Samsung and Apple are well-known for their smartphones and Samsung holds the first position in the Chinese smartphone industry, followed by Lenovo. Now reports suggest that Lenovo is targeting to overthrow Samsung from the leading position in the Chinese smartphone industry.

"Innovation, strong distribution channels and effective operations have been the key factors that help Lenovo smartphones stand out. Lenovo does not want to be the second player ... we want to be the best." said Yang Yuanqing, Chairman and CEO, Lenovo.

Yuanqing further added "Lenovo has the confidence to outperform Samsung and Apple, at least in the Chinese market."

Lenovo is a PC giant in the Chinese market and gives stiff competition to rivals such as Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Dell. Recently, Lenovo is also extending its reach to the smartphone market.

Lenovo was China's second-largest smartphone vendor based on smartphone shipment in Q3 2012. The company's market share grew rapidly from 4.8 percent in Q3 2011 to 14.2 percent in the same period for 2012. Samsung was the leader with 15.31 percent market share and Apple held the sixth position with 4.24 percent market share in Q3 2012.

The gap between Samsung and Lenovo in Q3 2012 is not high, and Lenovo would be hoping that the company will gain the top position in China's smartphone market in 2013.

According to reports, Lenovo introduced 46 smartphone models within all price points in the Chinese market in 2012. The introduction of such a high number of smartphone models in just one year indicates the company's target to achieve the number one smartphone maker position in China.

"Chinese vendors such as Lenovo and ZTE made it to the APEJ (Asia-Pacific excluding Japan) top five vendors on strong performance in their home market, showing it is not impossible for Chinese vendors to surpass international vendors," said Wong Teck-zhung, senior market analyst at IDC.

We will have to wait and see what 2013 brings to Lenovo's smartphone front.