Hardware requirement for IOS compilation
I use a 13" retina MacBook Pro for writing applications (for iOS or OS X) in multiple languages with Xcode. I find that my computer is, more often than not, enough to compile an application for release from the command line.

Of course, the general rule that the more powerful your computer, the faster it will get stuff done applies, so it's a matter of how much you're willing to wait.

Depending on the size of your uncompiled application, compilation times can take anywhere from a few seconds to ten minutes.