# Rain Bird ST8I-2.0 Smart Indoor WiFi Irrigation Timer vs Orbit B-hyve XR Smart Sprinkler Controller (8-Zone): specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Rain Bird ST8I-2.0 Smart Indoor WiFi Irrigation Timer (Rain Bird) and Orbit B-hyve XR Smart Sprinkler Controller (8-Zone) (Orbit) among smart sprinkler controllers. Rain Bird ST8I-2.0 Smart Indoor WiFi Irrigation Timer is the cheaper of the two at $169.

## Side by side

| Spec | Rain Bird ST8I-2.0 Smart Indoor WiFi Irrigation Timer | Orbit B-hyve XR Smart Sprinkler Controller (8-Zone) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $169 | $169.99 |
| Brand | Rain Bird | Orbit |
| Released | 2019 | 2021 |
| Zones | 8 | 8 |
| Hub required | No | No |
| Weather intelligence | Yes | Yes |
| Indoor outdoor rating | indoor only (ST8O-2.0 is outdoor variant) | indoor/outdoor (weatherproof enclosure) |
| Works with alexa google | Yes | Yes |
| Works with homekit | No | No |
| Epa watersense | Yes | Yes |
| App control | Yes | Yes |
| Expandable zones | No | Yes |

## Key differences

- Indoor outdoor rating: Rain Bird ST8I-2.0 Smart Indoor WiFi Irrigation Timer indoor only (ST8O-2.0 is outdoor variant) vs Orbit B-hyve XR Smart Sprinkler Controller (8-Zone) indoor/outdoor (weatherproof enclosure)
- Expandable zones: Rain Bird ST8I-2.0 Smart Indoor WiFi Irrigation Timer No vs Orbit B-hyve XR Smart Sprinkler Controller (8-Zone) Yes

## Sources

- Rain Bird ST8I-2.0 Smart Indoor WiFi Irrigation Timer: https://store.rainbird.com/st8i-2-0-8-zone-smart-irrigation-wifi-sprinkler-timer-indoor.html (store.rainbird.com, verified 2026-06-20)
- Orbit B-hyve XR Smart Sprinkler Controller (8-Zone): https://www.orbitonline.com/products/b-hyve-xr-smart-indoor-outdoor-sprinkler-timer (orbitonline.com, verified 2026-06-20)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/smart-sprinkler-controllers/rain-bird-st8i-2-0-vs-orbit-b-hyve-xr-8-zone/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Rain Bird ST8I-2.0 Smart Indoor WiFi Irrigation Timer ($169) vs Orbit B-hyve XR Smart Sprinkler Controller (8-Zone) ($169.99) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/smart-sprinkler-controllers/rain-bird-st8i-2-0-vs-orbit-b-hyve-xr-8-zone/
License: CC BY 4.0.