A hands-on review of the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4, a serious smartwatch from a luxury watch brand

We review the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4, a smartwatch from TAG Heuer. With its excellent exterior, ease of use, and dedicated app, it's sure to satisfy users both as a luxury watch and an electronic device.

What do luxury smartwatches offer users?

　This time, we will review the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4, a connected watch that TAG Heuer is focusing on. A connected watch is a so-called smartwatch that can be used by connecting it to a smartphone or other device.

　Smartwatches have traditionally been released by companies that specialize in communication devices, but now, watch brands like TAG Heuer, Hublot, and Louis Vuitton are also releasing attractive products. However, almost without exception, the models released by these brands are several times more expensive than regular smartwatches. Many people are interested, but are hesitant to buy one when they see the price tag.

　So how exactly can luxury smartwatches enrich the lives of their users? In this review, I'll be using TAG Heuer's latest 2023 model and sharing my thoughts on it.

Basic smartwatch functions + comprehensive dedicated app

　Although the term "smartwatch" is broadly used, the features available vary greatly depending on the model. Among them, the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 boasts a particularly rich feature set. It runs Wear OS by Google. Connecting to a smartphone via Bluetooth allows you to receive notifications, check your schedule, and control music apps. In addition to basic features like an alarm and stopwatch, you can also register Google Pay for payments. You can also expand the functionality by downloading apps from the Play Store.

　So far, this is not unusual for a smartwatch with a large display. What is particularly noteworthy about this watch is the presence of dedicated watch faces and Tag Heuer's official sports and wellness apps.

　Many smartwatches do not have physical hands, but instead display a dial on the screen. This means that there are far fewer physical constraints than with analog watches. Taking advantage of this feature, smartwatches allow you to customize the watch face (dial).

　The TAG Heuer Connected comes with a range of pre-installed watch faces, from digital displays to those based on the design of the company's signature Carrera. Of course, you can also install additional watch faces from the Play Store.

　The company is focusing on apps that help users maintain their health. The watch comes pre-installed with three apps: "TAG Heuer Sports," "TAG Heuer Wellness," and "TAG Heuer Golf."

　TAG Heuer Sports is an app that allows you to log your activities according to the type of sport you are doing, such as golf, running, indoor running, cycling, walking, swimming, trail running, and fitness. For example, if you are running, the app will display your elapsed time, heart rate, distance traveled, current speed, and heart rate, allowing you to monitor your condition while you train.

　Selecting Golf launches the TAG Heuer Golf app. This app allows you to download course information and helps you plan your strategy while viewing the map on the display. It also includes features like score recording and recommendations for optimal clubs, making it extremely useful for golfers.

　TAG Heuer Wellness allows users to view logs of steps taken, heart rate, and exercise time. It also visualizes progress toward pre-set goals, allowing users to take action based on their progress.

A sharp case inherited from luxury watches

　When it comes to a smartwatch made by a luxury watch brand, one thing that people are curious about is its texture. The appearance of this model is not much different from an analog watch, except that the dial is a display.

　The case is crafted from sandblasted grade 2 titanium with a black DLC coating. While the material was chosen for practicality rather than luxury, the smooth edges are comparable to the company's mechanical watches. This is what sets it apart from the curved cases found on many smartwatches. The case is 42mm in diameter, a standard size for a sports watch, so it doesn't feel overly bulky.

　It's not just the sharp case lines that emphasize this watch's wristwatch-like nature. The crown and two push buttons are located on the side of the case, giving it the design of a chronograph watch. Since most operations can be performed by touching the display, it seems undesirable to have physical controls, considering the risk of water resistance and damage. We'll discuss the effect these have on usability later. Incidentally, the crown and push buttons are made of stainless steel.

　The glass covering the dial is a box-shaped sapphire crystal. The bezel has been made as thin as possible, presumably to maximize the display area, so a flat glass would have created a flat impression. The raised outer periphery gives the watch a three-dimensional appearance.

　The strap is made of flexible rubber. In addition to blending in with the black case, a major benefit is that it can be used without worry during sports. The back is engraved with a pattern to prevent stickiness caused by sweat. The folding buckle, made of the same material as the case, can be easily fastened and detached with the push of a button. The size can be adjusted using the buckle. By unlocking the buckle and pulling the tip of the strap, it can be adjusted continuously without the need for tools.

　The strap can be removed from the case by simply pulling the lever on the back with your fingernail. However, this structure places limitations on the straps that can be attached. This model does not have spring bars; instead, it has a fixed pin. As a result, only dedicated straps or open-end straps can be used. NATO straps can be attached, but the pulse sensor will not function properly. That said, there is a wide lineup of dedicated straps, from stainless steel and leather to colorful rubber. With such a wide selection, it's unlikely you'll be tempted by anything else.

Crown and pushers for comfortable operation

　Now that we've had a look at the appearance, let's try using it. Display the watch face and swipe down to display the settings screen, or up to display notifications. Swipe right to access Google Assistant, or left to display tiles. Swiping up and down can also be performed by rotating the crown.

　The settings screen allows you to switch to airplane mode, theater mode (which turns off the screen and mutes notifications), silent mode, launch Google Pay, and ring a smartphone connected via Bluetooth. This means you can launch frequently used functions without complicated screen transitions. If this is your first time using a full-fledged smartwatch, it will likely take some time to get used to the UI. Even then, knowing that you can do the bare minimum is reassuring.

　The crown also functions as a push button, and pressing it displays a list of apps. The list can be scrolled by rotating the crown, making it easy to find the app you're looking for. This operation can also be done by swiping the display, but adjusting the scrolling speed by adjusting the amount of pressure takes some getting used to, and the display is smaller than that of a smartphone, so most of it is hidden when you place your finger on it.

　To be honest, I wondered whether it was necessary to add a crown to make the design resemble a conventional watch, but I realized that this was because I was trapped in the fixed idea that "a crown is something to turn the hands." Now that I understand that it helps to operate a smartwatch comfortably, I no longer have a negative impression of the crown on this watch.

　You can assign apps to each of the two push buttons. This means that you can complete the usual process of pressing the crown, finding the app you want from a list, and then tapping it with just one touch. The presets are TAG Heuer Sport at 2 o'clock and TAG Heuer Wellness at 4 o'clock, but it's nice to be able to customize it to suit your lifestyle.

　As an aside, the stopwatch function can be started/stopped at the 2 o'clock position and reset at the 4 o'clock position, just like an analog chronograph watch. The push buttons have a clear feel, and the accurate timing is a testament to the pride of the company, which has experience in making chronographs.

　You can change the watch face either through the smartphone app or on the smartwatch itself. You can customize the inset dials, hands, date display color, and even the apps assigned to the inset dials to suit your mood and frequently used functions. Wearing a smartwatch every day and accumulating logs can help you better manage your health. Even if you're someone who gets bored easily, regularly changing the watch face will help you keep wearing it. Best of all, just messing around with the settings is a lot of fun.

　The battery lasts a full day if you don't use the app too much. To charge, simply connect it to the dedicated cradle. It is fixed to the cradle with a magnet, and can be used as a table clock while charging. The charging time is not that long, about an hour and a half, so you can fully charge it while you're getting ready in the morning, for example.

Fitness and healthy living

　Since I'm using a TAG Heuer smartwatch, I have to try out the TAG Heuer Sports app. Incidentally, I rarely exercise. However, recently, even a short run has made me surprisingly tired, and when I meet up with friends I haven't seen in a while, they all say I've mellowed out. Both subjectively and objectively, it's clear that I can't continue like this. I'd like to get a little help from my smartwatch.

　I used it for walking and fitness. It would have been nice to be able to play golf, but unfortunately I didn't have the opportunity.

　The operation of the walking app is very simple. Time measurement starts as soon as you start, and as you continue walking, the distance walked, current speed, and heart rate are displayed. If you go out with the intention of walking, the visualization of your progress will help motivate you, and if you use it when going out to work or shopping, the act of walking will give you a sense of purpose in itself, rather than just being a chore to reach a destination.

　Fitness is a function that allows you to easily exercise indoors. One set is 7 minutes long, and guides are provided for each body part you want to focus on, such as the whole body, torso, upper body, and lower body. When you perform the exercise, your body movements are shown on the display, so all you have to do is move your body accordingly.

　The time for one set is just right, neither too long nor too short, so I used it as a way to change my mood between small tasks. The great thing about fitness is that you can start without any special preparation. Since the movements aren't particularly strenuous, there's no need to change into sportswear (though you should at least wear clothes that are easy to move in, as there's a risk of falling), and it doesn't require a particularly large space. This low hurdle motivated me, a lazy person.

　Personally, I found this app to be effective in incorporating exercise into my daily life. Because it uses a device that is always on my wrist, I can exercise whenever I feel like it, and the results are visualized, so I feel a sense of accomplishment with each exercise. Another key point is that the lightweight titanium case puts less strain on my wrist.

　That being said, I only used it for a limited review period, and it's easy to say, but whether you can stick with it for a month, six months, or even a year will ultimately depend on your own willpower.

Excellent packaging that reflects the pride of a luxury watch brand

　This watch is packed with features and is undoubtedly useful. However, that doesn't explain the price difference, which is several times higher than other smartwatches. While the original TAG Heuer watch faces and apps are appealing, if you overlook a certain point, there isn't much that can't be replaced by other alternatives.

　So what makes it stand out? Perhaps it's the texture of the exterior and the ease of use. When you wear something every day, even the smallest incongruity can become a major issue. This watch minimizes these negative aspects, and its exterior, unique to a luxury watch brand, enhances the satisfaction of owning and using it. Not only is it appealing as a tool, being light and easy to handle, but it also has the appeal of being moved by looking at it and touching it with your fingers. This is something that is rarely found in smartwatches, which are more like home appliances, and is a point that puts this watch far ahead of others.

　However, since this is a smartwatch, the hardware performance will eventually become obsolete. So, you might think that users have to accept that, but rest assured. As of September 2023, the company has a trade-in program in place. By taking advantage of this, you can exchange your watch for the latest model at a low cost.

　This watch, which combines the convenience of a smartwatch with an excellent exterior, will undoubtedly satisfy even those accustomed to luxury watches. However, if you do get one, you should handle it with care. If you put it in the same collection box as a mechanical watch, you could accidentally cause it to become magnetized. With that in mind, perhaps it's a good idea to have a watch with such a textured appearance that you'll want to keep it in a box.