Google is in the process of giving its Hangouts app for Android a much-needed Material Design makeover. We’ve been hearing about it for several weeks — since the app was spotted on a Googler’s Nexus 5 at Google I/O — and now we get to take a sneak peek at it before its rollout.

The screenshots below are courtesy of Android Police, which has obtained a copy of the new Hangouts app ahead of its public debut. The most obvious change is its new user interface, which is much prettier than the old one, and a far better fit for Material Design.

But there are plenty of other changes and new features, too — like the ability to set a status message, and a floating action button. It’s not all good news, though.

Google has inexplicably ditched its two-pane view for tablets, so all you’ll see on larger screens is a blown-up version of the smartphone app. Of course, that could change before Hangouts makes its public debut.

We still don’t know when that will be, but based on these screenshots, it appears to be fairly close now. While you’re waiting, you’ll find more images and information over at Android Police via the source link below.

• SourceAndroid Police