Samsung Galaxy Note 6 release date: Phablet to be phone and laptop hybrid?

Samsung Galaxy Note 5, the current device in the marketYouTube Screen Capture/Samsung Mobile

The Samsung Galaxy Note 6 is expected to release sometime next year, and while its exact specs have not yet been announced, there are rumors of it being the first device to blur the lines between smart phone and laptop. According to a report from Patently Mobile, a new patent has been submitted that showcases the device's intentions.

The patent reveals that the Samsung Galaxy Note 6 will come with a new "phablet dock" that will resemble a laptop as it comes with a screen and keyboard. Once docked, the Galaxy Note 6 will switch from its Android OS to a more traditional Windows 10 OS and will now function as a laptop device instead of a phone.

Using a dual-OS system has never been achieved before and the reports also indicate there will be even more surprises. It is suggested that the phone's RAM and processor will power the laptop, a feat that is becoming more and more likely as each year new smartphones are becoming faster and more powerful.

Even mid-range phones come built with 3 GB of RAM and a powerful processor that could rival the strength of the average laptop. Many high-end software and games, even those with demanding power requirements in terms of processing speed and graphics, can run on modern phones and the Galaxy Note 6 is touted to be one of the most powerful units in the market.

In many ways this makes the laptop case a "shell" while the phone itself will serve as the main processing unit. This makes it different from the Microsoft Laptop, which is primarily a laptop but with a detachable screen that turns it into a fully functional tablet.

If the patent pushes through and is utilized by the Galaxy Note 6 then it will be the first mobile device that can function both as a portable smart phone and as a laptop. This will allow Samsung to gain an advantage over Apple's dominance in the market.