TAG Heuer entered the luxury smartwatch segment with its Connected model in 2015. The stylish Carrera-style case was equipped with an Intel processor running the Wear OS by Google operating system – TAG Heuer ensured its success by choosing the best suppliers on the market. This was followed in 2017 by the Connected Modular, which offered a large selection of easily interchangeable straps and was hopelessly sold out after two years.
Now, the third generation is coming to market, clearly demonstrating the great progress in the development of wearable technology that the world has undergone in recent years. Intel has discontinued the production of wearables and replaced it with Qualcomm in Connected. The perfectly crafted cases and flawlessly running Wear OS remain, and TAG Heuer has secured its leading position among luxury smartwatch manufacturers for the long term with this product.
Heuer and TAG Heuer watches have always excelled in two watchmaking categories: firstly, traditional luxury sporty-elegant chronographs crafted with a refined Swiss attention to detail, and secondly, highly avant-garde high-tech timepieces manufactured using cutting-edge technologies. The new Connected represents another successful combination of the two. The metal case has the shape and overall finish of a classic luxury chronograph, and when switched on, it transforms into a modern, surprisingly useful computer with very decent performance and software that can be customized to suit a variety of lifestyles.
Frédéric Arnault, TAG Heuer's chief strategist, is behind the third-generation Connected project, which was developed in strict secrecy over 18 months. He highlights the intuitive controls and excellent sports apps as the main features of "his" product: "We designed and developed the TAG Heuer Connected watch with the same passion and attention to detail that we devote to our mechanical watches. Quality of workmanship is paramount in everything we do; we never compromise on aesthetics or emotion. Connected is not just a beautiful watch, it is a truly immersive experience that is part of TAG Heuer's comprehensive digital ecosystem focused on performance and sports."
We are talking in particular about the in-house TAG Heuer Sports app, created by a team of programmers working at TAG Heuer's French branch in Paris. This handy app has everything you would expect from professional sports trackers. In addition, it has very nice graphics and guaranteed exclusivity, as it is designed exclusively for the Connected model and, unlike other commercial products, cannot be downloaded from Google Play or the App Store.
The sales method is also exclusive. TAG Heuer prides itself on perfect customer service and a personal approach, which is why Connected is not available throughout the entire network of authorized dealers, but only at selected locations. In Slovakia, this model is only available at our partner store, the TAG Heuer boutique, and if you want to buy it, you need to contact the sales manager.
Case and accessories
The polished steel case has a diameter of 45 mm and a height of 12.7 mm, making it quite substantial. However, thanks to the soft rubber strap and its flexible connection to the case, the watch adapts very comfortably to different wrist sizes. The surface structure and perforation of the strap allow the skin to breathe under the watch, making it much more comfortable to wear during sports. The design of the case is inspired by the traditional Carrera sports chronograph. The rotating crown and buttons are fully functional. They offer a faster and more convenient alternative to control via the display, which you will appreciate especially when measuring running and other dynamic sports. The touch-sensitive all-active OLED display is covered with sapphire glass and automatically switches between active and economy mode, extending battery life.
Battery life is often the most discussed topic when it comes to smartwatches. The manufacturer states a capacity of 430 mAh and a battery life of 25 hours in normal daily mode plus one hour in sports mode, or 6 hours in sports mode, which includes all sensors, location tracking, and music playback. By turning on the battery saver, you can get a few extra hours. However, this is not recommended, as you will miss out on many useful and entertaining online features and an excellent digital experience. Simply put, this watch is designed to be placed on a charger every evening, just like most mobile phones. In addition to full and carefree use, this also ensures automatic updates.
The watch comes with a magnetic charger and travel case as accessories. You can purchase a range of easily interchangeable straps. Currently available in black rubber and stainless steel, orange, red, khaki, or neon rubber, as well as brown or green leather will be added throughout the year.
The price of steel models ranges from €1,700 to €1,850. The price includes one curved strap and a charger. You can also order additional chargers and straps for €100 to €450.
Operating system
If you already have experience with other Wear OS watches, the basic system's full range of features will probably come as no surprise. If you've only used classic watches or sports bracelets without an operating system, you'll be thrilled by the wide range of options offered by Wear OS by Google.
All of its useful features are available: Google Assistant will notify you of your flight's upcoming boarding time or remind you to bring an umbrella based on the local weather forecast. Message and email notifications allow you to write a reply right away. You can read the latest news and social media posts as soon as they are published. The calendar shows upcoming meetings and tasks. Google Pay replaces your credit card, Google Translate replaces a bulky dictionary, and Google Fit replaces your personal trainer. You can conveniently play music or find your way using navigation without taking your phone out of your bag.
Voice text input is a great feature. You can use the microphone to dictate a reply to a message, find a destination on the map, or look up words in the translator. You can download many other apps, not only from Google, from Google Play.
Dials
You can set one of five analog or digital dials on the display. The analog dials are based on prestigious current TAG Heuer mechanical models: the three-hand skeleton Carrera Heuer 02 and the digitized Heuer 01 dial. In a simple studio on your watch or phone, you can play designer and create your own dial: the colors of the hands and indices and other components, or digital complications in the form of notifications, weather, diary tasks, or sports goals.
The Timekeeping digital dial looks like a classic digital watch. Its inspiration from the historic LCD display and reference to TAG Heuer's rich tradition of sports timekeeping is more than clear.
Then there is the Carbon dial, inspired by the legendary Nanograph - a tourbillon with a carbon hairspring. The hexagonal pattern on this dial is an enlargement of the nanostructure of the carbon deposit used to manufacture the Nanograph hairspring. The color of the hexagonal decoration changes from green to red throughout the day, depending on how well the watch owner is doing in meeting their daily fitness goals.
The fifth dial is called Orbital and features an animation of a neural network running in the background. This network is designed by a special algorithm to create a unique structure on each watch that is never repeated. So every owner gets a completely original image.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Like the Sports app, these dials were created by programmers at TAG Heuer's Paris branch and are designed exclusively for Connected watches.
Technical specifications
Name TAG Heuer Connected
Reference SBG8A12.BT6219, SBG8A10.BT6219, SBG8A10.BA0646
Diameter 45 mm
Height 13.5 mm
Weight steel case and rubber strap: 108 g, steel case and steel bracelet: 179 g
Water resistance 5 ATM
Battery 430 mAh, all-day
Battery life 20 hours normal mode + 1 hour sports mode / 6 hours sports mode (GPS, HRM, and music)
Charging 100% battery in 1.5 hours at 15°C - 45°C
Sensors heart rate, compass, accelerometer, gyroscope, NFC, microphone
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100
Connectivity BT SMART, WiFi
GNSS GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, QZSS
Display OLED display 1.39" 454×454 pixels (326 ppi)
Controls touch screen, crown, buttons
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Software Operating system: Wear OS by Google. Full range of Wear OS by Google features, including access to all Wear OS by Google apps on the Google Play store.
Compatibility Wear OS by Google works with Android 6.0+ (excluding Go edition) or iOS 10.0+ phones. Certain features may vary on some platforms and in some countries.
Price €1,700.00 - €1,850.00
Availability You can purchase the watch at the TAG Heuer Boutique Eurovea Bratislava or order it from our sales manager.
