Oto Smart Sprinkler Review (2026): Solar-Powered and Simple to Use

One of the major headaches of stand-alone smart sprinklers that attach to a garden hose is that they require power to operate. Since few folks have electrical outlets in the middle of their lawns, configuring a smart sprinkler means connecting not just a hose but also a long power cable to the device, creating double the effort and double the chance for something to get chewed up by a lawn mower. The Oto Smart Sprinkler solves for this problem with solar power, which makes for not only a far more flexible installation than its smart-sprinkler competitors but also ongoing easy use. With a strong focus on quick setup and simplicity of function, Oto provides a refreshing alternative in the smart sprinkler market. The only question: Does its useful innovation justify its blisteringly high price tag? Set and Forget When I unboxed the Oto Smart Sprinkler for the first time, I was convinced something must be missing—perhaps even a second box with more parts? But as it turns out, the Oto really is as streamlined as it claims to be. The sprinkler measures just 16 x 12 x 4 inches and weighs about 6 pounds. Next to the similarly featured but monstrous-by-comparison Aiper IrriSense 2, the Oto is practically miniature. Being pint-sized makes lawn irrigation even easier than expected. You can place the unit on the ground, mount it to a hardscape, or even attach it to a fence (all with the included metal bracket). If you want to play things fast and loose, you can situate it to stand freely without the bracket, though the bracket helps you ensure it’s replaced in the exact same location if it’s ever removed (such as during the winter months) for even irrigation. The only real placement caveat is that in order to have it operate cordlessly, the Oto requires at least three hours a day of direct sunlight to its top-mounted 2.2-watt solar panel to keep its internal 5,400-mAh battery topped up. Keep this in mind as you decide where to install your brackets—you definitely don't want to block too much of the sun’s rays. Video: Christopher Null Before taking it outside for its first use, Oto instructs you to charge the device overnight via wall power (though you could certainly just leave it in the sun for a few days instead). You'll do this using the included power adapter with 50 feet of cable. You can also lean on the plugged-in charging option if you can’t squeeze out enough sunshine on a regular basis (albeit in that case, this irrigation solution is probably not for you). You’ll find the power cable stored inside the Oto hardware, in a large hollow space beneath the solar panel. This hollow space is intentional and isn’t used for anything more than supporting the panel above, but it’s probably best not to leave the power adapter inside permanently, as it this chamber can get rather wet. The Oto can throw water up to a distance of 40 feet in a 360-degree radius of the device, which equates to a maximum of 5,000 square feet of coverage, enough for a sizable lawn. (That’s about on par with Aiper.) The hose connector on the side of the device is easy to work with and secure; I experienced no leaks at all when connecting it to a standard garden hose. A 50-foot maximum length for your hose is specified to ensure water pressure remains sufficient. Digital Droplets Just about everything on the Oto happens via its app (though there’s a manual switch on top of the device you can use to speed up a run that’s pending in the app). That app sets up via a 2.4-GHz Wi-Fi connection to your home network, so you’ll need to make sure your yard has effective wireless coverage.