New details have emerged concerning the specs of Samsung's upcoming release of its Galaxy Note 6 phablet. The new flagship is expected earlier than usual this year, and will feature IP68 waterproofing as well as a possible iris scanner on board.

The rumor mill has been leaking potential spec details and release information for Samsung's upcoming flagship phablet, the Galaxy Note 6. The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge have been a big hit with consumers this year and Samsung is looking to continue the momentum and incorporate some of the aspects of their recently released flagship smartphones into the Note 6.

One reason the Samsung Galaxy S7 and its sibling are doing better than their immediate predecessors is the return of the SD card support that was removed from the S6 and S6 edge. The Note 5 also lacked an expandable memory slot along with a removable battery, making it unappealing to many Note 4 owners who appreciated those features. While it looks like the days of swapping batteries in and out of Samsung flagships are behind us, Samsung is rumored to be considering the return of upgradeable memory in the new Note.

Another reason for the impressive sales numbers on the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge has been the IP68-certified water resistance on the devices, a feature previously reserved only for more rugged flagship S variants carrying the "Active" or "Sport" moniker and 2014's Galaxy S5.

SamMobile has confirmed that the new Samsung Galaxy Note 6 will in fact include IP68-certified water resistance as well, making it the first Samsung Galaxy Note to do so, meaning the device can withstand 30 minutes submerged in water up to one and a half meters (4.9 feet) deep.

Another rumor points to a potential iris scanner on board the Galaxy Note 6, as an order in India for an "iris cam" for a device labeled "Samsung Mobile" has leaked. The new device has also been rumored to feature a 5.8-inch display along with a whopping 6 GB of RAM. While the Note series is usually not released until August or September, various rumors have pegged it for an earlier debut this year, with the latest reports citing a release date potentially as early as June.

We'll continue to keep you up to date with all the latest news and rumors concerning the Samsung Galaxy Note 6. Are you planning to buy Samsung's latest flagship phablet upon release? Please let us know in the comments below.