TAG Heuer was wise to axe the 42mm Connected for a new 40mm size
Zach BlassRecently, I was in dire need of a new iPhone. To expedite getting a new device, I settled (for lack of a better phrase) on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. But despite the “Max” name and incrementally better specs, perhaps inherently insinuating better, I wish a standard 17 Pro were available. It is just a bit too big, and though the size jump up for a Max on paper seems minimal, in hand, it does make a world of difference. With this bigger-is-not-always-better mentality in mind, when we received the press kit for the latest generation of TAG Heuer’s Connected smartwatch, the Calibre E5, and I saw 40mm had replaced 42mm, I immediately thought Okay, now we’re cooking.
The Connected watch was a strategic push from watch industry legend Jean-Claude Biver to not shy away from or bemoan the new era of smartwatches, and instead capitalise on the inevitable demand by drumming up a TAG Heuer twist on the increasingly popular segment. If smartwatches were Thanos, they would all be saying, “I am inevitable.”
The industry leader of the segment, Apple, birthed its smartwatch with 38mm and 40mm sizes, but, in direct contrast to recent years of mechanical watches, Apple gradually made its devices larger rather than smaller – with the Series 11 now sold strictly in 42mm and 46mm sizes and the Ultra 3 a whopping, single 49mm size. As a result, I no longer feel like there is an Apple Watch for me. The same way a pilot’s watch is meant to be large for legibility, smartwatches understandably benefit from larger sizes, which allow for larger screens to interact with. This, perhaps, explains why the TAG Heuer Connected E4 was previously available in either a 42mm or 45mm size.
In terms of those two sizes, it is a bit of an oversimplification, but it was effectively a large or larger option. But where TAG Heuer may have honed in on a gender discrepancy in sales figures as the incentive to swap 42mm for 40mm, I would reframe it as an option that prioritises your Connected watch feeling more like the mechanical watches you own on the wrist. Of course, TAG Heuer Carreras go up to 45mm as well, but I suspect that watch collectors favour sizes as close as possible to 40mm. It is a modern sweetspot.
The TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 40mm undoubtedly better opens the door for women to engage with the line, and I suspect a somewhat significant segment of those opting for the 42mm previously were often making the best of the then-smallest option. I may be biased, but I imagine more people wish the 42mm were a 40mm than people would wish a 45mm were a 42mm… There were clearly enough for TAG Heuer to axe it to make room for a 40mm model.
Jamie put together an excellent hands-on review for the recent launch of this next generation, so I would recommend you check that out for a deeper dive into the hardware and software updates and improvements. However, what is important to call out in regard to the key differences between the 40mm and the 45mm models is that the 40mm ultimately offers just a smaller screen and two-day battery life instead of three when it comes to specs. Otherwise, the processor and OS are the same.
In terms of aesthetics, however, the 40mm size feels much more like the Glassbox generation of Carrera, with its sloped outer perimeter beneath the sapphire crystal in place of an external polished black ceramic bezel. Now, I do not know about you all, but for me, the Glassbox era of Carrera has been a major upgrade for the lineup and looks fantastic. So, to create a variant of Connected that more closely resembles this modern generation of Carrera is a very strong move.
The 45mm option will likely remain the most popular, but I firmly believe that the new 40mm size will not only speak to women more, but also to the watch enthusiast niche that wanted an excuse to hate on a historic Swiss watchmaker’s take on a smartwatch while quietly wishing it were in a tamer size. For those who have use for the Connected features, but want the device to better blend into the roster of mechanical/quartz watches in their collections, the 40mm E5 stands to be very enticing.
TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 pricing and availability
The TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 is available now. Price: From CHF 1,500/A$2,350 (40mm), from CHF 1,600/A$2,500 (45mm)
| Brand | TAG Heuer |
| Model | Connected Calibre E5 |
| Case Dimensions | 40mm or 45mm |
| Case Material | Stainless steel, rose gold PVD stainless steel (40mm), black DLC titanium (45mm, 45mm Golf Edition, 40mm New Balance) |
| Water Resistance | 50 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front |
| Dial | AMOLED tactile digital display, customisable dial options |
| Strap | Integrated rubber, leather, nylon or steel bracelet |
| Operating System | TAG Heuer OS, Qualcomm Snapdragon 5100+ chipset |
| Battery Life | Up to 3 days (45mm), up to 2 days (40mm) |
| Functions | Heart rate monitoring, calories, steps counter, compass, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, blood oxygen saturation, breathing rate, sleep tracking, heart rate variability, GNSS dual band, call function |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | From CHF 1,500/A$2,350 (40mm) From CHF 1,600/A$2,500 (45mm) |