Apple’s dimensional drawings offer a fascinating look at its product designs
9to5mac.com Sep 26, 2026

Apple’s dimensional drawings offer a fascinating look at its product designs

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Apple maintains a publicly accessible repository of detailed dimensional drawings for its hardware, aimed at accessory manufacturers. The collection, highlighted by longtime curator Jason Kottke, currently covers 96 products, including the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Ultra 4, Series 12, AirPods 5, MacBook Neo, Siri Remote, AirTag, and the Vision Pro’s ZEISS optical inserts. Each PDF provides exact measurements of chassis dimensions, curves, button placements, camera modules, sensors, speakers, connectors, and defined keep‑out zones that specify prohibited material locations. While the primary audience is third‑party accessory developers, the precision of these schematics also attracts hobbyists, industrial designers, and Apple enthusiasts interested in the company’s design methodology. The drawings are hosted on Apple’s developer site under the Accessories section and can be accessed via a direct link shared by Kottke.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · The open availability of Apple’s exact hardware specs empowers independent creators to innovate compatible accessories without reverse‑engineering, potentially expanding the ecosystem and diversifying product offerings.