> I'm always wondering whether or not SDL would be better

SDL supports mobile; GLFW doesn't. Maybe they're unifying codebases between the platforms.

Edit: BTW SDL3 still works even on Android 4.2. I made an app using it and ImGui, without any Java.

Your suspicion is that they're going to discontinue Bedrock and replace the iOS and Android versions with Java? Even though iOS doesn't even allow Java with JIT?

Dunno. Apple makes exceptions for big companies and might do so for something as big as Minecraft. Also, SDL3 supports far more platforms https://wiki.libsdl.org/SDL3/README-platforms Now they can release a Java edition even for PlayStation and Xbox. At least porting to SDL3 opens the door to consoles and mobiles if they want to do so.

If both sides are willing to do that, why didn't they do that the first time instead of creating Minecraft PE?

PE was created in a time where phones were VERY unimpressive when it came to compute

Also, minecraft wasn't nearly as big as it was today. It was noticeable, but it wasn't headed by microsoft. There's no way it would've gotten an exception

It's possible they could AOT compile for iOS, but I think the idea they are unifying to be unlikely.

Highly doubt it. The current mobile version (Minecraft bedrock) is the version that Microsoft wants everyone to use. Java edition only sticks around because they know it's the version most of the community wants.

And the one that Mojang actually uses for development. IIRC any new features are done in Java and ported to bedrock (presumably by a seperate team)