Samsung Electronics is set to report impressive results for the fourth quarter of 2012, driven by a continued strong performance in the South Korean giant’s smartphone business.

Although the company has not provided any details, it was widely suggested that sales of the company’s Note II “phablet” have offset slowed shipments of its Galaxy SIII, which has now been in the market for around nine months.

While the Galaxy S III had won the best-selling smartphone title from Apple’s iPhone, it is likely to have lost this again following the launch of the iPhone 5 late last year.

In addition to its strong smartphone performance, the company is also likely to have displaced Nokia as the world’s biggest handset maker in 2012.

Samsung is set to report an operating profit of around KRW8.8 trillion ($8.3 billion) for the quarter, on sales of approximately KRW56 trillion.

This compares with a Q4 operating profit of KRW4.7 trillion, on revenue of KRW47.3 trillion.

According to Reuters, the company’s run of “five straight record quarters” may end in the first quarter of calendar 2013, due to weak seasonal demand, although it also noted that its strong smartphone pipeline and improving component prices could work in its favour.

However, the next version of the flagship Galaxy S is likely to reach the market in Q2, enabling it to regain some growth momentum.