Tag Heuer last week announced its new generation smartwatch, co-developed with Google and Intel. The new Connected Modular 45 timepiece uses an Intel SoC, runs Google’s Android Wear 2.0, and is listed with 'expanded functionality'. Tag Heuer will also offer a variety of customization options for the new smartwatch and aim to address different market segments with the new product. Furthermore, the watchmaker says that the Connected Modular 45 design could easily fit a mechanical module and be converted into a regular timepiece.

Tag Heuer, Google and Intel formally introduced their first-gen connected smartwatch in late-2015. The wristwatch was the first device of the kind for Tag Heuer and for Intel, and so it was largely a test vehicle for both of them. As it turned out, the Tag Heuer Connected was considered a success by its developers and with the second generation they decided to install a more capable computing platform, a better display and introduce customizable design options. The use of Google Android Wear 2.0 should expand the overall functionality of the new smartwatch, in order to offer more features.

Tag Heuer will offer different configurations of the Connected Modular 45: 11 standard versions available in retail and additional configurations upon request. Each timepiece consists of three key elements which users can mix and match: the watch module, the lugs, and the strap. All watch modules are made of grade 5 titanium 5 with a sand-blasted satin finish (of a chosen color), but users can choose bezels of different colors made of ceramic, gold, aluminum, titanium, and even covered with diamonds. The lugs can match the bezels and thus can be made of aluminum, titanium, ceramic and so on. Finally, the manufacturer will offer a variety of straps featuring different colors (black, brown, red, green, etc.) made of calfskin, rubber, ceramic or titanium.

The central piece of the Connected Modular 45 is, of course, the watch module. The latter is based on the Intel Atom Z3400-series SoC (Merrifield, two Silvermont cores, 1 MB cache) equipped with 512 MB of LPDDR3 memory (down from 1 GB in the previous-gen model) and 4 GB of NAND flash memory. The device comes with a wireless module featuring Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS and NFC as well as a host of sensors, including an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt detection sensor and an ambient light sensor. In addition, the module has a water-resistant microphone and a vibration/haptics engine, but no speaker. The most notable upgrade of the new Tag Heuer smartwatch is the new 1.39” AMOLED display, with a 400×400 resolution and 287 PPI, which is higher than many competing wearable devices. The display is covered with a 2.5-mm sapphire glass, just like many Swiss-made watches. As for the battery, the manufacturer states that it has a capacity of 410 mAh and claims it can last for up to 25 hours.

Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45
Processor Intel Atom Z3400-series
2×Silvermont
PowerVR G6400 GPU
RAM 512 MB LPDDR3
Storage 4GB eMMC NAND flash
Display 1.39" AMOLED
400×400 resolution
287 PPI pixel density
2-point touch
Display Protection 2.5-mm Sapphire Glass
Wireless Bluetooth 4.1
Wi-Fi
NFC
GPS
Sensors accelerometer
gyroscope
tilt detection sensor
ambient light sensor
Battery 410 mAh
Battery life: 25 hours
Charging Magnetic charging cable
Water Resistance 50 meters/50 atmosphere
Color Black, titanium, aluminum, gold, diamond, etc.
Strap Rubber, leather, ceramic, titanium
Dimensions Diameter: ≦ 45 mm
Height: 13.75 mm
Inputs One button, touchscreen
Operating System Google Android Wear 2.0 with phone application by Tag Heuer
Compatibility Google Android 4.3+
Apple iOS 9+
Price Starts at €1600/$1650

All the Connected Modular 45 watch modules are 50 meters water resistant, just like mechanical watches by Tag Heuer. Now, speaking of mechanics, when someone buys the Connected Modular 45, they can easily switch the smartwatch module with a mechanical watch module that Tag Heuer offers: a moderately-priced Swiss mechanical movement module with 3 hands (calibre 5) or an expensive COSC-certified chronograph Tourbillon Heuer 02-T. Both are also water resistant.

One of the things that Tag Heuer has learnt since the launch of the original Connected smartwatch is that there is a market for premium smartwatches. As a result, the Connected Modular 45 will be available at different price points depending on their external finish. The starting price of the smartwatch is $1650/€1600/£1400, but when fully beefed up with diamonds, their price increases to around $7000. Additionally, Tag Heuer offers the so-called Deluxe Box Set that includes one Connected Modular 45 (in grade 5 titanium, with titanium lugs and brown natural leather strap) and one chronograph Heuer-02T tourbillon mechanical module for a total price of €16,650/$17,000 (ex. tax). Both electronics and mechanical modules come with a two-year warranty.

Sources: Tag Heuer, Google, Intel.

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  • RaistlinZ - Saturday, March 18, 2017 - link

    A fool and his money...
  • Ro_Ja - Saturday, March 18, 2017 - link

    Well you have no control of which things should people buy so that's invalid.
  • fanofanand - Monday, March 20, 2017 - link

    Your response to his post is invalid. His post is actually quite valid, he is suggesting that only a fool would purchase a product that is in a fledgling market and has not demonstrated any real world advantage for anything to anyone. There are a handful of corner cases where a few people might benefit from certain functions, but typically those same functions can be completed with a Fitbit for under $100. His post suggests that only a fool would pay $1500 for a smart watch that needs to be charged every night, and he's absolutely right. Unless you are an early adopted and absolutely understand the shortfalls of this product, and are ok with it, then only a fool would purchase it. Stating that only a fool would drop $1500 on a beta product has nothing to do with trying to control what others purchase.
  • Itselectric - Monday, March 27, 2017 - link

    are soon parted.
  • Peskarik - Saturday, March 18, 2017 - link

    25 hours....who buys this crap?!
  • serendip - Saturday, March 18, 2017 - link

    I miss Pebble. Seriously, no other smartwatch out there has multi-day battery life, a good developer environment and tough design. The world doesn't need crazy expensive smart Tags that barely last a day.
  • plewis00 - Saturday, March 18, 2017 - link

    Garmin Fenix 3 and similar. Expect 3-4 weeks battery and most of the decent smart features you'll want to use. Has literally barely come off my wrist in over a year and been through some brutal events.
  • YoloPascual - Saturday, March 18, 2017 - link

    Nope
  • kreacher - Sunday, March 19, 2017 - link

    Isn't Merrifield a couple of years old just like the technology in Snapdragon 2100.
    First the SoC and smartwatch manufacturers use ancient technology for smart watches (while focusing on smart phones) and then they complain about wearables market not growing.
    Samsung Gear S3 has decent hardware but unfortunately they won't use Android Wear.
  • Gadgety - Sunday, March 19, 2017 - link

    I'm glad that Android Wear attracts some upmarket brands. That said, I'd like to see the electronics being upgradeable with future electronics. That would make it far more attractive.

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