Why is Canon sl2 better than t7 when t7 is newer?

[dreamera]

Canon T7 vs Canon SL2 Detailed Comparison

Read our detailed comparison of the Canon EOS Rebel T7 vs Canon EOS Rebel SL2 to find out their strengths and weaknesses, and decide which one to choose.

cameradecision.com

Was a T7 supposed to be a cheaper version of SL2?

 

[ac12]

The T7 is a cheap version of the T7i.

You should compare the specs of ALL the Canon APS-C cameras.
Things become obvious when put side-by-side in a spreadsheet.