Aiko Neostar 3P vs 3S: Panel comparison for UK installers

Aiko Neostar Gen 3 at a glance

The Aiko Neostar Gen 3 range is built around N type ABC cell technology, Precision Overlap Soldering and hidden busbars, giving installers two of the highest efficiency 54 cell modules currently available for UK pitched roofs and small commercial systems. The two models most installers compare are the Aiko Neostar 3P 485W (part number AIK-A-MCE54-485-BF-G3), a single glass black frame module rated at 24.3% efficiency with a 15 year product warranty, and the Aiko Neostar 3S 480W (part number AIK-A-MCE54-480-AB-G3), a mono glass all black module rated at 24.0% efficiency with a 25 year product warranty. Both panels carry a 30 year performance warranty.

At DECO Group, a UK solar panel wholesaler, we stock the Aiko Neostar range for MCS-accredited installers with pallet level pricing and rapid next day delivery. This guide focuses on how the 3P and 3S compare on power, warranty, aesthetics and price position so you can match each module to the right type of job without flipping between two datasheets.

Spec summary at a glance

Quick comparison: Aiko Neostar 3P 485W vs 3S 480W

The table below covers the points where the two panels actually differ. Anything not listed here is broadly the same across both models and is summarised in the paragraph beneath.

Both panels share the same N type ABC cell platform, 30 year performance warranty, Voc around 41 V, Vmp around 34.5 V, temperature coefficient around minus 0.26% per degree Celsius, Staubli MC4 EVO2 connectors, 1.2 m landscape cables and cell level partial shading optimisation. That makes the choice between them mostly a question of warranty length, finish and price rather than electrical compatibility.

Which Aiko panel suits which type of job?

Both modules sit at the premium end of the market, so the call between them comes down to what the customer values most: long term warranty, visual finish or price per watt. The patterns below reflect how installers usually split their orders.

Choose Aiko 3S 480W for these jobs

• Premium domestic roofs where the all black mono glass finish is part of the sell.
• Architect led projects and new builds where uniform colour and tidy module alignment are specified.
• Owner occupier homes and portfolios held for the long term, where the 25 year product warranty supports asset value.
• Quotes where warranty length is being compared head to head with rival manufacturers.

Choose Aiko 3P 485W for these jobs

• Cost sensitive domestic and small commercial roofs where price per watt drives the decision.
• Sites with significant hail exposure, where the 40 mm hail test at 23 m/s is worth referencing in design notes and insurance conversations.
• Installers focused on throughput and competitive bids, where a smart black frame is acceptable and visual uniformity is not the priority.
• Rear roofs, light industrial units and outbuildings where the panel is rarely viewed up close.

Technical differences that matter on site

Beyond the headline numbers, the two modules behave very similarly on a UK roof. The points below are the ones worth keeping front of mind during design and installation.

Output and efficiency

The 3P sits at 485 W and 24.3% efficiency. The 3S sits at 480 W and 24.0%. Both deliver very high yield per square metre and reduce wasted roof area on tighter pitches. On a typical 10 to 14 panel domestic array the 5 W per panel difference is small in real terms, but it does help on jobs where the customer is chasing a specific kWp target inside a constrained roof footprint.

Temperature performance

Both panels carry a temperature coefficient around minus 0.26% per degree Celsius. That is one of the strongest figures on the market and helps retain output on hot summer days when other modules drop off more sharply. For UK conditions the practical benefit is steadier afternoon yield rather than peak headline numbers.

String design

With Voc around 41 V and Vmp around 34.5 V the two modules are very close in voltage behaviour. Most installers standardise on one type per array, but the close electrical match keeps inverter selection and string sizing simple if you are quoting both options for the same project. Always check manufacturer compatibility documentation before final design sign off, especially where mixing modules within a string is being considered.

Mechanical construction

The 3P uses a single glass layout with a black frame at roughly 20.6 kg. The 3S uses mono glass with an all black look at around 21.0 kg. Clamp zones and rail layouts will feel familiar across both, so swapping between the two modules within a single fleet of vans does not change the racking workflow in any meaningful way.

Connectors and shading

Both modules use Staubli MC4 EVO2 connectors and 1.2 m landscape cables, which keeps balance of system design simple and standard. High temperature limits for fire safety and cell level partial shading optimisation are built into both, which is useful where chimneys, dormers and nearby buildings create shade paths across the array.

Always confirm final specs against the latest manufacturer datasheet before design sign off.

Warranty, durability and hail testing

The most important commercial difference between Aiko 3P and 3S is the warranty length and how you frame that with clients. Both modules carry a 30 year performance warranty, so long term degradation curves are essentially the same across the range.

The product warranty is where the gap shows. The 3P ships with a 15 year product warranty. The 3S extends this to 25 years. For homeowners and landlords planning to hold the asset for decades, that extra decade of cover often justifies the price step on its own.

On hail resistance, the 3P is tested with 40 mm hail at 23 m/s, while the 3S is tested with 25 mm hail at 23 m/s. In practice both offer robust impact performance, but installers working on very exposed sites often prefer referencing the larger hail size in design notes and insurance discussions. Coastal jobs, high altitude rural sites and projects in regions that have seen heavy hail damage in recent years are common cases where this matters.

Pricing, aesthetics and client expectations

Many quotes are won or lost on how clearly you explain the trade off between panel cost, look and coverage. The two Aiko modules are designed to sit on either side of that line so you can present a clear premium versus value choice without leaving the brand.

• The 3P normally offers a lower price per watt, so it is the natural fit when competing on headline system price while still using a recognised premium brand.
• The 3S commands a higher module price but gives a longer product warranty and a fully uniform visual finish that reads as a single dark surface from street level.
• On visible front elevations homeowners often pick the prettier option once the price gap is explained. On rear roofs and light industrial units the 3P value position usually wins.
• For mixed projects across multiple roofs, quoting 3S on the visible faces and 3P on the hidden ones is a sensible balance between aesthetic and budget.

DECO Group can quote both options side by side so you can present the choice cleanly to your client without rebuilding the bill of materials twice.

Order Aiko Neostar from DECO Group

Trade pricing, UK stock and rapid delivery on Aiko Neostar Gen 3 panels. Send your parts list or project kWp and the DECO sales team can line up a full bill of materials.

Aiko Neostar 3S 480W N Type ABC

Part No: AIK-A-MCE54-480-AB-G3

Premium mono glass all black module with 25 year product warranty and true full black aesthetic for high end domestic roofs.

View 3S 480W

Aiko Neostar 3P 485W N Type ABC

Part No: AIK-A-MCE54-485-BF-G3

High efficiency single glass module at 485 W with strong hail testing and a sharper price per watt for cost driven jobs.

View 3P 485W

Frequently asked questions

Written by the DECO Group team, UK solar wholesale specialists.