This a full case, protects both the front and back of the iPad mini. I purchased it for my iPad mini 2 but the iPad mini 3 is the exact same size and layout so the case should work for the mini 3 as well. Like the Apple Smart Cover, the cover of the Smart Case will fold and you can use it as a stand to prop up the mini. This is a nicely designed case, and Apple discontinued it for the later mini models and instead introduced a Smart Cover which only protected the front. As I stated above, I used this case for my iPad mini 2 but it should work perfectly for the mini 3 as well. IT WON'T work with iPad mini 4 and later models.