How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-19 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• SKAPENDY VK81 — biggest strength: genuine dual-mode wireless (2.4GHz dongle and Bluetooth 5.4), a foldable frame, and a Game/Music mode switch that lets one headset cover gaming and everyday listening.
• SKAPENDY VK81 — biggest trade-off: it is not compatible with Xbox consoles, and the Bluetooth side won't work with PlayStation, so it's a fit for PS5, PS4, PC, Mac, laptop and Switch owners rather than a universal pick.
• EPOMAKER GX1 — biggest strength: up to 70 hours of playback (30 with RGB on), a very light 320g build with an open-back design, and a detachable ENC mic.
• EPOMAKER GX1 — biggest trade-off: the open-back ear cups that widen the soundstage also leak sound in both directions, so it's a poor choice for noisy shared rooms or anyone who needs isolation.
• Who each pick is for: the VK81 suits a household juggling a console, a PC and a Switch with one headset; the GX1 suits a solo PC or console player chasing endurance and positional audio.
The VK81's most interesting feature isn't the audio hardware — it's the flexibility. You get a 2-in-1 USB and Type-C dongle for a 2.4GHz link rated at ≤20ms latency, plus Bluetooth 5.4 for everything else. That means the same headset can be plugged into a PS5 for a match and then paired to a phone or laptop for music, video calls or a late-night stream. The one-button Game/Music mode switch reinforces that split personality: Game Mode pushes footsteps, direction and effects forward, while Music Mode smooths out vocals and bass. I like that it treats the headset as a daily driver rather than a gaming-only accessory.
The comfort story is where it separates itself from typical gaming headsets: a foldable frame that stores easily in a bag, soft breathable cushions, and a lightweight structure aimed at long sessions and glasses wearers. The 1-year manufacturer warranty is standard. If you own an Xbox, skip it — that platform isn't supported, and neither is Bluetooth on PlayStation. If you want one headset that travels, folds, and switches between console and phone, this is the more versatile pick.
EPOMAKER GX1: Who It's For
The GX1 is built around endurance and airiness. EPOMAKER quotes up to 70 hours of playback, dropping to 30 hours with RGB lighting enabled — a big cushion over the VK81, and the kind of number that appeals to someone who resents charging mid-week. Charge time is longer at about 3.3 hours, which is the flip side of that bigger tank.
The open-back design is the more divisive choice. Open-back ear cups create a wide, airy soundstage and let every footstep and environmental cue sit in its own space, which is genuinely lovely for single-player campaigns, open-world exploration and relaxed multiplayer. They also promote airflow, so heat buildup is less of an issue over a long night. The obvious cost: sound leaks out and ambient noise leaks in. Passive noise cancellation won't do much about a loud room, and your teammates may hear your game. Virtual 7.1 surround over 50mm dynamic drivers, at 100dB sensitivity and a quoted 25ms latency, covers the positional-audio basics.
Comfort is handled with ultra-soft breathable leather earpads, an extended headband with 7 adjustable positions, and a 320g weight. A detachable ENC mic means you can strip it off for solo play, and the scratch-resistant painted and electroplated finish should hold up to daily handling. Connectivity is broad — 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.3 with a quoted 33-foot range, plus wired options through a tangle-free 3.5mm cable or Type-C/USB — which makes it a strong desk companion for PC, PS5, Switch, laptops and tablets. If you need isolation or you play next to other people, think twice.
• Best for battery life → EPOMAKER GX1. Up to 70 hours (30 with RGB) beats the VK81's 40–50-hour window.
• Best for a mixed console-and-phone household → SKAPENDY VK81. Bluetooth 5.4 alongside the 2.4GHz dongle means it does double duty outside gaming.
• Best for quiet-room positional play → EPOMAKER GX1. The open-back cups and virtual 7.1 surround are aimed squarely at soundstage and spatial cues.
• Best for shared or noisy rooms → SKAPENDY VK81. Its closed over-ear design and ENC mic keep your audio in and the room's noise out.
• Best for travel and storage → SKAPENDY VK81. The foldable frame is made to collapse into a bag; the GX1 is a fixed over-ear shell.
• Best for marathon comfort → EPOMAKER GX1. 320g, 7 headband positions and airflow-promoting open backs are built for long sittings.
• Best for glasses wearers → either, with a caveat. The VK81 leans on soft breathable cushions, the GX1 on a wide adjustable headband; both are designed with long wear in mind.
• Best for Xbox owners → neither. The VK81 explicitly excludes Xbox, and the GX1's listed consoles are PlayStation and Switch.
If I had to pick one, I'd take the SKAPENDY VK81. In my opinion the dual 2.4GHz-and-Bluetooth setup, the Game/Music switch and the foldable frame make it the more useful object day to day — it's a headset you can game on, take a call on and toss in a bag. I'd only steer toward the EPOMAKER GX1 if battery life is your single biggest worry and you play in a room where open-back leakage doesn't matter, because in that specific case the 70-hour figure and the wider soundstage are the better answer. Check the current price on Amazon for both before you commit; the value call depends on what each is going for when you buy.
Both support PS5. The VK81 connects over its 2.4GHz USB/Type-C dongle, while the GX1 offers 2.4GHz wireless plus Bluetooth 5.3 and a wired 3.5mm option. Neither works with Xbox, so PS5 owners are fine either way.
EPOMAKER quotes up to 70 hours of playback, dropping to about 30 hours with RGB lighting on. The VK81 is quoted at up to 50 hours with RGB off and 40 with it on, and charges faster at roughly 2.5 hours versus 3.3.
Not bad — different. Open-back cups widen the soundstage and improve positional cues, which suits single-player and spatial-awareness games. The trade-off is sound leaking in and out, so they're a poor fit for loud rooms or shared spaces.
The SKAPENDY VK81. Its closed over-ear design keeps audio contained, whereas the GX1's open-back ear cups deliberately let sound escape. If you game at night near other people, that difference matters more than any spec on the box.
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