While Android Wear provides a greater selection of designs than the Apple Watch, so far Google’s been missing out on luxury options to take on the high-end market.
That’s why some watch aficionados were excited to hear of a new player for Team Android: Tag Heuer. One of the most prominent Swiss watch makers, it’s one of the first instances of a traditional manufacturer diving deep into the smartwatch game.
Today that new device was revealed, simply called the Tag Heuer Connected. During a presentation in New York today, the company was quick to emphasize that it does not look like a traditional smartwatch.
The 46mm device is made of titanium and includes with a sapphire-protected LCD screen that measures 1.5-nches. The resolution clocks in (heh) at 360×360, or 240 ppi density.
That seems pretty low considering most new smartwatches are at least 260 ppi (and the Samsung Gear S2 and Apple Watch are both above a Retina-class 300 ppi). We’d have to see the display in person to make a fair assessment, but it’ll likely be a bit of a fuzzy affair.
The watch can be also customized with seven different rubber straps. You probably don’t expect rubber from a $1500 device, but given Tag Heuer is touting fitness features, the material make sense.
That said, there’s no heart rate monitor on board, which seems like a strange omission. It’s not like it’s helping with battery life, which is stated to last ‘all day.’ It also is splash proof, but not waterproof for diving. Don’t go expecting anything in the realm of traditional horology.
Otherwise, it appears to be standard Android Wear, compatible with all the current selection of watchfaces and apps. Interestingly, the watch uses an Intel processor as opposed to the normal fare from Qualcomm.
Of course, Tag has created some custom watchfaces too. These emulate the look of a traditional analog device, and can be customized with a white, black or blue background.
Perhaps the most unique aspect of the watch is that when it necessarily becomes obsolete – it’s still a tech product, after all – you can trade it in for a traditional mechanical watch.
If you’ve got some money to burn and aren’t perplexed by some questionable specs – it still does more than a analog watch -, the Tag Heuer Connected is available today for $1500 online and through Tag Heuer Boutiques.
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