2025 has been a big year for tactile switch lovers, and today I’m talking about one of this summer’s highlights: Huano Populus Yellows.

Background

Populus Yellows are medium-weight tactile switches from Chinese manufacturer, Huano. Huano has been around since 2014 and is best known for its switches for mice. It entered the keyboard switch space in 2015, and it has released at least forty switches since then (the exact number is hard to calculate due to Huano’s minuscule online marketing presence).

Although the Populus Yellows’ exact release date is unclear, online posts started mentioning them in late 2024 and vendors like Milktooth and Switch Oddities started stocking them in early- to mid-2025. Huano does not run an online storefront, so buyers need to seek out third-party vendors to grab a set of Populus Yellows.

Specs

Populus Yellows utilize POK — a newer thermoplastic that has started popping up in switch housings– for the top housings, nylon for the bottom housings, and POM for the stems/sliders. Their springs are 23.5mm and stainless steel, and they have 45g actuation force, 50.8g bottom out force, and 64.9g peak force. Pre-travel is 2.0mm and total travel is 4mm (though total travel has been reported to be closer to 3.3mm). They are lightly factory lubed.

ThereminGoat has reported the following force curve for Populus Yellow:

Assessment

Populus Yellows were a pleasant surprise and have become new favorites. I went in semi-blind, based only on specs, because I wasn’t familiar with manufacturer Huano; although Huano has released at least 40 switches in the past few years, it’s largely flown under the radar as far as I can tell. I was intrigued by Populus Yellow’s use of POK, which has greater shock resistance than Nylon and POM and lower friction than any other switch material besides LY.

After trying the Populus Yellows on a few different set ups, I’ve really come around to these as a new favorite for long typing sessions. They have a distinct, medium tactile bump right at the top, but they aren’t too heavy to type on for long periods of time. They hit a nice balance of having a notable, crisp bump, cushioned bottom out, and full keystroke– unlike many other higher-pitched tactiles, they have a full 4mm of travel distance, so each keystroke feels full and not truncated or sharp.

Sound-wise, they are on the higher-pitched, poppier side, especially when comparing them against short-pole switches, but they don’t sound hollow or thin. I suspect the nylon bottoms give a fuller-bodied sound signature that, when combined with the POK tops, results in a poppy, resonant, and higher-pitched sound. Best of both worlds, in my opinion. The result is unique and quite musical.

Typing Tests

Takeaways

Huano Populus Yellows are #tactile, #full-travel, #poppy, and #high-pitched. If you want a longer keypress, distinct medium-weight tactile bump, and resonant, higher-pitched sound signature, I highly recommend these guys. Stock up while you can– who knows how long Huano will be making these.