TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 review: two weeks on the wrist with TAG’s newest smartwatch | Stuff

TAG Heuer’s Connected story began in 2015, when it became the first Swiss luxury brand to launch a smartwatch. A decade later, the new Connected Calibre E5 marks the fifth generation of that experiment, and arguably, its most confident one yet. It’s the result of ten years of refining the balance between fine watchmaking and cutting-edge tech, combining TAG’s signature design language with some Silicon Valley know-how.

I’ve reviewed every TAG Heuer Connected model since 2015, so naturally, I was excited to try the latest model.

The E5 builds on everything TAG’s learned from earlier Connected models, but it’s also a clear step forward. There are two sizes now, 45mm and 40mm, both reworked with sharper lugs, smoother pushers, and a more seamless strap system.

The biggest change, however, is that it runs on the brand’s in-house TAG Heuer OS, promising a cleaner, faster experience with new wellness tools, fitness tracking, and full MFi certification for iPhone users.

Of course, TAG Heuer is aware that this is more than just a gadget, so the E5 aims to capture the emotion of wearing a mechanical watch as well, the weight, the detail, the craftsmanship, while layering in smart features that fit into your daily life.

Have they succeeded? I’ve been wearing one for two weeks to find out…

Design & build: Does the Connected E5 feel like a real TAG Heuer watch?

TAG hasn’t reinvented the wheel when it comes to design, but it’s refined every curve and edge. The new E5 comes in two sizes, 40mm and 45mm, both with sharper lugs, smoother pushers and more seamless strap integration than before.

The 45mm models come in stainless steel, black DLC titanium, and a Golf Edition with a dimpled strap and engraved 1-18 bezel, while the 40mm models are offered in polished steel and rose-gold PVD.

The review unit I was sent was the 45mm Black DLC Titanium model. It wears great, large and thick at 45mm wide and around 15mm deep, but because it’s titanium, it’s surprisingly lightweight.

I could wear it all day with zero discomfort, helped by the soft, flexible rubber strap that hugs the wrist nicely. Would I sleep in it? No, it’s still too bulky for that. But for everything else, from typing at a desk to running, lifting weights, or even doing a bit of DIY. it was perfectly comfortable and solidly built.

The 45mm looks and feels every bit the sporty chronograph, and was more comfortable than I expected (I am used to wearing a chunky Tudor Black Bay), but the 40mm (which I’ve also tried briefly) feels more modern and wearable for smaller, 6in wrists like mine.

The pushers are easy to press and give a satisfying click, and the crown is smooth to turn. There’s a small vibration motor inside for haptic feedback, but it’s not as refined as the one in the Apple Watch or Pixel Watch 4. It feels more “digital”, less mechanical, which slightly breaks the illusion, though not enough to spoil the overall impression.

Because make no mistake, this thing looks like a proper watch. From a distance, you’d never guess it was a smartwatch. The finishing is top-notch, with chamfered and bevelled edges that catch the light beautifully, and a thick ceramic bezel that reinforces that “real watch” character, something Apple and Google, with their sci-fi designs, still can’t match.

There’s also a brilliant selection of straps. My pick was the colourful nylon one. It’s soft, breathable, and ideal for all-day wear, but for pure looks, the steel bracelet wins. Swapping between them is simple thanks to the quick-release system.

TAG’s attention to watch faces is as sharp as its design work. There’s a mix of heritage dials from the Formula 1, Aquaracer and Carrera, plus the nostalgic Skipper face, alongside new “Connected” ones that make better use of the screen. I’ll admit, the mechanical faces are charming novelties, but I found myself sticking with the data-rich Connected faces most of the time. They show heart rate, weather, steps and battery at a glance – the kind of information you actually buy a smartwatch for.

If I had one wish, it’d be for TAG to push its creativity here. The current range leans heavily on chronograph-style designs; I’d love to see more experimental, information-heavy faces, like what Google’s doing with the Pixel Watch. It’s a small thing, but one that could make a great smartwatch feel even smarter.

Screen: What size is the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 screen?

The display on the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 is pretty good, but not the best you’ll find on a smartwatch. It’s an AMOLED panel, sharp enough for most uses and bright enough to handle the October sunshine without issue.

I could easily read notifications, fitness data, or the time on a bright day.

The 45mm model (the one I tested) has a 1.39in display, with a resolution of 454×454 pixels, while the 40mm model features a 1.2in display, with a resolution of 390×390 pixels.

What this means, in practice, is that the 45mm gives you more screen real estate, which makes swiping around the OS a touch easier.

Colours are vibrant and lively, with deep blacks that give watch faces real contrast and depth. The result is a screen that makes those digital dials pop, especially the colourful Connected faces that mix bright complications with subtle gradients. It gives the illusion of depth, almost like a physical dial, which adds to the whole “real watch” effect TAG’s clearly going for.

That said, it’s not quite flawless. Even though on paper the display should be sharp, I did notice some pixelation on certain watch faces, particularly ones with fine details or lighter tones. It’s minor, but if you’re coming from something like the Apple Watch Ultra or Google Pixel Watch 4, you’ll spot it. Still, the overall quality is impressive.

TAG Heuer Connected E5 Software: What is TAG Heuer OS like to use?

For the first time, TAG Heuer has gone it alone on software. The Connected Calibre E5 drops Google’s Wear OS entirely in favour of the brand’s own TAG Heuer OS – a bold move, but one that makes sense.

Let’s face it, Google’s smartwatch strategy has been patchy at best, especially recently, with key features sometimes locked behind Pixel exclusivity. Case in point: Google recently made its Clock app (pretty essential on a smartwatch) available only on Pixel Watches, forcing other manufacturers to develop their own. TAG Heuer didn’t want that kind of uncertainty.

The biggest motivation, though, is iPhone compatibility. TAG says the majority of its Connected customers use iPhones, and Wear OS never quite played nicely with them. TAG Heuer OS changes that. The E5 is the first non-Apple smartwatch to earn “Made for iPhone” certification, promising stable pairing and proper syncing, something no other Wear OS watch can claim.

It’s a huge step, and while I couldn’t test iPhone connectivity myself (I used it with a Pixel 10 Pro), pairing with Android was fast and faultless. The companion app looks slick, too, letting you customise watch faces and dive deeper into your activity data.

TAG Heuer OS is a strong first effort. Navigation is simple: swipe up for notifications, down for widgets (weather, steps, battery etc), and hold the screen to swap watch faces.

The top pusher starts sports tracking, the lower one opens quick settings. Within minutes it feels natural, even if you’re coming from Wear OS or Apple Watch.

Everything felt fast enough, helped by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 5100+ chip.

That said, it’s still early days. The interface feels clean but a little basic – widgets and cards aren’t as polished or information-rich as Google’s latest Wear OS. Notifications are also more limited; for example, when my video doorbell rings, my Pixel Watch shows a video preview, while the TAG only displays a text alert. And there are trade-offs: no Google Play apps, no tap-to-pay, and no offline Spotify. Of those, tap-to-pay is the only one I truly missed.

The built-in apps, though, are excellent – beautifully designed, easy to read, and styled with TAG’s sporty, high-end aesthetic.

Overall, moving away from Google looks like the right long-term play. Right now, TAG Heuer OS covers the essentials well, even if it’s a little bare-bones. Give it a couple of updates, and it could become every bit as refined as the watch itself.

TAG Heuer Connected E5 health and fitness features explained

Health and fitness have always been central to TAG Heuer’s Connected line, and the Calibre E5 builds on that with its most complete wellness suite yet. It’s packed with sensors – heart rate, blood oxygen, breathing rate, barometer, accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass – all of which feed into TAG Heuer’s Wellness and Sports apps.

I found the tracking accurate and consistent with other devices I use regularly.

The E5 features dual-band GNSS (L1 + L5), which improves GPS accuracy even in built-up or wooded areas.

The standout addition is the new partnership with New Balance, which brings guided workouts directly to the watch. These are excellent, especially if you’re just starting out or need some structure to your sessions. The routines are clear, well-paced, and surprisingly motivating. I found it a genuinely useful feature, not just a gimmick, and think its a smart collaboration for TAG Heuer to tap into.

There’s a good range of sport modes too, running, trail running, cycling, swimming, hiking, and more, each displaying data clearly with large, legible fonts and strong contrast. You can see heart rate, pace, distance, and time at a glance without having to pause mid-workout.

The E5 feels chunky on the wrist, similar to a Garmin or Suunto sports watch, but the comfort is excellent thanks to its lightweight titanium case and soft strap.

The Connected E5 is rated to 50 metres of water resistance (5 ATM), so its safe for swimming (though not diving), and, if you’re a keen golfer, TAG Heuer has given the Golf tracking an overhaul, too. It now includes 3900 mapped courses (and counting) with new layout views, better GPS accuracy, and automatic swing detection and shot distance tracking. If your local course isn’t mapped, TAG will even create it on request.

One thing missing for now is stress and mindfulness tracking. It’s not a deal-breaker, but I do find those features genuinely useful on other smartwatches. Sleep tracking is also on the way, TAG says it’ll arrive later this year or early next, and it’ll bring detailed metrics like sleep phases, blood oxygen, and heart rate variability.

Overall, the fitness side of the Connected E5 is really solid.

How long does the TAG Heuer Connected E5 battery last?

Battery life on the Connected Calibre E5 is solid. TAG Heuer claims up to two days on the 45mm model (three if you switch to Low Power Mode) and around a day and a half on the smaller 40 mm version, and in my testing those numbers held up.

With mixed use, notifications, workouts, and the always-on display, I consistently got just under two full days before needing a charge. That’s right in line with TAG’s estimates.

Charging is quick and easy. The 45mm model takes about 90 minutes to fully recharge, with a rapid top-up giving you a full day’s use in roughly 30 minutes.

The 40mm takes slightly longer, around 40 minutes for a day’s use, or 90 minutes for a full charge.

The new charger deserves special mention: it’s a proper stand, not a flimsy puck, and it props the watch up neatly while it charges. It feels sturdy, matches the watch’s premium design, and makes the E5 look like its on display, rather than a gadget lying on its side. There’s no wireless charging, but the magnetic dock clicks on securely, and the alignment is foolproof.

TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 review verdict

The TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 is the brand’s most confident smartwatch yet – a proper luxury smartwatch. Available in 40mm and 45mm sizes, it refines the Connected design with sharper lines, better ergonomics, and an improved strap system. The 45mm titanium model I tested felt large but surprisingly light and comfortable, even during workouts. It looks and feels every bit a real TAG Heuer, with excellent finishing and a solid, reassuring build.

The AMOLED display is bright and colourful, if not the sharpest, and the redesigned charger feels suitably premium. The big change is software: TAG Heuer OS replaces Google’s Wear OS, giving smoother performance, cleaner navigation, and full “Made for iPhone” certification – the first non-Apple watch to earn it. There are trade-offs, though: no Play Store apps, no tap-to-pay, and slightly simpler notifications.

Health and fitness tracking is accurate, with dual-band GPS, clear metrics, and excellent New Balance guided workouts. Sleep tracking arrives later, but the basics are solid. Battery life comfortably meets the two-day claim, and the stylish dock makes charging easy.

It’s not perfect, but the Calibre E5 feels like the start of something big. If you want craftsmanship, comfort, and a genuinely premium experience without straying into Apple’s ecosystem, this is a smartwatch worth owning.

TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 technical specifications