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Specs and performance
- Same Intel Atom Z34XX chipset as the Connected Modular 45
- 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage are double that of its predecessor
The Tag Heuer Connected Modular 41 has the same Intel Atom chipset as the larger Connected Modular 45, but is treated to twice as much RAM and storage, up from 512MB to 1GB, and from 4GB to 8GB respectively.
Where we found the 45 would sometimes slow down when we asked too much of it, we’ve encountered no such issues with the Connected Modular 41. Of course, Wear OS isn’t the most taxing user interface, and we suspect Tag Heuer smartwatches are less likely to be pushed to the limit by their owners than more tech-focused wearables.
You can still dive into the Google Play Store on the watch itself, install games and push the chipset if you so wish, but we question how many people play games on their smartwatch on a regular basis.
NFC means you can make contactless payments through the included Google Pay app. It’s simple enough to set up but requires you to secure the watch with a PIN or pattern. Take the watch off and it will lock, requiring you to enter the PIN or pattern.
To pay (with the Tag on your wrist and unlocked), just open the Google Pay app and hold your wrist close to the card reader. A shortcut here would be nice, like a double-press of the home button, but no such option exists.
Instead, you can press and hold the Google Pay app icon to make it a favorite, then it will appear in the middle of the display when you press the button, saving you from scrolling to find it.
GPS tracking can be used with a range of third-party fitness apps to help log your running more accurately, while a Wi-Fi connection means the watch will stay online if you stray out of Bluetooth range from your phone. Handy if you want to walk around your home or office without your phone but remain connected to the outside world.
Fitness
- Includes Google Fit, plus access to third-party apps through Play Store
- Has GPS but no heart rate monitor
- Would you take such an expensive watch to the gym?
Google Fit and Fit Workout come pre-installed, letting you track your daily steps and log a range of exercises, from running and cycling to a huge selection of sports, and even meditation.
We were impressed at how, when you tell Google Fit you are doing a ‘strength exercise’, it correctly identified bicep curls and tricep extensions, among other routines, and counted reps accurately for each set.
There are also daily challenges for press-ups, sit-ups and squats, with three difficulty options for each and diagrams explaining how to perform each exercise correctly.
Popular third-party exercise apps like Strava can be installed on the Tag Heuer, and some (like Strava) can show their data on a custom watch face. But, with the watch lacking a heart rate monitor, we get the feeling exercise wasn’t high on Tag’s priorities when designing the Connected Modular range.
The Tag Heuer 41 may look like a sports watch in the traditional sense - especially if you fit a rubber strap and pick one of the more sporty-looking faces - but we have a feeling buyers won’t be taking theirs to the gym all that often.
