Generally I really feel extra within the TAG Heuer Linked smartwatch product household than the folks at TAG Heuer. Whereas that assertion is made in semi-jest, it stays correct that the Swiss model’s household of smartwatch timepieces is a really totally different sort of product than its conventional watches. Accordingly, the identical trade individuals who perceive traditional watches don’t instantly perceive the fairly totally different smartwatch product class. That successfully means the smartwatch division is a separate beast. However, TAG Heuer is absolutely dedicated to its Linked product household and the eye reveals. Much more than two years after its authentic debut, the TAG Heuer Linked Calibre E4 smartwatch household (which has a big number of fashions) stays compelling and aggressive, even when the final twenty years of tech trade velocity recommend that two and even three years is a really very long time.
It is vitally seemingly that, in 2025, TAG Heuer will once more replace its spectacular smartwatch household by releasing one thing just like the Linked Calibre E5, or a model of the E4 with beefed-up specs and {hardware}. However it isn’t instantly clear what the corporate would add to a brand new technology of TAG Heuer Linked smartwatches, apart from a greater laptop inside. This product is already among the many greatest all-around Google Put on OS-based smartwatches in the marketplace, a class that, sarcastically, doesn’t have many big-name gamers. Google imagined that its smartwatch working system would behave equally to its overtly accessible Android smartphone working system. The concept was that Google would create the underlying software program and others would develop their very own {hardware} to run it. Presently, it hasn’t fairly labored out that means. The smartwatch market’s main gamers now largely use their very own working programs, together with Apple, Samsung, and Garmin. Google can also be solidly within the {hardware} market, with its fairly Pixel telephones and not-so-interesting Pixel smartwatches. From what I can inform, if you need the Put on OS smartwatch working system in a product with persona, the TAG Heuer Linked Calibre E4 is the merchandise you wish to have a look at.
How TAG Heuer has approached a smartwatch product versus a standard wristwatch is attention-grabbing. The Linked Calibre E4, for instance, has seen quite a few particular restricted editions that usually embody particular software program. Thus, TAG Heuer has prolonged the lifespan and profitability of the Linked product household by not simply introducing new {hardware} but in addition providing quite a lot of attention-grabbing partnership fashions together with extra sizes. Whereas it has a smaller battery (although across the similar one-day operating time), TAG Heuer complemented this 45mm-wide Linked Calibre E4 mannequin with a 42mm-wide mannequin that’s supposed to put on a lot smaller.
Along with releasing extra variations of the Linked Calibre E4 over the previous few years, TAG Heuer has been writing new software program for its smartwatch whereas additionally doing one thing you’ll most likely not see occur with its traditional watches: scale back the costs. That’s proper, on condition that expertise merchandise depreciate quickly after they’re commercially launched, to remain aggressive, “growing older” expertise merchandise must go down in value. Accordingly, TAG Heuer has been decreasing the retail value of those merchandise (the underlying {hardware} got here out in 2022). Let me offer you a concrete instance. In 2022, I reviewed the metal with black ceramic bezel 45mm-wide TAG Heuer Linked Calibre E4 watch that, on the time, had a retail value of $2,050 USD. The identical watch offered by TAG Heuer at the moment has a value of $1,450 USD. In a time when most different luxurious watch model costs are going up, it is extremely wholesome to see TAG Heuer — even whether it is in simply this one product class — doing extra of what the market expects of it.
The pictured model of the TAG Heuer Linked Calibre E4 is called the “Shiny Black” and was launched in 2023. With its matte black-coated grade 2 titanium case (additionally with a black ceramic bezel) this model of TAG Heuer’s 45mm huge smartwatch prices a bit of bit greater than the metal model, but it surely has additionally skilled a good-looking value discount because it was initially debuted. The unique retail value in 2023 was 2,700 Swiss Francs (practically $3,030 USD as of writing). At this time the watch has a retail value of underneath $2,000 USD, and it’s nonetheless a really good product and enjoyable to put on.
There are three issues that the TAG Heuer Linked Calibre E4 smartwatch does significantly properly which might be actually value enumerating. First, the smartwatch could be very snug. In fact, that can depend upon the dimensions, case materials, and strap you select, however total TAG Heuer succeeded in making a really ergonomic product. This 45mm huge (about 15mm thick) model is lighter because of the titanium case building and is on a strap that has a leather-based exterior and rubber lining. It has that welcome “you overlook it’s on” carrying expertise and rests comfortably on the wrist from the second you set it on. In some ways, the Linked Calibre E4 is extra snug than different TAG Heuer watches of the same dimension that value way more.
The second factor the watch does properly is just look good. It has a really designer really feel to it, which locations this expertise product extra on the earth of traditionally-themed sports activities watches versus smartwatches. The case is deliberately meant to appear to be that of a standard watch, full with the location of the crown and pusher. Nonetheless, a lot of that’s due to a number of intelligent case engineering to verify it seems thinner than it’s, given the substantial quantity of {hardware} that should reside in nearly each smartwatch case/housing. The play of polished gold-tone components with the matte black presents visible artistry and luxurious sparkle, and the number of straps and bracelets accessible can additional add persona to the watch. I proceed to say that individuals who just like the look of conventional watches however who desire a smartwatch are sometimes greatest served by carrying one thing just like the TAG Heuer Linked.
Lastly, the third factor the TAG Heuer Linked Calibre E4 smartwatch is sweet at is exhibiting off what’s on the display. Somewhat than emphasize chilly effectivity and battery life (although you possibly can scale back the ability of the display within the settings), TAG Heuer needed to emphasise the visible pop of the AMOLED show with vivid mild and complex graphics. TAG Heuer has lengthy understood that enjoyable watch faces and glorious graphics go a great distance with smartwatch customers. Most individuals who put on a product like this might reasonably smile when their dial than have a number of additional hours of battery life. Beneath the protecting sapphire crystal, the intense 1.39-inch huge AMOLED display is a pleasure to take a look at and shows a number of bespoke TAG Heuer software program.
Sadly, you possibly can’t obtain a Tremendous Mario Bros watch face for any of those TAG Heuer Linked Calibre E4 watches, however you need to use a lot of the particular watch faces that TAG Heuer developed for the assorted particular variations of the Linked Calibre E4, reminiscent of for its Porsche automobile collaboration fashions. A few of the watch faces really feel a bit redundant when it comes to design, however I worth selection over focus with regards to one thing like that. A few of the watch faces are fairly attention-grabbing, such because the orrery-style planetarium face or among the digital numeric ones. I hope TAG Heuer doesn’t cease placing effort into the software program division as a result of particular watch faces and different software program (reminiscent of for lots of the exercise monitoring options) which might be distinctive to those TAG Heuer Put on OS merchandise are very a lot a part of why you may wish to contemplate them and pay a premium value for a smartwatch merchandise. I’ll say that these are among the solely smartwatches whose analog faces I like greater than the digital ones, in order that’s saying one thing.
With 50 meters of water resistance, the Linked Calibre E4 is flexible sufficient for swimming with out being a smartwatch for extra intensive underwater actions. With that mentioned, these watches are most likely extra supposed for drier sports activities and health actions. The watch case has a built-in coronary heart price monitor, but it surely isn’t fairly as fancy as what Apple or Garmin are as much as. The exercise monitoring nonetheless covers the fundamentals and might be nonetheless appropriate for many health monitoring functions, however that is among the areas that TAG Heuer may search to improve with among the next-generation variations of its Linked smartwatch merchandise. With that mentioned, TAG Heuer’s exercise monitoring software program is pleasant to take a look at, and helps make the expertise extra enjoyable.
The latest particular version model of the TAG Heuer Linked Calibre E4 x Oracle Crimson Bull Racing watch was launched in the summertime of 2024 and might be a touch of what’s to come back subsequent. 2025 and past will see much more racing-world focus from TAG Heuer, and accordingly so may its smartwatches. I absolutely anticipate TAG Heuer to place added effort into marrying its luxurious smartwatch merchandise with the assorted racing worlds that it sponsors and participates in. It’s too early to foretell how that can unfold, however my intuition is that the fashionable racing world will encourage the next-generation route of the TAG Heuer Linked smartwatch. For many who need TAG Heuer’s premium smartwatch product now, it’s truly a superb time. Costs are honest, and plenty of equipment exist to assist make the TAG Heuer Linked extra private to you. That features proprietary straps and bracelets from TAG Heuer, however the case can also be designed to accommodate most third-party 21mm huge straps. I like to recommend the TAG Heuer Linked Calibre E4 45mm fashions in titanium as my high picks, however actually all variations are going to put on and carry out equally. Value for this reference SBR8A83.BT6302 TAG Heuer Linked Calibre E4 Shiny Black Version watch is $1,950 USD. Be taught extra on the TAG Heuer web site.
