First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W vs Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W
The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W wins this comparison by a clear margin. It leads in efficiency (21.3% vs 19.2%) and matches or exceeds on warranty (12 vs 10 years). For most residential installations, the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W is the stronger choice.
Key Differences
- • First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W is rated at 465W while Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W is rated at 460W, a 5W difference.
- • Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W achieves 21.3% efficiency vs 19.2% for the other, a 2.1 percentage point gap.
- • Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W comes with a 12-year product warranty vs 10 years for the other.
- • First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W has a superior temperature coefficient of -0.28%/°C vs -0.34%/°C, retaining more power in hot climates.
- • First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W uses CdTe (Cadmium Telluride) cells while Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W uses PERC Mono cells, representing different technology generations.
Specifications Breakdown
Module Efficiency
The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W achieves 21.3% module efficiency compared to First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W's 19.2%, meaning Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W converts 2.1 percentage points more sunlight into electricity per square meter. In practical terms, the First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W produces 187.9 watts per square meter of panel area while the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W produces 230.2 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 First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W delivers 465W per panel versus 460W for the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W, a 5W difference per module. To build an 8 kW residential system, you would need 18 First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W panels or 18 Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W panels. Despite the per-panel wattage difference, both require the same number of panels for this system size due to rounding. Higher wattage per panel is particularly valuable for commercial-scale installations where panel count directly impacts balance-of-system costs.
Temperature Coefficient
The First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W has a temperature coefficient of -0.28%/°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 First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W retains 94.4% of its rated power while the other retains 93.2%. This difference is particularly significant in hot climates such as the American Southwest, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, where panels routinely operate 30-40°C above STC for several hours each day. Over the system lifetime, the cumulative energy advantage from a better temperature coefficient can amount to 2-4% of total production.
Warranty Coverage
The First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W is backed by a 10-year product warranty and 30-year performance guarantee, while the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W offers 12-year product and 25-year performance coverage. The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W provides 2 additional years of defect protection, covering manufacturing issues, material failures, and premature performance loss. Based on their published degradation rates (1.5% first year then 0.5%/year for First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W; 1.5% first year then 0.5%/year for Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W), after 25 years the First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W should retain approximately 86.5% of original output versus 86.5% for the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W. The end-of-life output levels are closely matched.
Physical Dimensions & Weight
The First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W measures 2009×1232×49mm and weighs 34.5 kg, while the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W measures 1762×1134×30mm at 23 kg. 2.48 m² of panel area for the First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W versus 2.00 m² for the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W. The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W is 11.5 kg lighter per panel, which reduces structural load requirements on the roof and makes handling easier during installation. For a 20-panel system, that is a total weight difference of 230 kg. The more compact Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W may be easier to fit on irregularly shaped or space-limited rooftops.
Specification Comparison
| Specification | First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W | Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 465W | 460W |
| Efficiency | 19.2% | 21.3% |
| Power Density | 17.5 W/sq ft | 21.4 W/sq ft |
| Cell Type | CdTe (Cadmium Telluride) | PERC Mono |
| Bifacial | No | Yes |
| Weight | 34.5 kg | 23 kg |
| Temp Coefficient | -0.28%/°C | -0.34%/°C |
| Snow Load | 5400 Pa | 5400 Pa |
| Wind Load | 4000 Pa | 2400 Pa |
| Product Warranty | 10 years | 12 years |
| Performance Warranty | 30 years | 25 years |
| Degradation (Year 1) | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Annual Degradation | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Country | United States | China |
5-Dimension Head-to-Head Analysis
1. Efficiency & Power Density
Winner: Astronergy ASTRO N5 460WThe Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W achieves 21.3% efficiency versus 19.2% — a 2.1 percentage point advantage. On a typical 30-panel residential roof, this translates to approximately 0.1 kW more total system capacity, or 1 kWh more annual production in an average US location.
2. Hot Climate Performance
Winner: First Solar Series 6 Plus 465WThe First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W has a better temperature coefficient of -0.28%/°C versus -0.34%/°C. On a 45°C summer day (20°C above STC), the winner retains 94.4% of rated power versus 93.2%. This is a meaningful difference in hot states like Arizona, Texas, and Florida.
3. Durability & Warranty
Winner: Astronergy ASTRO N5 460WAstronergy ASTRO N5 460W leads with a 12-year product warranty versus 10 years. After 25 years, expect 86.5% vs 86.5% of original output for First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W and Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W respectively.
4. Power Output
Winner: First Solar Series 6 Plus 465WThe First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W delivers 465W versus 460W per panel — 5W more. For an 8 kW system, you need 18 panels with the higher-wattage option versus 18 panels, saving 0 panels and the associated racking and labor costs.
5. Cell Technology
Winner: First Solar Series 6 Plus 465WThe First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W uses CdTe (Cadmium Telluride): CdTe (Cadmium Telluride). The 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. CdTe (Cadmium Telluride) represents a newer generation technology with a longer performance runway as manufacturing matures.
First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W
The Series 6 Plus delivers 465W using First Solar's proven CdTe thin-film technology, manufactured in the United States.
Pros
- + Proven US thin-film technology
- + Excellent temperature coefficient
- + Environmentally responsible
- + Strong bankability
Cons
- - Lower efficiency
- - Very heavy panel
- - Not suitable for residential
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
Choose First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W If...
- ✓ You want fewer panels to reach your target system size, reducing racking and labor costs
- ✓ You live in a hot climate (Arizona, Texas, Florida) where heat performance matters
- ✓ Large commercial and utility projects wanting proven US thin-film technology.
Choose Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W If...
- ✓ Your roof space is limited and you need maximum power per panel
- ✓ Long-term warranty protection is a top priority and you plan to stay in your home for 12+ years
- ✓ Value-oriented projects seeking competitive PERC pricing from a global manufacturer.
Our Recommendation
We recommend the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W for most buyers in this comparison. It wins 2 of 5 key dimensions and offers a clear advantage in the metrics that matter most for a solar panel purchase. The First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W remains a good product, but the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W delivers better overall value for the majority of installations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W or Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W?
The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W wins this comparison by a clear margin. It leads in efficiency (21.3% vs 19.2%) and matches or exceeds on warranty (12 vs 10 years). For most residential installations, the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W is the stronger choice.
Which panel is more efficient, First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W or Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W?
The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W at 21.3% module efficiency. Higher efficiency means more watts per square foot of roof space, which is critical for space-constrained installations. The difference of 2.1 percentage points translates to approximately 5W per panel under standard test conditions.
Which has a better warranty, First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W or Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W?
The First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W comes with a 10-year product warranty and 30-year performance guarantee. The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W offers 12-year product and 25-year performance warranties. Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W provides 2 additional years of product coverage.
Which panel performs better in hot weather?
The First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W has a temperature coefficient of -0.28%/°C and the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W is -0.34%/°C. First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W retains more power in heat — important in states like Arizona, Texas, and Florida. A lower (less negative) temperature coefficient is better.
How many First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W vs Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W panels do I need for an 8 kW system?
For an 8 kW system: you need 18 First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W panels (465W each) or 18 Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W panels (460W each). The First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W requires fewer panels, saving on racking hardware and installation labor.
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Last updated: February 2026