30.1.2020

This controller is an addition to my standard PS4 controller and one that had me interested when I saw it. When it arrived the first thing I noticed is the weight of the package, it is genuinely weighty. At first I thought this was maybe manuals etc... but in fact it's not, true the packaging is substantial and luxurious, but its the controller which has a nice hefty feel to it.Opening up the package you are presented with a lovely storage case, a couple of 'quick start guide' leaflets in numerous languages, a card with some web site addresses and a little guarantee doc. Opening up the storage case you find the controller. This is a bit bigger than the standard PS4 controller and if anything bears more resemblence to an x-box controller.To me this is not a problem and is in fact a plus point as I find the standard PS4 controller just a little too small and nowhere near as comfortable as the standard x-box equivalent. In the lid of the case you will find a high quality lead with a USB connection one end and a micro-USB plug on the other. Lifting out the controller and moving the piece of foam padding below it you will also find a few items, specifically a wireless USB receiver, a tool for dismantling the controller (more about this later) and some spare thumb knobs for the analog joy sticks.Before getting the controller up and running it is recommended to download a PC program which is the management tool for the controller, this allows you to 'flash' the controller with updated firmware as and when its available as well as to program some of the buttons and functions of the controller. Once you've downloaded and installed the software you simply plug the supplied USB lead into your PC and the controller, the micro-USB socket on the controller is recessed, but this is so that the cable is supported and to prevent damage to the socket if the controller is used in wired mode. Using windows 10 the controller was auto-detected and the drivers installed automatically. I also left my controller plugged in so that the built in battery could fully charge. This takes a while, but bearing in mind the running time claimed for the controller this is not surprising. One important thing to note is there is a switch on the front of controller that switches it from wired to wireless mode, make sure it is switched to wired (mine was out of the box).So now you have a charged, updated (if required) and buttons configured (if you choose) controller. Now all you need to do is plug the receiver into a spare USB socket on your PS4 and press the normal 'Playstation' button on the controller and it should sync automatically. If you have any issues it is possible to force it to re-pair with the receiver, but before you do that check the switch that turns the controller from wired to wireless mode as I forgot that and couldn't figure out why it wasn't working for 5 frustrating minutes lol!! Anyway once recognised the controller functions just like the standard controllers do, there are no changes needed to any games etc... to make it function.So how does it feel in use? Well personally I found it to be way more responsive and accurate, I would like to think it was just me, but I know I was doing better than usual in the games I play and have to admit some if not all of this improvement comes from this controller and this was with the controllers standard configuration, I suspect once i get more used to it I can tune it to be even more perfect for my style.Which brings me nicely onto one of the big features of this controller. Have you ever felt that the layout of the controls is not quite what you want? Would you prefer one or both of the joysticks to be say in the positions normally taken up by the D-Pad or x-y-o-square buttons? Well now you can, using the supplied tool you can undo the top panel and you then find both the joysticks modules and other control clusters can be removed and placed where you want them! I've not tried this, but it may even be possible to switch over the D-Pad and button clusters if you are left handed rather than right handed or similar. Either way it offers a degree of customisation that the standard controllers can't compete with.Other functions over and above the standard controller are two buttons on the underside of the controller that fall exactly where your smaller fingers normally sit. By default these map to the 'x' and 'o' buttons, but you can using the software program re-map them to any button you wish, you can also set several different configurations of these buttons and then switch them by moving the other switch on the front of the controller so you can set them up to emulate whatever you like in whichever order you like to suit up to 3 different games for example. This allows you to trigger say the 'x' or similar without removing your thumbs from the joysticks a true boon in the middle of a firefight :)Other functions of the software package allow you to adjust the sensitivity of the joysticks as well as the 'throw' of the front triggers to make them more or less sensitive, these are adjusted in conjunction with a couple of small switches on the underside of the controller (look for the red switches).As for the battery life? Well it is claimed to be many days of constant gaming and I can easily believe this as so far I've not had to re-charge it despite having been using it constantly since setting it up. I also find that the nice 'heft' and size of the controller helps reduce any fatigue from using the controller as well.So to sum up, if you want an almost endlessly configurable controller that is extremely well built, has an enormous battery life as well as a wired and/or PC option (again both wired or wireless) and comes with a nice storage case with various accessories you can't go wrong with this controller. If there is one thing that might put you off is the similarly hefty price tag, but if you are a serious gamer, want to reduce your chances of RSI and can afford it. I think this is potentially a long term good investment as I can see it lasting many times longer than the standard controllers and even if you were to wear out or break a control module you can buy replacements separately and replace them!!

18.5.2020

I've had two scufs, both were cheap trash that wore down or broke in almost every possible way and both within the first couple weeks of owning.I've also had 2 FPS strike packs. The strike packs are great and a cheap paddle option but two of them (after about a year) started disconnecting whilst playing ranked games in Apex Legends.. That's a no no..I won a set of astro A40's in a COD tournament years ago and i was amazed by the quality (as well as the customer experience like the packaging/small details). This pad is no different..I ordered it to test it, with the plan of returning if it didnt suit (i did the same with the high end naicon pro pad but after 2 minutes with that i put it straight back in the box and returned it.This pad though.. OMG.. Instant synergy.. The main thing was how rear buttons would compare to paddles - the buttons are amazing, so well placed and can be pressed in more than one way/position. Programming them on the fly is simple and fast.So the paddles are the main reason i have this and the scufs/strike packs, and they are fine so next: build quality..Scufs are honestly designed to break to stimulate scuf after sales like analogue stick modules, this is why they only give a 3 month warranty.. Criminal..This pad is a work of art.. Not even joking. The build quality is flawless, on every piece, part and especially on all working mechanisms.I have been playing with my dualshock+strikepack for 2 years now, instantly my accuracy was a small percentage better with the C40.. The sticks are so precise and the slightly chunkier pad allows for a more solid grip (grip affects accuracy and hand-stability sooo much and limits the impact that one fingers' button presses have on another finger's stability, you'd be surprised).I have changed the sticks so i have domed/convexed (on both) but the short stick on the left and the long stick on the right (the long stick is not that long, it's the perfect balance - pretty much equal to the cqc-height kontrol freeks, so best balance for speed and precision).Being able to change the modules/stick positions is such a great feature and the system for it is so perfect and fool proof.. Even down to the little detail that the screws to remove the face plate are actually a part of the face plate (so you cant lose them) - although i play PS stick style so wont be changing to staggered.The trigger stops are perfect. Very simple. Can't fault them. The scuf ones were cheap as dirt.There are two profiles (1 and 2) and can be switched with the flick of a button. This means that you can have a different rear button mapping on each of the two profiles. Otherwise it easy enough to just remap a button if it suitsHavent tried it on wireless yet, ive heard good things overall about wireless and battery life (apparently you get about 20 hours, although astro say 12). I'm happy to use wired as i am in front of my console at my desk and i always favour wired devices for competitive gaming (no matter how good wireless gets, you can't go wrong with wired for reliability and input speed).The grip (really nice matt finish) and ergonomics are perfect. Ive never tried a new pad before and instantly felt at home. This is the real thing!The issue that many complain about is the sticks (drift and quality of modules). So far they are insanely precise but when the issue does arise, apparently the solution is to get the modules that battle beaver do for about £20. From what i've heard, that solves it. But do not let that stop you, trust me.. At least there is a cheap solution and everything else on the pad is pure beauty, but scuf, everything will break on a scuf, with no cheap solution.. RIPOn insta i am: i_phasma_iAdd me if you need more information ??

2.2.2020

This is a very high-quality controller that exceeds the quality of the standard controller, the question is whether it is worth four times the price. It is supplied in a high quality branded box that contains the controller inside a sturdy ridged case and instructions with a quick start guide. Inside the case, there is the controller, a wireless dongle, a tool to configure the buttons on the controller, four alternate joystick pads and a USB-A to USB-micro cable for wired use.It is designed for use with the Sony Playstation 4 or PC although it has greater functionality with the PS4. Also, many games designed for the PC to be used with a joypad are mapped to the Xbox controller and while theASTRO Gaming C40 is configurable the button naming and colours are different from the Xbox controller.To get the most out of the controller connect it via a wired cable and download the configuration software. This will update the software and firmware to the latest level and allow the configuration across two maps. These can be switched between using a dedicated slider on the controller. After the initial setup, you are ready to go. The controller can be used as wired via the USB cable or wireless via the USB dongle. Note that it uses WiFi to connect this way and not Bluetooth like the standard PS4 controller so it requires the dongle to be used on the PS4 as well as the PC using up one USB socket.On my PC it was recognised as an audio output and so cut off the sound when connected. I had to manually reset my sound output to restore this. Also, the touch-sensitive panel is only operational on the PS4 and cannot be used as such on the PC. The controller supports most of the functions of the PS4 such as rumble and the 3.5mm headphone output although it cannot be used to power up the PS4 which you can do with the standard controller.The controller has a rubberised coating and feels very comfortable to hold. The joypad and joysticks can be moved around to different locations in addition to the alternate software maps and this is a key feature although the main 4 buttons are fixed in location. This can be used to ape the layout of an Xbox controller for example although I have just left them at default which matches the PS4 layout.All the controls feel very positive to use and the whole unit has a feeling of quality. The battery life is claimed at 12 hours and while I cannot confirm that it is more than adequate and exceeds that of the standard controller. I had no issues with stability of creep of calibration during my use and found the analogue inputs such as the triggers and joysticks easy to modulate and smooth in operation.Unless you are a pro PS4 gamer or take your gaming very seriously I am not sure the advantages of this controller are sufficient to justify the cost. It is a useful controller for the PC but you may be better off with an Xbox controller as the game support is better on this platform. That said this is a quality device that is satisfying to use and one that will not disappoint if you feel you want to make the investment in it.

10.12.2019

Pros Premium quality Comfortable grip and feel Slick and satisfying design Great battery life Modular and great range of customisation  Seamless wireless and wired performance for PC and PlayStation 4Cons Expensive Has no battery life indicator Quite bulkyI was excited to unbox the Astro C40 and it didn't disappoint. This oozes quality and performs exquisitely for pro or casual gamers. The Astro C40 TR has the slick premium look with the satisfying feel of a tournament grade controller. The controller has high quality snappy buttons and triggers which have the right amount of resistance, and analog sticks which glide effortlessly.Pair this with the pleasing rubber-like coating and groves on the back of the handles make the Astro CE40 TR feel ergonomic and feels great the moment you pick it up. It is a quite bulky for a PS4 controller which does feel quite weird and can be likened to the bulky Xbox 360 controller from back in the day but this is something you do get used to due rather quickly.The big selling point for the Astro C40 is the customisation, which is amazing. The C40 controller offers a ton of customisation options; It has the ability to swap the location of the analog sticks and d-pad (it’s as easy as removing the face plate and swapping the components around which snap into mechanical slots which literally takes a few seconds), the controller has two rear triggers at the back, plus two mechanical switches above these and by using Astros free software you can remap pretty much every button on the controller. It doesn’t stop there you can also adjust the vibration intensity, adjust analog sticks and change the LED brightness. All settings are saved locally on the controller itself meaning it doesn’t matter which PS4/PC you play on the settings will remain the same.The C40 comes with a wireless dongle and can be used in wired mode. After using the controller extensively on wireless, I must say there is certainly no issue with performance as the controller is able to sustain a fast and reliable connection. One of my gripes with this controller is that you cannot power on your PS4 with the PlayStation button, and have to turn it on manually unless you use a DualShock controller, I know this is a minor inconvenience but a feature I would have liked to see nonetheless.Another great feature is the battery life, I have tried and tested this beast and it stays with me to the end. I can get a marathon 12-hour gaming session from this controller. Overall, I love everything about this controller from the overall design to the functionality of the controller. The pros definitely outweigh the cons, and this is the least you would expect for the hefty price tag. However, if you are in the market for a fine piece of tournament ready gaming hardware then look no further. This really is perfect for an array of games such as shooters, fighting games, battle royale’s and other intense action games. [This review was collected as part of a promotion.]

12.3.2020

Hey, I am new to upgraded controllers as I never felt the need for one, but after getting more competitive at gaming I decided now was the time (6 months ago to be able to give a fair review)This controller is wonderful, it is heavier than a standard controller and has more girth, but the weight is nice for me I prefer it to a light controller.The overall finish on the Astro C40 TR is amazing, nicely and professionally made it is a joy to hold and look at, so after a brief over view let me list the pro's and cons.Pro's:- HIGH GRADE FINISH- FAST REMAPPING ( of any button or trigger not just the extra two buttons)- ability to FINE TUNE the response curve via PC- the built in PRE-AMP and ability to fine tune with the PC- swap-able MODULES (I personal play with the XBOX set-up on the PS4 due to the increased size of the controller its more comfortable)- the BUTTONS are very nice and have a mechanical feel. (if they were mechanical it wold bring the controller to the best you can get IMO)- BATTERY life ( claims 12 hours play time but I make it around 10 and a half maybe 11 bit it is still very good)Cons:- The ASTRO MODULES WEAR TOO FAST, I already need to replace one, and they are never in stock and in terms of customer support with this there is none, they ignore messaged regarding parts. but are all up in software issues so there is that reassurance, and a better fix for this is to just buy them from battle beaver ( better build quality so I hear but at yet to try them)- STICK DRIFT (only happened 3 times in 6 months and it literally takes 15 seconds to fix by holding the remap button to reset the sticks so its not a major issue)- WIRED FUZZ, if you are in a chat party and you are charging you WILL get the fuzz feedback (but with the long battery life this only happens when I potato and forget to charge before a long Apex session)- you can't TURN ON the ps4 with it, not a massive issue for me and probably most as I can turn my PS4 on with my TV remote and set my TV to turn it on when it is selected as the input.All in All I still think this controller is the best you can buy, yes there are some Cons but scuff have issues too and I have friends that go through 2-3 Scuffs a year and for me that is not worth it, as stated you will at some point need to replace the analog modules and ASTRO are not the way to go in that respect, get some from battle beaver at no more that 20 dollars (they ship to UK and no UK company make the modules)So looking back with having the controller for this long now I would still buy this controller, and I do still recommend it and still will ( I hear rumor that it will have an update to be PS5 compatible but we will see, it is highly possible)Controller 9.5/10Astro Gaming as a company 7/10 (But I do hear that their headsets are incredible and service around them is 10/10, just not for the controller for some reason)

2.3.2020

This controller feels premium. The weight is reassuring and high quality to touch - there's no weird 'thin plastic' twistiness, it's solid. Actually it's probably a good bit larger than a DS4, as a very 'average sized' man it fits my hands very nicely. It's also a bit heavier.The controller comes in a hard case with convenient carry parts. An area for the charge cable (that's important, as its end is an unusual shape) as well as replacement sticks and the tool used for adjusting. The carry case is very nice to have.The main question when getting a premium controller is "is it worth it?". Well:- The trigger locks are great- the face buttons are exactly right- the dpad is good (though i'm not a 2d fighter guy,so salt-pinch)- The ability to move the sticks / button locations is great, and extremely easy and intuitive.- There is the option to have wired or wireless mode, this is actually useful as the wired mode effectively doubles as 'powered off' mode (PS button doesn't wake the thing up)- I forgot about charging it because it seemed to last enough time for me to forget it was rechargeable, that's only about a week of play or so, but that's pretty good!- The special under-controller buttons you can map at any time to another button are actually really good, they just take some getting used to! (no more R3 / L3 for me!)There are a few small qualms, but these probably won't trouble someone for whom the positives are essential:- i couldn't get mine to wake my ps4 using the ps button, it appears this is down to having to use the wireless dongle it is packaged with -- even on ps4- it appears to vibrate if the battery is getting low - this is not displayed on the ps4 system - and i have yet to figure out what the buzzes truly mean- the USB cable end is micro usb (just like DS4) however it slots into a hole in the controller which will exclude anything not of the right shape -- mind you, this does mean the cable is super secure and won't wobble aboutI did use this on PC and found Steam recognised the controller easily, however coverage by individual games was patchy (a couple of games i tried didn't know it was there) - i have to assume the software you CAN (and i suppose, should) install will have ways to solve this.Subjectively, this controller is a lot better than a DS4. It feels nicer, it allows you to pick how you want it (wireless, trigger lock, rear buttons, stick ends, stick positions etc) and the build quality is faultless. If the fact that you have to turn on the ps4 at the machine, or the thing not reporting battery when you hit PS is a problem then you aren't really considering what this thing is for - it's not a DS4 (does all the things fine) it's a performance machine where it counts.

31.1.2020

The instant I took delivery - even before I opened the box - I had a good feeling about this. It felt solid and substantial, promising great things. Obviously I expected a lot and I was not to be disappointed.The weight (at 308g) feels just right, perfect when it comes to grip and feedback. I was surprised and very pleased to find that it is compatible with my PS3 (yes, PS3) and other devices too. It wasn't long before I was thinking "how on Earth did I live without this?!". The ASTRO Gaming C40 TR PS4 controller is for elite gamers that are looking for a controller that they will need and enjoy for games such as call of duty, fortnite, counter strike and many more. The controller has many features that work,feel and look great which make it stand out from the crowd.It has two extra panels on the bottom of the controller which land exactly where your fingers are. It also has a couple of switches that allow it to connect to your PS4 wirelessly or wired. When playing wirelessly you have at least 12 hours of battery time which can always be recharged using the USB included. It has thumb pads for the joysticks which are interchangeable and differ from height to grip, so if you don't enjoy the overall feel of the controller you can swap out the joysticks and D-pad making it very versatile and different to its competitors.The box, controller and everything else included have a modern look that definitely deserve the name of being elite and with many functions there's absolutely no going wrong with this controller.The controller is very high quality and will not start to drift unless it's used daily for at least two years (apparently).In the box you will find a couple of manuals that will answer any worry or query you may have. If your question is not answered you can visit their website which the link to is included in the manuals. Inside the box there is also a very high quality case for the controller which includes inside if it: the controller, a charging USB wire, three thumb pads for the joysticks, a screw driver for changing the thumb pads and opening up the controller and a USB stick for connecting wirelessly to your many devices.It mainly comes down to its steep price tag of £189.99 which brings the question of "is it worth it?". I can assure you that the ASTRO Gaming C40 TR PS4 Controller is worth every penny that it's sold for and once it lands in your hands you will feel it's essential.Once again I can confirm that the ASTRO Gaming C40 TR PS4 controller is also mostly compatible with the PS3, with the home button, share and options buttons and pad at the top not working. It also works with most PC/laptops.Bottom line: If you want the best, this has to be on your short list.

23.2.2020

This is high-end, customisable controller for PS4 and PC. It's modular, so you can take it apart and reconfigure the layout to suit your own preferences, though this is limited to the two analogue sticks, the d-pad and the four face buttons. It also works wirelessly through a USB dongle, or wired via the supplied USB cable.In terms of comfort, it has a very solid build, and feels great to hold. The buttons are tight and responsive, and the sticks have a bit more grip than the standard PS4 controller, which is a welcome improvement. You can also swap these out with some of the alternative grips included in the package. Modifying the layout is simple enough - the supplied screwdriver is used to take out four screws,

6.2.2020

Pros:Compared to its competitors the rubberised case is simply on another level, and the buttons feel well planted such that I do feel it is worth the extra cost against other pro controllers. I haven’t used the razer raiju or scuff vantage for extended periods but on initial impressions the astro wins in build quality hands down.I haven’t changed the joystick configuration since when I first got this controller, but I like the modular functionality; it does mean that if the joystick breaks (which is very common on my house thanks to Fifa), I can just replace that one part. Those parts aren’t available in the UK yet, infact this controller was only recently made available from the US,

28.2.2020

I'll be honest, I wasn't fond of the appearance of this controller at first. At a glance it could be mistaken for one of those off-brand cheap options you give to player 2. But in person, it looks gorgeous. From the moment you get your hands on the packaging, it all feels like a premium product which is exactly how it should feel at this price point.The first thing (and the best thing about this controller for me) was swapping the sticks to offset (or Xbox mode - which I far prefer). This process of unscrewing the faceplate sounded like it was going to be tedious, but it actually feels incredibly good. The included tool works great and you can tell this was really well designed by how smoothly everything works.Once I had it set-up and in my hands,

29.4.2020

Was a bit unsure about this due to the price, but now very happy I forked out a little extra.The controller is heavy, especially compared to the Dual Shock 4 controller, but I like that and it feels more comfortable for it. I switched the modules around into offset mode and plugged into wired mode and got going while the battery charged. The light on the touch pad changes between red and white to show charge levels but the console doesn’t recognise the battery level. In wireless mode with the dongle, everything works great. I’ve not seen any input lag or other problems during gameplay. I had a tiny bit of stick drift after swapping the modules over,

16.2.2020

The Astro C40 has to be the king of customisable game controller out there and the price tag reflected that. The rubberised matte black material and plastic inlay look sleek and professional. I am 6"1 with large hands and it feel comfortable in my large hands even after 5 hours of gaming.The plastic plate on the front of the C40 is held in place with four hex screws, undo it with the included hex driver allows you to expose the analogue stick and direction pad modules. This is the part which gets interesting, the sticks and pad are built into small black cylinders with metal contacts on the bottom that rest in recesses under the plate.

20.11.2019

This controller is great. It has a real premium feel to it with a nice balanced weight that feels right when you're holding it. There's a rubbery surface with a textured grip on the back, making it easy to hold and feel secure.All of the buttons are easily reachable while gaming, with the paddles on the back being comfortable to use without having to take your fingers off the trigger buttons or analog sticks. The other good thing about the paddles is that they are configurable, allowing you to use them for any action in the game while still being able to move around. As an example, I was able to use the paddles to make my character jump while still being able to move around with the analog

6.7.2020

The Astro C40 is by far, hands down, the best controller available for PS4.It is expensive, but in my recent experience with PS4 controllers, you pay for what you get...I actually had a “Nacon Unlimited Pro” Controller before the Astro C40, and it was a steaming pile of s*** compared to the Astro controller. The Nacon controller was falling apart after 2 weeks, and the PC software didn’t work at all.The Astro C40 on the other hand, is extremely comfortable to hold, and you can tell immediately that it is made out of premium materials.I love the modular design, it can be changed around and customised literally in the middle of a game if needs be. It’s great.The trigger stops are probably the best feature,

23.11.2019

The Astro Gaming C40 TR Controller really is something else. When opening the box and touching it for the first time you get a sense straight away of the high build quality and how much of a premium controller this is. The design is cool, a matte rubber feel and different textures. It is quite heavy but I feel that's a small compromise, it feels comfortable in my hands and I can grip it well. The controls are similar to that of my dualshock 4 with dual analog controls, an arrow pad, triggers and gave buttons. Extras such as share, headset jack and a ushaped touchpad really make it special. on the back the extra trigger buttons UL and UR are a welcome addition.

Astro Gaming C40 TR - Reviews

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