Eve Systems today announced the launch of a redesigned version of the Eve Aqua, a HomeKit-enabled smart home device designed to automate irrigation systems and convert standard outdoor faucets into smart water outlets. The Eve Aqua water controller is able to automatically activate an irrigation system using the Home app on the iPhone, the Eve app, Siri voice commands, or a physical button on the device itself.

The third-generation Eve Aqua includes Thread support for improved reliability and reach when used with other Thread-compatible devices. It activates and shuts off automatically, with no internet connection, bridge, or gateway required for functionality, and it runs off of 2 AA batteries.

Eve Systems says that the new Eve Aqua has been redesigned with a sleeker look that features a space gray body and matte black front, along with a brass faucet connector and magnetic valve for improved durability, leak protection, and quieter operation.

The new Eve Aqua is available today for $149.95 from the Eve website.

Article Link: HomeKit-Enabled Eve Aqua Gains Thread Support

It would be so cool if the Eve could recharge itself with the water flow

I mean, I like smart home accessories, but....
Does the water hose control really need to be "smart" and app-enabled? Wouldn't a $29 Orbit digital hose timer work just fine? Watering is one of those things that needs to be set once and then forgotten.

The price is a little high. It can add up quickly if you need a few of them. And who uses drinking water from the faucet for watering their garden?

$150 for a single outlet? Love me some HomeKit, and lawn irrigation, but that’s steep.

We have gen 2 and it already has thread. It’s been a very reliable product and the battery life is insane.

Hopefully they fixed the leak problems with this new one. My current one leaks like a sieve!

Glad to see another Eve product getting Thread. I really wish they would update their U.S. wall switch with Thread.

Eve makes the best HomeKit products. Hands down. All these other manufactures seem to have buggy hardware.

Scoob Redux said:

I mean, I like smart home accessories, but....
Does the water hose control really need to be "smart" and app-enabled? Wouldn't a $29 Orbit digital hose timer work just fine? Watering is one of those things that needs to be set once and then forgotten.

It's not that hard to understand how a smart water valve can be useful. This is just off the top of my head. Like any smart home devices, once you stop being constrained by the old way of doing things, you'll find a million and one ways to do things that just weren't possible before and make your life easier/more sustainable/efficient/fun.

I’ve had poor results with Eve products over the years. I have several that just don’t work as advertised.

One of them is a hose controller like this one, but the 2019 model, and it only sees use in the summer. It spends winters in the garage. It crapped out and doesn’t work worth a damn now.

I think I would be a fool, soon parted with $150, to gamble with another Eve product.

No thank you. I’m done with Eve products.

_Spinn_ said:

Glad to see another Eve product getting Thread. I really wish they would update their U.S. wall switch with Thread.

it already had Thread

Eve finally should come up with a smoke / fire detector

MacRumors said:

Eve Systems today announced the launch of a redesigned version of the Eve Aqua, a HomeKit-enabled smart home device designed to automate irrigation systems and convert standard outdoor faucets into smart water outlets.

The Eve Aqua water controller is able to automatically activate an irrigation system using the Home app on the iPhone, the Eve app, Siri voice commands, or a physical button on the device itself.

The third-generation Eve Aqua includes Thread support for improved reliability and reach when used with other Thread-compatible devices. It activates and shuts off automatically, with no internet connection, bridge, or gateway required for functionality, and it runs off of 2 AA batteries.

Eve Systems says that the new Eve Aqua has been redesigned with a sleeker look that features a space gray body and matte black front, along with a brass faucet connector and magnetic valve for improved durability, leak protection, and quieter operation.

The new Eve Aqua is available today for $149.95 from the Eve website.

Article Link: HomeKit-Enabled Eve Aqua Gains Thread Support

Click to expand...

I won't mention names, but I know a couple of guys that will be going shopping on big neighborhoods backyards, collecting those. I won't put my money on that. It would get stolen easy.

What even does the Thread do?

Scoob Redux said:

I mean, I like smart home accessories, but....
Does the water hose control really need to be "smart" and app-enabled? Wouldn't a $29 Orbit digital hose timer work just fine? Watering is one of those things that needs to be set once and then forgotten.

I use a simple timer everyday. However, when I'm away, I'd love to be able to trigger watering based on the weather. Example: I was on holiday, I knew it was super-hot and that there was no rain at home and that the garden needed watering. I would have loved to be able to trigger it remotely.

I WAS the one said:

I won't mention names, but I know a couple of guys that will be going shopping on big neighborhoods backyards, collecting those. I won't put my money on that. It would get stolen easy.

Very good point! Hide an AirTag it it? Eve to add a “remote kill-switch”?

Some of you will know I'm no fan of Eve. I find the quality of their products to be lacking and their customer support is absolutely garbage, without any respect for consumer law.

That said, I've often seen this on offer (the original without thread), on Amazon. I would not use it as a complete sprinkler system. I have a proper system in my garden with zone control, timers and moisture control, but where I need to manage a particular area for whatever reason, it could be handy, or perhaps for small gardens.

However, at the RRP, it's massively overpriced compared to what you can buy for just a quarter of the price for the same effect. The only difference is I can control it from my Home app. (Whoopie).

But if phone control is what you want, for about a third of the price, you can get a dual channel WiFi smart watering system. You can even use HomeBridge (about $75 including the Raspberry Pi), and you can control it in your Apple Home app as a HomeKit device. And you're still quids in.

So to summarise. More overpriced very consumer-grade junk from Eve which will probably fail in a year or two.

I WAS the one said:

I won't mention names, but I know a couple of guys that will be going shopping on big neighborhoods backyards, collecting those. I won't put my money on that. It would get stolen easy.

You keep nice company...

yellow8 said:

I use a simple timer everyday. However, when I'm away, I'd love to be able to trigger watering based on the weather. Example: I was on holiday, I knew it was super-hot and that there was no rain at home and that the garden needed watering. I would have loved to be able to trigger it remotely.

I've just saved you $100 for a couple of extra mojitos while you're on holiday.

TehFalcon said:

Eve makes the best HomeKit products. Hands down. All these other manufactures seem to have buggy hardware.

Maybe I get the "Friday" batch, but all but two of my Eve products have failed. Eve energy plugs, 2x Eve Weather, Even Door / Window sensor, and their BT Extender is "sketchy" to put it lightly.

Eve needs to sell nice wooden covers to hide these if not already - I can see them being stolen and going on eBay.
Maybe an opportunity for an Etsy seller to make them.