Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Acquisitions (Details)

v3.8.0.1
Acquisitions (Details)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Millions
 12 Months Ended 30 Months Ended
Sep. 24, 2017
USD ($)
businesses
projects
$ / shares
Sep. 25, 2016
USD ($)
businesses
Sep. 27, 2015
USD ($)
businesses
Aug. 03, 2019
USD ($)
Feb. 03, 2017
USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Long-term debt, Principal amount $ 21,000 $ 10,000      
Goodwill $ 6,623 [1] $ 5,679 [1] $ 5,479    
Weighted-average amortization period (years) 10 years 10 years      
QCT [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Goodwill $ 5,581 [1] $ 4,674 [1] 4,461    
QTL [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Goodwill 741 [1] 718 [1] 718    
Nonreportable Segments [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Goodwill $ 301 [1] $ 287 [1] 300    
Technology-based [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Weighted-average amortization period (years) 10 years 10 years      
Customer-related [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Weighted-average amortization period (years) 9 years 7 years      
Marketing-related [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Weighted-average amortization period (years) 4 years 8 years      
CSR Acquisition [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Intangible assets subject to amortization:     1,000    
In-process research and development (IPR&D)     182    
Goodwill     969    
Other assets     $ 280    
Effective Date of Acquisition     Aug. 13, 2015    
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired     $ 2,300    
Cash Acquired from Acquisition     176    
Pro Forma Revenue     25,900    
Pro Forma Net income attributable to Qualcomm     5,200    
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net     $ 2,400    
CSR Acquisition [Member] | Technology-based [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Weighted-average amortization period (years)     5 years    
CSR Acquisition [Member] | Customer-related [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Weighted-average amortization period (years)     4 years    
CSR Acquisition [Member] | Marketing-related [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Weighted-average amortization period (years)     4 years    
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Maximum amount of contingent consideration $ 94        
Goodwill 47 $ 172 $ 289    
Business Acquisition, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount $ 12 $ 24 $ 35    
Number of businesses acquired | businesses 3 4 4    
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired $ 35 $ 392 $ 405    
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions [Member] | QCT [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Goodwill 23   29    
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions [Member] | QTL [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Goodwill 12   6    
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions [Member] | Nonreportable Segments [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Goodwill $ 11   254    
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions [Member] | Technology-based [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Intangible assets subject to amortization:   $ 257 $ 84    
Weighted-average amortization period (years)   4 years 8 years    
RF360 Holdings [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interested Acquired 51.00%        
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners 49.00%        
Time period after which option becomes exercisable 30 months        
Maximum amount of contingent consideration $ 200        
Cash Consideration 1,463        
Fair value of Put and Call Option to acquire remaining interest 1,112        
Fair value of contingent consideration and deferred payments 496        
Total purchase price 3,071        
Cash and cash equivalents         $ 306
Accounts receivable         303
Inventories         261
Property, plant and equipment         821
Goodwill         829
Other assets         42
Total assets         3,470
Liabilities         (399)
Business Acquisition, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount 386        
Pro Forma Revenue 22,806 $ 24,731      
Pro Forma Net income attributable to Qualcomm $ 2,614 $ 5,791      
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net         3,071
Business Acquisition, Date of Acquisition Agreement Feb. 03, 2017        
RF360 Holdings [Member] | In-process research and development (IPR&D) [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
In-process research and development (IPR&D) $ 61       75
Number of in-process research and development projects | projects 2        
In-Process Research and Development Estimated Useful Life Upon Completion 6 years        
RF360 Holdings [Member] | Technology-based [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Intangible assets subject to amortization:         738
Weighted-average amortization period (years) 7 years        
RF360 Holdings [Member] | Customer-related [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Intangible assets subject to amortization:         87
Weighted-average amortization period (years) 9 years        
RF360 Holdings [Member] | Marketing-related [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Intangible assets subject to amortization:         $ 8
Weighted-average amortization period (years) 1 year        
NXP [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Business Combination, Termination Fee, Specified Circumstances, Payable to Acquirer $ 1,250        
Cash Consideration $ 38,000        
Business Acquisition, Date of Acquisition Agreement Oct. 27, 2016        
Business Acquisition, Share Price | $ / shares $ 110        
Business Combination, Termination Fee, Specified Circumstances, Payable to Target $ 2,000        
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount $ 2,000        
NXP [Member] | Minimum [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interested Acquired 80.00%        
Minimum subject to NXP written consent (Member) [Member] | Minimum [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interested Acquired 70.00%        
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | RF360 Holdings [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Agreed exercise price of option to purchase/sell ownership interest       $ 1,150  
[1] Cumulative goodwill impairments were $537 million at both September 24, 2017 and September 25, 2016.