Can I operate without a controller? One is pictured in each image.

The Mini SE requires the use of a controller. It's small and folds up. I didn't look into it enough to see if Snap's offering requires a controller or just uses a cell phone.

All of snaps marketing suggests no controller. That’s the part that I actually care about - I’m willing to have lower video quality and smaller battery if it’s easy to use in a regular social moment.

Update: reading a review there is no controller. All of the controls are simple on the device itself. This is exactly what I want - I’m not trying to capture amazing drone footage for the sake of it, I’m trying to capture a moment in life without exiting it. I ordered one.. at this price point will be fun to try.

Remember it is gonna be real loud. The ads always like to downplay that.

The video makes it look like you don’t need a controller, it just floats around and maybe you can tweak things with your phone, but who knows what the non-marketing version will be like… first off I know it will be loud (they didn’t have any drone sound in the video)