GPMI: A New 8K HDMI Competitor Emerges From China

The Shenzhen 8K UHD Video Industry Cooperation Alliance is a group consisting of more than 50 Chinese companies, including familiar names like Hisense and TCL. This group has recently launched a wired media communication standard that will compete with HDMI, aimed at reducing the number of cables required to stream data and power from one device to another. The General Purpose Media Interface, or GPMI, is designed to eliminate the need for separate power cables and signal cables for 8K displays. GPMI can provide up to 192Gbps of image data in tandem with up to 480W of power delivery over a single cable, far exceeding the limits of competing technologies. Another goal of GPMI is to combine video, audio, data, power, and more, into a single cable standard. Currently, TVs and home theater projectors use HDMI, while computer monitors might use HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, or Thunderbolt.

Development of GPMI began in 2019, when the Shenzhen International 8K Ultra High Definition Video Industry Collaboration Alliance established an ultra-high definition interface working group and officially launched the research and development of GPMI technology. In 2021, the group released a draft of the core standard. Then in 2023, the first FPGA prototype was launched. Last year, a later draft of the industry standard was released, and more than 50 industry chain companies jointly released the industry roadmap for GPMI adoption. In December, GPMI obtained authorization from the USB organization to be integrated within the USB Type-C ecosystem. On February 28, 2025, the official GPMI Specification was released to the public.

GPMI cables will be available both with a USB Type-C connector and with a new, larger Type-B connector, which will reportedly include user-friendly features making it superior to the aging HDMI connector. The Type-B connector is required for the maximum bandwidth and power delivery specs of 192Gbps of image data and 480W of power. GPMI will deliver up to 96Gbps and up to 240W over USB-C, which is still easily enough to accommodate 4K and 8K at high frame rates. For those keeping score, this means that the USB-C version of GPMI will match the maximum bandwidth of 96Gbps provided by the new HDMI 2.2 standard, while also providing enough power for most consumer electronic devices. HDMI 2.2 doesn’t offer power delivery. And no existing all-in-one cable can match the specifications of GPMI Type-B. USB4 and Thunderbolt 4, for example, have a 40Gbps bandwidth limit. Thunderbolt 5 provides symmetric bandwidth of 80 Gbps and unidirectional bandwidth of 120 Gbps for displays.

But it’s not just about specs. Compared with existing interface technologies, GPMI has seven core advantages, according to its creators. These are as follows: bidirectional multi-stream, bidirectional control, high power supply, ecological compatibility, ultra-fast transmission, fast wake-up, and full-chain security. These advantages reportedly lead to real-world benefits. For example, through daisy chain networking technology, multiple devices can be connected in series, reducing installation complexity and cost, while delivering low latency and high image quality.

After more than a century of development, the audio and video industry has seen explosive growth in the types and number of devices, and the demand for interconnection and interactive control between devices is increasing. Currently, there are problems such as inconsistent interface standards and single interface functions between different devices. Audio and video stream transmission, data transmission, network connection, control signal transmission, power supply, and other functions require multiple interfaces or cables to support. The device connection is complex and the user experience is poor, which further limits innovation. GPMI is an innovative achievement and core technological breakthrough in the audio and video industry. It integrates functions such as video transmission, data interaction, network connection, and power supply, and proves that one interface can support the full business needs of audio and video + data + networking + control + power supply.

— HiSilicon (via Google Translate), a Shenzhen 8K UHD Video Industry Cooperation Alliance Member Company

As mentioned above, the Alliance includes major Chinese tech companies, including TCL, Hisense, Huawei, and Skyworth. But so far, no Japanese or South Korean manufacturers are on board. Without the support of companies like Sony, LG, and Samsung, it remains to be seen whether GPMI will gain the necessary momentum to become a true HDMI competitor, let alone replacement. The Shenzhen 8K UHD Video Industry Cooperation Alliance has not shared a specific rollout timeline, but the group has laid out a general three-phase approach to GPMI adoption. In phase 1, GPMI technology will be put to work simplifying the connection and user experience of home devices. (Hisense and TCL have confirmed that they plan to add the GPMI interface to future Smart TV products.) In phase 2, GPMI technology will arrive in the automotive electronics industry, which is becoming increasingly reliant on the use of multiple screens. Finally in phase 3, GPMI will find its way into manufacturing, logistics, and other industrial applications, according to the Alliance. While we don’t know whether all of this will come to fruition, it’s clear that GPMI technology, with its high bandwidth, low latency, high power delivery, and multi-device connectivity capabilities, does have the potential to make waves in the world of consumer electronics.