Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Segment Information (Details)

v3.8.0.1
Segment Information (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 24, 2017
Jun. 25, 2017
 [1]
Mar. 26, 2017
 [1]
Dec. 25, 2016
 [1]
Sep. 25, 2016
Jun. 26, 2016
 [1]
Mar. 27, 2016
 [1]
Dec. 27, 2015
 [1]
Sep. 24, 2017
Sep. 25, 2016
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 and has three reportable segments. The Company conducts business primarily through its QCT (Qualcomm CDMA Technologies) semiconductor business and its QTL (Qualcomm Technology Licensing) licensing business. QCT develops and supplies integrated circuits and system software based on CDMA, OFDMA and other technologies for use in mobile devices, wireless networks, devices used in the Internet of Things (IoT), broadband gateway equipment, consumer electronic devices and automotive telematics and infotainment systems. QTL grants licenses to use portions of its intellectual property portfolio, which includes certain patent rights essential to and/or useful in the manufacture and sale of certain wireless products. The Company’s 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 also has nonreportable segments, including its mobile health, data center, small cell and other wireless technology and service initiatives.    
Revenues $ 5,905 [1] $ 5,371 $ 5,016 $ 5,999 $ 6,184 [1] $ 6,044 $ 5,551 $ 5,775 $ 22,291 $ 23,554 $ 25,281
EBT                 3,020 6,833 6,487
Total assets 65,486       52,359       65,486 52,359 50,796
Equity method investments 379       324       379 324  
Net book value of long-lived assets 3,216       2,306       3,216 2,306  
Cost of revenues                 (9,792) (9,749) (10,378)
Research and development expense                 (5,485) (5,151) (5,490)
Selling, general and administrative expense                 (2,658) (2,385) (2,344)
Other expense, net                 (1,742) 226 (1,293)
Interest expense                 (494) (297) (104)
Investment and other Income, net                 900 635 815
Reconciling Items [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 (746) 434 176
EBT                 (4,967) (1,893) (2,786)
Total assets 58,884       47,810       58,884 47,810 46,623
Cost of revenues                 (517) (495) (314)
Research and development expense                 (1,056) (799) (809)
Selling, general and administrative expense                 (647) (478) (497)
Other expense, net                 (1,742) (154) (1,289)
Interest expense                 (488) (292) (101)
Investment and other Income, net                 913 667 855
unallocated other revenues [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 (95) 0 0
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 0 (4) (5)
EBT                 0 0 (1)
QCT [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 16,479 15,409 17,154
EBT                 2,747 1,812 2,465
Total assets 3,830       2,995       3,830 2,995 2,923
QTL [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 6,445 7,664 7,947
EBT                 5,175 6,528 6,882
Total assets 1,735       644       1,735 644 438
QSI [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 113 47 4
EBT                 65 386 (74)
Total assets 1,037       910       1,037 910 812
Equity method investments 254       162       254 162 163
Nonreportable Segments [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 311 438 181
EBT                 (373) (342) (630)
China (including Hong Kong) [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 14,579 13,503 13,337
South Korea [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 3,538 3,918 4,107
United States [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 513 386 246
Net book value of long-lived assets 1,800       1,900       1,800 1,900 2,100
Other Foreign [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 3,661 5,747 7,591
Non-US [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Net book value of long-lived assets $ 1,400       $ 404       1,400 404 414
Cost of revenues [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses                 437 434 272
Research and development expense [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses                 20 10 14
Selling, general and administrative expenses [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses                 272 99 72
Blackberry [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 (940)    
Blackberry [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 (962) $ 0 $ 0
Blackberry [Member] | QTL [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 $ 22    
[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.