It's no secret that Microsoft's Windows 10 Mobile flagships are reaching the end of their retail lives. In the UK, the Lumia 950 has been out of stock for weeks from the Microsoft Store and Amazon, while deep discounts have been available from various retailers there on the 950 XL.

With global Windows phone market share dropping to 0.6%, and Microsoft's phone hardware revenue falling by 88% over the last two years, the company has resorted to giving away the smaller of its flagship phones with purchases of the larger model twice this year. Today, as part of its Black Friday sales in the United States, that deal has returned.

Microsoft is again offering US buyers a free Lumia 950, worth $399, when you buy the range-topping Lumia 950 XL, priced at $499. On top of that, it's also giving away a free Display Dock worth $99, although that particular freebie has been available since September.

Key specs of the Lumia 950 include:

5.2-inch AMOLED with Quad HD (2560x1440px) resolution

Hexa-core 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor

3GB RAM

32GB onboard storage (plus microSD card slot)

20MP PureView rear camera with auto focus, 6-lens optics, triple-LED flash, optical image stabilization and 4K video recording at 30fps

5MP front-facing camera with wide-angle lens and 1080p video recording

Bluetooth 4.1

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac with Wi-Fi Direct support

Qi wireless charging

3000mAh battery

USB 3.1 port with Type-C connector

145 x 73.2 x 8.2mm; 150g

...while those of the larger Lumia 950 XL are listed below:

5.7-inch AMOLED with Quad HD (2560x1440px) resolution

Octa-core 2.0GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor

3GB RAM

32GB onboard storage (plus microSD card slot)

20MP PureView rear camera with auto focus, 6-lens optics, triple-LED flash, optical image stabilization and 4K video recording at 30fps

5MP front-facing camera with wide-angle lens and 1080p video recording

Bluetooth 4.1

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac with Wi-Fi Direct support

Qi wireless charging

3340mAh battery

USB 3.1 port with Type-C connector

151.9 x 78.4 x 8.3mm; 165g

The Lumia 950 and 950 XL were originally unveiled over a year ago, but it seems that Microsoft has no immediate plans to replace them. Devices such as the HP Elite x3 ($799 with a desktop dock) and the newer Alcatel IDOL 4S ($469 with virtual reality headset) have recently launched with newer specs to fill the gap at the top of the Windows 10 Mobile range.

But those hoping for a new Windows flagship phone from Microsoft itself may face a long wait. Recent rumors have suggested that the company won't launch its much-rumored 'Surface phone' for at least another a year. It could be worth the wait, though - Microsoft's CEO said this week that the company is focused on developing "the most ultimate mobile device".

Source: Lumia 950 XL with free Lumia 950 and Display Dock (Microsoft Store)