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Tag Heuer hasn't tried to make a smartwatch that’s suitable for everyone, instead it's positioned the Connected Modular 45 at the luxury end of the market and in turn at a very small percentage of the public, as this device is going to be too expensive for most people.
It’s great that Tag is embracing Android Wear 2.0 and trying to do something different to the rest of the market with the design and customization, but the differences aren’t enough to justify the price jump.
Most of the features are acceptable, or even good, but none of what the Tag Heuer Connected 45 offers compared to other devices on the market is worth the extra money you’ll have to spend to get it.
Who’s this for?
This watch is for the kind of person who wants to wear a premium device on their wrist and isn’t afraid to pay a high price for it.
If you’re already in the market for a watch that costs a lot of money, you may not be offended by the price of the Tag Heuer smartwatch.
But for most people, who consider a smartwatch to be a luxury item that you don’t really need, you could invest that money in a top of the range iPad or laptop and still have some spare change in your pocket.
Still, if you already wanted to spend a lot on a watch, why not make it a Tag Heuer smartwatch?
Should you buy it?
Even if you are the kind of person looking for a premium, luxury watch, you should bear in mind that this device will date a lot quicker than traditional watches.
If you buy a premium traditional watch it likely won’t date in five years, but the Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45 won’t be supported in terms of software for much longer than that, and its hardware is likely to start feeling dated too.
That may not persuade you not to buy the Connected Modular 45, but it is something to bear in mind if you're considering it.
Competition
Don't think the Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45 is a watch made for you? Then why not try one of the watches below?
Apple Watch 3 Edition
We’d recommend the Apple Watch 3 if you have an iPhone, but there’s also the Apple Watch 3 Edition for those who want something with a premium design and price tag.
The Watch 3 Edition comes with all the features you’d expect on the normal Apple Watch 3, including cellular connectivity, but also has a white or grey ceramic case and a matching sport band to hold it to your wrist.
Beware the price though, it’s $1,299 (£1,299, AU$1,829) for the smaller version and even more expensive for the larger 42mm case one.
Read the Apple Watch 3 review
Mont Blanc Summit
The Mont Blanc Summit is a similar proposition to the Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45, seeing as it's an Android Wear 2.0 device from a premium watch brand.
Though it's a little cheaper, with a starting price of £765 ($890, around AU$1,290).
It has a stylish design, as you'd expect for the money, and like the Modular 45 it has a round face, but it also has many of the same drawbacks, including a user experience that's the same as far cheaper watches, and it's even lighter on features than its rival, as there's no GPS or NFC here.
Read the Mont Blanc Summit review
LG Watch Sport
If you’re after all of the features the Tag Heuer offers and a little bit more – such as a heart rate tracker – you should go for the LG Watch Sport.
This comes with Android Wear 2 onboard and also packs a top of the range Snapdragon Wear 2100 chipset, 4GB of onboard storage and works with both iPhone and Android devices.
It’s much cheaper than the Tag Heuer, but is at the top end of conventional Android Wear watch pricing, so if you're looking to save a lot of money you may still not want to go for this one.
Read the LG Watch Sport review
Samsung Gear S3
If you want something a little different to the Android Wear devices like the Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45 you should go for the Samsung Gear S3.
It runs Tizen software and comes with all the fitness features you’ll be looking for on a wearable device.
It’s not as attractive as the Tag Heuer watch though, so you may not want to go for it if you’re looking for something with premium style.
Read the Samsung Gear S3 review
First reviewed: April 2017
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