The best solar panels you can buy in 2025, according to the experts – SlashGear

One of the first questions that comes up during a discussion about the use of solar energy is, “how many solar panels are needed to power a house.” While it’s good that people are interested and curious about exploring alternative energy sources, that question is the same as asking how much gas it takes to drive across the country. The answer to each question depends on several factors.

When it comes to the question of solar panels, we need to consider which of the many different types of consumer solar panels is suitable for a particular home. Maxeon produces some of the most highly regarded residential solar panels available to consumers. In reality, Solar Reviews says: “If you value performance above all else, you are not concerned about the company’s financial situation and money is no object: choose Maxeon.” However, when considering purchasing solar panels, it is a good idea to look at other factors besides performance. After all, a top-fuel dragster will deliver great performance, but probably won’t fit in your garage or budget.

Based solely on the benefits of the panels themselves, Maxeon (commonly known as SunPower in 2024) solar panels are the best you can buy in 2025, according to the experts. In the ranking of ‘Most efficient solar panels for 2025’ CNET has awarded several models of Maxeon solar panels three of the top four places on the list.

At the top, with an efficiency of over 24% compared to the majority of the list in the high 22% range, is the Maxeon Performance 7, a 455-watt solar panel intended for residential use. However, despite Maxeon Solar Technologies’ Announcing in 2024 his plans to ‘focus solely on [the] US Market”, the Maxeon 7 is still not widely available in the United States nearly a year later. A dispute with US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) is a key factor in its limited availability, according to a report from PV Tech.

In addition to the problems Maxeon faces in importing its solar panels, the Performance 7 panels are not for sale except through certified installers. Not only does that discourage most of the DIY crowd from purchasing these panels, it also makes it difficult to directly compare the prices of Maxeon solar panels with those of other brands. However, Solar waddingfor example, a Maxeon/SunPower competitor, compared its total installed system price of $2.25 per watt to SunPower’s average cost per watt of $5.00. Of course, the quality of the components comes into question when you compare Sunwatts’ 25-year product and performance warranty with Maxeon’s 40 year warranty on power, product and service.

SlashGear readers may recognize Canadian Solar from our list of efficient consumer solar panels for 2024. CNET placed Canadian solar energy TOPHIKu6 solar panel ranks second on the “Most Efficient Solar Panels for 2025” list due to its 23% efficiency. Other awards include a ‘spot on’ Energy sagas “Best solar panels of 2025” list, with the TOPHIKu6 noted as “well rounded”. Finally, Solar Reviews chose the Canadian Solar TOPHIKu6 as its top pick for 2025, calling it “a great solar panel from a successful company with a good warranty.”

Canadian Solar advertises a 12-year “enhanced product warranty” that covers the materials and workmanship of its solar panel modules. In addition, the panels are covered by a 30-year ‘linear power guarantee’, guaranteeing at least 87.4% of the labeled power for the entire period.

Unlike Maxeon’s exclusive installation agreement, consumers can purchase Canadian Solar products through an authorized retailer such as Typically solar energy. To purchase Signature Solar’s $184.80 TOPHiKu6 solar panels, a minimum purchase of 10 panels is required, resulting in a discounted total of $1,792.56, excluding taxes and shipping.

The length and type of warranty protection are some of the things to consider before installing solar panels. In its 30th year since its founding in Norway, REC Group stands behind the solar panels it produces in Singapore with its conditional “REC ProTrust” warranty that covers products, labor and performance for a period of 25 years.

REC offers a line of solar panels with an efficiency of 22.2% for the Alpha Pure 2 to 22.6% for the Alpha Pure-RX. The REC Alpha Pure-RX The solar panel’s efficiency earned it a spot on CNET and Solar Reviews’ lists, while Energy Sage says the 22.2% efficient Alpha Pure 410-watt solar panel offers the “best performance per cent.”

According to calculations by Energy sagea complete, installed solar energy system with REC Alpha Pure costs $2.68 per watt, below the industry average. It is difficult to find consumer prices for individual REC solar panels. However, the company’s REC ProTrust warranty indicates that there is a benefit to having the panels installed by REC Certified Solar Professionals, so it may be possible.

The Qcells Q.Tron M-G2+ solar panel has an efficiency of 22.5%. That’s good enough to earn a spot CNETs list of efficient solar panels, calling Qcells “the most installed residential solar panel brand in the United States.” Solar Reviews agrees, saying, “Qcells is the most popular brand in residential solar thanks to its high-quality equipment and prices.” The Qcells Q.Tron came fourth EnergySages ranking solar panels as the “best American-made panels.”

For solar panels to work at maximum efficiency, they need full sun hitting their surfaces at ideal angles. The space that meets these conditions on a house roof is often limited. This limited space is often one of the reasons why it is not worth installing home solar panels on some homes. Q.Tron panels have one of the highest watts per square meter at 20.93 w/sq-ft, only Maxeon is higher on our list.

Qcells gives a 25-year warranty on its Q.Tron solar panels. The warranty applies to the product and its performance, and guarantees that the panel will continue to produce “at least 90.58% of rated power” until the end of the warranty period.

We’ve used a combination of expert reviews and personal experience to distill this list of solar panels from the vast selection now available on the market. Although some expert lists include solar panels from other brands, these were consistently rated at the top in multiple expert reviews.

Efficiency, cost and long-term sustainability played a major role in our selection, because investing in solar energy is an expensive undertaking. Some solar panels are cheaper and others provide more raw energy, but there is always a trade-off.