I think it is a real deal. Easiest ever, compared to the ancient method of downloading the 2GB image file and redsnow that. Just download a small app(TowelRoot) from the website and presto. Done. Not even requiring a reboot. As for tethering Wifi, two more apps(Xposed Installer APK, Exposed XTether APK) required, and after a reboot, that is it!
I'm glad I patiently waited until now, or I would have wasted too much time jail breaking and rooting such device.
As for iPhone 5 (iOS 8.1), the jail breaker is Pangu, now everyone in the West has to learn this Chinese word. I believe there is wifi tethering ability via Cydia, but one thing people like is the change of fonts at a system level via BytaFont 2.