It means the Xperia Z5 Premium can both capture video in "ultra-high definition" quality and then play it back on its 5.5in (14cm) display without downgrading the footage.

All the firm's Z5 handsets also feature a new camera module - the first time the part has been completely overhauled since 2013's original Z1 handset.

Sony's mobile division loses money, but its camera components are profitable.

Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi and Huawei are among rival handset-makers to have used earlier generations of the Japanese company's photo-capture technologies.

However, Sony said the 23 megapixel sensor involved was being kept as an "exclusive" to its own devices for the time being.

The company recently forecast its handset business would rack up a 60bn yen ($500m; £326m) operating loss in its current financial year.

But it forecast its image sensor wing - which also makes parts for bigger cameras - would generate 580bn yen ($4.8bn; £3.1bn) of sales over the same period.

Sony hopes its mobile phones will become profitable again in 2016, but its chief executive told the BBC in March that there was "no guarantee" it would still be making handsets in five years time if a turnaround failed to happen.

Big battery

Sony unveiled its new Android-powered handsets at Berlin's Ifa tech show.

The company acknowledged that there was still a limited amount of professional content available in 4K - which provides about four times the number of pixels as 1080p high definition video.

But it said the Z5 Premium would upscale videos streamed from YouTube and Netflix to take advantage of the display.

One of the big concerns about high-definition screens is that they run down batteries more quickly.

Sony says its use of a "high capacity" 3,430 mAh battery and memory-on-display tech - which allows a static image to remain on show without requiring extra processing power - should mean the handset lasts for "up to two days" between charges.

But one expert still had concerns.

"I really doubt it will last two days if you watch a 4K movie on the device," said Francisco Jeronimo from the tech research company IDC.

"There's not really a need for a 4K display from a consumers point-of-view.

"But this is really about offering something outstanding that its competitors can't provide today and raising brand awareness."

Low light

Sony's new camera module benefits from the introduction of a "closed-loop actuator" stabilisation system.

This adds a position sensor to the part, which is used to detect small disturbances and then compensate for them by making the lens move up and down in its housing in a related fashion.

As a result, it should be able to film less jerky video clips.

The addition of a sixth camera element causes more light to fall on to the sensor, which should aid low-light photography.

(BBC)