Most panel marketing is noise. Only a handful of figures actually matter for an Australian roof: the cell technology, the module efficiency, how the panel behaves in heat, and what the manufacturer will still owe you in 25 or 30 years. We carry three brands, AIKO, Phono Solar and Trina Solar, because each wins on a different one of those measures. The table below is built only from manufacturer datasheets, and where a maker does not publish a figure we say so rather than guess.
A quick guide to reading it. Efficiency decides how much power fits on your roof. The temperature coefficient tells you how much output the panel loses on a hot day, and a smaller number is better. The product warranty covers the panel as hardware, the performance warranty guarantees minimum output over time, and the end value is what output is still guaranteed at year 30.
| Specification | AIKO NEOSTAR | Phono Quasar (AU) | Phono Draco | Trina Vertex S+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cell technology | N type ABC, all back contact | N type back contact, zero busbar | N type TOPCon | N type i-TOPCon |
| Power range | 430 W to 555 W across three generations | 475 W (Australian residential model) | 425 W to 630 W | 425 W to 515 W across six models |
| Module efficiency | Up to 25.0% | Up to 23.27% | 21.76% to 23.32% | 21.3% to 23.7% |
| Temperature coefficient (Pmax) | -0.26% per °C | -0.26% per °C | -0.29% per °C | -0.29% per °C |
| Product warranty | 25 years (NEOSTAR residential) | 30 years residential, 25 years commercial | 15 years (global datasheet) | 25 years |
| Performance warranty and end value | 30 years, 88.85% at year 30 | 30 years, 88.5% at year 30 | 30 years, 87.4% at year 30 | 30 years, 87.4% at year 30 |
| Dual glass | Optional, mono glass and dual glass versions of each format | Yes, dual glass bifacial | Yes, dual glass bifacial | Yes, all six models, 1.6mm + 1.6mm |
| Company facts | Founded 2009, R&D centres in Germany and China, Australian office in Melbourne | Established 2007, part of SUMEC Group under Sinomach, sold in Australia since 2010 via exclusive distributor Supply Partners | Same maker as Quasar, Phono Solar, BNEF Tier 1 since 2014 | Founded 1997, headquartered Changzhou, approximately 50,000 employees |
Specifications per manufacturer datasheets, July 2026. Subject to change.
The efficiency pick. Back contact cells with no front grid lines, module efficiency up to 25.0 percent and the strongest guaranteed end value of the three at 88.85 percent after 30 years. Suits smaller or complicated roofs where every square metre has to earn its keep, and anyone who wants the clean all black look.
AIKO in detailThe warranty pick. The Australian Quasar and Helios ranges carry a 30 year residential product warranty, the longest hardware cover we install, with salt mist certification stated at the highest severity level and cyclone testing. Suits coastal homes and anyone planning to stay put for the long haul.
Phono Solar in detailThe track record pick. Trina has been building panels since 1997, and the Vertex S+ family gives you six dual glass models to match any roof, including a low voltage version for longer strings and a bifacial Clear Black. Suits buyers who want a big established maker and format flexibility.
Trina Solar in detailStill torn? That is what the consultation is for. We look at your roof, shading and usage and tell you which panel we would put up there if it were our house. Call 0420 141 078 or request a quote, and if you are comparing whole systems start with our solar overview.
No. Efficiency matters most when roof space is tight. On a big open roof, a slightly less efficient panel with a longer product warranty or lower price can be the smarter buy. We quote the option that gives you the best value for your actual roof.
The product warranty covers the panel itself against defects, like any hardware warranty. The performance warranty guarantees the panel still produces a stated minimum output each year, for example 88.5 percent of its rated power at year 30. Both matter, but the product warranty is usually the harder one to earn, which is why Phono’s 30 year Australian residential product warranty stands out.
Because we have to stand behind every panel we install, for decades. We would rather know three ranges deeply, hold spares, and trust the Australian support behind them than sell whatever is cheapest this month. All three are current N type technology with datasheets we have verified ourselves.
Datasheets tell you the numbers. These are the same panel ranges on real Northern Rivers and coastal roofs, installed by us.
Straight rows and tight tolerances. Panel layout is a craft, not an afterthought.
An 8.0kW array at Murwillumbah, laid out around the roof penetrations.
A 6.36kW system on corrugated metal, mounted for a coastal salt environment.
We will recommend one of these three ranges for your roof and show you the numbers behind the pick.
Tell us what you are after and we will come back to you within one business day with real numbers for your property. Prefer to talk? Call 0420 141 078.
