Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W vs Waaree WS-440
The Waaree WS-440 wins this comparison by a clear margin. It leads in efficiency (21.8% vs 21.3%) and matches or exceeds on warranty (12 vs 12 years). For most residential installations, the Waaree WS-440 is the stronger choice.
Key Differences
- • Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W is rated at 460W while Waaree WS-440 is rated at 440W, a 20W difference.
- • Waaree WS-440 achieves 21.8% efficiency vs 21.3% for the other, a 0.5 percentage point gap.
- • Both carry matching 12-year product warranties.
- • Waaree WS-440 has a superior temperature coefficient of -0.3%/°C vs -0.34%/°C, retaining more power in hot climates.
- • Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W uses PERC Mono cells while Waaree WS-440 uses TOPCon N-type cells, representing different technology generations.
Specifications Breakdown
Module Efficiency
The Waaree WS-440 achieves 21.8% module efficiency compared to Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W's 21.3%, meaning Waaree WS-440 converts 0.5 percentage points more sunlight into electricity per square meter. In practical terms, the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W produces 230.2 watts per square meter of panel area while the Waaree WS-440 produces 225.3 W/m². For rooftop installations where space is limited, this efficiency gap determines how many kilowatts you can fit on your available roof area. Over a 25-year system life, even a small efficiency advantage compounds into meaningful additional energy production.
Power Output
The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W delivers 460W per panel versus 440W for the Waaree WS-440, a 20W difference per module. To build an 8 kW residential system, you would need 18 Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W panels or 19 Waaree WS-440 panels. Choosing the higher-wattage option saves 1 panel, reducing total racking hardware, wiring, and installation labor costs. Higher wattage per panel is particularly valuable for commercial-scale installations where panel count directly impacts balance-of-system costs.
Temperature Coefficient
The Waaree WS-440 has a temperature coefficient of -0.3%/°C versus -0.34%/°C for the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W. On a hot summer day when cell temperature reaches 65°C (40°C above the 25°C STC baseline), the Waaree WS-440 retains 94.0% of its rated power while the other retains 93.2%. While the numerical gap is modest, it still accumulates over decades of summer production, especially in southern latitudes with prolonged peak heat hours.
Warranty Coverage
The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W is backed by a 12-year product warranty and 25-year performance guarantee, while the Waaree WS-440 offers 12-year product and 25-year performance coverage. Both offer identical product warranty duration. Based on their published degradation rates (1.5% first year then 0.5%/year for Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W; 1% first year then 0.4%/year for Waaree WS-440), after 25 years the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W should retain approximately 86.5% of original output versus 89.4% for the Waaree WS-440. This 2.9 percentage point gap in end-of-life output meaningfully impacts lifetime energy economics.
Physical Dimensions & Weight
The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W measures 1762×1134×30mm and weighs 23 kg, while the Waaree WS-440 measures 1722×1134×30mm at 21.5 kg. 2.00 m² of panel area for the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W versus 1.95 m² for the Waaree WS-440. Their weights are closely matched, so neither panel imposes a significantly different structural load on the mounting system. Similar footprints mean both panels fit comparably on standard residential rooftop configurations.
Specification Comparison
| Specification | Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W | Waaree WS-440 |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 460W | 440W |
| Efficiency | 21.3% | 21.8% |
| Power Density | 21.4 W/sq ft | 20.9 W/sq ft |
| Cell Type | PERC Mono | TOPCon N-type |
| Bifacial | Yes | No |
| Weight | 23 kg | 21.5 kg |
| Temp Coefficient | -0.34%/°C | -0.3%/°C |
| Snow Load | 5400 Pa | 5400 Pa |
| Wind Load | 2400 Pa | 2400 Pa |
| Product Warranty | 12 years | 12 years |
| Performance Warranty | 25 years | 25 years |
| Degradation (Year 1) | 1.5% | 1% |
| Annual Degradation | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| Country | China | India |
5-Dimension Head-to-Head Analysis
1. Efficiency & Power Density
Winner: Waaree WS-440The Waaree WS-440 achieves 21.8% efficiency versus 21.3% — a 0.5 percentage point advantage. On a typical 30-panel residential roof, this translates to approximately 0.6 kW more total system capacity, or 3 kWh more annual production in an average US location.
2. Hot Climate Performance
Winner: Waaree WS-440The Waaree WS-440 has a better temperature coefficient of -0.3%/°C versus -0.34%/°C. On a 45°C summer day (20°C above STC), the winner retains 94.0% of rated power versus 93.2%. The difference is modest but accumulates over 25 years of summer production.
3. Durability & Warranty
Winner: Waaree WS-440Waaree WS-440 degrades more slowly at 0.4% per year versus 0.5%. After 25 years, expect 86.5% vs 89.4% of original output for Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W and Waaree WS-440 respectively.
4. Power Output
Winner: Astronergy ASTRO N5 460WThe Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W delivers 460W versus 440W per panel — 20W more. For an 8 kW system, you need 18 panels with the higher-wattage option versus 19 panels, saving 1 panels and the associated racking and labor costs.
5. Cell Technology
Winner: Waaree WS-440The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W uses PERC Mono: PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) is the current mainstream technology, offering good efficiency at the lowest manufacturing cost. The Waaree WS-440 uses TOPCon N-type: TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact) adds a thin tunnel oxide layer to reduce recombination losses, achieving higher efficiency than PERC while being manufacturable on existing production lines. TOPCon N-type represents a newer generation technology with a longer performance runway as manufacturing matures.
Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W
The ASTRO N5 is a mid-range PERC panel delivering 460W for residential and commercial installations at a value price point.
Pros
- + Good value per watt
- + Mid-size format
- + CHINT Group backing
- + Widely available globally
Cons
- - Older PERC technology
- - Standard efficiency
- - Less known in US
Waaree WS-440
The Waaree WS-440 is a 440W residential-format TOPCon N-type panel in the standard 108-cell configuration, manufactured at Waaree's state-of-the-art facilities in Gujarat, India. At 21.8% efficiency, it competes directly with Chinese TOPCon panels while offering Indian supply chain diversification. The standard 1722 x 1134mm form factor ensures compatibility with all major racking systems. Waaree's rapidly expanding US distribution makes this one of the most accessible Indian-made panels in the North American market.
Pros
- + Indian-manufactured — non-Chinese supply chain alternative
- + 21.8% efficiency competitive with Chinese TOPCon leaders
- + Standard 108-cell residential format — universal racking compatibility
- + -0.30%/°C temp coefficient for hot climate performance
- + Highly competitive pricing — among the lowest-cost TOPCon panels
- + Waaree's expanding US distribution improves availability
Cons
- - 12-year product warranty shorter than 25-year leaders
- - Indian manufacturing quality perception still developing vs established brands
- - US installer familiarity and support network still growing
- - No bifacial option in this residential format
Choose Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W If...
- ✓ You want fewer panels to reach your target system size, reducing racking and labor costs
- ✓ Value-oriented projects seeking competitive PERC pricing from a global manufacturer.
Choose Waaree WS-440 If...
- ✓ Your roof space is limited and you need maximum power per panel
- ✓ You live in a hot climate (Arizona, Texas, Florida) where heat performance matters
- ✓ You want maximum output retention over the system's 25-30 year lifespan
- ✓ You prefer newer cell technology with a longer performance improvement runway
- ✓ Cost-conscious residential installers seeking high-efficiency TOPCon panels from a non-Chinese manufacturer at a competitive price point.
Our Recommendation
We recommend the Waaree WS-440 for most buyers in this comparison. It wins 4 of 5 key dimensions and offers a clear advantage in the metrics that matter most for a solar panel purchase. The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W remains a good product, but the Waaree WS-440 delivers better overall value for the majority of installations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W or Waaree WS-440?
The Waaree WS-440 wins this comparison by a clear margin. It leads in efficiency (21.8% vs 21.3%) and matches or exceeds on warranty (12 vs 12 years). For most residential installations, the Waaree WS-440 is the stronger choice.
Which panel is more efficient, Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W or Waaree WS-440?
The Waaree WS-440 at 21.8% module efficiency. Higher efficiency means more watts per square foot of roof space, which is critical for space-constrained installations. The difference of 0.5 percentage points translates to approximately 20W per panel under standard test conditions.
Which has a better warranty, Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W or Waaree WS-440?
The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W comes with a 12-year product warranty and 25-year performance guarantee. The Waaree WS-440 offers 12-year product and 25-year performance warranties. Both offer identical warranty terms.
Which panel performs better in hot weather?
The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W has a temperature coefficient of -0.34%/°C and the Waaree WS-440 is -0.3%/°C. Waaree WS-440 retains more power in heat — important in states like Arizona, Texas, and Florida. A lower (less negative) temperature coefficient is better.
How many Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W vs Waaree WS-440 panels do I need for an 8 kW system?
For an 8 kW system: you need 18 Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W panels (460W each) or 19 Waaree WS-440 panels (440W each). The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W requires fewer panels, saving on racking hardware and installation labor.
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Last updated: February 2026