Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Segment Information (Details)

v3.19.3
Segment Information (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2019
Jun. 30, 2019
Mar. 31, 2019
Dec. 30, 2018
Sep. 30, 2018
Jun. 24, 2018
 [1]
Mar. 25, 2018
 [1]
Dec. 24, 2017
 [1]
Sep. 29, 2019
Sep. 30, 2018
Sep. 24, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Segment reporting, factors used to identify entity's reportable segments                 We are organized on the basis of products and services and have three reportable segments.    
Revenues $ 4,814 [1] $ 9,635 $ 4,982 $ 4,842 $ 5,778 [1] $ 5,577 $ 5,220 $ 6,035 $ 24,273 $ 22,611 $ 22,258
EBT                 7,481 392 2,987
Total assets 32,957       32,718       32,957 32,718 65,498
Equity method investments 343       402       343 402  
Net book value of long-lived assets 3,081       2,975       3,081 2,975  
Cost of revenues                 (8,599) (10,244) (9,792)
Research and development expense                 (5,398) (5,625) (5,485)
Selling, general and administrative expense                 (2,195) (2,986) (2,658)
Other expense                 (414) (3,135) (1,742)
Interest expense                 (627) (768) (494)
Investment and other Income, net                 441 539 900
Reconciling Items [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 4,891 187 (746)
EBT                 2,040 (6,002) (4,967)
Total assets 27,401       26,926       27,401 26,926 58,896
Cost of revenues                 (430) (486) (517)
Research and development expense                 (989) (1,154) (1,056)
Selling, general and administrative expense                 (413) (576) (647)
Other expense                 (414) (3,135) (1,742)
Interest expense                 (619) (761) (488)
Investment and other Income, net                 $ 243 566 913
Change of segment methodology [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Research and development expense                   474  
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Reconciling Items [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) technologies were included in unallocated corporate research and development expenses, whereas similar costs related to the research and development of other technologies, including 3G (third generation) and 4G (fourth generation) technologies, were recorded in the QCT and QTL segments. Beginning in fiscal 2019, all research and development costs associated with 5G technologies were included in segment results    
Impact to QTL Segment EBT due to Segment Methodology Change [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
EBT                 $ (489)    
Impact to QCT Segment EBT due to Segment Methodology Change [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
EBT                 $ 160    
QCT [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Segment reporting, change in measurement methods                 Beginning in fiscal 2019, we combined our Small Cells business, which sells products designed for the implementation of small cells to address the challenge of meeting the increased demand for mobile data, into our QCT segment. Revenues and operating results related to the Small Cells business were included in nonreportable segments through the end of fiscal 2018. Prior period segment information has not been adjusted to conform to the new segment presentation as such adjustments are insignificant.    
Revenues                 $ 14,639 17,282 16,479
EBT                 2,143 2,966 2,747
Total assets 2,307       3,041       $ 2,307 3,041 3,830
QTL [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Segment reporting, change in measurement methods                 Additionally, beginning in fiscal 2019, certain research and development costs associated with early research and development that were historically included in our QCT segment were allocated to our QTL segment. The net effect of these changes negatively impacted QTL’s EBT by $489 million in fiscal 2019 and positively impacted QCT’s EBT by $160 million in fiscal 2019.    
Revenues                 $ 4,591 5,042 6,412
EBT                 2,954 3,404 5,142
Total assets 1,541       1,472       1,541 1,472 1,735
QSI [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 152 100 113
EBT                 344 24 65
Total assets 1,708       1,279       1,708 1,279 1,037
Equity method investments 230       283       230 283 254
Nonreportable Segments [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 168 287 311
EBT                 (61) (356) (373)
Blackberry [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 0 0 (962)
Licensing Agreements [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 4,723 (100) (95)
Non-US [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Net book value of long-lived assets 1,400       1,400       1,400 1,400 1,400
CHINA                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 11,610 15,149 14,579
IRELAND                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 2,957 1 0
UNITED STATES                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 2,774 603 513
Net book value of long-lived assets $ 1,700       $ 1,600       1,700 1,600 1,800
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 2,400 3,175 3,538
Other Foreign [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 $ 4,532 $ 3,683 $ 3,628
[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.