University of California, Berkeley: recommended laptop specification
No — this is a recommendation, not a requirement. University of California, Berkeley (Haas School of Business students) publishes computing guidance, but no specific configuration. You are not obliged to buy a machine that matches it.
The published specification
Operating system: Fully supported: Microsoft Windows 11 (Enterprise, Pro or Education recommended); macOS 15 (Sequoia) and newer. No longer supported: Windows 10 and earlier; macOS 12 and earlier.
Processor: Minimum: Intel Core 5. Recommended: Intel Core 7 or 9.
Memory (RAM): Minimum: 16 GB. Recommended: 32 GB.
Storage: Minimum: 512 GB, SSD preferred.
Also listed on the same page
An 802.11 b/g/n wireless card, minimum.
Source
Taken from University of California, Berkeley's own published page: https://haas.berkeley.edu/technology-solutions/how-do-i/mba-tech-resources/laptops-devices/. Verified 2026-08-25. Specifications change every intake, so confirm against that page before you buy.
Laptops for University of California, Berkeley students
Packing for University of California, Berkeley
A laptop is one line on a longer list. See the full University of California, Berkeley dorm packing list for bedding, storage and the rest of move-in.