China's smartphone market experienced its first slowdown in the fourth quarter of 2013, signaling the world's top smartphone market may have become saturated and that fiercer-than-expected competition is emerging.

After nine consecutive quarters of explosive growth, the smartphone market suddenly halted its upward trend, posting a 4.3 percent drop in shipments in the fourth quarter, according to research firm International Data Corp.

The 90.8 million smart- phones shipped in the fourth quarter slipped from 94.8 million units in the previous quarter. Several factors drove the stumble, IDC pointed out.