Samsung has confirmed it is adding the new iPhone 5 to the list of Apple products it alleges are infringing its smartphone patents.

"Samsung anticipates that it will file, in the near future, a motion to amend its infringement contentions to add the iPhone 5 as an accused product," the South Korean vendor said in a US court filing.

"Based on information currently available, Samsung expects that the iPhone 5 will infringe the asserted Samsung patents-in-suit in the same way as the other accused iPhone models," it added.

The move was largely expected and is the latest episode in the global patents war being waged worldwide between the two smartphone rivals.

The iPhone 5 clocked up 2 million pre-orders in the first 24 hours of availability and will start shipping tomorrow (Friday 22 September).

Earlier reports suggested that Samsung could target the new iPhone’s LTE functionality – an area where Samsung is thought to hold powerful patents. 

Last month, Samsung was ordered to pay Apple firm US$1.05 billion after losing the most high profile case in the saga to date. The US jury also found that Apple did not infringe any of Samsung's asserted patents – though Samsung has pledged to continue the fight.