Porcelain terrace slabs break quickly - defect?

Hi, we were at the hardware store today and bought a sample slab of porcelain stoneware 60x60x2 for 4€.

We wanted concrete slabs on the terrace all along, but they cost just as much as porcelain stoneware.

We actually thought porcelain stoneware would be very durable and stable.

I tested it and dropped a really small hammer on it, and the slab immediately cracked.

Is this normal? What could be the reason?

Or should we better use concrete or natural stone?

That was probably just bad luck.

A hammer, no matter how small, cannot redirect impact energy. So everything stays in the plate, meaning it shatters. Letting hard objects hit inflexible materials can always lead to total loss.

Hard harder place!

Are you sure that the panel was not hollow underneath? Then it would be clear anyway why it broke.

Sure that the panel wasn't hollow underneath? Then it would be clear anyway why it broke.

I roughly, but actually well, pulled it straight underneath, so the split