I've always felt that smartwatches try to do too much, spreading themselves thin in the process. It seems like TAG Heuer, known for its luxury timepieces, agrees. They're ditching Wear OS for a custom operating system on their new Connected Calibre E5.

While Wear OS works, it's never felt truly seamless, especially with iPhones. Let's be real, Apple's ecosystem is a walled garden, and playing nice with others isn't exactly their forte. For instance, it's always been a struggle to get notifications working flawlessly between Wear OS watches and iPhones.

TAG Heuer is tackling this head-on. Their new OS, built "entirely in-house," is designed for smooth navigation and, crucially, better iPhone compatibility. They're even going the extra mile by getting certified under Apple's "Made for iPhone" program, which, in theory, should guarantee a more reliable experience. I think it's a smart move since it shows they're serious about making their smartwatch work well, regardless of your phone choice.

Under the hood, it has a Snapdragon Wear 5100 Plus chip, and the battery life is estimated at two days. I am curious to see how the new algorithms will affect the battery and how well the "Made for iPhone" certification will work in the real world.

Of course, this level of luxury comes at a price. The 40mm version starts at $1,600, and it goes up from there. It's definitely an investment, but for those who value both high-end design and seamless functionality, it might be worth considering.