The iPad mini 3, announced in October 2014, is essentially a slightly improved version of its predecessor, the iPad mini 2. It shares many similar features with the previous model, including a 7.9-inch screen with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels. The main difference is the addition of Touch ID, allowing fingerprint authentication and support for Apple Pay.

The model is equipped with the Apple A7 chip and the M7 motion coprocessor, offering adequate performance for the applications and games available at the time. It is available in three storage options: 16, 64, or 128 GB, but without the possibility of expansion via an SD card. For photography, it has a 5 MP rear camera capable of recording 1080p videos and a 1.2 MP front camera for 720p video calls.

In terms of design, it retains the same design as the iPad mini 2 but adds a gold color option alongside the classic silver and space gray. Despite its improvements, the iPad mini 3 was often seen as a minor upgrade compared to the iPad mini 2, especially considering the small price gap for largely similar specifications.