China’s GPMI Cable Standard Takes on HDMI and USB-C with 192 Gbps Speed and 480W Power Delivery

The competition for global connectivity standards has taken a sharp turn with China’s unveiling of the General Purpose Media Interface (GPMI). Promising a dramatic leap forward in terms of bandwidth and power delivery, this new technology is set to rival established Western standards like HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C. GPMI is not just another cable standard—it's a comprehensive reimagining of how devices connect, offering up to 192 Gbps of bandwidth and 480W of power delivery through a single cable. With this new tech, China aims to reduce dependency on Western-controlled interfaces, making waves in the global tech ecosystem.

The Birth of GPMI: A Collaborative Chinese Effort

The development of GPMI has been the result of years of collaboration between over 50 Chinese tech giants, including Huawei, Hisense, TCL, and Skyworth, among others. This effort, spearheaded by the Shenzhen 8K Ultra High Definition Video Industry Collaboration Alliance, started in 2019, with the group working on next-generation solutions for multimedia connectivity. The GPMI standard received a significant milestone in December 2024, when it received approval from the USB organization with a unique SVID (0xFF10), paving the way for integration with the USB-C ecosystem.

As of February 2025, the Alliance has formally published five series of standards under the "General Purpose Multimedia Interface Specification," marking the official establishment of China’s unified, forward-thinking approach to connectivity.

GPMI: Redefining Connectivity with Impressive Technical Capabilities

GPMI is available in two distinct versions: the Type-C and Type-B connectors. Both variants push the boundaries of what's possible in data throughput and power delivery.

GPMI Type-C: A Leap Beyond USB-C

The GPMI Type-C connector is designed to be compatible with the existing USB-C ecosystem, making it immediately accessible. With 96 Gbps bandwidth—double the limit of USB4 and Thunderbolt 4—and 240W of power delivery, this version already surpasses the capabilities of other popular standards like DisplayPort 2.1 and Thunderbolt 4. It supports a wide range of applications, offering a combination of high-speed data transfer and substantial power delivery, suitable for both personal and professional use.

GPMI Type-B: Pushing the Envelope for High-Performance Devices

The GPMI Type-B connector, however, takes things even further. With a staggering 192 Gbps bandwidth (four times more than HDMI 2.1) and 480W power delivery, this connector is perfect for high-demand environments such as gaming laptops, professional workstations, and advanced home theaters. The Type-B connector is poised to serve applications requiring both high data throughput and significant power—delivering unprecedented performance that is simply unattainable with existing standards.

Key Features and Advantages of GPMI

One of the standout features of GPMI is its bidirectional communication, which allows video, audio, data, and power to travel over a single cable. The integration of all these functionalities into a single interface not only simplifies device connectivity but also reduces cable clutter. Imagine connecting a gaming laptop to an external display and providing power through just one cable—this is a reality with GPMI.

Additionally, GPMI implements ADCP, an alternative to the HDCP content protection used in Western standards. ADCP uses Chinese national security algorithms (SM3 and SM4), offering faster connection times than HDMI, and supports faster wake-up times—a quarter of what’s required by other standards.

The future-proof nature of GPMI is another key selling point. With 8K resolution content becoming more prevalent, the ability to handle high-bandwidth video makes GPMI ideal for next-generation displays, ensuring that it remains relevant well into the future.

The Promise of Simplified Setups and Expanded Applications

With GPMI, daisy-chain networking becomes a reality. This technology enables multiple devices to be connected in series through a single cable, which could drastically reduce installation costs, especially in environments that require connecting multiple devices, such as home entertainment systems or outdoor display walls.

Moreover, GPMI supports cross-device reverse control, a feature that allows users to control mobile games on a television using a TV remote or third-party controllers, effectively “transferring” the mobile ecosystem to the larger screen.

GPMI vs. Existing Standards: A Technical Comparison

StandardBandwidthPower DeliveryKey FeaturesHDMI 2.1 TMDS18 GbpsNo PowerStandard for TVs and monitorsHDMI 2.1 FRL48 GbpsNo PowerSupports 8K/60HzDisplayPort 2.1 UHBR2080 Gbps240WPopular for PC monitors, supports 16KThunderbolt 440 Gbps100WUniversal standard, high compatibilityUSB440 Gbps240WWidely used standard for universal devicesGPMI Type-C96 Gbps240WUSB-C compatible, double USB4 bandwidthGPMI Type-B192 Gbps480WHighest bandwidth, powers gaming laptops

When compared to Western standards, GPMI shines in terms of both bandwidth and power delivery. The Type-C version already exceeds the capabilities of DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 4, while the Type-B version blows them out of the water, offering four times the bandwidth of HDMI 2.1 and double the power.

Global Adoption: Challenges and Opportunities

While GPMI shows significant promise, its adoption outside of China may face hurdles. As a standard developed primarily by Chinese companies, GPMI may face resistance in Western markets due to technical concerns and geopolitical factors. Its future success will depend on how well it integrates with existing ecosystems and the pace at which mainstream devices adopt the technology.

However, GPMI’s compatibility with the USB-C ecosystem presents an opportunity for more gradual adoption, allowing it to coexist alongside existing standards while gradually gaining traction.

The Road Ahead for GPMI

As the GPMI standard gains more traction, it could very well mark the beginning of a shift in how we think about connectivity. With its high bandwidth, power delivery capabilities, and multi-functional approach, GPMI has the potential to reshape how devices interact with each other—especially in high-demand environments. Whether it will become a global standard or remain a China-centric innovation is still uncertain, but it’s clear that the technology landscape is evolving, and China is positioning itself as a leader in this new era of connectivity.