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 6 Months Ended
Mar. 25, 2018
Mar. 26, 2017
Mar. 25, 2018
Mar. 26, 2017
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 $ 5,261 $ 5,016 $ 11,329 $ 11,015  
Earnings before taxes 358 857 332 1,727  
Total assets 64,126   64,126   $ 65,486
Cost of revenues (2,239) (2,208) (4,902) (4,651)  
Research and development expense (1,402) (1,386) (2,822) (2,697)  
Selling, general and administrative expense (869) (615) (1,641) (1,206)  
Other expenses (310) (78) (1,493) (954)  
Interest expense (179) (107) (350) (197)  
Investment and other income, net 96 235 211 417  
QCT [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 3,897 3,676 8,548 7,777  
Earnings before taxes 608 475 1,563 1,199  
Total assets 3,336   3,336   3,830
QTL [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 1,260 2,249 2,559 4,060  
Earnings before taxes 850 1,959 1,738 3,492  
Total assets 1,907   1,907   1,735
QSI [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 30 0 60 14  
Earnings before taxes 40 0 51 (17)  
Total assets 1,193   1,193   1,037
Other Segments [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 74 65 162 138  
Earnings before taxes (93) (108) (186) (189)  
Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 74 (909) 162 (836)  
Earnings before taxes (1,140) (1,577) (3,020) (2,947)  
Total assets 57,690   57,690   $ 58,884
Cost of revenues (111) (119) (228) (213)  
Research and development expense (271) (277) (551) (546)  
Selling, general and administrative expense (258) (138) (420) (283)  
Other expenses (310) (78) (1,493) (954)  
Interest expense (179) (106) (348) (195)  
Investment and other income, net 82 223 $ 206 407  
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 $115 million and $216 million was recorded in the three and six months ended March 25, 2018, respectively, 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 (115)   $ (216)    
Cost of revenues [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses 102 106 208 191  
Research and development expenses [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses 2 12 3 14  
Selling, general and administrative expenses [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses 214 57 290 118  
Blackberry [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues $ 0 $ (974) $ 0 $ (974)