The Orbit B-hyve XR is an eight-zone smart sprinkler timer in an IP65 indoor/outdoor housing, with dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, four programs and Alexa and Google Assistant support. GearBrain scored it 8.5/10 after a month of use, finding setup and wiring easier than Orbit's earlier B-hyve and the zone-by-zone smart watering more guided than most rivals. The Gadgeteer found it ran its zones exactly as programmed once a Wi-Fi setup snag was solved, but wanted a second button and a proper manual. It suits homeowners replacing an old wired timer who want detailed per-zone watering control; anyone who wants the app to report water savings should look elsewhere.
Full review
Ran every zone on schedule once connected
The Gadgeteer reports that after an initial Wi-Fi hiccup, solved by choosing the network's security type under Advanced settings, the controller worked exactly as advertised, starting and stopping each zone on time and allowing manual runs from the app or the unit. Four program slots let it keep separate summer and winter schedules. It did drop off Wi-Fi once when a mesh router node was restarted and needed a manual reconnect. GearBrain tested it for a month and found the dual-band connection about as reliable as the earlier model, while Alexa and Google Assistant control, tested with an Echo and a Nest Mini, worked as expected and was quick to set up.
Easier wiring and a weatherproof case
GearBrain found installation simpler than on Orbit's previous controller: each terminal is pushed open to insert a wire, with no screws to loosen, and Orbit supplies labels for the old wires. It warns that the case is tough, so knockouts should be punched out carefully. The Gadgeteer rates the housing IP65 for indoor or outdoor mounting and adds that it supports a pump or master valve and most rain and freeze sensors. Its main design complaint is that the single 'b' button handles all manual control through combinations of long and short presses, which works but is awkward; it would add a second button.
Detailed smart watering, limited reporting
Both reviewers single out the depth of the smart watering setup, which asks for soil, plant and sprinkler type, sun exposure and slope for each zone and can walk through a catch-cup test. GearBrain says Orbit gives more guidance here than any other maker, though zones with mixed planting remain hard to set up, and the app does not report how much water is actually used, unlike some competitors. The Gadgeteer notes that rain delays rely on forecasts rather than measured rain, and that the advanced settings come without instructions. The eight-zone model lists at $169.99.
Strengths
- +Push-button wire terminals make swapping out an old controller easier
- +Connects on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, with Bluetooth for setup
- +Alexa and Google Assistant voice control worked as expected and was quick to set up
- +Guided per-zone setup includes a catch-cup test to measure sprinkler output
- +IP65-rated housing can be mounted indoors or outdoors
Watch-outs
- −App does not track how much water is actually used
- −Single front button makes manual control on the unit fiddly
- −Advanced watering settings come with little documentation
How it compares
Like the Rachio 8-Zone, the B-hyve XR handles up to eight zones with weather-based scheduling, and it adds an IP65 housing rated for outdoor mounting. It is the newer, redesigned sibling of the Orbit B-hyve Indoor controller on this page, which GearBrain says it improves on for setup and wiring, and it covers two more zones than the six-zone Netro Sprite.
Rating sources
Counts as 4.28/5 in our score — this publisher's 1 scores on the site average 4.30, so its scores are adjusted down to compare fairly with other publishers.
“Overall Rating: 8.5 10”
Not in the average — we derived this score from the review's words, and a publisher printed a score for this product, so the printed number counts instead.
Our 4.3 score is the average of 1 of the scored reviews above, each adjusted for how strictly its publisher scores. 1 derived score above is not in the average because a publisher printed a score for this product. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
