You probably wouldn't want to use an iphone for a bike computer anyway. The vibrations of being mounted to handle bars can apparently damage the cameras. Much better to just spend a small amount on an actual bike computer, these days they all connect to apps on your phone can can make use of real maps navigation and show notifications from your phone.
I’m thinking about the use case for normies who don’t picture anything when you say “bike computer”. There’d need to be solid ecosystem support - the device would need to be vibration hardened (I’m sure they could make $$$$ on that alone), there would need to be great mounting and charging options, a bike version of collision detection, bike-optimized turn-by-turn, and probably integration with bike telematics+rear collision systems, when that inevitably becomes a thing. It should probably double as a dash cam using the cool wide angle stuff they’ve shown with continuity camera.
Wouldn’t it be great if your phone could call 911 automatically when the guy rolling coal on you decides to just run you down?
See that would be an interesting feature to add. They have sensor-shift image stabilization and some sort of focusing, perhaps they could add a feature to lock all of that so it couldn’t be damaged by vibration while riding a bike.
I think it’s probably a case where they’d tell you to use the right tool for the job. The Apple Watch Ultra is their answer for fitness tracking which does everything you need for post ride analysis. It’s just missing all the live info you get from a bike computer.
But bike computers are likely always going to be nicer to use than a phone because part of what makes them good, makes them bad for normal phone usage. Their displays are quite washed out and dull but are extremely visible in direct sunlight while using minimal power.
Depends if you are delivering food or cycling for sport. The dedicated devices have extremely good battery life (around 20 hours screen on with gps), have connectivity for ANT+ accessories, have large physical buttons designed for use while cycling with gloves, have reflective displays with great visibility in the sun, etc.
Sure, you don’t _need_ them but they don’t cost very much compared to your other gear and the minor improvements stack up.