Late spring 2025 saw the unveiling of GPMI—the General Purpose Media Interface—a new standard born from the Shenzhen 8K UHD Video Industry Cooperation Alliance (over 50 Chinese companies, including Huawei, TCL, Hisense, Skyworth) aiming to simplify audiovisual setups by merging video, audio, data, control, networking, and power into one cable.
Why it matters: In an era where wires multiply with every gadget, GPMI’s single-cable approach is built to declutter desks and media centers—and deliver serious performance upgrades.
The Specs That Stand Out
GPMI comes in two versions:
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Type-B (proprietary connector): Offers up to 192 Gbps bandwidth and 480 W power delivery.
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Type-C (USB-C compatible): Delivers 96 Gbps and 240 W—matching USB-C’s Extended Power Range while doubling its data speed.
In comparison:
| Standard | Bandwidth | Power Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI 2.1 (FRL) | 48 Gbps | None |
| DisplayPort 2.1 | 80 Gbps | None |
| Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4 | 40 Gbps | ≤240 W |
| GPMI Type-C | 96 Gbps | 240 W |
| GPMI Type-B | 192 Gbps | 480 W |
GPMI’s bandwidth especially shines for 8K at high frame rates—think 8K @120 Hz with full color depth, instead of swapping bits to make it work.
Beyond Specs: Built-In Intelligence
What else makes GPMI interesting?
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Control signals included: Think HDMI-CEC on steroids—one remote to rule them all.
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Network-ready: Carries network traffic too, sneaking in AV-over-IP ease.
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Security: Uses an in-house protocol called ADCP based on China-standard crypto (SM3/SM4), offering frame-level encryption and faster authentication than HDCP.
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Fast wake-up and multi-stream: Designed for daisy-chaining, quick power-ups, and mesh-like setups.
Where It Could Shine
Gaming & Portable Setups: A gaming laptop powering an 8K external display with just one cable—not even close in existing ports.
Home Theater: All your gear (TV, console, soundbar) hooked and controlled through a single cable. Minimal junk behind the TV.
Enterprise AV & Digital Signage: One cable handling video, network, power. Set-and-forget open-floor environments suddenly look easy.
Roadblocks Still Ahead
Definitely not ready for your Amazon cart yet. Key concerns:
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Early stages of adoption: Hardware support, chipsets, licensing—all early days.
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No big global names onboard: Major TV brands like LG, Samsung, and Sony haven’t signed on.
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Proprietary connector for top specs: Type-B isn’t USB-C. That may limit its real-world use initially.
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480 W is a lot, but not infinite: Still might fall short powering multi-GPU rigs or desktops.
What This Means
This feels like the start of a format war. HDMI got hold of everyone’s living rooms. USB-C is pushing in. Now, GPMI wants to consolidate both—but only if it can convince OEMs, developers, and users that a new cable is worth the cost of change.
If even a fraction of the support alliance behind GPMI actually delivers products, we could be facing a serious shift—cleaner setups, higher res, and smarter connections. But it'll only matter if it leaps beyond Chinese factories and into homes and studios globally.
Bottom line: GPMI is a bold, thoughtful reimagination of how we handle video, data, and power. On paper, it’s everything we want in one cable. But real change takes time—and supporting players. We'll be watching.
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