We take it for granted now given the proliferation of touchscreen tech in our daily lives, but when Tissot debuted the T-Touch in 1999, it was a real breakthrough. That was the same year I graduated high school, and back then, a multifunction tactile watch was the stuff of the future. Tissot’s bet paid off big; the T-Touch was a hit. As technology and consumer expectations evolved, so did the features of the T-Touch. For example, the company launched the Tissot T-Touch Connect Solar in 2020 (for more about the development of that watch, read Ariel Adam’s hands-on review). Now we have the newest iteration of that model — the Tissot T-Touch Connect Sport watch, replete with sport- and health-focused functions and a more compact case.
While 43mm is far from small, it is notably more modest than the 47mm diameter of the previous version. The 43mm Tissot T-Touch Connect Sport case is made from lightweight titanium and measures 12.8mm thick. It’s also water-resistant to 50 meters. The cases are topped with ceramic bezels, available in several colors including black, blue, silver, and brown, and the watches are paired with color-coordinated silicon straps or a matching titanium bracelet. There’s also an interchangeable quick-release system to switch out straps and Super-Luminova on the hands for nighttime visibility.
True to its “touch” name, the new T-Touch includes a tactile sapphire glass, equipped with an AMOLED screen. When the T-Touch Connect Sport is unlocked (the pusher at 2 o’clock serves to unlock the watch), wearers can choose to either touch the screen or use the side pushers to activate various functions. When the watch is connected to a smartphone, users can access the Tissot app to use features like “Workouts,” which gives data such as distance covered, speed, heart rate, and calorie consumption, in addition to “Stats” for more in-depth progress graphs and trends. What’s more, the watch can provide notifications of incoming messages, calls, reminders, and the like. As Tissot put it, the watch “doesn’t seek to replace your phone,” but it permits you to decide if grabbing your phone is necessary. The T-Touch Connect Sport uses a proprietary low-power operating system, called “SwALPS,” compatible with most iOS, Android, and Harmony devices. Tissot promises a stream of watch and app updates in the future to add even more functions down the line.
Aside from functionality, another big benefit of the Tissot T-Touch Connect Sport is that its quartz movement uses solar energy to recharge. The photovoltaic cell makes up the upper portion of the black dial, which according to Tissot, provides the energy equivalent of five button batteries annually and excels in low light. The advertised battery life is 6 months in standard connected mode, 3 months in sport connected mode, and “infinite autonomy” in watch mode.
Attractively designed and packed with health and fitness-conscious functionality, the new T-Touch Connect Sport will no doubt be appealing to many — particularly those who found the size of the Connect Solar too large. In fact, Tissot explicitly positions this as a unisex watch, confident that 43mm will suit both him and her. The price for the blue, orange, and white T-Touch Connect Sport is $995 USD while the price for the black and brown versions is $1,075 USD. They will be available in Switzerland only starting November 15, but I imagine Tissot will start rolling them out to other markets soon after. For more information about the new Tissot T-Touch Connect Sport watches, please visit the brand’s website.
