The Samsung Galaxy S4
Consumer electronics giant Samsung has predicted a stronger first quarter than expected after estimating it has made operating profits of US$7.7bn on the same period last year.
The South Korean company, which is about to release its next-generation smartphone the Galaxy S4, estimated that sales will have increased 15pc to US$46bn for the quarter.
Samsung is estimated by Counterpoint Research to have sold 25m smartphones for each month of 2013, exceeding 70m in the first quarter – up from 63m in the fourth quarter of 2012.
This compares with Apple’s iPhone shipments, which are estimated to have slid 30pc to 30m in the same quarter.
