Sales of light-emitting diode (LED) panels for TVs also showed continuous growth.

ENGADGET: Samsung's Q3 2011 overall profit falls despite incredible phone sales

Both of the Korean companies' new TVs use a technology known by the acronym OLED, for organic light emitting diode, that up to now has only been available in much smaller sizes.

WSJ: TV Makers Seek Fatter Profits in Thinner Sets