. Despite living up to its bear namesake with a weight of 37.3kg, the Panda 3.0 Plus 1 is the lightest of the three.

Canadian Solar's TOPHiKu6 450-watt solar panel has the highest power output of the products on our list, which means it has the capacity to generate more electricity. While it's the least efficient of our top brands, it boasts impressive performance specifications with a 22% efficiency rating and -0.29%/°C temperature coefficient.

While early leaders such as Trina Solar, Jinko Solar, Canadian Solar, Risen Energy, and JA Solar laid the groundwork for high-power panels in the 600–700W range, a new wave of manufacturers is now surpassing those limits.

The Hi-MO X10 Scientist currently holds top spot on our page tracking the most efficient solar panels. Its 24.8% efficiency allows it to take up less space than other, similarly powerful panels, with a 2.7m² size that's closer to what you'd expect from panels with 550W ratings.

You'll probably want a very powerful solar panel (unless you use very little electricity). Even light shading can reduce your solar panels' output by 50% or more. Look for solar panels with high power output and high efficiency.