Around six years ago, when I used the Nexus 4 smartphone, manufactured by South Korean electronics major LG in partnership with search engine and software giant Google, my experience was generally good. The phone had a stock Android operating system, no bloatware, capable hardware, and a refreshing design. Importantly, it was an inexpensive device — one of the reasons why I chose it over Samsung or HTC smartphones.
In 2016, the Nexus programme was discontinued and replaced by Google’s flagship Pixel series. The Pixel-branded smartphones boast the best of hardware and software, but with a premium price tag. So, after

)