At the beginning of 2023, TAG Heuer will release three new versions of its popular Connected Calibre E4 smartwatch. Each version is made of black DLC-coated titanium and focuses mainly on new software features, but also updates some hardware elements. With the release of the new Google Wear OS operating system on the horizon, TAG Heuer might have preferred to wait a few months to release these new smartwatches, but with CES also taking place in January (where other major smartwatches will be released), it makes sense that the Swiss brand would want to draw enough attention to its high-end smartwatch. More importantly, TAG Heuer has revealed that these new versions of the Connected E4 will be upgradeable to the latest Wear OS 3 operating system, which will be available soon.
The three new Connected E4 watches include two 42mm-wide models and one 45mm-wide model. Let’s start with the new 42mm-wide model. The two models are very similar and are priced within the $150 range. Both have a DLC-coated 42mm-wide grade 2 titanium case with a slightly domed sapphire crystal above the OLED touchscreen. They are almost identical to the 2022 TAG Heuer Connected Caliber E4 42mm-wide model, but with a black-coated titanium case. TAG Heuer also claims that the two 42mm-wide E4 watches are the lightest smartwatches the company has ever produced.
One of these two black models is the standard TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 42mm (reference SBR8081.BT6299) with standard software and a black rubber strap. The other version is the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 42mm Golf Edition. I believe this is the first time the Connected Golf Edition is offered in this size. The watch has the same black case, but a white rubber strap and a black leather strap (with golf green stitching) are included in the box. More importantly, there is new software on the Connected Golf Edition watch. According to TAG Heuer, this intelligent software can now automatically track your golf game. This means that you can track your game, including your position on the course, your score, and the clubs you are using, without having to enter any information into the watch.
TAG Heuer says the software contains information on over 40,000 golf courses and is designed to help users improve their game, understand their strengths and weaknesses, and overall make playing golf more enjoyable through a data-rich, hassle-free wearing experience. The special packaging for the Golf Edition watch also comes with TAG Heuer-branded golf balls.
The final new TAG Heuer Connected model is the 45mm wide E4 “Sports Edition,” which adds several new software and hardware features to the existing TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 collection. The Sports Edition starts with the addition of an upgraded Sports Monitoring Software Suite, which builds on TAG Heuer’s existing software (which, while beautiful, is basic compared to some of the competition) and, according to TAG Heuer, includes not only more sports activity profiles, but also expanded data tracking and monitoring for many of them.
Of particular note is the new Trail & Hike software, which finally uses the barometer built into the hardware. Apparently this has been in the hardware for some time, but TAG Heuer didn’t use it until the latest software upgrade. Thus, the hiking software should be more robust and on par with what competitors currently offer. I still think it’s a bit awkward for the watch industry to see new software as news in the same way as new hardware, but in the age of smartwatches, it’s just as important. That being said, TAG Heuer could step up their marketing materials to focus on the software experience and provide as many photos as the watch portion of the Connected E4 Golf or Sport Edition products. In my experience, the software that TAG Heuer designs (which I understand is designed in-house in Paris) is very beautiful to look at, and the company should be more proud to show it off.
The TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Sport Edition 45mm reference SBR8A80.EB0259 watch not only has new software and colors, but also some slight hardware changes and new straps. It appears that a rubber ring has been installed around the crown to improve grip during sports and when sweating. The case is still water-resistant to 50 meters, but I think TAG Heuer should eventually aim for 100 meters to be as competitive as possible. More importantly, there is a new rubber sports strap (with either red, blue or orange trim). I think this is exactly what the Connected smartwatch collection needs. Before this, all rubber straps had a bulky fold-over clasp that looks cool but is not very sporty. For the Sport Edition, TAG Heuer has developed a new rubber strap with a black-colored titanium pin buckle, along with a new architecture designed to easily stretch for comfortable wear. This is crucial to ensure that the wearability of the TAG Heuer Connected E4 hardware matches the measurement experience of the software.
TAG Heuer has announced that sales of the new Connected E4 smartwatch will begin in late January 2023. The TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 42mm Black Titanium will be priced at $2,350 USD, while the similar Connected Calibre E4 42mm Golf Edition will be priced at $2,500 USD. The TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 45mm Sport Edition will retail for $2,600 USD. For more information, please visit the TAG Heuer website here.
