2026 is the new 2016: 10 Year Tech Throwback

We get nostalgic and travel back 10 years to see how technology has changed across a range of appliances like toasters, microwaves and fridges!

Summary

Microwaves have evolved beyond reheating: Modern models like Sharp's 2026 microwave now combine multiple cooking methods including air frying, baking, and grilling in one appliance.
AI has transformed food storage: Samsung's latest Family Hub fridges use intelligent cameras to identify food items, track expiry dates and suggest recipes to reduce waste.
Toasters now toast by colour, not guesswork: Breville's Eye Q® technology uses colour-sensing sensors that scan your bread 10 times per second for perfectly toasted results every time.

2026 is the new 2016! In case you haven’t heard, 2026 is dubbed the new 2016, going viral online as individuals, brands and even celebrities travel back in time to 10 years to 2016. Many are comparing then (2016) to now (2026).

A trend that’s hard to escape, we’re also travelling back in time to see how much 10 years makes a difference in tech! For our 10 year throwback, we compare some popular appliance models to see how far tech and product features have come to see how much you the user, benefit!

10 Year Throwback: Microwave Cooking 2016 vs 2026

Ah, the humble microwave! Once typically used for reheating and defrosting, the microwave of recent times has had an upgrade. Combining more functions like air fryer into the same body, microwaves now offer more cooking methods to meet your meal prep needs.

Check out the microwave of 2016 against a more recent model you can expect to buy in 2026:

Brand	Sharp	Sharp
Year & Model	2016 R395YS 1200W Inverter Microwave – Stainless Steel ¹	2026 R365CVAFBS 1000W 36L Pro Airfry Convection Microwave – Black Stainless
Power (W)	1200W	1000W
Capacity (L)	34L	36L
Number of functions	4: Bake Roast Reheat Defrost	5: Microwave Bake Roast Grill Pro Airfry
Auto Cook Menus	31 Auto Menus: 9 Sensor cook menus 5 Sensor reheat menus 6 Quick and easy meal menus 4 Melt/soften menus 2 Express defrost menus 5 Easy defrost menus	43 Auto Menus: Including 18 Pro-Air Fryer Auto Menus 4 Roast menus 6 Defrost menus 2 Bake menus 4 Rice/pasta menus
Turntable or flatbed	320mm Carousel turntable	345mm Carousel turntable

The main takeaway?

Sharp microwave users in 2026 can expect to do more from the one appliance. The 36L Pro Airfry Convection Microwave is proof that the handy kitchen helper has levelled up, ready to meet all cooking needs from reheating to baking, and even air frying!

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EXPLORE SHARP’S MICROWAVE

10 Year Throwback: Food Refrigeration 2016 vs 2026

Samsung’s the Family Hub Refrigerator made its debut at CES 2016. With the release of the first version of the Family Hub Refrigerator, FlexZone™ also came onto the scene, letting users for the first time, customise a section of the fridge to suit their needs (fridge to freezer and back).

Brand	Samsung	Samsung
Year & Model	2016 RF28K9580SR Family Hub Refrigerator – Black Stainless Steel (USA model) ²	2026 SRF9800BFH 809L Family Hub™ French Door Fridge – Black
Capacity (L)	790L	809L
Screen Size	21.5” full HD LCD resolution screen	21.5” full HD LCD resolution screen
Wi-Fi	Yes	Yes
Adjustable Cooling	FlexZone™ (five customisable temperature settings)	CoolSelect+ Flex Zone (5 pre-set modes including Soft Freeze, Freeze and Beverage)
Family Hub Features	Food Management: 3 built-in cameras take a picture of the inside of your fridge; order groceries online from the touchscreen. Family Connection: Share multiple calendars, photos and notes. Entertainment: Stream music, videos and mirror your tv.	Food Management: AI Vision Inside: uses an internal camera and can identify up to 33 fresh food items to help you manage your use and reduce food waste. Samsung Food: creates a list of the food, helps manage expiry dates & recommends recipes based on existing ingredients Family Connection: Share multiple calendars, photos and notes. Entertainment: Stream music, videos and mirror your tv. Voice Control: Via Alexa or Bixby.
Built-in speakers	Yes	Yes
Works with Samsung Smart Home /SmartThings app	Yes	Yes
Water & Ice	External Filtered Water and Ice Dispenser (Crushed or Cubed Ice) Ice Master Ice Maker in the Refrigerator	Internal Beverage Centre™: 1.4L autofill water jug, water dispenser and drinks storage Dual Auto Ice Maker: makes regular Cubed Ice and Ice Bites™
Energy Rating & Consumption	Rating unknown, 778 kWh/yr	3-Star, 666 kWh/yr

The key difference between 2016 and 2026 Samsung fridges? AI.

As AI occupies a larger role in everyday life, this is evident in Samsung’s newer Family Hub™ French Door Fridge, helping to intelligently and sustainably manage food for longer freshness and reduced waste. Hands-free voice control is also a significant upgrade from the 2016 model, giving users greater flexibility.

CHECK OUT SAMSUNG’S FAMILY HUB

10 Year Throwback: Toasters 2016 vs 2026

The toaster has had a make-over! Intelligent and ready to toast by colour instead of just time, Breville’s latest release, the Eye Q®, boasts colour-sensing technology for toast results that just perfect.

Brand	Breville	Breville
Year & Model	2016 BTA440BSS the ‘A Bit More’® Plus 4 Slice – Brushed Stainless Steel	2026 BTA870BTR4IAN1 the Eye Q® 870 Auto 4-Slice Toaster – Black Truffle
Power (W)	1850W	1200W
Capacity (Slice)	4-Slice (2-Slice also available)	4-Slice (2-Slice also available)
Shade Settings	6	7
Toasting Technology	‘A Bit More’ to add an extra 30 seconds toasting time to get it just right. ‘Lift and Look’ lets you lift the lever to check progress at any time to prevent burning without interrupting the toasting cycle.	Using Sensability™ Technology (colour-sensing), the Eye Q® Optic Sensors scan toast 10 times per second, automatically adjusting for frozen bread and ensuring perfect results across 7 shade settings. One-touch automatic lowering system activates the moment you place bread in the slots.
One-touch buttons	‘Fruit Bread”, “Lift & Look”, ‘A Bit More’, frozen and cancel functions	Sourdough, Crumpet, A Bit more and Timer mode

Let’s Toast to Technological Evolution!

Breville has come a long way in the space of 10 years. Since 2016, the ‘A Bit More’ function has been around, helping users perfect the shade of their toasts. However, with the introduction of Breville’s Sensability™ Technology and 7 shades setting, the toaster itself can now ensure toasting that is light or dark just how you like it.

DISCOVER BREVILLE’S EYE Q® TOASTER

How Does 2026 Compare to 2016?

From microwaves that air fry to fridges that use AI to reduce food waste, the past 10 years have transformed everyday appliances into smarter, more versatile tools. Today’s fridges, toasters and microwaves models don’t just perform their original functions better—they combine multiple capabilities, offer smarter controls, and help you cook and manage food more efficiently. The kitchen of 2026 is proof that even familiar appliances can evolve dramatically in just a decade!

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FAQs

What is the '2026 is the new 2016' trend?

2026 is the new 2016 is a viral trend where people, brands, and celebrities are traveling back in time 10 years to 2016, comparing how things were then to how they are now in 2026. Many are using it as an opportunity to reflect on how much has changed over the past decade.

How can AI benefit my food refrigeration and storage?

AI-powered fridges like Samsung's Family Hub can identify up to 33 fresh food items using internal cameras, helping you track what you have and manage expiry dates. The AI features can also recommend recipes based on your existing ingredients, reducing food waste.

Can I air fry in a microwave?

Yes, modern microwaves like Sharp's 36L Pro Airfry Convection Microwave now combine air frying capabilities with traditional microwave functions. This means you can microwave, bake, roast, grill, and air fry all from the one appliance.

How does Breville's Sensability™ Technology work?

Using colour-sensing Eye Q® Optic Sensors, the toaster scans your toast 10 times per second to monitor its progress. It automatically adjusts for frozen bread and ensures perfect results across 7 shade settings, taking the guesswork out of toasting.

Disclaimers:

¹ Sharp R395YS 1200W Inverter Microwave – Stainless Steel

Specifications from:

https://www.appliancesonline.com.au/product/sharp-microwave-r395ys/

https://www.winnings.com.au/p/sharp-stainless-steel-inverter-microwave-1200w-r395ys

² 2016 RF28K9580SR Family Hub Refrigerator – Black Stainless Steel (USA model)

Product information from:

https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-introduces-an-entirely-new-category-in-refrigeration-as-part-of-kitchen-appliance-lineup-at-2016-ces#:~:text=on%20the%20outside.-,From%20the%20Samsung%2Dexclusive%20FlexZone%E2%84%A2%20that%20transforms%20from%20fridge,and%20stunning%20Black%20Stainless%20design

https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-reinvents-the-refrigerator

https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-introduces-an-entirely-new-category-in-refrigeration-as-part-of-kitchen-appliance-lineup-at-2016-ces

https://pdf.lowes.com/dimensionsguides/887276144795_meas.pdf