TAG Heuer’s Foray Into The World Of Smartwatches Continues With The Connected Calibre E4 - 3 minutes read
Image: TAG Heuer
TAG Heuer’s foray into the world of smartwatches continues with the Connected Calibre E4, which includes a 42mm model as well as an upgrade to the 45mm model. The smartwatch has had a chance to shine in recent years — and in the present as well — and the big names have responded with significant feature upgrades. Unfortunately, the majority of them are still attractive to look at, functionally adequate, and uncomfortable to wear.
TAG Heuer is still ahead of the pack of Swiss watchmakers looking to capitalize on the smartwatch market, as it was in 2015. The good news is that the Connected Calibre E4 appears to be a significant upgrade over the previous model, which is a must. For starters, battery replacement is now possible, which, believe it or not, puts the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 ahead of the competition (and on par with Apple).
Image: TAG Heuer
There’s a lot to like about the new Connected Calibre E4, but the battery option deserves to be front and center; its prominence reveals TAG Heuer CEO Frederic Arnault’s roots in the brand’s smartwatch division in 2017. We’ll finish up this story with more on the battery for both watches, but first, let’s talk about the features, which are still the most important consideration for anyone considering a smartwatch.
Despite being powered by Google’s Wear OS, the Connected Calibre E4 pairs well with the iPhone, according to Wired (at launch March 10, TAG Heuer says the default will be Wear OS 2, with a complementary upgrade to Wear OS 3 when it becomes available). In both models, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4100+ chipset is fairly standard.
Image: TAG Heuer
You’d expect more specially developed sporty apps from TAG Heuer, and the brand delivers. The new Connected models have an all-new guided workout feature in addition to being able to track indoor and outdoor running, walking, cycling, swimming, and golf (something of a signature for the brand). The animated routine is shown onscreen, with vibrations signaling the end of each sequence. Because using your phone for this is clumsy, impractical, and messy, this will be a winner. The smartwatch with the best fitness applications appears to be king, and TAG Heuer will be hoping that their significant price premium is justified.
“With these two new, very different Connected watches, we hope to bring a new generation of TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 to a wider range of customers, becoming a companion in their daily lives: from business to sport activities to the most elegant dinners. Since 2015, TAG Heuer has been a pioneer in the luxury connected watch sector. The development of these new watches highlight how Connected has become a pillar of TAG Heuer, alongside Aquaracer and Carrera, building on 160 years of Swiss watchmaking experience,” said Arnault.
Returning to the battery, it lasts 30% longer than the previous Connected watch, implying that it will last the entire day, including five hours of golf. TAG Heuer promises a full day of use on the 42mm model, including when using the wellness apps. The watches are only available in steel and titanium, but there are a variety of strap options to match the various watch faces, as seen here.