Top Solar Panels

Best in Class: REC

REC Group is financially stable and widely recognized as one of the most experienced manufacturers in the solar industry. REC panels are slightly smaller than most of the competition allowing more panels to fit on smaller roofs. The REC panel has a higher efficiency and a lower coefficient, giving it a slight edge over QCell in real world conditions. In addition to top performance stats, the REC 410 AA PURE comes with an industry best warranty. A 25-year linear warranty that guarantees 92% efficiency at end of 25th year is paired with a 25-year product warranty from the manufacturer. An additional 25-year labor warranty upgrade is available when using REC certified installers.

1st Runner-Up

QCELLS has been the #1 selling panel in America over the last five years - for good reason. These panels are “Made in the USA” in Dalton, Georgia and feature a whopping 20.4% efficiency rating. Q CELLS do exceptionally well in Texas and other hot weather climates while also great at producing energy in low light situations. These panels can be a great solution for shaded roof tops. The panel scores excellent marks for standing up to both high wind and heavy snow.

QCELLS’ 25-year linear warranty guarantees that their solar panels will operate at 86% or more of original efficiency at year 25. There is also a 25-year product warranty from the manufacturer. The Q.PEAK DUO BLK ML-G10+ 400W is packed full of value, at a price point that makes it hard to say no. QCELLS is a solid choice for the Texas solar shopper.

1st Honorable Mention: Canadian Solar

Canadian Solar is a vertically integrated company. The HikuBlack Mono PERC CS 395W features PERC monocrystalline cells in achieving a 20.2 % efficiency rating. It also boasts a low temperature coefficient, resulting in excellent hot weather performance.

Canadian’s HiKu solar panels have a significantly lower price point than the average price of Tier 1 solar panels in Texas. Canadian Solar is a solid choice for the value-minded consumer.

The HikuBlack Mono PERC CS 395W comes with a 25-year linear warranty of 83.1% and a 12-year product warranty.

Best in Real World Testing: Mission Solar

The Mission Solar, MSE PERC 66 BoB 385W may be the toughest, best looking, residential solar panel in Texas. Built here in the Lone Star State, every Mission panel is built to the highest standards. Mission inspects every panel multiple times throughout the manufacturing process.

This commitment to perfection earned Mission Solar panels the highest ratings in real world testing over all other American-made solar panels. If performance and durability are at the top of your list, Mission Solar will not disappoint. Mission Solar delivers an industrial grade panel approved for residential applications. The MSE PERC 66 BoB 385W comes with a 25-year linear warranty of 85% at the end of the 25th year as well as a 12-year product warranty. Online registration is required. Only the Temperature Coefficient score kept this panel out of the top three.

Best Looking: SILFAB

If you want to make your neighbors jealous, choose the Silfab Prime SIL-370 HC. This sleek American made; all black design may be the best-looking solar panel we have ever seen. Made in Washington State, these marvels also feature a remarkable 20.2% efficiency while scoring well in both wind load and rain load testing. Silfab panels come with a 30-year linear warranty of 82.6% at end of 30th year or 25 years at 85.1% optional for 25-years.

Lowest Degradation Rate: SunPower Maxeon

SunPower/Maxeon MAXEON SPR MAX5 400 E3 AC is the flagship panel of SunPower. It is the most expensive panel that we reviewed in 2023. These panels are made in the Philippines using high purity N-type monocrystalline silicon that delivers a very respectable efficiency rating of 21.5%. The panel also features LID resistance resulting in lower degradation rates. The SPR MAX5 400 E3 AC scores mid-pack with respect to snow-load strength and has average wind load performance scores.

As for hot weather performance, of the 11 panels we reviewed, 7 featured a better temperature coefficient score than SunPower’s SPR MAX5 400 E3 AC.

One factor keeping SunPower’s from scoring as high as it should is that it comes “pre-paired” to a mandatory outdated microinverter and the consumer has no option to upgrade. The pre-paired inverter creates a cascading effect of limited options, including up-to-date monitoring and battery storage.

SunPower features a solid 25-year linear warranty 92% at end of 25th, & a 25-year product warranty. Please Note: The integrated inverter is not covered under these warranties.

Notable Mention: Aptos Solar

Aptos Solar is a fresh face in the solar market. They are based in Santa Clara, CA and do their manufacturing in Vietnam. Aptos backs these aesthetic, all-black, heavy-duty modules with an industry-leading warranty. At a very affordable price point, the Aptos DNA-144-BF26-400W (BoB) is rated to handle 210 mph winds, and heavy rain/snow loads.

For efficiency, the Aptos DNA-144-BF26-400W (BoB) reports a solid 19.8%.

In a highly competitive field of 2023 panels, only the Temperature Coefficient rating of -0.31%/°C kept Aptos out of the top five. However, Aptos is so sure of their DNA series that they back each one with a 25-year product warranty and a 25-year linear warranty of 85.1% at end of the 25th year (*a 30 year /82.4% optional upgrade is also available). The Aptos DNA-144-BF26-400W (BoB) scores very well in most metrics and may be a perfect fit for the budget minded Texas solar consumer.

Notable Mention: Jinko

Headquartered in China and manufactured in Jacksonville, FL, the Jinko Eagle 72HM G2 JKM400M uses Dupont Tedlar for its panel’s back sheet material. Jinko cites Dupont Tedlar for its ultra-rare failure rates. The Eagle series’ monocrystalline half-cut solar cells give them impressive shade tolerance while featuring a 19.88% efficiency rating. However, it’s wind-rating is among the lowest of all the panels in the field. Jinko promises 83.1% of original power production at the end of the 25th year. Its 10-year product warranty is also the shortest warranty out of all the panels we reviewed in 2023. When it comes to price point, the Jinko Eagle is hard to compete with being one of the most affordable panels available in the Texas residential solar market today.