[stephenjudkins]

By comparison, Apple just posted $8.22 billion of net income. [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/26/technology/apple-profits-r...].

Approximately $5.1B of Samsung's profits came from their phones; this is despite Samsung being an extremely diversified company. I cannot find what proportion of Apple's profits come from sales of iPhone and iPads; they do, however, make up a majority of their revenue.

[kitsune_]

And we're only speaking of Samsung Electronics here.

The entire conglomerate is on another level and approx. double the size of Samsung Electronics.

[ari_elle]

As you stated,

"I cannot find what proportion of Apple's profits come from sales of iPhone and iPads; they do [...] make up a majority of their revenue."

it's imo very safe to assume that.

They sold an astonishing 26.9 million iPhones in Q3, 58 percent growth compared 2011. Also 14.0 million iPads (Q3), 26 percent growth.

With a 4.9 million Macs sold (only 1 percent unit increase) and a 19 percent decline with Ipods, i guess it's safe to assume that most of their revenue (especially additional revenue compared to last Q3 earnings) comes from Iphones/Ipads.

All numbers from official press release:

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2012/10/25Apple-Reports-Four...

Anyway: Good job Samsung :)

[clarky07]

they make roughly half their profit from iPhone. iPad I think may be around a quarter now.

[Steko]

Here's Horace Dediu's estimate for Q3, I doubt the most recent quarter is much different in terms of iOS share:

http://www.asymco.com/2012/08/21/the-interlopers/

Looks like 90% ish. Really astounding to see Apple and MS profits side by side like that. From ~10% of MS to nearly double over less than five years.