Introducing GPMI, the single-cable standard that competes with HDMI, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt.
Bill Roberson / Digital Trends
We might soon see a new standard for wired connections that can offer exceptionally fast data transfer alongside power delivery of up to 480 watts, surpassing the capabilities of the current HDMI, USB-C, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt standards. This standard is called GPMI — General Purpose Media Interface, and it was developed by the Shenzhen International 8K Ultra High Definition Video Industry Collaboration Alliance (SUCA), a Chinese-led organization that includes prominent brands such as Hisense, TCL, and Huawei.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Although GPMI has not yet been integrated into any products, its purported specifications greatly exceed those of existing wired standards. There are two suggested types of GPMI cable. One type will feature a standard USB-C connection (referred to as GPMI Type-C), while the other seems to utilize a new connection standard (GPMI Type-B). Type-C cables will support a data bandwidth of 96 Gbps along with up to 240 watts of power, while Type-B doubles these capacities to 192 Gbps and 480 watts.
At CES 2025, the new HDMI 2.2 standard was unveiled, providing up to 96 Gbps of bandwidth. This is sufficient to support 8K or even 10K video, in addition to higher frame rates of up to 240Hz. Theoretically, a Type-B GPMI cable could enable two simultaneous streams and deliver adequate power for a Samsung 75-inch 8K QLED TV.
GPMI vs. HDMI vs. Thunderbolt vs. DisplayPort
Standard | Bandwidth | Power Delivery
--- | --- | ---
GPMI Type-B | 192 Gbps | 480W
GPMI Type-C | 96 Gbps | 240W
HDMI 2.2 FRL | 96 Gbps | No Power
HDMI 2.1 FRL | 48 Gbps | No Power
HDMI 2.1 TMDS | 18 Gbps | No Power
Thunderbolt 5 | 120 Gbps | 240W
Thunderbolt 4 | 40 Gbps | 100W
DisplayPort 2.1 | 80 Gbps | No Power
Chart data courtesy of FlatPanelsHD
Image used with permission by copyright holder
GPMI is not solely focused on combining power and data delivery. Hisilicon, a company that published a white paper detailing the advantages of GPMI, indicates the goal is to incorporate seven capabilities into a single cable connection:
- Two-way, multi-stream data
- Bidirectional control
- Power delivery
- Compatibility with the USB ecosystem
- Ultra-fast transmission
- Quick wake-up
- Full-chain security
How will GPMI transform our setups?
GPMI cables could simplify many of our device connections:
- A streaming device such as an Apple TV could transmit both power and content to a TV through a single cable.
- A TV could supply power and audio to a connected soundbar.
- AV receivers might provide power to connected devices like gaming consoles or Blu-ray players while simultaneously receiving audio and video from them.
- A gaming monitor could energize a connected gaming laptop while providing a high-speed, two-way data feed through the same cable. Tom’s Hardware mentions, “While not sufficient to power your RTX 5090 gaming PC through your 8K monitor, it’s ample for many high-end gaming laptops with discrete graphics.”
- Enhanced control between devices, enabled by GPMI’s equivalent of the HDMI-CEC standard.
Hisilicon’s white paper also suggests that GPMI will be beneficial for video installations requiring multiple panels with discrete video feeds.
When will the first GPMI products be available?
There are no specific timelines for the arrival of GPMI-enabled products, but according to FlatpanelsHD, the initial rollout phase “will focus on home entertainment, including Smart TVs and multi-screen devices. Subsequent phases will extend to automotive and industrial applications.”
We will keep you updated as new products are launched.
Simon Cohen is a contributing editor at Digital Trends' Audio/Video section, where he focuses on the latest wireless technology…
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Introducing GPMI, the single-cable standard that competes with HDMI, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt.
The new standard may ultimately take the place of all current A/V and computing cables.