Apple reported net income for the three months to the end of June of $3.25 billion, or $3.51 a share, up from $1.83 for the quarter last year.

Economists were looking for earnings of about $3.11 a share.

The news pushed Apple shares up 3.4% in after-hours trading, and do some way to relieve investors' issues about the iPhone 4's problems

Apple's overall revenue rose to $15.7 billion, which is way ahead of analysts forecasts of $14.75 billion.

"It was a phenomenal quarter that exceeded our expectations all around, including the most successful product launch in Apple's history with iPhone 4," said Steve Jobs, Apple's chief executive.

"iPad is off to a terrific start, more people are buying Macs than ever before, and we have amazing new products still to come this year," he said.

Apple sold 3.47 million Macs during the quarter, a new record and a one third increase over the quarter a year ago.

Iphone sales reached 8.4 million, a 61% growth over the quarter a year ago. Apple sold 9.41 million, an 8% decline from the same period.

The company began selling iPads during the quarter, totaling sales at 3.27

Apple has suffered a few weeks of bad publicity over the antenna problems with the new iPhone 4.

Yair Reiner, an analyst at Oppenheimer & Co, thinks the figures paint a different picture.

"These are astounding numbers and even more astounding guidance," he said.

"This is one of the few times in recent memory that Apple's guidance has been ahead of the street at a time when investors were getting concerned the iPhone 4 antenna issues could hamper sales.

"Apple's sending a strong signal it sees things differently," Mr Reiner said.