With the launch of Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ: AAPL) next iPhone model now just weeks away, the usual pre-launch speculation is building about what new features the device will have and, crucially, what it will cost. This year, the pricing question carries unusual weight, because it sits at the center of a growing debate about the one thing that really matters to Apple's bottom line - its margins.
It's worth remembering the backdrop here. Apple's shares fell hard after its earnings late last month, and while they've since clawed back some ground, they remain more than 5% below where they sat before that report. One of the key concerns that seems to be hanging over the stock is precisely this question of margins.
