Photo: Jem Riggs / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons · source
iPad mini 3
Same mini, now with Touch ID and a gold finish.
Overview
Apple's October 2014 refresh left the iPad mini 3 as the least-changed iPad in years. The A7 chip, 1 GB of memory and the 2048 x 1536 display were identical to the mini 2 it replaced, and even the body measurements stayed put.
What changed was the home button, which now carried the Touch ID fingerprint sensor first seen on the iPhone 5s. That enabled unlocking with a fingertip and, through iOS 8, Apple Pay within apps. A new champagne gold finish joined the silver and space gray options.
The 32 GB tier vanished in favor of 16, 64 and 128 GB. Because it added so little, the mini 3 lasted only a year before the far stronger mini 4 replaced it.
Why it mattered
It brought Touch ID to the mini, but was widely regarded as a thin update and was quickly superseded.
At a glance
- Announced
- October 16, 2014
- Released
- October 22, 2014
- Discontinued
- September 9, 2015
- Launch price
- $399
- Chip
- Apple A7, 1.3 GHz dual-core (64-bit)
- Display
- 7.9"
- Storage
- 16GB, 64GB, 128GB
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- Touch ID fingerprint sensor in the home button
- Apple Pay support in apps
- New gold finish
- Otherwise identical to the iPad mini 2
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Display
- Size
- 7.9-inch
- Type
- Retina LED-backlit IPS multi-touch
- Resolution
- 2048 x 1536 (326 ppi)
- Refresh rate
- 60 Hz
Chip
- Chip
- Apple A7, 1.3 GHz dual-core 64-bit
- Coprocessor
- Apple M7 motion coprocessor
Memory
- RAM
- 1 GB
- Storage options
- 16GB, 64GB, 128GB
Camera
- Rear camera
- 5 MP iSight, 1080p video
- Front camera
- 1.2 MP FaceTime HD
Battery
- Battery life
- Up to 10 hours of web, video or music
- Capacity
- About 24.3 Wh
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11a/b/g/n with MIMO, dual-band
- Cellular
- Optional 4G LTE model
- Connector
- Lightning
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 4.0
Accessories
- Apple Pencil
- Not supported
- Keyboard
- Bluetooth keyboards and third-party cases
Design
- Dimensions
- 200 x 134.7 x 7.5 mm
- Weight
- 331 g (Wi-Fi), 341 g (cellular)
Security
- Authentication
- Touch ID fingerprint sensor
Software
- Launch OS
- iOS 8.1
- Latest supported OS
- iOS 12.5.x
How it compares
More in the iPad mini family
iPad mini
Apple's first small tablet, light enough to hold in one hand.
iPad mini 2
The small iPad gets its Retina screen and a 64-bit brain.
iPad mini 4
An Air 2 in miniature, with a laminated screen and 2 GB of RAM.
iPad mini (5th generation)
After four years, the mini comes back with Apple Pencil.
iPad mini (6th generation)
A complete redesign: bigger screen, USB-C and no home button.
iPad mini (A17 Pro)
The pocketable iPad gets an iPhone-class A17 Pro and Apple Intelligence.