The South Korean technology giant posted stronger-than-expected first-quarter profit, as solid gains in its smartphone segment offset weak earnings at its core semiconductor business.

The South Korean company posted a record quarterly revenue, up 10% from a year earlier, while its first-quarter operating profit climbed 1.5%. First-quarter revenue marginally topped Samsung's forecast of 79 trillion won,

Samsung Electronics reported Wednesday a sharp increase in consolidated revenue for the first quarter thanks to strong sales of its new smartphones, but its semiconductor business suffered a setback.