PQI (Picture Quality Index) is Samsung’s proprietary picture quality rating used in the specifications of some older TVs. It is not a refresh rate measured in hertz, and Samsung has not published the formula used to calculate it. A higher PQI number does not guarantee better picture quality, so buyers should check the TV’s actual specifications, including its refresh rate and motion processing features.
What PQI means on Samsung TVs
PQI is Samsung’s in-house rating for motion smoothness. It appears in the spec list of some models as “PQI 1300” or a similar figure, next to resolution and HDR support.
Reports say it can also reflect panel type, resolution, brightness and contrast ratio. A higher PQI therefore points to a better-equipped set within Samsung’s own lineup. It is not a physical measurement like refresh rate, and it is not the result of an independent test.
Where PQI came from
Samsung introduced PQI in 2015 as the successor to Clear Motion Rate (CMR). Early motion ratings, CMR included, were quoted in hertz, with values far above the panel’s real refresh rate. In 2015 the unit disappeared and the figure became a plain number.
In some markets, notably the US, Samsung has listed a Motion Rate figure instead of PQI. On newer models both numbers appear less often, and spec sheets lean on refresh rate and named motion features.
How PQI is calculated
Samsung has not published the formula, and reviewers have criticized that nobody can verify how a given figure is reached. Reports say the value draws on panel type, resolution, brightness, contrast ratio and image-processing optimizations. Because the inputs are undisclosed, two sets with similar hardware can carry different values.
The typical range has climbed almost every year:
| Model year | Approximate PQI range |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 100 – 2400 |
| 2016 | 400 – 2600 |
| 2017 | 600 – 3400 |
| 2018 | 800 – 4000 |
| 2019 | 1000 – 4300 |
| 2020 | 1500 – 4500 |
| 2021 | 2000 – 4900 |
| 2022 | 2000 – 5000 |
| 2023 | 2500 – 5500 |
A higher number follows a richer feature set, not a measured gain in picture quality.
The table ends at 2023 because Samsung has practically stopped using PQI since then. For example, the spec list of the 2025 U8000F on Samsung UK shows a 50 Hz refresh rate and Motion Xcelerator, with no PQI or Motion Rate figure. A few retailers still carry a PQI filter, but newer spec sheets rely on refresh rate and named features instead.
[…] Within one line, a higher series number usually means better hardware. For HDR formats, see our guide to HDR10, HDR10+, HLG and Dolby Vision, and for Samsung’s picture-quality scoring, read about the PQI Picture Quality Index. […]