Sony, the Japanese company that has fallen way behind its Korean and Chinese rivals in the smartphone sales race, is aiming to capitalize on its movie success with new smartphones featuring 21:9 ratio screens, the dimensions used to film blockbusters.

The company announced a new flagship Xperia One handset, which has a HDR OLED screen, optimized using its Bravia TV technology, and the ability to take photos and record 4K video in a 21:9 ratio, at the Mobile World Congress on Monday.

Sony also announced the Xperia L3, Xperia 10 and 10 Plus devices.

Xperia One

Sony's latest flagship Xperia One is bringing Sony’s professional display and cinematography technologies packed into a smartphone.

The device features a 21:9 CinemaWide 6.5” 4K HDR OLED display and delivers accurate colour reproduction that films are created in, according to Sony. The display is powered by Sony’s BRAVIA TV technologies. The X1 for mobile engine also brings HDR (High Dynamic Range) remastering technologies.

The Xperia 1 has 10 bit tonal gradation representing a myriad of colours. Inspired by Master Monitor colour reproduction from Sony’s professional technology, Sony promises that users can experience "unprecedent colour accuracy" with the company's new Creator mode to bring content to life. The display, together with originally developed image processing, supports wide colour space ITU-R BT.2020 as well as DCI-P3 with Illuminant D65.

The sound tuning on Xperia 1 is developed in collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment and Dolby Atmos.

Rounding off the entertainment experience, the 21:9 display offers users an unrestricted view of all gameplay, while Game Enhancer optimizes the performance and blocks unwanted notifications, as well as enabling users to record gameplay and find tips for their game online.

The Xperia 1 comes equipped with a triple lens camera (12MP) for any situation and light conditions: 16mm for wide landscapes, a 26mm lens and a 52mm lens telephoto shooting (35mm equiv.).

Technologies from Sony’s α interchangeable lens camera are inherited in Xperia 1 as BIONZ X for mobile. The algorithm enables Eye AF (Auto Focus) and delivers continuous burst shooting with up to 10 fps AF/AE tracking (Auto Focus and Auto Exposure) to give you precision focus and optimal exposure. The F1.6 lens and large pixel pitch 1.4μm ensure capturing of better low light images, while the Dual Photo Diode image sensor is responsible for capturing blur-free moving objects. RAW noise reduction is also available.

The Xperia 1 also takes motion picture to the next level through the collaboration with the engineers of Sony’s professional digital cinema camera division known for its CineAlta brand, famous for its Full Frame digital cinematography camera “VENICE”. Users can shoot with natural cinematic tone and further apply expression-based colour management pre-sets with Sony's new Cinema Pro feature. All of this can be shot in 4K HDR at 24 frames per second in 21:9 format. Xperia 1 also lets you grab 21:9 still image off the live view or recorded clips, even with or without the “Look” colour management pre-sets. And the hybrid stabilisation system running Optical SteadyShot with an algorithm to ensure shake-free recording.

The smartphone's metal frame encases Corning Gorilla Glass 6 on front and back, while IP65/IP68 certified water resistance guards against the elements.

The 21:9 display offers more useable screen area and can be used for running two apps simultaneously. Users can trigger a split screen swiftly and with the smart Side sense, the 21:9 multi-window launcher, or via voice command.

The device is powered by the latest flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform. This offers high-speed Gigabit LTE capability, up to 25% faster CPU and up to 40% GPU performance versus the previous generation, and Snapdragon Elite Gaming, for handling processor-intensive apps and games with ease.

The 3330 mAh battery, combined with Smart Stamina, Battery Care and Xperia Adaptive Charging, help to keep users powered throughout the day.

The Xperia 1 ships with Android 9 Pie and will be available in select markets from late Spring 2019.

Xperia L3 features a 13MP and 2MP dual camera with a 5.7” HD+ 18:9 display

The Xperia L3 is a new entry model featuring a 18:9 5.7” HD+ display. It has a glossy finish and it’s built to last with Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

The device is the first product in the L series to feature a dual camera, 13MP and 2MP, so you can capture photos with Bokeh effect.

Xperia L3’s 8MP front camera supports the Portrait selfie mode which includes a range of beauty effects, Soft skin, Skin brightness, Sharp face, as well as Bokeh effect which defocusses the background. L3 also has a display flash.

The device is powered by a 3,300mAh battery and the MediaTek Helio P22 (MT6762) chipset.

Sony’s Xperia Adaptive Charging monitors your phone as it charges, ensuring that the battery isn’t overworked and stays healthy for longer.

The L3 is also compatible with USB Power Delivery charging.

The Xperia L3 launches on Android 8.0 Oreo in select markets from February 25th in three fresh colours: Silver, Black and Gold – available in Single SIM and Dual SIM.

A new open-ear Bluetooth stereo headset, SBH82D, launches alongside Xperia L3 in Black, Grey and Blue to complement each device colour. Compact and foldable, the wireless behind-the-neck design is shaped for all-day listening. SBH82D applies the same inner structure to Xperia Ear Duo which allows users to listen to music while being able to hear the surroundings thanks to the open-ear style design. SBH82D also features voice assistant functions from Google and Apple, as well as hands-free talk.

SBH82D is available in select markets from May 2019.

Xperia 10 and 10 Plus

Sony announced Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus – bringing the 21:9 ratio experience to the super mid-range.

Xperia 10 and 10 Plus feature a sleek design with 21:9 Wide Full HD+ display. Sony’s 21:9 multi-window UI together with the 6.0” display on Xperia 10 and 6.5” on 10 Plus enable two apps to be viewed simultaneously while keeping easy-viewing size for both windows.

Either on the home screen long press the app icon that you want to split, or launch Side sense, newly available in the super mid-range, which lets you select both apps you’d like to display in 21:9 multi-window.

Both Xperia 10 and 10 Plus are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

Xperia 10 and 10 Plus’s 21:9 Movie recording, in 4K, allows you to shoot videos in the same aspect ratio used by film-makers. Multi-aspect ratio lets you choose the ideal size – for example, choose 21:9 to fill the screen or 1:1 for the perfect Instagram post.

The dual cameras on both Xperia 10 (13MP+5MP) and Xperia 10 Plus (12MP+8MP) enable you to capture images with artistic Bokeh effect. Exclusive to Xperia 10 Plus, 2X optical zoom lets you get closer to the action.

Both the main and front cameras, for Xperia 10 and 10 Plus, feature SteadyShot to capture blur-free videos, even while in motion.

Both smartphones have advanced audio technology with Sony’s High-Resolution Audio with and LDAC technology available out of the box.

What’s more, Sony’s Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE HX) automatically upscales your compressed sound files to near high-resolution sound quality.

The Xperia 10 features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 Mobile Platform and long-lasting battery life, with an included 2870mAh battery. It will be available in Navy, Black, Silver and Pink.

The Xperia 10 Plus features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Mobile Platform and a 3000mAh battery. Available in: Navy, Black, Silver and Gold.

Both Xperia 10 and 10 Plus launch on Android 9.0 Pie in select markets from 25th February, available in both Single SIM and Dual SIM.