Hangouts 4.0 for Android is finally here

It can also receive and reply to group MMS messages using Google Voice and you can finally set your custom status message again.

It’s also added Outbound Caller ID to the Hangouts dealer. You would assume that Android loyalists would be the first to get the prettier Hangouts, but iOS users have been enjoying it already. This update has been in the pipeline for quite some time, and it comes with a comprehensive redesign that brings the Hangouts app in line with Google’s Material Design visual guidelines.

However, all those issues should be a thing of the past as Google has finally announced Hangouts 4.0 for Android.

Hangouts is sleeker. Now updated with material design, Hangouts has a new look and feel: items respond to your touch in more intuitive ways and transitions between tasks are more fluid.

Google will begin the rollout of the new app from today, though it’s seemingly a staged release so don’t be too surprised if it doesn’t show up for your smartphone straight away. The contacts list has also been streamlined to make it easier to find a specific person to message. Attachments have been revamped to make sharing of GIFs, emojis, your location as well as multiple photos a snap. Whether you’re sending a quick message or video chatting with family, you don’t want hold-ups.

As we stated above, the update should be rolling out to your devices today, so it’s just a matter of playing the waiting game.

Last but not least, Google is promising less battery consumption.

We’ve seen Hangouts 4.0 for Android before (and also on Android Wear), but that was two months ago.