Eve Aqua - Smart Water Controller for Home app or Siri, irrigate Automatically with schedules, Easy to use, Remote Access, no Bridge, Bluetooth, HomeKit

3.0 out of 5 stars

By sho - Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2018

It could be better.

I've had this unit for about two weeks now, with Apple HomeKit in a single family home with two Apple TVs as Homekit hubs. Here's my take on the Eve Aqua: Setup: 10/10. Basically open the box, put the batteries (included) in, add accessory in the Apple Home app, scan the code, it's basically ready to go in the Home app. I installed the Eve Aqua with a hose and a sprinkler attachment, no leak, ready to water. It was great. Initial Reaction: 9/10. It did what I expected it to do. I was standing next to it with my iPhone, told Siri to turn the sprinkler on. It turned on, with a countdown (it made sure I don't forget to turn it off). However, the next day I noticed a little leak (that I didn't notice before). I tightened the plastic thing (hoping it doesn't crack the plastic) and the leak was gone. It hasn't leaked since. Interface: 5/10. I was disappointed that I couldn't add the Eve Aqua in the automation section of the Home app. The unit just does not appear in the devices I'm able to control. I wanted the Eve Aqua to start running at 6am every morning for 15 minutes. Home app cannot do that. User must open the Eve app to schedule something like this. I wanted this thing so I don't have to open multiple apps to take care of the house. It only achieved half of it. Coverage: 3/10. I do not think this is entirely Eve's fault. However, it's still disappointing. Eve runs on Bluetooth LE(?) with limited ability of reaching the whole house. I knew that going in. I have two Apple TVs that are fairly far from each other with good coverage. Eve is right outside the door out from the living room. However, I pretty much never get response from the Eve while I’m out trying to check remotely. Not that I need to, but the fact that it says it’s “not responding” irritates me. Only time the units respond is when I am outside with my iPhone next to it. I’m pretty sure this is just a limitation with Bluetooth, but I should’ve thought about it more before I bought this as the Apple TVs aren’t really “near” where the Eve Aqua is. It isn’t far, but with a few walls, I guess the signal degrades enough… Automation: 7/10. I wish automation could be set up in Apple’s Home app soon. For now, it’s through the Eve app only. The app is nice though, tells me when I watered last, how long, how many gallons of water I’ve used, etc. It seems like it can do everything based on time. The unit also remembers when it's supposed to water, so even if we get "no response" through the Home app, it's still watering every morning at 6am. I haven’t tried with “when I get home” because I haven’t had the need to. Overall: 6/10 or 3 out of 5 stars. The connection part is bothersome, but it’s still a decent device. With a simple irrigation system (one faucet, one sprinkler head thing), I think this is a good system, but it would be much better if there was something like a Bluetooth extender… or something available to extend the range.

1.0 out of 5 stars

By Arvin jahja - Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2019

Eve Aqua stop working after 6 months

I bought 4 Eve Aqua in 2018 for my garden watering. They are good and usefull, easy to install but some of my unit keep losing bluetooth connection to Apple TV as home hub. So i bought Ipad to help bridge it and it worked, all watering schedule work pefectly. In the end of 2018 1 of my 4 Eve Aqua stop working, no light on, button not responding, device not detected via Eve app. Tried to change the battery, still the same. Tried to disassemble it and found no water leak to electronics inside. I tried to take the battery out for 1 day and put it back and it worked only for few hours, after that is the same, it's dead. SO i decided to contact Eve and they said factory defect and i need to contact amazon for return policy and the same time i ordered 1 new unit from Amazon. Amazon cannot help anything because they said the Eve company should take responsibility and Eve said i need to do this with Amazon. So dissapointing no company will take responsibility for this. In the beginning of 2019, 1 of my other unit have the same problem. So i have 2 malfunction Eve Aqua in one year (i only use it for 15 minutes watering everyday) and I AM DONE. I pull out all of my installed Eve Aqua and changed them with ORBIT brand. What a waste of money buying smart watering system from EVE and I WILL NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM EVE AGAIN. I have multiple eve products around 20 units: eve temperature, eve door sensor, eve motion, eve aqua. You better choose other brand as 1 of my eve door sensor also malfunction and EVE just said: it is defect. Good Bye EVE!

5.0 out of 5 stars

By Michael - Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2018

Does what it should

Does what it says. Easy to set up and doesn’t leak. It’s true there are possibly range connectivity issues depending on your setup. The Eve Aqua connects via Bluetooth rather than WiFi, but there’s a reason for that. WiFi uses considerably more power than Bluetooth. A device like this could either be powered by batteries or be plugged into an outlet. As an outside device also connected to pipes and water, they’ve made the right decision to power it with batteries. Since it’s powered by batteries, the decision to use low-power Bluetooth connectivity is the choice that means batteries won’t require frequent replacement. The downside of that choice is that Bluetooth generally requires shorter distances to make a good connection. So this will work well if it’s located within a reasonable distance from an Apple TV or HomePod inside the house. If not, you’ll need to carry your iPhone or iPad closer to it to change its programming or activate it directly.