Wired Reviews Smart Sprinkler Controllers and Hose Timers

Wired tested nearly a dozen smart sprinkler controllers and hose timers designed to automate outdoor watering. The devices connect to existing irrigation systems or garden hoses and use weather data to adjust schedules.

The Rachio controller connects to underground irrigation zones. Users define each zone by vegetation type, soil, sun exposure, and slope through the app, which then creates fixed or weather-adjusted schedules. 0 starts at $2,089 and replaces both the controller and sprinkler heads with a system that directs water only to planted areas.

The review states it requires new plumbing and is intended for new installations rather than retrofits. Orbit B-Hyve XR supports 5 GHz Wi-Fi and is available in 8-zone and 16-zone models priced at $128 and $170. Moen offers 8-zone and 16-zone controllers for $180 and $235 that can pair with wireless soil sensors.

Yardian Pro is listed at $140 for six zones and includes Ethernet connectivity plus real-time leak monitoring.

The OtO unit attaches to a standard garden hose and uses a built-in solar panel for power. Its app lets users outline the watering area on a map, after which the device waters only within those boundaries while accounting for weather conditions. Aiper IrriSense 2 costs $400 and provides similar boundary-mapping features but requires a power cable and has larger hardware.

The Rachio Smart Hose Timer runs on two AA batteries and connects through a small hub that must remain plugged into an outlet. One hub supports up to eight timers, each sold without the hub for $20 less. Eve Aqua costs $165 and has built-in Wi-Fi but consumes batteries faster due to the radio.