TAG HEUER CALIBRE E4 Guide

It was something of a surprise when TAG Heuer joined the smartwatch market when it did, with the first Connected smartwatch. For a company well-known for its high-end mechanical watches, a shift of focus to tech seemed contrary to its historical leanings.

However, in 2022 it remains as committed as ever to this market, and is one of the few class brands offering ultra-premium, luxury smartwatches for those who want impeccable styling but with modern tech thrown in.

Design
45mm or 42mm stainless steel case - 15.3mm thick
Ceramic bezel and sapphire crystal lens
Rubber strap with clasp
Titanium case, leather and metal strap options available
50m waterproof
You generally know what you`re going to get when you see TAG Heuer`s name engraved on a watch: quality design and premium materials. That hasn`t changed in years, and didn`t change for the smartwatches either. The combination of build and the brand perception is what ensures the manufacturer can command a price tag well north of £1000/$1000.

Our review unit is the stainless steel model with the rubber strap, but there are other strap and case materials available including titanium casing, metal link bands and leather straps.

When we say it`s a rubber strap, that might fool you into thinking it`s just like every other smartwatch on the market in that sense, but it isn`t. Even here you see touches of clever, well-produced design.

Rather than have a simple buckle where you have to feed a prong through one of a few individual holes running up the band, there`s a folding stainless steel clasp. It`s an elegant solution, and means you can just snap it shut on your wrist, then press a couple of safety buttons on the side to release it again.

This design means it won`t ever come loose without you purposefully pressing those buttons. It`s also infinitely adjustable to virtually any wrist size because the folding clasp can slide up and down the band freely until you get the perfect fit. Once you have the right fit, you lock it in place, and you`re sorted.

The band itself is also perforated with dozens of small holes to ensure your skin can breathe at least somewhat, again ensuring a comfortable fit, even when it`s hot. If you want to detach it completely and swap straps, you can. There`s a simple, but secure, mechanism for removing it from the watch lugs. Just pull the catch, remove it, and snap the new band in place.

As for the case, that`s pretty stunning too. Our unit - as mentioned - is built from a solid chunk of stainless steel that`s been polished and brushed to accentuate the chamfers and curves. The ceramic bezel with engraved index around the display adds a touch of class - as well as durability - as does the layer of sapphire crystal glass that covers the display and ensures the front of the watch is scratch and impact resistant to high degrees.

With that, and the 50 metre waterproof rating, this watch is designed to survive anything you can throw at it (or throw it at). You can wear it in a storm, in the sea and bash it against sides and door knobs throughout the day, and it shouldn`t even notice.

Our only complaint about the design is the placement of the central button. We`ve often found crowns or buttons placed right in the middle are troublesome on smartwatch, if only because when our hand bends back (for whatever reason) the button can be accidentally triggered. In this case, it launches Google Assistant when you do so.

Apart from that, the buttons are nicely made, click solidly and the rotating crown gives an extra intuitive control for scrolling through the interface.

Display and software
1.39-inch round AMOLED display
454 x 454 resolution (326ppi)
Custom TAG Heuer watch faces w/AOD
WearOS 2