Aiko Neostar Solar Panels Review (2026): Are They Any Good?
Neostar is the home range from Aiko, and it includes some of the most efficient solar panels you can buy in the UK. But “Neostar” covers at least six different panels, and quotes rarely explain which is which. This review goes model by model: the 2S, 2P, 3S, 3P and 3P54, what the codes mean, the 475W all-black panel most people are quoted, efficiency, sizes, warranties, UK prices, and which one to choose. For the company behind them, see our Aiko brand review.
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What is the Aiko Neostar?
Neostar is Aiko’s range of panels for homes and small businesses. What sets it apart is the cell. Aiko calls it ABC, for All Back Contact. In an ordinary panel, thin metal lines run across the front of each cell to collect the current, and they shade a little of the silicon. In an ABC cell, all of that wiring is on the back. The front is plain, dark silicon, so more light gets in.
That gives the Neostar three practical advantages:
- More power from the same space. A Neostar is the same size as a mainstream panel but produces 460–500W where a typical panel produces about 450W.
- A clean look. With no silver lines on the front, the all-black versions are among the neatest panels made.
- Better behaviour in partial shade. Aiko builds in what it calls cell-level shading optimisation, covered below.
Aiko was founded in 2009 as a cell maker, and its panels are made in China. Consumer group Which? has put Aiko panels through its own lab testing. The company’s history, factories and finances are in our Aiko solar panels review. This page is about the panels themselves. See also types of solar panels.
The Neostar range at a glance
| Model | Look | Power | Efficiency | Size and weight | Product warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neostar 3S (Gen 3) | All black | 475–485W | 23.8–24.3% | 1,762 × 1,134 × 30mm, about 21kg | 25 years |
| Neostar 3P (Gen 3) | Black frame, lighter back | 485W | 24.3% | Same size, 20.6kg | 15 years at UK distributors |
| Neostar 3P54 (Gen 3) | Black frame | 470–510W | 23.5–25% | 1,762 × 1,134 × 30mm, 20.6kg | 15 or 25 years, check your quote |
| Neostar 2S (Gen 2) | All black | 460W | 23.1% | 1,757 × 1,134 × 30mm, 21.5kg | 25 years |
| Neostar 2S+ (Gen 2) | All black, glass both sides | 460W | About 23% | Same size, heavier | Check your quote |
| Neostar 2P (Gen 2) | Black frame, white back | 470W | 23.6% | 1,757 × 1,134 × 30mm | 15 years |
| Neostar 2P+ (Gen 2) | Black frame, glass both sides | 470W | 23.6% | Same size, 24.2kg | 15 years |
All of them carry a 30-year power guarantee and a temperature coefficient of about -0.26% per °C. Figures are from UK distributor listings and datasheets checked in October 2026. Aiko updates wattages often, so use the datasheet for the exact model on your quote. See solar panel sizes for how these compare with other brands.
Neostar names decoded: 2 or 3, S or P
Once you know the pattern, the names are easy to read:
- The number is the generation. Neostar 2 is the second generation. Neostar 3 is the third and current one, with slightly higher efficiency and a panel 5mm longer.
- S means all black. Black frame, black backing, no visible lines. It’s the best-looking version and has the longest product warranty.
- P means black frame with a lighter backing. The pale background reflects a little more light into the cells, so P panels are a few watts more powerful than S panels of the same generation, and cheaper. You can see thin pale gaps between the cells.
- A plus sign means dual glass. The 2S+ and 2P+ have glass on the back as well as the front. They’re tougher and heavier, and they’re bifacial, which adds little on a pitched house roof (bifacial panels explained).
- 54 is the cell format. 3P54 means the standard home-sized panel. Larger numbers mean larger commercial panels.
The full model code is longer. AIKO-A475-MCE54Mb, for example, is the Neostar 3S at 475W. The three digits after the A are always the wattage. Ask for the full code on your quote so there’s no doubt which panel you’re getting.
Our scores
Our rating
Aiko Neostar 3S
★★★★½ Among the most efficient home panels, at a modest premium
The bottom line: the panel to choose when roof space is tight or looks matter. Check whether you’re being quoted an S or a P model, because the warranty differs.
Get my Aiko Neostar price →Aiko Neostar 3S 475W all black
This is the Neostar most UK homeowners are quoted in 2026, and the one most people search for. The key figures:
| Aiko Neostar 3S 475W all black | Specification |
|---|---|
| Model code | AIKO-A475-MCE54Mb |
| Power | 475W (also sold at 480W and 485W) |
| Efficiency | 23.8% (24.0% at 480W, 24.3% at 485W) |
| Cells | N-type ABC, 54-cell format (108 half-cells), Gen 3 |
| Dimensions | 1,762 × 1,134 × 30mm, just under 2m² |
| Weight | About 20.6–21kg |
| Temperature coefficient | -0.26% per °C |
| Product warranty | 25 years |
| Power guarantee | 30 years: no more than 1% lost in year one and 0.35% a year after, so about 89% at year 30 |
| Hail test | 25mm hailstones at 23 metres per second |
| Connectors and voltage | MC4 EVO2, 1.2m cables, up to 1,500V systems |
On a south-facing UK roof, one 475W panel generates roughly 440–495kWh a year. Nine of them make a 4.3kW system producing about 3,950–4,450kWh. Nine mainstream 450W panels in the same space would make 4.05kW, so the Neostar 3S gives you about 5% more from the same roof (solar panel output, 4kW systems).
Its all-black finish also matters in practice. Planners and neighbours object less to panels that blend into a dark roof, which helps in a conservation area or on the front of a house.
Been quoted the Neostar 3S 475W?
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Get My Aiko Neostar Price →Aiko Neostar 3P and 3P54: 480W to 500W
The Neostar 3P is the Gen 3 panel with a black frame and a lighter backing. At 485W and 24.3%, it produces a little more than the 3S and costs less per watt. It also passed a tougher hail test, with 40mm hailstones against 25mm for the 3S, according to UK distributor DECO.
The Neostar 3P54 is the same format pushed further. It runs from 470W up to about 500W at 25% efficiency in a panel of 1,762 × 1,134mm that weighs 20.6kg. Aiko has described the 500W version as the first 500W panel under two square metres. For a home, that’s significant: other 500W panels are much larger and awkward on a domestic roof (500W panels explained). The highest wattages are harder to find in UK stock, and 475–485W is what most installers can get.
The catch is the warranty. UK distributors list the 3P with a 15-year product warranty, against 25 years on the 3S. Some other sources quote 25 years on the 3P54. Get the figure for your exact panel in writing.
Choose the 3P or 3P54 for a rear roof, a garage or a business, where looks matter less and you want the most watts for your money. Choose the 3S for the front of a house and the longer warranty.
Aiko Neostar 2S 460W and 2P 470W
The Gen 2 panels are still widely sold in the UK, often at clearance prices, and they’re still very good.
- Neostar 2S 460W all black. 23.1% efficient, 1,757 × 1,134 × 30mm, 21.5kg, with a 25-year product warranty. It was the standard premium all-black panel in the UK in 2024 and 2025.
- Neostar 2P 470W black frame. The “470W Aiko Neostar 2P N-type black frame” panel that wholesalers list. 23.6% efficient, the same size, with a black frame and white backing and a 15-year product warranty. It’s the best-value Neostar.
- Neostar 2S+ and 2P+. Dual-glass versions of each. The 2P+ weighs 24.2kg.
Neostar 2 or Neostar 3? The difference is small: about 15W a panel, or 3%. If a Gen 2 panel is offered at a clearly lower price, take it. If the prices are close, take Gen 3. Don’t mix the two generations on one string without checking with your installer, because the electrical ratings differ slightly.
Aiko Neostar solar panel efficiency
Efficiency is the share of sunlight a panel turns into electricity. Across the Neostar home range it runs from 23.1% on the 2S 460W to 25% on the 3P54 500W. For comparison, mainstream panels are around 22–23%, and the best rival panels are around 24% (most efficient solar panels).
| Ten panels on the same roof area | System size | Typical yearly output, south-facing |
|---|---|---|
| Mainstream 450W panels (22.5%) | 4.5kW | 4,150–4,700kWh |
| Aiko Neostar 2S 460W (23.1%) | 4.6kW | 4,250–4,800kWh |
| Aiko Neostar 3S 475W (23.8%) | 4.75kW | 4,350–4,950kWh |
| Aiko Neostar 3P54 500W (25%) | 5.0kW | 4,600–5,200kWh |
So the gain over a mainstream panel is about 5% with the 3S and 11% with the 500W 3P54. That’s worth roughly £45 to £95 a year on a ten-panel system. Whether it matters depends on your roof. If you have room for more panels, adding a couple of cheaper ones gets you the same output for less. If your roof is full at eight or ten panels, a more efficient panel is the only way to get more power (how many panels fit your roof, terraced houses). See solar panel efficiency for the full explanation.
The Neostar also holds its output well. Its temperature coefficient of -0.26% per °C is among the best available, so it loses less power on a hot roof, and it’s guaranteed to lose no more than 0.35% a year.
Shade performance
In most panels, a shadow across a few cells cuts the output of a whole section, and can pull down the rest of the string. Aiko’s ABC cells are designed to let current bypass a shaded cell individually, which it calls cell-level partial shading optimisation. Aiko says this cuts shading losses substantially and limits the hot spots that shaded cells can cause.
That makes Neostar a good choice for a roof with a chimney, a dormer or a tree that casts a moving shadow. It isn’t a cure for heavy shade, and it doesn’t replace a proper shade analysis at survey. On a badly shaded roof you may still want optimisers or microinverters (solar panels and shading, optimisers explained).
Warranty: 15 years or 25?
| Model | Product warranty | Power guarantee |
|---|---|---|
| Neostar 2S and 3S (all black) | 25 years | 30 years, about 89% at the end |
| Neostar 2P, 2P+ and 3P (black frame) | 15 years at UK distributors | 30 years, about 89% at the end |
| Neostar 3P54 | Quoted as 15 or 25 years depending on the source | 30 years, about 89% at the end |
This is the detail most reviews miss. The power guarantee is the same across the range, but the product warranty, which covers a panel that fails through a manufacturing fault, is ten years shorter on most P models. That’s a fair trade for a lower price, as long as you know you’re making it. Check the warranty document for your exact model, and remember that it normally covers a replacement panel and not the labour to fit it. See solar panel warranties explained.
Aiko Neostar price in the UK
These are prices we found at UK retailers and distributors in October 2026. Several were out of stock, and trade prices to installers are lower.
| Model | UK price per panel | Where listed |
|---|---|---|
| Neostar 2S 460W all black | About £74 including VAT | Plug In Solar |
| Neostar 2P 470W black frame | About £83 plus VAT | DECO |
| Neostar 3S 475W all black | About £102 plus VAT, or £111 including VAT | DECO, Battery Group |
| Neostar range overall | £80–£120 | Federation of Master Builders estimate |
That puts Neostar about £20–£50 a panel above a mainstream brand, with Gen 2 panels at the bottom of the range and the all-black Gen 3 at the top. On a typical home it adds £200–£500 to the job. A fitted 4kW system with mainstream panels costs £5,500–£7,500 in 2026, so expect roughly £5,700–£8,000 for nine Neostar 3S panels. When a system is supplied and installed together on a home, 0% VAT applies until 31 March 2027. See solar panel cost UK.
Neostar vs LONGi, REC, Jinko and Trina
| Aiko Neostar 3S | LONGi Hi-MO X10 | REC Alpha | Jinko Tiger Neo | Trina Vertex S+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cell type | Back contact (ABC) | Back contact | Heterojunction | N-type TOPCon | N-type TOPCon, dual glass |
| Efficiency | 23.8–24.3% | Up to about 24% | About 22–23% | About 22–23% | About 22–23% |
| Product warranty | 25 years | 15–25 years | 20–25 years | Usually 25 years | 25 years |
| Relative price | Mid to high | A little less than Aiko | High | Low | Low |
| Best for | Small or prominent roofs, shade | Back-contact on a budget | Premium, hot roofs | Value | Value with dual glass |
| Our review | This page | LONGi | REC | Jinko | Trina |
Competitor figures are typical for current home ranges. LONGi is the closest rival, with similar back-contact technology for about £20–£50 a panel less, from a much larger company. Jinko, Trina and JA Solar are the value choices. Solarwatt is the alternative if a 30-year product warranty matters most. All of them are ranked in best solar panels UK.
The 795W Neostar: not for houses
You may see an “Aiko Neostar 2N+” listed at around 795W. This is a large-format panel with 78 cells, listed by overseas wholesalers at 760–800W. It’s built for solar farms and big commercial roofs. We couldn’t find it in UK home ranges, and a panel that size is too large and heavy for a domestic roof. A bigger wattage doesn’t mean a better panel, only a bigger one. For a business roof, see commercial solar panels.
Not sure which Neostar suits your roof?
A vetted local installer will lay out your roof, tell you whether the extra efficiency is worth paying for, and price a mainstream panel alongside for comparison.
Get My Aiko Neostar Price →Pros & cons
Pros
- 23.1–25% efficiency, among the highest for home panels
- 460–500W from a standard-size panel
- Clean all-black look with no visible lines
- Good in partial shade and in heat
- 25-year product warranty on the S models
- Light for its output, at about 21kg
Cons
- £20–£50 a panel more than mainstream brands
- P models usually have a 15-year product warranty
- Confusing range, and quotes often don’t say which model
- The highest wattages are hard to find in UK stock
- Aiko is smaller than its rivals and reported a loss in 2026
Verdict: are Aiko Neostar solar panels any good?
4.6 / 5. The Aiko Neostar is one of the best home solar panels you can buy in the UK. It gets more power from each square metre than almost anything else, it looks neat, and it copes well with shade and heat. The Neostar 3S 475W all-black is the pick for the front of a house, and the 2P 470W is the bargain.
It isn’t the right panel for every roof. If you have plenty of space, a mainstream panel from Jinko, Trina or JA Solar will pay back faster, and LONGi offers similar technology for less. Whichever Neostar you’re quoted, get the full model code and the product warranty in writing, and choose the installer as carefully as the panel (how to choose, MCS certification).
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Aiko Neostar solar panels: frequently asked questions
Are Aiko Neostar solar panels any good?
Yes. Aiko Neostar panels use back-contact cells that reach 23.1% to 25% efficiency, giving 460W to 500W from a standard-size panel. They have a temperature coefficient of -0.26% per °C, handle partial shade well and carry a 30-year power guarantee. The main drawbacks are a price about £20–£50 a panel above mainstream brands and a 15-year product warranty on most P models.
What is the difference between Aiko Neostar 2 and Neostar 3?
Neostar 3 is the newer generation. A Neostar 3S is 475–485W at 23.8–24.3% efficiency, against 460W at 23.1% for the Neostar 2S, and the panel is 5mm longer at 1,762mm. The difference is about 15W a panel, or 3%. Gen 2 panels are still widely sold in the UK and are good value when they’re clearly cheaper.
What is the difference between Aiko Neostar S and P panels?
S panels are all black, with a black frame and black backing, and carry a 25-year product warranty. P panels have a black frame with a lighter backing, which makes them a few watts more powerful and cheaper per watt, but UK distributors list most of them with a 15-year product warranty. A plus sign, as in 2S+ or 2P+, means the panel has glass on both sides.
How efficient are Aiko Neostar solar panels?
Between 23.1% and 25%, depending on the model. The Neostar 2S 460W is 23.1%, the 2P 470W is 23.6%, the 3S 475W is 23.8%, the 3P 485W is 24.3% and the 3P54 500W is 25%. Mainstream home panels are around 22–23%. In practice, ten Neostar 3S panels generate about 5% more than ten mainstream 450W panels in the same roof space.
What are the dimensions of the Aiko Neostar 3S 475W all black panel?
The Aiko Neostar 3S 475W measures 1,762 × 1,134 × 30mm, which is just under two square metres, and weighs about 20.6–21kg. Its model code is AIKO-A475-MCE54Mb. It is 23.8% efficient, with a 25-year product warranty and a 30-year power guarantee. The older Neostar 2S is 5mm shorter at 1,757mm.
How much do Aiko Neostar solar panels cost in the UK?
In October 2026, UK retailers listed the Neostar 2S 460W at about £74 including VAT, the 2P 470W at about £83 plus VAT and the 3S 475W at about £102 plus VAT. That is roughly £20–£50 a panel more than a mainstream brand. A fitted 4kW system with nine Neostar 3S panels typically costs about £5,700–£8,000, with 0% VAT until 31 March 2027.
Where are Aiko Neostar solar panels made?
In China. Aiko was founded in 2009 as a solar cell manufacturer and makes its ABC cells and Neostar panels in its own Chinese factories. That is the same as most panels sold in the UK. What matters more is the testing record, the warranty and the installer. Our Aiko brand review covers the company in more detail.
Specifications, warranties and prices are from UK distributor and retailer listings (DECO, Midsummer, Battery Group and Plug In Solar) and published datasheets, checked in October 2026. Efficiency figures are consistent with published power and dimensions. Warranty terms differ by model and market, so confirm them for your panel on Aiko’s product pages and in your quote. The shading claims are Aiko’s own. Company results are as reported by TaiyangNews (September 2026). Competitor figures are typical for current ranges. Output figures are typical for south-facing UK roofs. Installed prices are typical 2026 UK estimates with 0% VAT, which applies until 31 March 2027. Always confirm the exact model, datasheet and warranty with an MCS-certified installer.