First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W vs Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W
The Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W wins this comparison by a decisive margin. It leads in efficiency (21.3% vs 19.2%) and matches or exceeds on warranty (25 vs 10 years). For most residential installations, the Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W is the stronger choice.
Key Differences
- • First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W is rated at 465W while Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W is rated at 410W, a 55W difference.
- • Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W achieves 21.3% efficiency vs 19.2% for the other, a 2.1 percentage point gap.
- • Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W comes with a 25-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 -0.29%/°C, retaining more power in hot climates.
- • First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W uses CdTe (Cadmium Telluride) cells while Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W uses TOPCon N-type cells, representing different technology generations.
Specifications Breakdown
Module Efficiency
The Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W achieves 21.3% module efficiency compared to First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W's 19.2%, meaning Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W 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 Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W produces 210.0 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 410W for the Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W, a 55W difference per module. To build an 8 kW residential system, you would need 18 First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W panels or 20 Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W panels. Choosing the higher-wattage option saves 2 panels, 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 First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W has a temperature coefficient of -0.28%/°C versus -0.29%/°C for the Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W. 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 94.2%. 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 First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W is backed by a 10-year product warranty and 30-year performance guarantee, while the Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W offers 25-year product and 25-year performance coverage. The Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W provides 15 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% first year then 0.4%/year for Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W), after 25 years the First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W should retain approximately 86.5% of original output versus 89.4% for the Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W. This 2.9 percentage point gap in end-of-life output meaningfully impacts lifetime energy economics.
Physical Dimensions & Weight
The First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W measures 2009×1232×49mm and weighs 34.5 kg, while the Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W measures 1722×1134×30mm at 20.8 kg. 2.48 m² of panel area for the First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W versus 1.95 m² for the Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W. The Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W is 13.7 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 274 kg. The more compact Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W may be easier to fit on irregularly shaped or space-limited rooftops.
Specification Comparison
| Specification | First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W | Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 465W | 410W |
| Efficiency | 19.2% | 21.3% |
| Power Density | 17.5 W/sq ft | 19.5 W/sq ft |
| Cell Type | CdTe (Cadmium Telluride) | TOPCon N-type |
| Bifacial | No | No |
| Weight | 34.5 kg | 20.8 kg |
| Temp Coefficient | -0.28%/°C | -0.29%/°C |
| Snow Load | 5400 Pa | 5400 Pa |
| Wind Load | 4000 Pa | 2400 Pa |
| Product Warranty | 10 years | 25 years |
| Performance Warranty | 30 years | 25 years |
| Degradation (Year 1) | 1.5% | 1% |
| Annual Degradation | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| Country | United States | South Korea |
5-Dimension Head-to-Head Analysis
1. Efficiency & Power Density
Winner: Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410WThe Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W achieves 21.3% efficiency versus 19.2% — a 2.1 percentage point advantage. On a typical 30-panel residential roof, this translates to approximately 1.6 kW more total system capacity, or 8 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 -0.29%/°C. On a 45°C summer day (20°C above STC), the winner retains 94.4% of rated power versus 94.2%. The difference is modest but accumulates over 25 years of summer production.
3. Durability & Warranty
Winner: Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410WHanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W leads with a 25-year product warranty versus 10 years. Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W degrades more slowly at 0.4% per year versus 0.5%. After 25 years, expect 86.5% vs 89.4% of original output for First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W and Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W respectively.
4. Power Output
Winner: First Solar Series 6 Plus 465WThe First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W delivers 465W versus 410W per panel — 55W more. For an 8 kW system, you need 18 panels with the higher-wattage option versus 20 panels, saving 2 panels and the associated racking and labor costs.
5. Cell Technology
Winner: Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410WThe First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W uses CdTe (Cadmium Telluride): CdTe (Cadmium Telluride). The Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W 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.
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
Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W
The Hanwha Q.TRON G11S delivers 410W N-type TOPCon performance in a compact residential format with a strong 25-year warranty.
Pros
- + 25-year product warranty
- + N-type TOPCon cells
- + Compact size
- + Korean quality
Cons
- - Moderate wattage
- - Premium pricing
- - Limited color options
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 Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W 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 25+ years
- ✓ You want maximum output retention over the system's 25-30 year lifespan
- ✓ You prefer newer cell technology with a longer performance improvement runway
- ✓ Residential installations valuing Korean quality with strong warranty.
Our Recommendation
The Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W is the decisive winner in this solar panel comparison, outperforming the First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W in 3 of 5 dimensions. Unless you have a specific requirement that the First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W uniquely addresses, the Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W is the stronger choice for virtually every installation scenario.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W or Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W?
The Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W wins this comparison by a decisive margin. It leads in efficiency (21.3% vs 19.2%) and matches or exceeds on warranty (25 vs 10 years). For most residential installations, the Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W is the stronger choice.
Which panel is more efficient, First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W or Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W?
The Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W 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 55W per panel under standard test conditions.
Which has a better warranty, First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W or Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W?
The First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W comes with a 10-year product warranty and 30-year performance guarantee. The Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W offers 25-year product and 25-year performance warranties. Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W provides 15 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 Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W is -0.29%/°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 Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W 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 20 Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W panels (410W 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