By 2013, Lenovo, already China's top PC seller, will become the top smartphone vendor in China, according to Gartner.

Lenovo is the world's top PC manufacturer, and the company's mobile phone business has gained significant momentum in China.

Accordng to Gartner's data, the company's smartphone market share in China rose from 1.7 percent in 3Q11 to 14.8% in 3Q12, making it now the No. 2 smartphone brand, ahead of Apple (6.9 percent) and behind Samsung (16.7 percent).

Gartner says Lenovo is the only local smartphone player that can compete with global top brands in China, thanks to its household brand recognition, nationwide distribution, strong portfolio and reasonable pricing.

"The brand is positioned at the mid-to-lower end, which will drive much of its future growth, and this is where global brands are less competitive," Gartner said.

The company is also expcted to gain share from open markets where its brand and distribution are better established than local competitors.

Gartner expects these factors to help Lenovo achieve the top smartphone position in China, although its rise will not be without challenges.