China’s GPMI: The Cable Revolution That Could Replace HDMI, DisplayPort & Thunderbolt

USB cable with "GPMI" text near a port emitting blue-red light on a red background, depicting a connection attempt.

A technological revolution is brewing—not in Silicon Valley, but in Shenzhen, China’s bustling tech hub. Spearheaded by an alliance of over 50 Chinese tech giants including Huawei, Tencent, TCL, HiSilicon, and major state-backed research institutions, this movement isn’t about smartphones, processors, or AI (this time)—it’s about cables.

Specifically, a groundbreaking new standard called GPMI (General Purpose Media Interface) that aims to replace HDMI, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt, consolidating video, data, and power into a single super cable.

If successful, China’s GPMI could become one of the most important infrastructural innovations in digital connectivity in decades. Let’s break down what this means and how it could transform our tech landscape.

🔌 What Is China’s GPMI?

GPMI, short for General Purpose Media Interface, is a unified cable standard being developed to serve three major functions simultaneously:

High-speed video transmission
High-bandwidth data transfer
High-wattage power delivery

The vision is simple but powerful: one cable to replace many, reducing clutter while improving performance and compatibility. This dream of "one cable to rule them all" is not new, but GPMI seems to be taking it much further than existing standards.

GPMI Types & Specs

GPMI is launching with two connector types:

GPMI Type-C:
- Up to 96 Gbps bandwidth
- 240 W power delivery
GPMI Type-B:
- Up to 192 Gbps bandwidth
- 480 W power delivery

For context:

HDMI 2.1 supports only 48 Gbps and no power delivery.
Thunderbolt 4 reaches 40 Gbps and 100 W of power.

If GPMI performs as promised, it could double or quadruple the performance of today's most advanced connectors.

Gold cable labeled "GPMi" connecting to a black electronic device with multiple ports. Background is dark, emphasizing the connection.

📺 Why GPMI Matters: Real-World Implications

GPMI is more than a cable—it’s an ecosystem reshaper. Here’s how it could change the game:

1. All-in-One Connectivity

Imagine plugging in just one cable to your laptop, and it:

Charges your device (at up to 480w),
Connects to a high-refresh 8K display,
Transfers data to your external SSD or server.

This would reduce cable mess, save on ports, and streamline hardware design for laptops, monitors, VR headsets, gaming consoles, and even electric vehicles.

2. Next-Gen Media Experience

With up to 192 Gbps bandwidth, GPMI Type-B can support:

8K video at 120Hz
10K or even 16K video in the future
Mixed Reality (XR) or AR/VR systems, which demand ultra-low latency and high data throughput

This opens doors to seamless extended reality experiences, 3D holograms, and lifelike virtual meetings.

3. Revolutionising Power Delivery

While USB-C Power Delivery caps out at 240w, GPMI Type-B promises twice that, enough to:

Power gaming laptops and desktop GPUs
Replace dedicated power adapters for monitors or docking stations
Enable faster, multi-device charging with smart load balancing

🇨🇳 Strategic Significance for China

Beyond technical specs, GPMI represents a geopolitical and technological move. For years, Western tech companies like Intel (Thunderbolt) and HDMI Licensing, LLC have dominated global cable standards. By introducing its own interface, China is:

Reducing dependency on Western technologies
Creating a proprietary ecosystem that can serve its massive domestic market
Positioning itself as a global standard-setter, not just a manufacturer

This effort aligns with China’s broader strategy of technological self-reliance, particularly in light of increasing export controls and tech sanctions from the U.S.

🧪 Early Demonstrations & Roadmap

The first GPMI prototypes were publicly demonstrated at an 8K video conference in Shenzhen last October. The GPMI consortium also unveiled a draft standard, indicating rapid progress and serious backing.

The cable is designed for resource-intensive applications—think 8K TVs, XR glasses, AI-powered workstations, and more. While currently in the prototyping phase, mass adoption is expected within the next few years, particularly in consumer electronics originating from Chinese OEMs.

🤔 Challenges Ahead

Despite its promise, GPMI must overcome several hurdles:

Adoption: Manufacturers, especially in the West, are slow to adopt new, non-standardized protocols.
Licensing: If GPMI is proprietary or incompatible with USB/HDMI protocols, global uptake could be limited.
Ecosystem Integration: It will need widespread support from OS developers, chipset makers, and accessory manufacturers.

Still, with the power of Huawei, Tencent, TCL, and others behind it—and strong government support—GPMI stands a real chance at shaking up the global cable landscape.

🌐 A Glimpse of the Cable-Free Future

In a world filled with gadgets and connections, cables are the invisible glue holding everything together. GPMI represents a leap toward simplifying digital life, offering one powerful, unified solution to connect and power everything.

Whether GPMI becomes a global standard or fuels innovation elsewhere, its development marks a turning point—a sign that even something as humble as a cable can ignite a tech revolution.