Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Segment Information (Details)

v3.5.0.2
Segment Information (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Jun. 26, 2016
Jun. 28, 2015
Jun. 26, 2016
Jun. 28, 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 $ 6,044 $ 5,832 $ 17,370 $ 19,825  
Earnings before taxes 1,693 1,398 4,873 5,236  
Total assets 50,786   50,786   $ 50,796
Cost of equipment and services revenues (2,534) (2,451) (7,210) (8,126)  
Research and development expense (1,268) (1,407) (3,922) (4,133)  
Selling, general and administrative expense (620) (621) (1,817) (1,749)  
Other expenses, net (30) (118) 270 (1,181)  
Interest expense (75) (32) (221) (34)  
Investment income, net 176 195 403 634  
QCT [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 3,853 3,853 11,285 13,529  
Earnings before taxes 365 289 1,125 2,185  
Total assets 2,620   2,620   2,923
QTL [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 2,038 1,931 5,780 6,162  
Earnings before taxes 1,749 1,654 4,945 5,395  
Total assets 548   548   438
QSI [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 12 0 33 0  
Earnings before taxes (5) (49) 400 (82)  
Total assets 937   937   812
Nonreportable Segments [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 142 49 274 138  
Earnings before taxes (47) (201) (286) (512)  
Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 141 48 272 134  
Earnings before taxes (416) (496) (1,597) (2,262)  
Total assets 46,681   46,681   $ 46,623
Cost of equipment and services revenues (130) (65) (397) (217)  
Research and development expense (199) (188) (602) (624)  
Selling, general and administrative expense (121) (137) (373) (402)  
Other expenses, net (30) (98) (110) (1,161)  
Interest expense (74) 0 (217) 0  
Investment income, net 185 193 388 655  
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues (1) (1) (2) (4)  
Earnings before taxes 0 0 0 (1)  
Cost of equipment and services revenues [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses 99 55 345 184  
Research and development expenses [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses 2 3 7 11  
Selling, general and administrative expenses [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses $ 23 $ 20 $ 79 $ 45