> they provide enormous value.

My point is that they have incredible computational power that is often wasted on pretty graphics and other nonessentials. Pretty much all communication/text apps (except video) could easily run on a device spec'd far lower. The web is ridiculously bloated and full of ads and crapware. Just rendering pages of decent-looking text shouldn't take so much power. Even manipulating maps for navigation is mostly a 2d graphics scaling problem that can't possibly require that much horsepower.

But yes, my point about development does pretty much rely on having an external keyboard and mouse.

Here's a pic of the logic board of an iPhone 11: https://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/UNjifVHATsvaagZB.f...

The miniaturization of tech is absolutely astounding to me, even today. We're pretty unappreciative and wasteful, IMHO. 20 year old me would have been absolutely astounded that that much power was packed in that tiny space, and yet what it delivers is just marginally prettier and not more usable than back then.

What if you could connect an external display, keyboard, and mouse?

Of course, you need an OS that supports that and provides a proper desktop-like experience.

fwiw some people develop software for jailbroken devices on their device. They seem to manage somehow. I suspect with a Bluetooth keyboard and an external screen it would be too bad if you had no other choice.