The R3-series astromech droid belonged to the family of R-series astromech droids produced by Industrial Automaton. Because of their Intellex V processors, R3 astromechs possessed quicker processing capabilities when compared to the more ubiquitous R2 units. Certain members of the R3 series, for example, R3-S1, featured transparent domes, while others, like R3-S6, were equipped with opaque domes. Certain R3 units, like R3-A3, were also constructed with conical heads as opposed to domes.
The Lothal astromech droids that were manufactured by Lothal Logistics Limited were only very generally based on the R3-series design.