Smartwatch in luxury design: TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 40 mm and 45 mm

TAG Heuer presents the fifth generation of its Connected series, the latest and most advanced Connected E5. The brand's smartwatches combine the convenience of the digital world with the mechanical spirit of TAG Heuer, the proprietary TAG Heuer OS (operating system), and the outstanding quality of Swiss watchmaking. The Calibre E5 was developed with the idea of a "digital heart, mechanical soul" in mind, with the aim of allowing the wearer to enjoy all of this in their everyday life and while playing sports.

The Connected E5 builds on the experience of previous generations, with changes that improve comfort, aesthetics, and digital integration. The E5 series has switched to a faster platform and a cleaner, smoother TAG Heuer OS, which noticeably improves navigation, pairing speed, and overall response time compared to the E4.

A good example of aesthetic changes is the revamped watch case, which has been updated in both sizes to better match the appearance of its mechanical counterparts. TAG Heuer has retained and streamlined the physical push buttons. This is important because digitizing buttons has become fashionable in many industries. This is most noticeable in the automotive industry, where it has led to significant customer dissatisfaction, including reliability issues and a poor user experience.

The lugs also boast a new look, similar to that seen in the new TAG Heuer Formula 1 chronograph collection, which you can read about in our previous article our previous article. The faceted, more mechanical-looking lugs follow the brand's new Designed to Win philosophy. The watch strap connection has also changed, with the Connected E5 allowing for quick and easy strap changes if the owner wishes to match it to their outfit.

The size range has also changed compared to its predecessor, with the striking 45 mm base size now joined by a more graceful 40 mm diameter version, which fills a gap in the market. This size follows the preference of watch enthusiasts, with men wanting smaller watches and women wanting larger ones. Based on market trends, women in particular are choosing larger diameters in the smartwatch category compared to traditional watches, as it is common for the smallest models available from companies renowned for their information technology to be 43-45 millimeters.

The different sizes use different materials, but they also differ in terms of surface treatment technologies. The 45 mm E5 is available in stainless steel with a ceramic bezel, or even with black sandblasted DLC-coated grade 2 titanium. The 40 mm models are designed with stainless steel, which is complemented by a rose gold PVD coating in the case of the model intended for women. What they have in common is the sapphire crystal watch glass, which is flat on the larger model and slightly domed on the smaller model. Overall, the smaller model is the more elegant and less sport-oriented version.

The AMOLED display offers endless possibilities for customizing the watch faces: the E5 can be equipped with a wide range of digital watch faces, including Carrera, Aquaracer, and Formula 1 collections. The larger model has a 1.39-inch (454x454 pixel) display, while the smaller one has a 1.2-inch (390x390 pixel) display. The advantage of the high-resolution AMOLED display with a uniform resolution of 326 dpi is that the color and brightness of each pixel can be controlled independently and even turned off. The most noticeable benefit of this technology is that it allows for the display of truly dark black colors and infinite contrast.

At the heart of the Calibre E5 is TAG Heuer OS, developed in-house, which offers a cleaner user experience, better readability, and faster, more intuitive navigation. The watch offers built-in voice call and voice assistant support, served by a high-quality microphone and speaker. This means that the watch can also be used to receive calls when paired with a compatible mobile phone. The watch's finely tuned vibrations are provided by a haptic motor found in premium smartphones.

The Wellness Activity app tracks your movements and provides real-time feedback. It allows you to monitor your calories and step count in real time, with daily and weekly summary statistics. The Heart Rate interface measures continuous, live heart rate data, with resting and training intensity ranges. The watch also receives software support, with sleep analytics, blood oxygen saturation measurement, and the smartwatch will also be able to track breathing rate and heart rate variability coming in the winter. TAG Heuer OS's customizable widgets (quickly accessible mini-applications) include weather, among other things. The watch pays special attention to running, with expanded measurements and convenience features.

Performance is provided by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 5100+ platform, with modern connectivity (Bluetooth 5.3, 4G Wi-Fi, MFi certification) and satellite positioning (GPS). Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors and modems, found in Apple devices among others, have gained a strong reputation in the mobile phone market, developing a cult following due to their performance and efficiency. The watch's battery life has taken a generational leap forward for everyday use: the 45 mm version lasts up to three days on a single charge, while the 40 mm version lasts up to two days. The long operating time is coupled with fast charging, with both sizes fully charging in 90 minutes, but 30 minutes of charging is sufficient for a day's use, or 40 minutes for the smaller model. MFi certification guarantees compatibility with the iPhone ecosystem. Each model is water resistant to 50 meters, providing peace of mind in everyday wet situations and shallow water. The manufacturer recommends its watches with higher water resistance for extreme sports and unusual use, and it is still advisable to avoid high-pressure water jets.

An interesting feature of TAG Heuer smartwatches is that they have a golf-focused app. It offers downloads for over 40,000 courses, complete with full course maps and automatic scoring. The watch serves as a game assistant, contributing to a carefree sporting experience for both competitive and recreational use. This feature is celebrated in the Golf Edition model, which comes with a special bezel, color palette, and a strap decorated with black and white golf ball-inspired textures and green stitching. The bezel stands out from its siblings with an unusual engraved scale from 1 to 18, which in golf represents a full round, i.e., the number of holes on a standard course.

The TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 is primarily aimed at those who appreciate Swiss design and a modern smart platform with a standalone ecosystem. We recommend it to anyone who wants to track their activity or training but is not satisfied with mass-produced products. The wide range of sizes and materials, running and golf functions, and the sleek TAG Heuer OS make it the perfect companion. 

Full technical specifications

• Platform and basic features: Qualcomm Snapdragon 5100+, TAG Heuer OS, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi‑Fi, MFi certification
• Positioning: GNSS: dual-band L1+L5 (with GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS support)​
• Display: 45 mm: 1.39-inch AMOLED, 454×454; 40 mm: 1.20-inch AMOLED, 390×390, sapphire crystal watch glass, uniform 326 dpi pixel density
• Battery life: 45 mm: up to 2 days (3 days in Low Power mode), up to 17 hours of running, 40 mm: up to 1.5 days (2 days in Low Power mode), up to 12 hours of running
• Charging: full charge ~90 minutes, 1 day's charge 45 mm: ~30 minutes, 40 mm: ~40 minutes
• Functions and sensors: heart rate measurement, calories, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, barometer, sleep quality, respiration rate, blood oxygen level measurement
• Sports and training: Sports app (running training plans, swimming, cycling, hiking), Golf (full course map auto-zoom, automatic scoring, 40k+ courses)
• Wellness app: daily/weekly activity, goals, heart rate zones, graphs and other statistics
• Communication: 2 physical buttons, crown, microphone, speaker, haptic feedback, call and voice assistant support
• Water resistance: 50 m