As one of the only luxury watchmakers to also dabble in the smartwatch arena, TAG Heuer has one of the priciest wearables on the market, but for good reason. You not only get dial styling that can make it look just like a regular TAG Heuer timepiece, but you also get things like a ceramic bezel, a rubber racing strap, and plenty of customization options.
After a decade of Connected smartwatches, the Swiss firm has now unveiled its fifth iteration after a three-year wait.
A Decade of Digital Exploration
TAG Heuer kicked off the luxury smartwatch game back in 2015 when most traditional watchmakers were still figuring out if they even wanted to play. While brands like Montblanc and Hublot have dipped their toes in, TAG’s been the most consistent presence in this space — and the Calibre E5 shows they’re not slowing down.
The big shift here is the move away from Google’s Wear OS to TAG Heuer OS, a proprietary platform built on Android’s open-source foundation. This means full Made for iPhone certification, opening up the watch to Apple users who’ve been underserved by most Wear OS devices.
Right-Sizing the Connected
The most immediate improvement is the new 40mm case option. Previous Connected models topped out at 45mm, which can wear large on smaller wrists. The 40mm variant brings a slightly different design language too, with a domed sapphire crystal that covers the entire dial face and printed hour markers underneath — almost like a Glassbox Carrera interpretation in smartwatch form. It’s a softer aesthetic compared to the sportier 45mm models, which stick with flat sapphire and black ceramic bezels with engraved markings.
Case materials span stainless steel, black DLC-coated titanium, and rose gold PVD, with an extensive strap ecosystem that consists of rubber, leather, nylon, and steel bracelets, and now integrates more seamlessly with the case thanks to a redesigned attachment system. There are no more visual gaps between the case and the bracelet or strap.
Software Rebuild
Beyond the hardware, the software experience has been completely rebuilt. The new TAG Heuer OS streamlines the interface with cleaner legibility and faster navigation, though it does sacrifice the app ecosystem of Wear OS. Battery life sees real improvements: three days for the 45mm and two days for the 40mm, with fast charging that gets you a full day’s use in 30-40 minutes.
Wellness tracking gets an upgrade with continuous heart rate monitoring, activity tracking, and sleep analysis (arriving via update later this year). For golfers, there’s a dedicated Golf Edition with an 18-hole bezel and dimpled rubber strap, plus over 40,000 course maps worldwide. Runners get structured training plans and dual-band GNSS for accurate tracking.
Spec Sheet
Model: TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5
Case Sizes: 40mm, 45mm
Case Materials: Stainless steel, DLC-coated titanium, or rose gold PVD
Display: AMOLED 1.39″ (45mm), 1.20″ (40mm)
Operating System: TAG Heuer OS (Android-based)
Battery Life: 3 days (45mm), 2 days (40mm)
Water Resistance: 50m
Bands: Rubber, leather, and nylon straps, and steel bracelets
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, MFi-certified
Sensors: Heart rate, SpO2, accelerometer, gyroscope, dual-band GNSS
Pricing & Availability
The Connected Calibre E5 is available now from TAG Heuer’s website, with the 40mm starting at $1,600 and the 45mm from $1,700. Prices climb to $2,400 for the Golf Edition.
Recap
TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 Smartwatch
TAG Heuer just dropped its fifth-generation Connected smartwatch after a three-year wait, and the biggest news is that it ditched Google’s Wear OS for its own proprietary system that actually works with iPhones now. You’re also getting a more wearable 40mm size option alongside the usual 45mm and improved battery life.
