Samsung Electronics Co says its first-quarter net income has jumped 42 per cent over a year earlier to a record high thanks to robust smartphone sales even during a typically slow season for the electronics market.

The world’s largest smartphone maker said on Friday its net income reached 7.2 trillion won ($A6.34 billion) in the first three months of 2013, compared with 5 trillion won a year earlier.

The figure marks a 2 per cent increase from the previous quarter and a surprise. Analysts expected Samsung to report lower profit than the fourth quarter because demand typically slows.

Samsung says demand for the Galaxy S III smartphones and the Galaxy Note devices shored up profit.

Sales rose 17 per cent to 52.9 trillion won. Operating profit was up 54 per cent to 8.8 trillion won.