If your lawn is anything like mine, it might be looking a bit dry and brown. Short of paving over the grass, irrigation is the only way to keep it alive. And today’s solutions are smarter than those oscillating sprinklers from my childhood.

Case in point: Aiper’s IrriSense 2. It's one of the most sophisticated hose-connected sprinklers I've tested. The hardware is surprisingly big—a fat cylinder measuring 2 feet tall and weighing over 11 pounds, but it packs a punch when it comes to water distribution.

Pairing with your mobile device via Bluetooth or using the built-in 2.4-GHz Wi-Fi, you can set up three automated modes: Point (for specific spots), Line (for linear paths) and Area (for larger areas). I mostly used the Area mode for my testing, which is probably the most common use case.

The hardware relies on exact positioning, with ground stakes provided for permanent placements. A plastic locator device ensures you can easily return to the same spot each time. The IrriSense 2 isn't just about convenience; it's all about efficiency and smart watering practices.