The new Microsoft Surface Phone has been the most talked about device for over a year. This is because the company has kept quiet about their plans for the flagship device, breathing life for more rumors and speculations.

According to Forbes, Microsoft filed a patent for a phone to fold into a tablet. The patent was originally submitted in 2014 by Kabir Siddiqui on behalf of the company. And the patent was approved on January 10.

This proves that Microsoft could launch a device much different to those devices that have already saturated the market. The Surface Book laptop and Surface Pro hybrid are physical proof that the company is not afraid of designing a product from scratch.

Since the company wants a premium device, then an all-metal body complemented with a curved glass display could be expected for the new Microsoft Surface Phone. Also, based on the filed patent, the device could fold into a tablet.

As described in the patent, the Microsoft Surface Phone could appear with a flexible hinge. This means that the device could be used in various configurations. For example, the user could be watching a movie using the tablet screen and would simply pause it and fold the device in half and use it like a phone to answer a call or text.

Also, rumors have it that the device will house Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 835 system-on-chip, as reported by Express UK. This means that the new Microsoft Surface Phone could become one of the most powerful devices on the market.

Further, to support a powerful hardware and processor, the phone could pack a battery that would be similar to the one used in the S7 or iPhone 7 Plus. Both units pack a 3000mAh unit and 2900mAh battery, respectively.

The software for the device could be a bit tricky. Microsoft might use their own or opt for an Android-run device similar to what Nokia and Blackberry did.

These are mere possibilities as to the final outcome for the new Microsoft Surface Phone. The patent could simply be an insight on how the company will finally design the much-anticipated device. In terms of its release date, it is unlikely that it will come out early 2017 as the company is still all hands on deck with the Windows 10 Creators Update release. But let's hope that the unit will make its debut not later this year.

See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?