Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Segment Information (Details)

v3.3.0.814
Segment Information (Details)
¥ in Millions, $ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 27, 2015
USD ($)
Jun. 28, 2015
USD ($)
 [1]
Mar. 29, 2015
USD ($)
 [1]
Dec. 28, 2014
USD ($)
 [1]
Sep. 28, 2014
USD ($)
Jun. 29, 2014
USD ($)
 [1]
Mar. 30, 2014
USD ($)
 [1]
Dec. 29, 2013
USD ($)
 [1]
Sep. 27, 2015
CNY (¥)
Sep. 27, 2015
USD ($)
Sep. 28, 2014
USD ($)
Sep. 29, 2013
USD ($)
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 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 $ 5,456 [1] $ 5,832 $ 6,894 $ 7,099 $ 6,692 [1] $ 6,806 $ 6,367 $ 6,622   $ 25,281 $ 26,487 $ 24,866
EBT                   6,487 8,778 8,194
Total assets 50,796       48,574         50,796 48,574 45,516
Long-Lived Assets 2,534       2,487         2,534 2,487  
Resolution of governmental investigation, Amount | ¥                 ¥ 6,088      
Goodwill impairment charge                   260 116  
Long-lived asset and goodwill impairment charges                   317 642 192
QCT [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Revenues                   17,154 18,665 16,715
EBT                   2,465 3,807 3,189
Total assets 2,923       3,639         2,923 3,639 3,305
Goodwill impairment charge                   0 0  
QTL [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Revenues                   7,947 7,569 7,554
EBT                   6,882 6,590 6,590
Total assets 438       161         438 161 28
Goodwill impairment charge                   0 0  
QSI [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Revenues                   4 0 0
EBT                   (74) (7) 56
Total assets 812       484         812 484 511
Equity Method Investments 163       18         163 18 17
Nonreportable Segments [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Revenues                   181 258 601
EBT                   (630) (1,395) (719)
Goodwill impairment charge                   260 116  
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Revenues                   (5) (5) (4)
EBT                   (1) 0 0
Reconciling Items [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Revenues                   176 253 597
EBT                   (2,786) (1,612) (1,641)
Total assets 46,623       44,290         46,623 44,290 41,672
China (including Hong Kong)                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Revenues                   13,337 13,200 12,288
South Korea                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Revenues                   4,107 6,172 4,983
Taiwan                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Revenues                   3,294 2,876 2,683
United States                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Revenues                   246 372 805
Long-Lived Assets 2,100       2,200         2,100 2,200 2,100
Other Foreign [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Revenues                   4,297 3,867 4,107
Non-US [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Long-Lived Assets $ 414       $ 288         414 288 896
Cost of equipment and services revenues [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
EBT                   (314) (300) (335)
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses                   272 251 264
Research and development expense [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
EBT                   (809) (860) (789)
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses                   14 30 3
Selling, general and administrative expenses [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
EBT                   (497) (412) (502)
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses                   72 25 26
Other Operating Income (Expense) [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Resolution of governmental investigation, Amount                   975    
Goodwill impairment charge                   255    
Gain on sales of certain property, plant and equipment                   138    
Other Operating Income (Expense) [Member] | Nonreportable Segments [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Long-lived asset and goodwill impairment charges                     607  
Property, plant and equipment impairment charges                       158
Other Operating Income (Expense) [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
EBT                   (1,289) 142 (173)
Resolution of governmental investigation, Amount                   975    
Restructuring and restructuring related charges                   190    
Goodwill impairment charge                   235    
Impairment of intangible assets                   11    
Gain on sales of certain property, plant and equipment                   122    
Interest expense [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
EBT                   (101) (2) (3)
Investment Income (Expense) [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
EBT                   $ 855 $ 1,215 $ 880
[1] Amounts, other than per share amounts, are rounded to millions each quarter. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly amounts may not equal the annual amounts reported.