Canonical Links or Redirects - Which is Better for SEO?

Question

Search Engine Optimization

Standard story - there is a site, and it contains the same products in different sections. Of course, the question of canonicalization of such pages arises. And the question is - what solution would be better - to leave everything as it is, adding a canonical link to one of the different URLs, or to redirect from different pages to one using Bitrix?

Here's what's confusing:

1. In the redirect solution:

In this case, it will be possible to get to the page only by one of the addresses, and will other pages exist for search robots? Will the number of indexed pages in GSC and Webmaster decrease in this case?

2. In the solution with canonical links:

In Webmaster, in this case, there is a problem with the same meta tags

Answer 1

It is better not to duplicate product pages, but to have a single product page and refer to it in the listings. In Bitrix, this should be implemented.
Well, if there is no possibility of such an implementation, then I would advise a 301 redirect.

Answer 2

If you have full control then why are you creating them? Just don't do duplicates, now all CMS can do it

Answer 3

if you don’t get rid of duplicates, then canonical will be easier and better, that’s why it was invented.
a redirect is when the url is deleted, moved, or something else from the "was and is not" series.