Yardian Adds HomeKit to Smart Sprinkler Controller

The name Yardian is unlikely to be a name many of our readers will be familiar with, but if you’re looking for a smart sprinkler system for your lawn that also works with HomeKit, this may be of interest to you. The company, with offices in both the US and Taiwan, have recently introduced the Yardian Pro, an upgrade to their other main product, the Yardian Smart Sprinkler Controller. The Yardian only works with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and IFTTT, whilst the Pro version adds HomeKit support.

Both versions have 8 and 12-zone versions, and both use 2.4GHz WiFi, but the Pro version has improved the WiFi module to improve signal strength four-fold, which is important for devices that tend to be placed outside of the main home in most instances. The company have also added an ethernet port if WiFi is still an issue, alongside a USB port for diagnoses and updates, amongst other functionality. The Pro also adds on-device controls, that allows for instant hands-on control and visual status checking, and later this year will also be able to be used outside fully, with an optional outdoor enclosure.

There are a ton of other minor improvements over the original Yardian, but safe to say, if you’re into HomeKit (which we presume is why you’re here) then this would definitely be the model for you out of the two. Of course, the other main competitor in this market is the Rachio, whose Rachio 3 offers the same basic functionality, albeit at a slightly higher price. The Rachio also offer 8 and 16-zone versions, with Yardian only offering 8 and 12-zone options, so if 16 zones is something you require, maybe the Rachio 3 might be a better option.

Current pricing for the Yardian Pro is;

• 8-zone US$139.99 – Direct / US$149.99 – Amazon.com (Rachio 3 8-zone – $229.99)
• 12-zone US$159.99 – Direct / US$169.99 – Amazon.com (Rachio 3 16-zone – $279.99)

You can find out more about the Yardian Pro via the company website – yardian.com