When Apple deployed support for HEVC in 2017, all devices that supported iOS/tvOS 11 or macOS High Sierra gained the ability to play HEVC video (some via hardware, some via software). Something very similar will happen when Apple deploys AV1 support.
Apple's planning native AV1 decode support for a future iOS 16 release.
https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coremedia/1564239-...
When Apple deployed support for HEVC in 2017, all devices that supported iOS/tvOS 11 or macOS High Sierra gained the ability to play HEVC video (some via hardware, some via software). Something very similar will happen when Apple deploys AV1 support.