Astro C40 TR vs Razer Raiju Ultimate: Which should you buy?

Razer Gaming Controller
Razer Gaming Controller (Image credit: Android Central)

Astro C40 TR

The Astro C40 TR upon first glance isn't as fancy as the Raiju Ultimate, but it packs the important features where it counts.

Astro C40 TR

Versatility

Swappable D-pad and thumbstick modules
Free configuration software
Cheaper
Fewer extra remappable buttons
Needs dongle for wireless connection

Razer Raiju Ultimate

The Razer Raiju Ultimate sports quality app control along with four multi-function buttons for whoever needs them. Out of the two options here though, it's heavier and more expensive.

Razer Raiju Ultimate

Familiar territory

Quick control panel
App support
Bluetooth
500 customized profiles saved in the Cloud
More expensive
Heavier

For the purpose of this article, I'll be comparing the higher-end Razer Raiju Ultimate model to the Astro C40 TR, which is the only C40 model that Astro offers. The cheaper Razer Raiju Tournament sports offset thumbsticks and does not feature a quick control panel nor does it sport the signature Chroma light strip around the touchpad. As such, the Razer Raiju Tournament edition is much cheaper.

What's the difference?

Both controllers are premium products that appeal to the professional gaming crowd, but they offer differences in a few key areas that could make or break your purchasing decision. Is it important for you to switch the positions of your D-pad and thumbstick? Do you need a four or only two remappable buttons? One may suit your needs better than the other.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
CategoryRazer Raiju UltimateAstro C40 TR
Price$270$200
Dimensions4.17" x 6.09" x 2.6"4.25" x 6.61" x 2.09"
Weight352g310g
ThumbsticksSymmetricalSymmetrical or offset
TriggersHair triggerHair trigger
BluetoothYesNo
Extra remappable buttonsYes (4)Yes (2)
App/software controlYesYes
Quick control panelYesNo

What these features mean to you

You may not be familiar with some of the above features and what role they play on your controller, so I'll break them down for you to help you make a better decision as to which controller is right for you.

Hair trigger mode

Hair triggers enable faster shooting by only needing a small amount of pressure on the trigger for it to register in-game, thus cutting down on the time it takes to get a shot off. It may not seem like it, but even just milliseconds make all the difference in a fast-paced multiplayer FPS. Both controllers, in this regard, offer hair triggers.

Swappable D-pad and thumbstick placement

Here's the best part about the Astro C40 TR. While most premium controllers allow you to swap out various parts like their thumbsticks and D-pads, you usually can't swap their placement. No matter what type of D-pad or thumbstick you put in — concave, short, small, domed — it'll need to go in its designated spot (so you can't put a thumbstick where the D-pad was, for example). That's not the case with the Astro C40 TR, allowing you to essentially create a layout that emulates either a DualShock 4 or Xbox One controller whether you prefer offset or symmetrical analog stick placements.

On the Razer Raiju Ultimate, you're stuck with a symmetrical thumbstick layout like Sony's DualShock 4. If you want an offset layout you'd need a different controller completely, even if you're just opting for the cheaper Tournament model.

Additional Remappable buttons

The Astro C40 TR and Razer Raiju Ultimate each feature extra remappable paddles on the back that are not found on a standard controller. They allow you to remap any button to them so that you can perform actions in games quicker and more efficiently, depending on what you are playing and what buttons you need to press. Where the Razer Raiju Ultimate has the advantage is that it features four such buttons — two next to the inner corners of each bumper and two paddles on the back — whereas the Astro C40 TR only has two paddles on the back.

Bluetooth connectivity

Like the DualShock 4, the Razer Raiju Ultimate has Bluetooth connectivity that allows to it turn on and wirelessly connect to your PS4. The Astro C40 TR does not have Bluetooth. Instead, it packs a separate 2.4GHz USB dongle in order to use it wirelessly.

Quick control panel

The lower front of the Razer Raiju Ultimate features a quick control panel with four separate buttons: profile/remap, configure, lighting, and lock. These allow you to switch between remapped profiles/manually remap buttons using your controller, connect your controller to the app, switch between different lighting effects on the Chroma strip around the touchpad, and enable/disable the Share, PS, and Options buttons along with the rest of the quick control panel so that you don't unintentionally press a button.

The Astro C40 TR features no such panel and instead has a switch next to the left trigger that lets you toggle between two onboard profiles as opposed to the Razer Raiju Ultimate's four onboard profiles.

The bottom line

Both controllers are amazing in terms of the features they offer like hair triggers and configuration software, but what may be most important to you is the physical customization aspect. In this regard, the Astro C40 TR edges out the Razer Raiju Ultimate, though the latter is much better if you need additional multi-function buttons.

Jennifer Locke
Games Editor - PlayStation, Android, VR

Jennifer Locke has been playing video games nearly her entire life. You can find her posting pictures of her dog and obsessing over PlayStation and Xbox, Star Wars, and other geeky things.