iPad · Retina & Beyond · 2014
iPad mini 3
The most minor iPad update ever: it bolted Touch ID and a gold option onto the mini 2 and called it new.
iPad mini 3: key facts
When was the iPad mini 3 released?
The iPad mini 3 was released in October 22, 2014. Apple discontinued it in September 2015.
How much did the iPad mini 3 cost?
The iPad mini 3 launched at $399 in 2014 — about $540 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What are the iPad mini 3’s specs?
The iPad mini 3 used a Apple A7 running at 1.30 GHz, with 1 GB of memory and 16 GB of storage. It ran iOS 8.1.
Why does the iPad mini 3 matter?
Added Touch ID to the mini — and little else.
Full specifications
| CPU | Apple A7 · 1.30 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 2 |
| Memory (RAM) | 1 GB |
| Storage | 16 GB |
| Display | 7.9" Retina IPS, 2048×1536 |
| GPU | PowerVR G6430 |
| Ports | Lightning |
| Weight | 331 g |
| Dimensions | 200×134.7×7.5 mm |
| Operating system | iOS 8.1 |
| Released | October 22, 2014 |
| Discontinued | September 2015 |
| Launch price | $399 |
How the iPad mini 3 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 16× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 1.30 GHz, the clock is roughly 2.5× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro — and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 4,100 modern phone photos — a respectable library even today.
Launched at $399 in 2014 — about $540 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Cross-architecture speed figures are clock-only and approximate; inflation figures use US CPI.
Did you know?
Reviewers openly told buyers to get the cheaper mini 2 instead.
Related iPad models
Open the iPad mini 3 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-25