Microsoft launches new Lumia 950 and 950 XL smartphones: Release date, UK price, features, specs

Like most tech companies these days, Microsoft has followed suit and released two new mobile handsets: the Lumia 950 and phablet-sized 950 XL. The new flagship smartphones were leaked a lot in the run up to the launch but now we have seen them in real life and they are Windows 10 whoppers.

Following on from Apple and Google, Microsoft treated us to two new handsets: the 5.2in Lumia 905 and 5.7in Lumia 905 XL, which Microsoft is calling "phones that work like your PC". The Windows 10 running devices have some impressive specs including quad HD OLED displays, expandable memory up to 2TB (yes, stop rubbing your eyes, that reads correctly) and powerful enough processors that they require liquid cooling.

Here a quick low-down on each handset's specs:

Microsoft Lumia 950 specs

• 5.2in, WQHD, OLED display with 564 pixels-per-inch
• Snapdragon 808, 64-bit hexacore processor
• 32GB storage expandable to 2TB with microSD card slot
• 3GB RAM
• 20 megapixel Zeiss PureView rear camera, 5 megapixel front-facing camera
• 3000mAh removable battery
• The 905 XL has similar specs, however they've been super-sized a bit.

Microsoft Lumia 905 XL specs:

• 5.7in, WQHD, OLED display with 518 pixels-per-inch
• Snapdragon 810, 64-bit, octacore processor
• 32GB storage expandable to 2TB with microSD card slot
• 3GB RAM
• 20 megapixel Zeiss PureView rear camera, 5 megapixel front-facing camera
• 3340mAh removable battery

Microsoft Lumia 905 and Lumia 905 XL features

To match the meaty menu of specs Microsoft flaunted some rather interesting new features to help their flagships keep afloat with the rival smartphones.

A triple LED Natural Flash helps complement the none-too-shabby rear camera. The multiple flash is intended to deliver better colours and performance in low light. Its 20 megapixel camera also comes with optical image stabilisation and can shoot 4K video.

An Adaptive Antenna, a dual antenna system, works to give you the best connection possible at all times.

To keep its powerful octacore and hexacore processors running smoothly it features a liquid cooling that was developed for the Surface tablet. You know smartphones have made the leap into the next generation when they need the type of cooling that is usually found on PCs.

An impressive feature is the ability to plug into a Microsoft Display Dock and use it as a second PC screen. Thanks to Windows 10 Continuum, you get a fairly seamless experience across Windows 10 devices and it can resize apps from desktop on the device. Microsoft want users to be able to run their whole businesses on the devices.

There's a USB Type-C connection that's not only for super fast charging – up to 50% in 30 minutes – but also faster transfer of data, which can zip along at 5Gbps.

Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950 XL price and release date

Both handsets will be available from November priced at £450 SIM-free for the 950 and £550 SIM-free for the 950 XL. Neither are short on specs but will they be short on buyers as has been the case in the past? With Microsoft holding just under a 3% market share, could these new chargers do they bit to bump up those user numbers?