The TAG Heuer journey into the world of smartwatches continues with the Connected Calibre E4 watch, which introduces a 42mm model alongside an upgrade for the familiar 45mm version. Our recent past — and present too — have given the smartwatch the chance to shine and the big names have responded with important feature-set upgrades. Unfortunately, the majority remain great to look at, okay to use, and pretty awful to wear.

As it did in 2015, TAG Heuer remains ahead of the pack of Swiss watchmakers looking to exploit the opportunities in the smartwatch segment. The good news is that the Connected Calibre E4 looks like a genuine improvement over the previous iteration, which is a must of course. For one thing, battery replacement is now on the cards — believe it or not, that alone puts the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 ahead of the pack (and on par with Apple).

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There is a lot to like about the new Connected Calibre E4, but the battery option deserves to be front-and-centre; its centrality reveals the roots of TAG Heuer CEO Frederic Arnault in the smartwatch division of the brand in 2017. We will wrap up this story with more on the battery for both versions of the watches, but first we must address the features, which remain the top-draw for anyone who considers using a smartwatch.

We have not handled the watch in-person but Wired already reports that the Connected Calibre E4 pairs well with the iPhone, even though it is powered by Wear OS by Google (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). The Qualcomm Snapdragon 4100+ chipset in both models is pretty standard fare too.

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This is TAG Heuer so you might expect more specially developed sporty apps, and the brand delivers. Besides being able to track indoor and outdoor running, walking, cycling, swimming and golf (something of a signature for the brand), the new Connected models have an all-new guided workout feature. The animated routine is displayed onscreen, with the end of each sequence indicated by vibration. This will be a winner just because using your phone for this is clunky, impractical and messy. It certainly seems that the smartwatch with the best fitness applications will rule the roost, and TAG Heuer will be hoping that significant price premium will be 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 that battery, it lasts 30 per cent longer (compared with the old Connected watch), which means it goes the distance for the entire day, including five hours of golf. On the 42mm model, TAG Heuer promises a full-day of use, including if you run the wellness apps. The watches are only available in steel and titanium but there are many strap options available to go with the many watch faces you can choose, as seen here. 

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