Now that 2014 is here, the rumor mill can finally hit full swing concerning all the shiny new goodies that the new year will bring to the market. The next-generation Samsung Galaxy Note smartphone is sure to be one of the most sought after items when it releases later this year, and there's a slight chance that Samsung might have given away its design.

Thanks to the keen eyes over at SammyToday, a Samsung design patent filed in the United States shows off a design for an unnamed Samsung product. The overall design indicates that device in question is a handset, but it's the S Pen slot at the bottom that begs the question: could this be an early look at the Galaxy Note 4?

Of course, bear in mind that Samsung hasn't confirmed anything about the Galaxy Note 4, even its existence, and the company won't be doing so for quite some time. Samsung Galaxy Notes typically release during the latter half of the year, meaning announcements and official information won't come around until then.

The design patent also seems to show a device with less physical buttons than consumers are used to seeing on a Samsung device. This could simply be an early prototype, or this could be a hint that future Samsung designs will be more button-less than in the past.

What do you think of the design? Let us know if you think this could be the Galaxy Note 4 in the comments section below, and if it was, would you pick it up?