Problem with luxury smart watches are them won’t last forever—A point WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu made when Tag Heuer launched Connected watches in 2020. High-end brands are asking you to shell out $1,000 for a watch with a battery. replaceable and will eventually degrade. But with the newest one Caliber E4 Watch ConnectedTag Heuer spoke up.
Like Apple (and unlike most other smartwatch competitors), Tag Heuer is introducing a battery replacement service — available at any of its retail stores. This service is available for Connected models released from 2020 and will be available for 5 years after the launch date. The replacement would be a similar swap, rather than an upgrade. Tag Heuer plans to make this service available to all future generations.
Tag Heuer CEO Frédéric Arnault said: “Durability is very important. “Yes, we have some obsolescence with these products. We don’t want to deny that. Eventually it will stop working. So we want to make sure it can keep working for as long as possible. Today, we still have the first few thousand people using Connected that we launched in 2015. And the first component that ran out of battery was the battery. That’s why it’s a good idea to extend the lifetime — to provide that ability. ”
But how long does each battery last on a daily basis? The new one Size 45 mm E4 received a 30% increase over the previous model, which equates to one day of use — including a five-hour golf session. The new 42 mm size can be achieved a day even after using a few of its wellness features.
The Caliber E4 case is available in either stainless steel or titanium as the primary material and despite the continued focus on luxury – which is important when you are competing with rival smartwatch at a much lower price— The new Tag Heuer aims to appeal to more owners of traditional wearables. The brand is hoping a new appeal will come to the sportier design of the current 45 mm model, while the 42 mm version drops the masculine aesthetic for a more gender-neutral look. This change reflects a number of Swiss watch brands that are replacing gender-specific timepieces with collections aimed at those who prefer specific models, regardless of case style or size.
“This 42mm is more elegant, less sporty, and a little more adapted for all-day use,” says Arnault. “We really wanted to do it for the previous generation, but we had a whole new team, a new vision, and we had to focus and execute the product step-by-step. This 42 mm is a very different product. The components were the same, but we had to develop everything twice. So it’s more challenging. Two years ago, we couldn’t do it at the right level of quality. Now we.”
You don’t get the seemingly never-ending range of customization offered by the Apple Watch and its band, but Tag Heuer offers plenty of variety to its Connected range. Stainless steel and leather options are available, while the luminous rubber sports strap comes in six colors for fitness buffs.
