Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Segment Information (Details)

v3.8.0.1
Segment Information (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended
Dec. 24, 2017
Dec. 25, 2016
Sep. 24, 2017
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.    
Revenues $ 6,068 $ 5,999  
Earnings before taxes (27) 870  
Total assets 64,351   $ 65,486
Cost of revenues (2,663) (2,443)  
Research and development expense 1,420 1,311  
Selling, general and administrative expense (773) (591)  
Other expenses, net (1,183) (876)  
Interest expense (170) (90)  
Investment and other income, net 114 182  
QCT [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Revenues 4,651 4,101  
Earnings before taxes 955 724  
Total assets 3,134   3,830
QTL [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Revenues 1,299 1,811  
Earnings before taxes 887 1,532  
Total assets 1,693   1,735
QSI [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Revenues 30 14  
Earnings before taxes 11 (17)  
Total assets 1,159   1,037
Other Segments [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Revenues 88 73  
Earnings before taxes (93) (79)  
Reconciling Items [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Revenues 88 73  
Earnings before taxes (1,880) (1,369)  
Total assets 58,365   $ 58,884
Cost of revenues (117) (95)  
Research and development expense 280 269  
Selling, general and administrative expense (161) (145)  
Other expenses, net (1,183) (876)  
Interest expense (170) (89)  
Investment and other income, net $ 124 184  
Reconciling Items [Member] | Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Segment reporting, change in measurement methods In fiscal 2018, all of the costs related to pre-commercial research and development of 5G (fifth generation) technology, of which $100 million was recorded in the three months ended December 24, 2017, are included in unallocated corporate research and development expenses, whereas similar costs related to the research and development of other technology, including 3G (third generation) and 4G (fourth generation) technology, were recorded in both the QCT and QTL segments.    
Reconciling Items [Member] | Change of Segment Methodology [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Research and development expense $ 100    
Cost of equipment and service revenues [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses 106 84  
Research and development expenses [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses 2 3  
Selling, general and administrative expenses [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses $ 76 $ 61