Just curious what you think about the Hyperkin Retron gaming consoles. I've been wanting to "relive" the gaming from my childhood, but know from experience buying the old consoles isn't necessarily the best choice (financially and functionally, granted I would rather have the actual consoles). For example, the SNES I bought not too long ago has controller issues occasionally that force a restart.

A retron 5, which plays all of the old consoles I am interested in, would run me $140 (less the $50 I could sell my SNES for, so $90)

Emulators, that's all you need.

Aren't those illegal though? That is my main issue. I don't want to illegally download games.

They're not technically illegal as long as you also buy the physical games. If you own the physical copy, and then just download the same ROM for your emulator then as far as I know it's not illegal. 

Example: If I download the GBA emulator for Iphone, and download Pokemon for it, then it would be illegal, as I don't own the game for the original GBA, but if I own the game on GBA, and then download it for the emulator then it would be allowed.

Hmmm, I'll have to think on it I guess. Otherwise, many of the good games from NES are available on virtual console no?

This is not true in any way. If you have a piece of software on a format you are not allowed to remove that software from the device as such downloading illegal roms just because you own a cart is still not allowed by law.

Also if you are talking about buying some 3rd party rom machine console from the net that isn't licenced then you are just buying roms and an emulator in a box.

Emulators themselves are not illegal. I know that for 100% fact. So if I purchase a Hyperkin, and then play actual cartridges purchased by me on the Hyperkin, it most definitely isn't illegal.

I'm just wondering if people think it is worth it, or if I should may look for downloadable titles instead for the classic era, or if I should just purchase the consoles, and deal with them being less reliable.

To clarify, when I said "aren't those illegal" before, I was referring to the copies of the games, not the emulators themselves.

It's true in several ways depending on where you live.

I bought one of the NES clone things before and it lasted a year before it died. For 12$ I think it was worth it.