Samsung takes pre-orders for new smartphones

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Starting Friday, you can pre-order Samsung's newest smartphones. They are said to be a radical departure from the company's older designs, but it's hard not to notice the new phones look a little familiar.

"Samsung is doing something totally radical and different with both of these phones," said CNET's Jessica Dolcourt.

Yes both the Galaxy S6 and the S6 Edge.

"The Edge is so named because the screen actually curves on both sides. This is something really different, and in my opinion, very special," said Dolcourt.

Dolcourt thinks both phones are a far cry from the rest of the Galaxy line.

Commanding an extra $100 over the S6, those curved edges are a place to stash your favorite contacts, each with their own color.

"First of all, the plastic look and feel are gone," said Dolcourt.

Made of all glass and aluminum, they're thinner than ever, but to do that, Samsung made a sacrifice.

"They took away the removable battery and the memory card," said Dolcourt.

Some long-time fans are not happy.

By now, you might have noticed something, especially about the new Galaxy S6. It bears a striking similarity to another smartphone that happens to be awfully popular.

This matte silver trim and the color of the white on this white version is strikingly, uncomfortably similar," said Dolcourt.

We're talking of course about the iPhone 6.

Nevermind the bitter court battle Apple fought with Samsung over exactly this issue. Just look at how every connector and port lines up.

And there's a fingerprint reader that works just like Apple's, including mobile payments.

"Choose the card that you want, and you just authenticate with your fingerprint," said Dolcourt.

Unlike Apple Pay, Samsung Pay will even works with old magnetic strip readers when it launches this summer.

"I personally think that Samsung has hit it out of the park with these," added Dolcourt.

It's a glowing review for the Korean tech giant that's now making itself at home in Silicon Valley.

Samsung's nearly done with a massive new campus in San Jose that is just 20 minutes from Apple.

Are we going see another patent lawsuit? If so, fortunately, they're just 20 minutes from the federal courthouse.