GPMI: China’s Cable That Wants to Replace HDMI

China has decided that HDMI and DisplayPort are getting a bit old-fashioned. The answer? GPMI, a new standard backed by more than 50 domestic tech companies, designed as a one-cable-to-rule-them-all solution. Unlike the mess of ports and dongles most of us juggle, this connector promises video, data, audio, control signals, and even serious power delivery in a single line (Tom’s Hardware).

There are two flavours. Type-B is a proprietary port that can push around 192 Gbps while delivering up to 480 watts of power, enough to run a desktop or a large TV without a separate brick. Type-C piggybacks on the familiar USB-C shell but carries GPMI’s own protocol, hitting 96 Gbps and 240 watts. On paper, that leapfrogs what HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 2.1 can manage, and even outpaces Thunderbolt 4 in some areas (Heise). It isn’t just about raw speed either: GPMI comes with its own version of device control, a Chinese alternative to HDCP, and bi-directional streams meant to cut latency.

The technical ambition is clear, but the question is whether anyone outside China will care. Inside its borders, adoption seems almost guaranteed. TV makers, monitor brands, and laptop OEMs can shift to GPMI quickly, and it reduces reliance on foreign standards. For Beijing, this isn’t just engineering, it’s strategy. Control the cable, control a slice of the digital ecosystem.

Beyond China, though, things look trickier. HDMI and DisplayPort are entrenched in living rooms and offices everywhere, and USB-C is finally becoming a common port that regulators in Europe and elsewhere are pushing as the default. Replacing that momentum requires more than a better spec sheet. Manufacturers would need to redesign boards, certify new chips, and convince customers that the upgrade is worth the disruption. Unless GPMI is royalty-free, adapter-friendly, and supported by global standards bodies, Western OEMs will stick to what already works.

Still, there are scenarios where GPMI could slip through the cracks. Gaming rigs pushing 8K at high refresh rates, laptops that could ditch their chargers entirely, or AR/VR headsets that demand both huge bandwidth and steady power are all potential showcases. If Chinese brands ship those devices at scale, GPMI may quietly creep into Asia, Africa, and emerging markets first, where supply chains are already China-heavy (TechRadar). Over time, it could join HDMI and DisplayPort as yet another logo on the back of your TV.

The dream is seductive: one cable that handles everything without adapters, docks, or spaghetti wiring. The risk is fragmentation. If GPMI stays China-only, it becomes another standard that needs adapters and adds complexity. If it spreads, it might force HDMI and DisplayPort to raise their game. Either way, this isn’t just a story about cables, it’s about who gets to set the rules of the digital living room in the next decade.