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We’ve got our hands on the new TAG Heuer Connected E5 to see how it works, and just what the benefits of owning a smart fitness watch are.

This is a slightly different review – TAG Heuer kindly lent us a new 40mm Connected E5, and given this is not your standard mechanical watch, we needed to get it out and about to test it. I love my fitness and gym, so it was the perfect watch to get on my wrist and put it through its paces while I hit the gym and went through their daily routine.

As this is a smart watch and somewhat different to the usual mechanical pieces on our wrists, I thought this was the best approach as it’s very hard to talk about the movement in a smart watch, however, the benefits of this watch is due to its functionality and practicality for people who want to keep on top of their health and fitness, those who have goals to achieve within their chosen field of sport and exercise.

With this in mind, I really wanted to document my experience with the new 40mm TAG Heuer Connected E5 and just how it fitted into my everyday life, monitoring all of my vital stats both in and out of the gym. I even took this a step further to document some of my workouts across those few days late at night in my local gym to get some in-the-moment shots – yes, just like a fitness influencer, to my dismay!

The Design

Before we get into the reviews, however, it might be worthwhile just touching on the design of the Connected E5, which we have covered in the release articles from this year for the Connected 45mm as well as the 40 mm Connected, plus the TAG Heuer x New Balance Edition.

TAG Heuer’s Connected E5 Collaborates with New Balance

The TAG Heuer Connected has been around for several years now, and this is the fifth iteration, or generation, if you will, of the luxury smartwatch. The first thing you’ll notice is that the design takes clear cues from classic TAG Heuer models, most notably the Carrera. As such, it carries the brand’s design DNA that you would typically find in traditional mechanical watches.

This year, the brand made a notable change by introducing a smaller version, as the 45 mm variant was on the larger side for many people’s wrists. With the new 40 mm Connected range, TAG Heuer accommodates a wider variety of wrist sizes and opens the collection up further to the female market, thanks to different colour strap options. These straps feature a quick-change system, along with new colour variations, including the rose gold model we reviewed.

One thing worth noting with the smaller version is that there is less screen space. While TAG Heuer does an excellent job of condensing information into the smaller display, those with larger fingers may find it slightly harder to navigate or tap accurately compared to the 45 mm model. Aside from this, the overall design is ergonomic and feels comfortable on the wrist, based on my experience.

How It Wears

For me, the TAG Heuer Connected E5 wears very well, thanks largely to its 40mm case size. It has been designed to sit snugly on the wrist, which helps the biometric sensor on the back, added to this, it carries Carrera-style DNA, and Carreras generally wear well due to their lug and case design.

I will say, though, that the rubber strap we had fitted was the small size. I had to wear it quite tight just to fit the strap through the pin buckle, and even then, it was on one last holes at the end of the strap. Thankfully, larger straps are available, so if you’re buying a Connected E5, just be mindful to ensure you get the correct strap size. As mentioned in the design section, all new Connected E5 models feature a quick-change mechanism, meaning swapping straps for comfort or style takes about five seconds – which is great.

I’m not usually someone who wears watches tight on the wrist; I like a bit of room. I’d describe this fit as snug – secure, but not overly tight, nor do I want it flopping around. With a connected watch, however, you do need to wear it slightly tighter so it can accurately track things like heart rate and energy expenditure during exercise. It took a little while to get used to, but after some wear time, I didn’t find it uncomfortable. Besides, when you’re working out, you don’t really want the watch moving around anyway.

The rose gold PVD model we had isn’t the one I’d personally choose, particularly when paired with the white strap, as it leans a little more feminine in appearance. That’s why we swapped it out for the burgundy strap, which made it feel more unisex in my eyes. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a white strap on a gold watch – this colour combination works beautifully, and there are plenty of watches I love that have this combination, but for some reason, with the overall design and aesthetic of this watch, I felt it needed a darker strap to complete the look.

If you’re working out hard, sweat can build up on the back of the watch, depending on how much you perspire. Coming into summer here in Brisbane, with warm and humid conditions, hitting the gym for a solid hour – especially iwhen you’re doing a harder HIIT style workout, does result in a fair bit of sweat. I found I needed to take the watch off once I got home and wipe down the back, otherwise you’d get buildup over time. The back of the watch is also where it connects to the charging stand, so keeping the contacts clean is important.

The User Experience

Wearing a connected watch was a new experience for me, as I’ve never owned a smartwatch before. I’ve said many times to friends, fellow watch enthusiasts, and probably in articles as well, that I’m not a big fan of smartwatches in general. Personally, I’ve never seen the point when you already have a phone in your pocket that does much the same thing. In my head, it always felt unnecessary to have two devices doing the same job.

However, the TAG Heuer Connected is less of a traditional smartwatch like an Apple Watch, and more of a luxury fitness device. It’s designed to help you achieve your fitness goals, with the added benefit of being backed by a reputable Swiss watch brand and a design language that closely resembles a luxury timepiece. For me, that’s the key selling point – it integrates into your life as a luxury fitness watch, and less so an extension of your phone.

The setup was straightforward. All I had to do was download the TAG Heuer Connected app, connect via Bluetooth, and sync the watch. From start to finish, the setup took about five minutes. Once your profile is created and you’ve entered your stats and measurements, it’s just a matter of deciding how you want to use the Connected E5 – aligning it to your fitness goals and how it fits into your day-to-day life.

One of the strengths is the range of preset workouts available directly on the watch interface. If you prefer, you can also create custom workouts through the app, tailoring them to your routine – whether that’s weight training, cardio, or a combination like HIIT or CrossFit-style workouts.

The one downside at the moment, with the current model and software, is the lack of a blood oxygen level tracker. This is set to be added via a future update, but unfortunately, it wasn’t available during my time with the watch. That said, it does track heart rate, calorie expenditure, and steps among other elements. These were the most important metrics for me, both during training and across the day. It also helps keep you accountable, encouraging you to stay active.

Using the watch itself is fairly intuitive, though like most electronic devices, it takes a little time to learn where everything sits in the menus – both on the watch and in the app. What I really enjoyed was the ability to customise the watch through the app, with changes syncing directly to the watch. This made it easier to adjust things like displays without constantly navigating menus on the watch itself.

For someone who hasn’t worn a smartwatch before, the dial customisation was a bit of a novelty. TAG Heuer offers a wide range of dial styles, including Carrera, Carrera Sport, Extreme, Aquaracer-inspired designs, and Connected-specific dials, all with various colours and layouts. You can also customise what information appears on the dial, allowing you to see things like the weather, heart rate, step count, moon phase, and more at a glance.

My kids thought this was great, they loved changing colours and designs, creating different combinations, and saving them to the watch. It became a bit of a shared experience, which was nice when you have girls and have less to connect on.

As mentioned earlier, the 40mm size is great for everyday wear, but the trade-off is a smaller screen. With less screen real estate, usability can suffer slightly depending on finger size. I don’t have particularly large hands, but I did find the 40mm a little on the small side when navigating menus. In some cases, I was even using my pinky to scroll through options.

If I were to buy a Connected E5, I’d probably opt for the 45mm version. I think it would be easier to use, especially in the gym when you want to quickly pause or stop a workout, scroll through menus, or change music on Spotify – which syncs seamlessly between your phone and the watch.

On that note, controlling music from the watch was genuinely useful. Being able to skip tracks or adjust volume without pulling out my phone was a nice convenience. I did, however, turn notifications off. My phone is usually on silent at the gym, but by default, the watch still receives messages and notifications. That’s easily adjusted in the settings, and I preferred not having constant vibrations on my wrist – even during everyday wear.

I also tested the call functionality, which worked seamlessly. Talking through your watch is a bit of a novelty, and it made me feel like a kid again, pretending to talk into a watch like something out of an 1980s sci-fi TV show. Would I use it daily? Probably not. Your phone still needs to be nearby, and I’d likely just use that instead. The novelty is fun, but it would wear off.

Battery Life

In terms of battery life, the 40mm variant doesn’t last as long as the 45mm model. With regular daily use, I found it delivered about a full day of battery life. That means charging it overnight or at some point during the day. If you’re not actively using it, you can place it on the dock, and thanks to the quick-charge function, you’ll recover most of the battery within about 30 minutes. A full charge takes roughly 90 minutes.

That said, this can be a little inconvenient if you want to wear the watch all day and also track your sleep. You’d need to find time during the day to charge it so it lasts a full 24-36 hours. Because of this, I did switch it to lower power mode to give is a little more life. I was likely using it more heavily than most people, as we only had it for a short period, and I was testing as many features as possible, so battery drain was probably higher than average.

The 45mm model would likely help here. You could wear it overnight, then charge it in the morning while getting ready for work and still have enough battery for the day. That said, constant charging is one of the reasons I’ve never gravitated towards smartwatches. I have friends with Apple Watches who don’t wear them for days simply because they’ve gone flat and weren’t charged. For me, that’s still a sticking point – it’s just another device to think about charging.

However, if you treat the TAG Heuer Connected as a wearable fitness device, which is really what it is, you probably wouldn’t wear it all day anyway. Instead, you’d put it on during the times you’re most active to track workouts and movement. That’s certainly how I’d use it.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I enjoyed wearing the TAG Heuer Connected E5. It was something different from my usual watches, and the slightly nerdy part of me loved the wearable tech – the ability to change dials, colours, layouts, and the information displayed. That novelty would probably wear off after a few weeks, but that doesn’t detract from the watch itself.

All the core functionality works well, and for what I used it for – tracking workouts, heart rate, calories, steps, and custom gym routines, it delivered exactly what I expected. The custom workouts, in particular, helped me keep track of sets, reps, and exercises, making the watch a useful tool in the gym. Ultimately, it’s a watch that helps keep you accountable to your fitness goals, and given TAG Heuer’s “Designed To Win” philosophy, that makes complete sense.

On the price side, this particular model is A$2,800, whereas the standard plain steel models are about A$500 less on the rubber strap. Comparatively, I don’t have a reference point from a user experience perspective, but hunting around, it seems that most fitness watches are at a lower price point, and there are very few other luxury watch brands that have a smart watch – the most comparable being the Tissot T-Touch Connect, which is in the range of A$2,000.

If you are just after a run-of-the-mill smart/fitness watch, then yes, there are cheaper alternatives out there, like some of the lower-end or fashion/smart watch cross-overs – like the Garmin Venu 4 at just uinder A$1,000. However, if you want a smart/fitness watch that looks like a mechanical watch and feels like a mechanical watch, also with that touch of luxury and the backing of a brand like TAG Heuer, then the new Connected E5 could be right up your alley!

Reference: SBT8011.BT0036

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 40mm x 14mm thick
• Case Material: Fine brushed rose gold coloured PVD steel
• Display: AMOLED tactile display 1.20”, 390×390 (326 dpi)
• Operating System: TAG Heuer OS, Android-based, compatible with iOS
• Functions: Display customisation, heart rate monitoring, calorie/step counters, compass, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, blood oxygen saturation, breathing rate, heart rate variability, & dual band GPS (Sleep tracking features coming soon)
• Battery Life: 1.5 days with full performance / 2 days in “Low Power Mode”
• Charging Time: 100% in 90 minutes at temperatures between 15° and 45°C. 1 day’s power with 40-minute quick charge
• Water Resistance: 50m (5bar)
• Straps: Black perforated interchangeable rubber strap or steel bracelet/ Beige interchangeable rubber strap on the rose gold coloured PVD

Australian Retail Price: A$2,800

Availability: Available via TAG Heuer boutiques, online at TAGHeuer.com and all authorised retailers