Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Segment Information (Details)

v3.3.1.900
Segment Information (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Mar. 27, 2016
Mar. 29, 2015
Mar. 27, 2016
Mar. 29, 2015
Sep. 27, 2015
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 $ 5,551 $ 6,894 $ 11,326 $ 13,993  
Earnings before taxes 1,470 1,539 3,180 3,837  
Total assets 50,060   50,060   $ 50,796
Cost of equipment and services revenues (2,141) (2,628) (4,675) (5,676)  
Research and development expense (1,301) (1,375) (2,653) (2,726)  
Selling, general and administrative expense (619) (545) (1,198) (1,128)  
Other expenses, net (75) (1,010) 299 (1,063)  
Interest expense (72) (1) (145) (2)  
Investment income, net 127 204 226 439  
QCT [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 3,337 4,434 7,433 9,676  
Earnings before taxes 170 750 760 1,896  
Total assets 2,821   2,821   2,923
QTL [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 2,135 2,414 3,742 4,230  
Earnings before taxes 1,857 2,162 3,195 3,741  
Total assets 268   268   438
QSI [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 12 0 21 0  
Earnings before taxes 46 (32) 405 (33)  
Total assets 934   934   812
Nonreportable Segments [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 68 47 132 90  
Earnings before taxes (117) (163) (239) (311)  
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues (1) (1) (2) (3)  
Earnings before taxes (3) 0 0 (1)  
Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 67 46 130 87  
Earnings before taxes (603) (1,341) (1,180) (1,767)  
Total assets 46,037   46,037   $ 46,623
Cost of equipment and services revenues (115) (74) (266) (152)  
Research and development expense (186) (226) (402) (437)  
Selling, general and administrative expense (125) (100) (252) (249)  
Other expenses, net (75) (1,010) (81) (1,079)  
Interest expense (71) (1) (143) (1)  
Investment income, net 89 233 203 463  
Cost of equipment and services revenues [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses 105 63 246 129  
Research and development expenses [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses 2 3 5 8  
Selling, general and administrative expenses [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses $ 28 $ 13 $ 57 $ 25