Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E4 (45mm) review: Big, daring, and good

Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E4 (45mm)

MSRP $2,050.00

“The 45mm Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E4 is solid and opulent, makes a daring statement in your wrist, and has great battery life and performance.”

Pros

  • Big and daring design
  • Selection of luxurious materials
  • Greater than two-day battery
  • Sharp screen and unique watch faces

Cons

  • No in-depth health tracking
  • Cannot take phone calls

I actually like big watches. I purchase too many G-Shocks and Seiko divers watches, and consider my Tag Heuer Formula 1’s sizable 43mm case nearly right. Nonetheless, previously, it’s the smaller of the 2 Tag Heuer Connected smartwatches that has been my advice. And having worn the Connected Calibre E4 42mm version — and pondering it was almost exactly right by way of size — I didn’t really understand who the 45mm version of the smartwatch was for.

It seems that pondering only about size is the incorrect option to approach these two smartwatches, and won’t allow you to make a choice about which one to purchase. Let me explain.

Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E4: design

The 45mm case of the Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E4 is made out of stainless-steel, and so is the folding buckle, while the bezel is ceramic. It looks and seems like a luxury product should. The finish on the stainless-steel puts the very ordinary-looking titanium on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro to shame, because it combines each a sand-blasted-like texture with highly polished sections for real visual appeal. The polished bezel glints within the sun, and the screen is ready right up against the sapphire crystal for a really watch-like look.

The Tag Heuer Connected Calbre E4 45mm seen from the front.Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Is it too big? It’s on my 6.5-inch wrist within the photos, and I don’t think it looks ridiculous, but there’s little doubt it’s an enormous smartwatch. It’s actually the burden that’s more noticeable. It’s 115 grams, so greater than twice that of an Apple Watch Series 7 with a Braided Solo Loop strap, and that makes it uncomfortable to wear overnight. Nonetheless, unlike the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro (which can also be too big and heavy to wear overnight), Tag Heuer doesn’t really push sleep tracking as a key feature.

The perforated rubber strap with Tag Heuer’s implausible folding clasp could be very comfortable, more so than the complete rubber version that was fitted to the 42mm Connected Calibre E4 that I previously wore. It’s also easy and fast to regulate at any time, making it very easy to live with. You’ll be able to get the 45mm smartwatch with a metal bracelet if the rubber version doesn’t feel upmarket enough, but I’d give this one a try before you make that call.

The Tag Heuer Connected Calbre E4 45mm worn on a mans wrist.Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

The crown is roofed in rubber to make it easier to rotate and scroll through the menus, plus the pushers have a dampened motion, so that they feel less like buttons. I just like the solidity of the Connected Calibre E4 45mm, it’s an obviously luxurious product, and I feel it looks superb, even whether it is pretty big. However it’s crucial not to consider this because the “big” Connected Calibre E4.

As a substitute, consider it because the “in your face” version, because that is where the 2 models really differ. The 42mm version gets the balance of presence and on a regular basis wearability excellent, and while I do appreciate the 45mm model will easily dominate small wrists, it’s more purposeful, more impactful, and an absolute statement piece in your wrist.

The Tag Heuer Connected Calbre E4 45mm's case back.Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

It’s a smartwatch people will notice, not simply because of the dimensions, but additionally due to big, vibrant screen that basically shows off the implausible Tag Heuer watch faces. The 45mm model attracts attention, whereas the 42mm version is a little bit more subtle. Neither are for shrinking violets, because the 42mm version is hardly tiny, but in the event you want your smartwatch to fly a little bit under the radar, then that’s the one to decide on. For those who’re the other, the 45mm Connected Calibre E4 is the one for you.

Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E4: screen and performance

Under the sapphire crystal is a 1.39-inch AMOLED screen with a 454 x 454 resolution, and it’s glorious — really vibrant and sharp. I had absolutely no problem viewing it in vibrant sunlight outside. The processor is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 4100+, and the smartwatch runs Google’s Wear OS version 2.26, but it can get an update to Wear OS 3 in some unspecified time in the future in the long run. There’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, but no choice to buy a model with a 4G LTE mobile connection, and no ability to take calls either.

The menu system on the Tag Heuer Connected Calbre E4 45mm.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Notifications on the Tag Heuer Connected Calbre E4 45mm.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Activity tracking data shown on the Tag Heuer Connected Calbre E4 45mm.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Performance has been great, just as I discovered with the 42mm version, but I’ve encountered one oddity that I don’t remember from the opposite model. It ships with the touch-to-wake option switched off, forcing you into the settings to activate what I consider an absolute essential. With it switched off, you press the crown or a button to wake the screen, but this at all times feels a little bit counterintuitive.

I’ve used the smartwatch connected to an iPhone 13 Pro after which an Android phone, which I also did with the 42mm model, and it performed in the identical way. I went into detail about what to anticipate from the smartwatch if you connect it to either iOS or Android in my review of the 42mm version, and since my experience has been an identical, I like to recommend having a read of that as well. Interestingly the vibration alerts are more noticeable on the 45mm than I remember on the 42mm, and I didn’t feel the necessity to change the default setting.

It’s an obviously luxurious product, and I feel it looks superb, even whether it is pretty big

While the smartwatch works with each these systems, it’s a tricky sell for iPhone users. The Apple Watch is the smartwatch we recommend buying if you’ve gotten an iPhone, because it fully integrates with iOS, so that you profit from more features. If you’ve gotten a Samsung phone, the Galaxy Watch 5 is a more complete product by way of features. Nonetheless, the Tag Heuer beats it on design and construct.

Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E4: activity tracking

Tag Heuer pre-installs its own activity tracking app on the Calibre E4, and recommends you add the corresponding app in your phone, too. I’d actually recommend doing this, because the Tag Heuer app is certainly one of the higher third-party activity tracking systems I’ve used on a smartwatch. Nonetheless, don’t expect it to match or exceed the fitness and health tracking capabilities of a model just like the Polar Pacer Pro or the Galaxy Watch 5. Tag Heuer’s app, features, and the watch’s design are squarely geared toward the casual exerciser.

Fitness tracking modes on the Tag Heuer Connected Calbre E4 45mm.Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

It covers the fundamentals with a heart rate sensor on the back, but there’s no blood oxygen monitoring or anything as “medical” as an electrocardiogram. The app covers essentially the most often encountered workouts — walking, running, cycling, swimming, and so forth — and there are some short animated workouts on the watch, too, but nothing in-depth. It doesn’t provide any feedback on where to enhance either. It’s for tracking, not for motivation. This approach suits in with the smartwatch’s design. It’s something I’d wear on the golf course, not within the gym.

Press the highest button on the case to open the fitness app, and also you’ll immediately see how attractively designed and easy to make use of it’s. It really works with the twist crown, and also you start and stop workout tracking using the buttons, not the screen. It’s less fiddly, and easier in the event you’re wearing gloves, too. The app installed in your phone provides more data in your workout, including a map in the event you used GPS.

Steps and heart rate shown on the Tag Heuer Connected Calbre E4 45mm.Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

There are still some discrepancies relating to that data in comparison with other tracking devices. I encountered heart rate differences with the 42mm model, and this continues here, nevertheless it’s not quite so drastic. The common heart rate recorded by the smartwatch is lower than the one recorded by each the Apple Watch Series 7 and the Oura Ring, plus it also overestimates the gap you’ve walked or run in comparison with each.

It’s not the last word in tracking accuracy, however the tools it provides are easy to make use of, well designed, and there’s plenty of data when you’ve finished tracking an activity. It’s perfectly acceptable for anyone occupied with getting a general idea of activity levels, nevertheless it’s not for serious sportspeople. The smartwatch replaced the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro on my wrist, and there’s no contest between them. The Samsung smartwatch is the far more sensible choice in the event you’re serious about fitness and health tracking.

Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E4: battery and charging

Expect the battery to last for 2 days, or perhaps a little bit longer in the event you don’t track your sleep. I achieved two-and-a-half working days with a single 45-minute GPS workout tracked and the always-on screen lively. That is a little bit longer than the typical I got with the 42mm version, and a little bit longer than we’re seeing from the Galaxy Watch 5, too. It’s also not that much shorter than the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.

The Tag Heuer Connected Calbre E4 45mm on its charging stand.Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

I just like the charging stand you get with the smartwatch, which has an illuminated Tag Heuer logo, supports the watch so you possibly can see the time, and is right to your nightstand. After about half-hour, expect the battery to achieve 60% charge, and for 100% to reach in about 70 minutes. Considering the technology and software contained in the smartwatch should not absolutely the latest available, the long battery life and fast charging are somewhat unexpected, but highly desirable advantages.

Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E4 (45mm): price and availability

The Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E4 45mm is accessible to purchase now, and the version with the rubber strap (which is available in a couple of different colours) seen in our photos costs $2,050 or 1,700 British kilos. or one with a steel bracelet costs $2,250 or 1,850 kilos. For those who want the titanium version the value goes as much as $2,500 or 2,100 kilos.

There’s also the special Connected Golf model with its titanium case, special strap, and various golfing apps for $2,650 or 2,200 kilos. Alternatively, the Connected Porsche version is available in a special color scheme and with a novel strap, plus apps that work along with your Porsche. It costs $2,750 or 2,300 kilos.

The not-so-difficult alternative between Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E4 models

Forget in regards to the size when selecting between the 42mm and 45mm Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E4 smartwatches. It’s really not that relevant, as though the 42mm is the smaller of the 2, it’s hardly tiny. As a substitute, take into consideration whether you must make an announcement or not, since the 45mm version is way more noticeable in your wrist. Outside of this, the 2 perform in almost the exact same way, aside from the battery life and charging, because the 45mm model has lasted a little bit longer and charges barely faster.

The side profile of the Tag Heuer Connected Calbre E4 45mm.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

The closed clasp on the Tag Heuer Connected Calbre E4 45mm.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Opening the folding clasp on the Tag Heuer Connected Calbre E4 45mm.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Remember, this isn’t really about tracking marathons or all-day bike rides with pinpoint accuracy. For those who want something like that, try to be the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro or Apple Watch Series 7. It’s positive to trace a couple of general activities each week. That’s what I even have done, and it really works well. I spent the remainder of the time admiring it on my wrist. I’ve got used to the dimensions and weight,  and love the best way it exudes that unique “something special” if you glance down at it, similar to a Tag Heuer watch should.

Unquestionably expensive, unnecessarily noticeable, and to some, disappointingly basic relating to tech. The Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E4 makes up for all this with its excellent construct quality, statement-making design, and absolute desirability.

Editors’ Recommendations



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