In this file photo the logo of Samsung Electronics is seen on a glass door at the Samsung building in Seoul on January 8, 2019. (Photo: AFP)

Samsung Electronics, the world's biggest smartphone and memory chip maker, on Thursday reported a 26-percent rise in fourth-quarter net profits year-on-year, with pandemic-driven working from home boosting demand for devices powered by its chips.

Net profits in the October-to-December period were 6.61 trillion won ($5.97 billion), it said.