Samsung’s 5.5-inch Galaxy Note 2 is already one of the most powerful mobile devices that have been released, given its impressive internal components. Its quad-core 1.6GHz Exynos 4 processor actually has a 200MHz clock speed advantage over the equivalent component in Samsung’s own Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet.

As such, the South Korean manufacturer’s latest accessory for its hybrid smartphone/tablet is a remarkably interesting thing. Available now in Samsung’s own online store is a new Smart Dock for the Galaxy Note 2.

As the name suggests, this accessory isn’t just a charging station for the recently-released device, unlike Samsung’s previously-available docks. Aside from charging and audio-out, the new Smart Dock also comes with three regular USB ports and a full-size HDMI port.

This should allow owners of the Galaxy Note 2 to use their devices as a multimedia hub or as a productivity machine. Those three USB ports could accommodate external storage (say, a large portable hard drive) as well as a keyboard and mouse. Meanwhile, the HDMI-out could output 1080p video to an external monitor or television.

The only drawback to the Smart Dock is its price. Samsung lists the accessory at $99.99, around double the price of its other, non-USB and HDMI-equipped docks. Add in the $299 on-contract price of the Galaxy Note 2, and one is already treading into full-size tablet or low-end laptop territory.

Still, for people with the right usage patterns, the Galaxy Note 2 plus the Smart Dock could be an interesting option picking up a full-size tablet. Undoubtedly, a big-screen HDTV will be an even better option for watching videos than a 9 to 10-inch tablet, and being able to use one’s own keyboard and mouse will be great for productivity users.