Among the largest Swiss luxury watchmakers, TAG Heuer – always open to innovation – was the first to launch a smartwatch in 2015. The recently unveiled – now fourth generation – Connected retains the design and feel of mechanical watches while impressing with advanced technology and an integrated sports app.
The name TAG Heuer already hints at innovation in the abbreviation TAG (Techniques d’Avant Garde), indicating that the manufacture, active for over 160 years in La Chaux-de-Fonds, is always seeking new paths. With a very bold decision – contrary to the prevailing opinion at the time – they developed their first smartwatch under the name Connected. The time that has passed since then and the dynamic growth of the smartwatch market have not only confirmed the correctness of this decision but also shown that the strategy of combining the traditional appearance of mechanical watches with modern hardware and proprietary sports software has been completely successful.
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The Connected series, which is fully renewed every 2–3 years, reached its fourth generation in 2022 – this is also indicated by the newly introduced E4 designation, which obviously hints at further future plans. The TAG Heuer Connected E4 will be available from March 10 in strictly selected and specially trained watch boutiques – in two sizes, with two case materials, and numerous strap variations. One of the most exciting innovations is the development of a completely new desktop charging station.
The larger 45-millimeter case version continues the sporty line of previous generations, while the smaller 42-millimeter variant offers a softer, more elegant design language.
CONNECTED CALIBRE E4 – 45 MM
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The sporty design features a larger case, a scratch-resistant ceramic bezel with a minute scale, prominent side pushers, and an extra-large rubber-coated crown – an aesthetic real eye-catcher.
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In terms of internal technology, both variants are equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4100+ processor, and battery life has improved by 30%. The 430 mAh battery lasts a full day on a full charge – including wellness functions and up to 5 hours of Golf app usage.
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The OLED display measures 1.39’’ with a resolution of 454×454 (326ppi). In addition to the familiar sensors – heart rate monitor, compass, accelerometer, gyroscope, NFC, barometer, and microphone – an altimeter has also been integrated. Navigation is supported by a GNSS system.
Wireless data transmission is handled by the twice-as-fast Bluetooth 5.0 compared to previous versions. The operating system at launch is Wear OS by Google 2, which can be updated free of charge for all Connected E4 owners after the release of Wear OS by Google 3.
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In addition to the stainless steel case (SBR8A10), a black DLC-coated titanium version (SBR8A80) is also available. In this case, instead of a polished ceramic bezel, we get a matte finish, creating a very appealing overall look. Here, the clasp of the rubber strap (BT6261) is also made of titanium to match the case.
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TAG Heuer has developed its own application for tracking workouts on both phone and smartwatch. The Sport app is capable of analyzing performance in running, cycling, swimming, golf, and walking. In 2022, a new feature was introduced: guided and animated workouts consisting of pre-set exercise durations.
CONNECTED CALIBRE E4 – 42 MM
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The smaller, more elegant design impresses with a striking, domed sapphire crystal (SBR8010). While the 45 mm model’s flat crystal connects to the scaled bezel around the edge of the case, omitting this allows the display to fill the surface entirely.
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The smaller 330mAh battery provides enough charge for a full day, but with Wellness features active, only 1 hour of use of the Running app fits within this capacity.
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The smaller case diameter is naturally paired with a smaller (1.28”) OLED display, but its other hardware and software features are identical to its larger counterpart.
In addition to the unique TAG Heuer watch faces already familiar from previous generations, the Connected E4 “Riverside” offers a futuristic representation of the passage of time, while “Wellness” allows health-related data, such as current heart rate, to be read directly from the home screen.
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The straps and metal clasp of the TAG Heuer Connected E4 can be removed and attached in the usual, convenient way without any tools, allowing you to adapt to the seasons, activities, or even your current mood.
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The integrated metal clasp (BA0617), which perfectly follows the curved surface of the watch case, is made of stainless steel H-shaped links and opens with a double safety push-button. The brown calf leather strap with bark pattern (BC6608) has a red-colored inner side. For those who want to take advantage of the 50-meter water resistance, the black rubber strap (BT6255) may be the ideal choice.
Desktop Charging Station
TAG Heuer offers an exciting solution for overnight charging of the Connected E4. Although it takes only 1.5 hours to fully charge a completely drained device, experience shows that many users leave their smartwatch on the charger overnight. The TAG Heuer Connected E4 desktop charger uses a magnet to align the watch, placed perpendicularly on the stand, with the charging points. From then on, the watch display discreetly shows the exact time, naturally rotated 90 degrees.
