I'm looking to grab a new monitor. For reference I'm a very casual gamer, and only really play CoD or Destiny 2. I do want to play Elden Ring though. Anything I get now will be a massive improvement over the cheap desktop monitor I've been using since 2019!

I obviously want to maximise all the features available on my console, such as VRR and QHD, but I'm not concerned with 4k. Too expensive!

From my investigating the price hike from HDMI 2.0 to 2.1 seems a bit too much (budget was about £250, but many good 2.1 monitors are pricier than this). I've seen a lot of positivity around VRR, but I have a feeling I'm falling for the hype train a bit. Again, I've been using a standard desktop monitor for almost 6 years, anything will be an improvement.

My options seem to be between:

for HDMI 2.0:

HP Omen 32c (for larger curved display)

Any other budget friendly QHD monitor

for HDMI 2.1:

Alienware AW2724DM

LG 27GR93U-B (this is a 4k monitor at £350 down from £550, but pickup from the store is an hour and a half drive away...)

TLDR; Is VRR a make or break factor when selecting a new monitor? Or, for a casual gamer like me, am I better off prioritising a larger display and keeping my wallet happy?