First, there was the TAG Heuer Connected from 2015, the “next big thing” in smartwatch technology as it effectively shut the door on the Apple Watch, or any other smartwatch that dared come against it. Then, there was the TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45 from 2017, which, with top partners Google and Intel, and with access to more than 4000 apps like the perennial Facebook, Whatsapp, and Spotify, more than improved on the previous version. It is now 2018, and TAG Heuer is giving us, yet, another alternative in their bid to connectivity heaven.
The TAG Heuer Connected Modular 41 takes up the mission for connectivity while offering a more manageable alternative to its larger Modular 45 sibling, and with an elegant diameter of “just” 41mm, the TAG Heuer Connected Modular 41 is even more compatible with a wider range of wrist sizes. Naturally, the Modular 41 carries over the brand’s ingenious modular concept, which takes the 7 standard models (available in boutiques and online, of course) and makes them infinitely customizable with a staggering array of lug, strap and color options that can be easily swapped with a single swipe, depending on the size of your (ahem) wallet.
Further, the connected module can also be swapped with a Calibre 5 three-hand mechanical module. This means your smart electronic “device” can easily be transformed into a proper mechanical watch, one that benefits from the same modular options. Let’s see Optimus Prime try to top that.
Best of all, smaller doesn’t mean slower because the Modular 41 was also developed in collaboration with Intel and Google and brings the story even further along with increased memory, 1GB up from 512MB, and increased storage, 8GB up from 4GB, which makes the Modular 41 even more technically-capable than its larger sibling.
To add to overall durability, TAG Heuer also added a ceramic bezel in either black or polished finish, which surrounds a 1.2-inch AMOLED 390×390 screen with 326 ppi resolution, lower than the Modular 45, true, but the reduced size means a higher pixel density resulting in a sharply improved screen.
Unfortunately, the Modular 41 still wears a little tall with a sapphire crystal that is 2.5mm thick. Fortunately, the crystal is subtly curved, the better to see the numerous types of dials TAG Heuer has to offer with. It is water resistant to 50 meters, features GPS, and an NFC sensor for contactless payment via Android Pay.
As before, the TAG Heuer Connected Modular 41 runs on the Android Wear OS, making it compatible with Android 4.4 phones and iOS 9 or later versions. This is luxury connectivity at its best, with the most advanced luxury connected watch redesigned to appeal to a broader clientele thanks to a more manageable diameter. And haven’t we already mentioned that options and alternatives will always be a good thing?
