Maxeon solar panels review 2024: Sun king

Maxeon makes the world’s most reliable and advanced solar panels for homeowners. The most expensive too! Is having a PV system from Maxeon worth it or is it a bit like driving a golden Rolls-Royce? Let’s take a close look at them in our Maxeon solar panels review.

Maxeon is Sunpower’s spin-off

Maxeon started out as a subdivision of Sunpower, the most famous American manufacturer of solar panels. In 2020 it became a separate company. Sunpower offers PV systems and energy storage products for residential customers and Maxeon supplies it with solar panels.

Maxeon's headquarters are registered in Marina Bay Financial Centre, Singapore but executive offices are in San Jose, California, US. Maxeon has sales operations in more than 100 countries and has the rights to use the SunPower brand in some of those countries.

Maxeon solar technologies: Efficiency comes first

Maxeon engineers put the performance and efficiency of their panels above anything else. To make their product as powerful as possible, they implement the most modern technologies. Let’s have a look at them.

Shingled design gives better shading tolerance

Creating a shingled solar panel involves slicing PV cells into strips and overlaying them to establish an electrical connection, similar to laying shingles on a roof. This design eliminates the need for busbars or thin metal connectors, resulting in a more uniform appearance and increased durability.

Read also

Give me that sun: Efficiency and world’s most efficient solar panels in 2023

One notable advantage of the shingled design is its enhanced shading tolerance. In a standard panel, cells are connected in series, making their performance interdependent. Shingles are connected in parallel: when one part of a panel gets shaded it doesn’t impact the other parts as much. Overall, a shingled solar panel demonstrates a 40% improvement in shading resistance compared to a standard panel.

Aside from Sunpower/Maxeon, Solaria is another company that is famous for making shingled solar panels (check out our Solaria solar panels review!). That’s why it wasn’t a big surprise when in 2023 Maxeon acquired Solaria patents for shingled panel design and the Solaria brand became a part of Maxeon Solar Technologies.

IBC cells increase light absorption — and cost

Interdigitated back contact (IBC) cells are a signature technology of Sunpower and now Maxeon. They are one of the main reasons behind Maxeon solar panels performing so well and also costing so much. Apart from Sunpower/Maxeon, LG has tried out IBC technology in their famous NeoN R solar panel.

Read also

LG solar panels review 2023: Life was good

So what is an IBC cell? Normally, solar panels have electrical contacts on their front side which are exposed to the sun. In contrast, Maxeon's panels are designed with electrical contacts on the backs of the cells. This design minimizes the sunlight that is reflected instead of being converted into energy.

Maxeon solar panels: Powerful but pricey

Maxeon specializes in monocrystalline solar panels mainly designed for homes. While they do offer high-output PV modules and bifacial panels, these are not their main focus. The company is also exploring thin-film panels, such as the anticipated Maxeon Air, a flexible panel for homes.

Maxeon's home solar panels boast some of the highest conversion rates available today, reaching nearly 23% efficiency. If you have limited space but high energy needs, these high-efficiency panels are a suitable choice.

SunPower Maxeon consistently ranks among the top in lists like "Top-10 solar panels" and "Best manufacturers." Customer reviews reflect overwhelmingly positive experiences, highlighting the company's stringent quality control.

However, the quality and efficiency of Maxeon solar panels come at a price. They are among the most expensive in the market, ranging from $1.5 to $3 per watt in the US before installation. When factoring in labor, shipping, and equipment expenses, a SunPower panel system can cost $5 per watt or more.

Maxeon offers the highest warranty in the industry

Maxeon solar panel warranties deserve a special mention. Some of them come with a 40-year coverage, which is unique in the industry. Their engineers say that the chance of having an issue with a SunPower Maxeon product is 100 times less likely compared to a standard solar panel.

The coverage includes repair, replacement, or refund for any defective panel over the 40-year period. It also covers the costs of removing, shipping, and installing the panel. Additionally, the warranty guarantees that the panel will maintain 88.3% of its performance by the 40th year, with a specified yearly degradation rate of 0.25%.

• The warranty specifically applies to the SunPower Maxeon product line. SunPower Performance panels, while still having a strong 25-year warranty for both product and performance, don't qualify for the 40-year coverage.

• The 40-year warranty is only available to customers in certain countries, including the USA. Other eligible countries are Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, and Sweden.

• To benefit from the 40-year warranty, you need to register your system. Otherwise, it defaults to the standard 25-year warranty.

Maxeon solar panels: Pros

What are the main benefits of having Maxeon solar panels? Here is what stands out about the company:

• 40-year product warranty. No other company offers a warranty so high. The return rate of panels is about 0.005% which proves how stringent is quality control at Maxeon Solar Technologies.

• High efficiency. The most advanced design features and solar technologies make Maxeon solar panels the most efficient on the market. Their conversion rate reaches 23%.

• Great reviews. Maxeon solar panels’ reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Out of all solar panel manufacturers, they might have the highest ratings from consumers.

• Slower aging. Maxeon solar panels lose only about 0.2-0.25% of their power output per year. After 40 years in service, they retain over 88% of their rated production.

Maxeon solar panels: Cons

What about the disadvantages of Maxeon solar panels? Let’s list our concerns.

• High cost. Maxeon solar panels prices are significantly higher than the average on the market. A system made of Maxeon solar panels may not be accessible to those on a tight budget and take longer to pay off. 

• Residential-oriented products. While Maxeon offers high-output solar panels for large PV projects, they are not their main focus. The high price of Maxeon panels makes it hard to justify using them for projects of a large scale.

Maxeon solar panels overview

Let’s look at the panels that Maxeon puts out on the market and that SunPower installs across the US. We’ll take three different models: one for home, one for commercial systems and one for mobile systems.

Maxeon 6 AC (E4), 440 W — Easy installation

SunPower Maxeon's AC panel features a built-in microinverter from Enphase, delivering 440 watts of power with an impressive 22.8% efficiency.

These AC panels are simpler to install compared to standard DC modules. The microinverter enhances efficiency and reduces power losses caused by shading, surpassing the performance of string inverters. Additionally, microinverters offer superior monitoring capabilities. The Enphase inverter operates at an efficiency of 96.5%.

SunPower stands behind the product with a 40-year warranty covering both product and performance. Furthermore, Enphase provides a 25-year warranty for the microinverter. This ensures a reliable and long-lasting solution for your solar energy needs.

SunPower Performance 5 UPP Bifacial, 545 W — Lots of power

SunPower's bifacial panel from the Performance line is tailored for extensive commercial installations. The front side boasts a 545W output with an efficiency of 20.9%. What sets this panel apart is its active rear side, delivering up to 20% bonus production.

The shingled solar panel design not only enhances shading tolerance but also contributes to the panel's sleek appearance. This makes it not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing for large-scale projects.

For added assurance, the panel is backed by a 25-year warranty covering both product and performance, providing a reliable and long-term solution for commercial solar installations.

SunPower SPR-E-Flex-110, 110 W — Light and flexible

Consider SunPower's 110 W flexible panel for your camper or boat, offering flexibility up to 30°. Installation is hassle-free as it doesn't require drilling; instead, you can securely fix it using adhesives.

This panel stands out with its back contact cells, expanding the active area of solar cells and enhancing the module's appearance. Designed in the USA and assembled in France, it combines American innovation with European craftsmanship.

For added assurance, the panel comes with a 5-year limited power warranty, guaranteeing 80% of the minimum specified power rating, ensuring a reliable and efficient power source for your mobile adventures.

A1 SolarStore recommends Maxeon 3 solar panel

In stock

SunPower Maxeon 415W Solar Panel 112 Cell SPR-MAX3-415-BLK-R

• Rated Power Output 415 W
• Voltage (VOC)40.7
• Number of cells112
• Cell TypeMonocrystalline

Pickup on Thu, May 02 from San Diego, CA

Delivery on May 07–10

$407^.86

Add to cart

Max3 Black is a great solar panel to build a home solar system. One module provides up to 415W power output with a 20.5% efficiency. It performs well in low-light conditions and shows lower losses on hot days.

The Maxeon solar panel comes with a 40-year warranty for product and performance. The module is guaranteed to retain over 88% of its performance after 40 years in service. The return rate of Maxeon solar panels is 0.005%: with this one, it is unlikely that you will ever need other solar panels.

A1 SolarStore verdict: Maxeon solar panels are probably the best

We’ve looked at the technologies that the company uses to make its panels, evaluated the advantages and disadvantages and even listed down some of the panels. Before we close out this Maxeon solar panels review for 2024, let’s go over the most important points about this manufacturer.

• Maxeon is Sunpower’s spin-off founded in 2020 and remains its primary solar panel supplier.

• Manufacturing facilities are located in Malaysia, the Philippines, Mexico and US.

• The company is headquartered in Singapore while the executive offices are in San Jose, California.

• Engineers put efficiency and production of solar panels before cost. The most significant innovations that Maxeon solar panels feature are IBC cells and shingled solar panel design. 

• The company’s target audience is residential customers. While the company offers flexible panels for mobile installations and bifacial PV modules for large projects, they are not the main focus.

• The efficiency of Maxeon solar panels reaches 23% which is as high as it gets for monofacial monocrystalline modules.

• Maxeon offers a 40-year warranty for both the product and the performance of their panels. This is the highest warranty coverage in the industry.

• The most advanced solar panels retain above 88% of their power output after 40 years in service. 

• Maxeon solar panels’ reviews are overwhelmingly positive — the brand is beloved by both experts and consumers.

• Maxeon solar panels cost is significantly higher than the average numbers on the market and goes way beyond $1 per watt.

What’s there to add? Maxeon solar panels are probably the best that you can find on the market. That high quality, of course, comes at a price. Are they worth it? Well, it’s up to you to decide. There are barely any negative reviews on Maxeon panels — their customers are rarely disappointed. At the same time, you might be better off with a much cheaper solar system that does the same thing but maybe not so well. With that, we end our Maxeon solar panels review and we’ll be back with more.

Andrey Gorichenski

Senior Editor

Andrey had been a news editor and freelance writer for a number of medias before joining A1SolarStore team. Climate change and its impact on people's lives has always been among his interests and it partially explains his degree in Philosophy and Ethics.

More articles from this author