Tomasz Wadowski
HDMI has been with us for over 20 years. Since its debut in 2002, it has dominated the market for televisions, consoles, and AV equipment, becoming as ubiquitous as the TV remote. But it seems that it has finally met serious competition – not from Apple, Sony, or Samsung, but… from China. A group of over 50 Chinese companies, including players like Hisense, TCL, Skyworth, and Huawei, has presented their own standard for transmitting audio and video – GPMI, which stands for General Purpose Media Interface. Sounds serious? We have to admit, it somewhat does.
What exactly is GPMI?
The new interface will be available in two versions: Type-C (which resembles the USB-C we know from phones) and a larger Type-B, which will have its own connector. And right off the bat – the bandwidth of GPMI Type-C is set to be as high as 96 Gb/s, while the Type-B version will reach 192 Gb/s. For comparison: the current HDMI 2.1 standard offers "only" 48 Gb/s. So we're talking about twice and even four times the bandwidth. What does this mean? Full support for 8K video, higher frame rates, surround sound, and even... simultaneous power and data transmission. It sounds like a combination of HDMI, Thunderbolt, and USB in one.
GPMI is not just about picture and sound
The Chinese are taking a comprehensive approach. GPMI is set to transmit video, audio, data, and power – just like Thunderbolt 5. Type-C will handle up to 240W of power, while Type-B can manage up to 480W. Theoretically, one cable could power all the AV equipment in the living room, transmit an 8K signal, and still synchronise it with the rest of the smart home. Not enough? GPMI also has its own equivalent of HDMI-CEC, so one cable – and the TV turns on the console, changes the source, adjusts the volume of the amplifier… we know it well.
When will we see GPMI?
The official date hasn't been announced yet, but the first products with GPMI are set to appear "in the coming months". So far, it has been confirmed that Hisense, TCL, Skyworth, Konka, Huawei, and Xiaomi are planning to implement the new standard in future televisions. The question is whether it will be a global format or just for the Chinese market – at this moment, there are many indications pointing to the latter.
Is GMPI a real threat to HDMI?
It depends. So far, none of the major players outside of China – like Samsung, Sony, or LG – have declared support. But if GMPI turns out to be more versatile, faster, and cheaper to license (or free), it may be that manufacturers will start to seriously consider it. Especially since HDMI 2.2 hasn’t been released yet, and is already expected to be slower than GMPI. Will GMPI replace HDMI? Not anytime soon. But this is the first serious signal that the TV and AV market in China wants to be independent from Western standards. And considering how strongly Chinese companies are marking their presence in the world of consumer electronics today, it's better not to ignore this topic.
If GMPI gains popularity – even just locally – it could mean bigger differences between hardware versions for different markets. And for us, the users? More options… and more cables 😉
