TAG Connected E5 x F1 Smartwatch Review – stunning, simple, but made for F1 fans

After taking over as the Official Watch brand of F1 last year, the return of the TAG branding to Formula One broadcast coverage has been like a flashback to my youth as a long-time F1 fan. Perhaps it was those early days that embossed the TAG brand into my mind and made me a fan? Now, I’ve had a week with the latest generation TAG Connected E5 x F1 Special Edition smartwatch, and I love it.

I chose not to upgrade from my E4 connected when the E5 first came out. I guess nothing really enticed me to it as it was so new it was worthwhile. Perhaps that was all quite fortunate because when I started getting endless ads on social media for the special edition F1 TAG smartwatch, I was lusting after it.

Instead of a full metal watch and band that I prefer on most days, this is a titanium watch with a black coating that I thought wouldn’t stand out as much.

However, I’ve been a bit blown away by the number of people who’ve noticed it on my wrist and asked for a look.

In part, I also put that down to the striking and somewhat sleek integration of the band, which I think makes it seem like one integrated watch and band combination. TAG describes this strap as a “integrated bi-material” strap which “combines a carbon-patterned leather finish with red stitching” – basically, it’s a combination of rubber and leather, and I will say I was nervous because rubber watch bands have never been a favourite of mine, nor have leather. This has been exceptional to wear from day one.

Haters gonna hate, but this is not a Google Wear OS watch anymore. TAG has their own “TAG Heuer OS” now, which is actually still based on Android Open Source, but is a fair step away from Wear OS. I read some online comments about this on the E5, and boy, I now am reminded that people love to complain.

The setup of this watch (I’m using Android right now) was so fast, so easy. The app looks the same as before, allowing watch face selection and download.

On the watch itself, it’s snappy and responsive. It just took me a short while to work out where the menus were.

Basically, the button above the crown takes you to apps like stopwatch, fitness, wellness, and F1 (I’ll come to that soon), and the bottom button takes you to quick settings showing battery level and easy access to theatre mode, low power mode, and more.

Responses to messages are limited, but honestly, who is really using their smartwatch to communicate? It’s a notification screen at best, and that it does very, very well.

Apart from what I think is outstanding design, the F1 integration here is epic.

Firstly, thanks to their official partnership, this watch has genuine F1 logo branding on it. But around the bezel, you’ll notice session labels, FP1, FP2, FP3, along with Q1, Q2, Q3, and GP down to a chequered flag. I had to wait until the Chinese Grand Prix sessions commenced to understand what they did.

Turns out when a session is on, that area of the edge of the screen lights up. This only happens on the RACE TRACK watch face, and after a session is done, that area goes red.

When in always on mode you see the outline of the track for the next Grand Prix. Look at your watch and the track map becomes your second timer, with a car lapping the circuit to indicate how far into the minute you are – nice touch.

Then, on what I’ll call the App screen, you have F1 – go in there, and you end up with options for Schedule, Drivers, Teams, and Results. You can literally check the championship standings and race results within the integrated F1 app.

It’s just a really, really nice touch.

The charger for this E5 x F1 TAG is likely the same as any E5, but it is not compatible with E4 or vice versa. Gotta get another one so there’s one at home and one at work. Not because battery life is bad, just because I don’t charge on the same time every day – I probably should.

On battery life, it’s a one-day battery in normal use with plenty of notifications. Turn on Low Power mode (which I’ve done and forgotten it’s on some times), and you’ll get several days. Basically though, this is a charge while you get ready for the day or while you sleep kind of watch.

It’s not for fitness freaks; you’ll get far more from Apple, Samsung, or Garmin. But for those of us who want style, want to look at our smartphone less for what’s going on, and who love F1 – the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 x Formula One Edition is a cracker.

At ,850, it had to be. It’s almost

And no, it’s not worth comparing to an Apple or Samsung – those are better smartwatches with better value, but a TAG owner isn’t trying to compete there – I think.

For me, this is the perfect addition to my TAG collection as a lover of tech, lover of TAG, and lover of F1.

Sits nicely alongside my Mario TAG too.

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