Half a year following the release of the Macintosh IIx passed before Apple introduced the Macintosh IIcx in 1989. Despite resembling the IIx to a great extent, the IIcx was quieter (due to its quieter fan on a smaller power supply) than its predecessor. The design was also much more compact because it had only three NuBus slots. The new case, Apple's only to be designed to operate in horizontal or vertical orientation, remained in use for its successors the IIci and Quadra 700.

This model was superseded by the Macintosh IIci.