Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Segment Information (Details)

v3.7.0.1
Segment Information (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Jun. 25, 2017
Jun. 26, 2016
Jun. 25, 2017
Jun. 26, 2016
Sep. 25, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Segment Reporting, Factors Used to Identify Entity's Reportable Segments     The Company is organized on the basis of products and services. The Company conducts business primarily through two reportable segments, QCT (Qualcomm CDMA Technologies) and QTL (Qualcomm Technology Licensing), and its QSI (Qualcomm Strategic Initiatives) reportable segment makes strategic investments and includes revenues and related costs associated with development contracts with an equity method investee    
Revenues $ 5,371 $ 6,044 $ 16,387 $ 17,370  
Earnings before taxes 858 1,693 2,586 4,873  
Total assets 64,379   64,379   $ 52,359
Cost of revenues (2,488) (2,534) (7,140) (7,210)  
Research and development expense (1,391) (1,268) (4,087) (3,922)  
Selling, general and administrative expense (710) (620) (1,917) (1,817)  
Other expenses, net (9) (30) (962) 270  
Interest expense (133) (75) (330) (221)  
Investment and other income, net 218 176 635 403  
QCT [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 4,052 3,853 11,829 11,285  
Earnings before taxes 575 365 1,774 1,125  
Total assets 3,656   3,656   2,995
QTL [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 1,172 2,038 5,232 5,780  
Earnings before taxes 854 1,749 4,346 4,945  
Total assets 1,814   1,814   644
QSI [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 56 12 70 33  
Earnings before taxes 55 (5) 38 400  
Total assets 975   975   910
Nonreportable Segments [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 79 142 218 274  
Earnings before taxes (96) (47) (283) (286)  
Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 91 141 (744) 272  
Earnings before taxes (626) (416) (3,572) (1,597)  
Total assets 57,934   57,934   $ 47,810
Cost of revenues (188) (130) (402) (397)  
Research and development expense (257) (199) (803) (602)  
Selling, general and administrative expense (197) (121) (481) (373)  
Other expenses, net (9) (30) (962) (110)  
Interest expense (130) (74) (325) (217)  
Investment and other income, net 239 185 646 388  
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 0 (1) 0 (2)  
Cost of equipment and service revenues [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses 139 99 330 345  
Research and development expenses [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses 3 2 18 7  
Selling, general and administrative expenses [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses 77 23 195 79  
Blackberry [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 22        
Blackberry [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues $ 12 $ 0 $ (962) $ 0